Suzy Bagan has been a Realtor with Watson Realty in St. Augustine for a little over two years.
BEFORE THERE?
She moved here from California where she had her own business selling coating material for the oil and gas industry. “Then I sold that business and starting selling software that calculated water and utility bills. I’ve been in sales a really long time.”
WHY DID SHE MOVE TO ST. AUGUSTINE?
Bagan had family here and visited every summer while growing up. After her last child went to college, she decided to move home to St. Augustine. She has lived there three years. “We love it here.”
WHAT MADE HER GO INTO REAL ESTATE?
“Number one, I needed to have a job in St. Augustine that had a pay scale equivalent to what I had been making. Number two, I am passionate about this area. I spent all my summers here and all my family is here. We’ve learned with our five kids that the best advice you can give to anyone when they are looking for a job is to find something you are passionate about and then discover what the work product is that relates to that. My husband said, ‘You have to sell real estate. That’s all there is to it.’ I’m also passionate about helping people. If you have a problem, I want to solve it for you.”
HOW DOES YOUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE HELP HER NOW?
“Selling is a gift. If you have the ability to sell, you can translate that to any industry. The difference is the passion. I could sell widgets, but widgets are not my passion.”
AREA SHE COVERS?
She likes to sell in St. Augustine Beach, but will sell anywhere in St. Johns County.
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE ST. AUG MARKET?
“When I got into real estate, it really was a seller’s market. You really didn’t have to do much to write a contract. There were so few properties for sale and a lot of buyers. Any listing you had got sold. The market has now changed dramatically. The market is now a true buyer’s market. We now have about 100 homes that come on the market daily and anywhere between 15 and 25 get sold. That is quite a difference. We have inventory that stays on the market a long time.”
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT REAL ESTATE?
Bagan said she loves the diversity of each day.
BEST PROFESSIONAL ADVICE RECEIVED?
“One of the first things I did when I got into real estate was to go to open houses. I met an agent there and she said even though there are a lot of agents in the business, the cream always rises to the top.”
ADVICE FOR A NEW AGENT?
“If you are going to enter this business in this market in this place, you have to really be prepared to work really hard and give seven days a week from the beginning in order to grow your business.”
PET PEEVES?
Bagan doesn’t like to work with people who don’t have good ethics and good skills.
LESSONS LEARNED?
“Slow down and make sure all your ducks are in a row. It is a business that can be very fast-paced. If you try to get ahead of process, you can create problems for yourself.”
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS?
She is vice president of membership for the St. Augustine Women’s Council of Realtors.
“We are trying to make sure our speakers are very timely. People are busy. When you are busy, not only are you juggling your buyers, sellers and administration, family, friends and children. Then you have to fit in a club or an association? You have to tell yourself, if I spend the money to join, I will get reimbursed for some of the classes that I take, which I have to have to keep my license. Also, I have to eat lunch somewhere and I will learn something that will benefit me. Plus, I am able to network with others in the industry.”
WHY GET INVOLVED IN WCR?
“They have a very good education program and the speakers are very timely and relevant. You have to eat lunch somewhere. You might as well go somewhere where you can nourish your mind and body and learn something. I also believe in giving back. It’s a gift for me to give back as vice president of membership. When I am done with this, I will find another part of the community that I can give back to. I think that is what everyone should do. If everyone would occasionally try one thing to give back, it would be a better place to live.”
- by Michele Newbern Gillis