Michael Walker has been a Realtor with Prudential Network Realty since June.
BEFORE THERE?
He was in the Navy for 20 years, serving as a financial analyst for 16 years and as a Navy recruiter for the last four.
WHAT MADE you GO INTO REAL ESTATE?
“The love of it. I just love putting houses up for sale and helping people. What I used to do in the Navy was customer service-oriented, so I love helping people. I like trying to get customers to understand the benefits of what we are selling when they really don’t understand the whole process. So I like breaking it down where they can understand.”
HOW DOES YOUR
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE HELP YOU NOW?
“Well, getting the numbers together is really pretty simple. I use my Navy recruiting experience for real estate because I am able to walk up to doors, knock on them and ask for business even if they are not selling. It takes a special person to be able to get past that ‘no’ plateau and to ask for business.”
SPECIALTY?
He has not zeroed in on a specialty, but is working mostly with buyers and FSBOs.
AREA you COVER?
Mandarin and the Northside.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT REAL ESTATE?
“I just love getting out there and doing it. I’m in a different situation than most new Realtors because I have money coming in every month from my retirement check. So I’m not as stressed out as some people and I can just relax and talk to people. If they say no, I understand that and I’m not trying to push myself on them as much as I would if I didn’t have any money coming in.”
BEST ADVICE FROM A CO-WORKER?
“My last boss told me to keep doing what I am doing and I will be successful. He told me to keep being the person that I am and be honest with people.”
ADVICE FOR A NEW AGENT?
Walker said to get out there and get working. “My first week I was just driving around not really knowing what to do. Find someone to latch onto that has some sales experience because if you don’t have some sales experience it is hard to get the business that is out there. Find out what they are doing to make them successful.”
PET PEEVES?
“People not being honest. I believe you should be honest with everyone about everything. If you don’t want to do business with me, we don’t do business.”
LESSONS LEARNED?
“The biggest lesson I have learned is to get out there and do the job. If you don’t get out there you can look at the Multiple Listing Service every day and see listings going up that you should have gotten. You need to make sure you get your name out there as much as you can.”
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS?
Northeast Florida Association of Realtors.
HOMETOWN?
Paterson, N.J. He moved to Jacksonville in 1997 with the Navy.
CHURCH?
First Baptist Church of Mandarin.
RESIDES?
Mandarin.
PERSONAL SIDE?
When he is not working, Walker enjoys spending time with his children. He has been married to Lakeisha for four years. They have two children, Mikayla, 2 and Michael, 3 weeks. When relaxing at home, he enjoys tuning into “Big Brother 6.” When traveling, he enjoys visiting New York. When dining out, he enjoys Copelands. A book he has read and would recommend is “5 Steps to Real Estate Success” by Lauren Starkey His favorite movie of all time is “The Water Boy.”
-by Michele Newbern Gillis