Danny Rushing has been a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Walter Williams Realty in Ortega for about five months. He has been a firefighter with various companies for 13 years, but has served as lieutenant on Rescue 28 in Jacksonville’s Southside for the last year and a half.
WHAT MADE HIM WANT TO BE A FIREMAN?
His wife’s father is a captain on the Jacksonville Fire Department and he encouraged him to become a fireman. “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it or not, but when I started doing it, I loved it.”
WHY DO BOTH?
“It is always something I wanted to do on my days off, so I finally decided to get my license and joined Coldwell Banker Walter Williams Realty last September. It was something different than the fire department.” Firemen usually only work every three days on a 24-hour shift, so Rushing is able to do both jobs full-time.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT BEING A FIREMAN AND A REALTOR?
“No two days are exactly the same.”
HOW ARE THE TWO PROFESSIONS SIMILIAR?
“I help people both as a firefighter and a Realtor. As a Realtor, I get to know them and their family a lot more because I spend a lot more time with them. As a firefighter, I only get to see a snapshot of their life and help them with the problem at hand. I like the people I work with doing both.”
HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT?
“As a firefighter, I’m at the station for 24 hours at a time. People seem to trust me more as a firefighter. I get a paycheck every two weeks as a firefighter. It takes a while to get going as a Realtor but not as much school as a firefighter.”
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT REAL ESTATE?
“I like the flexibility of being able to set my own schedule.”
HOW DOES HE DO BOTH?
When he is at the fire station, the only two things he can’t do is show a house or list a house, but since he only works every three days, it really doesn’t affect his business. “I can look up information for them while I am working.”
HOW DOES BEING A FIREMAN HELP YOU IN REAL ESTATE?
Rushing said his many years of going to people and helping them has taught him how to read people and help figure out what they need whether it is a trip to the emergency room or a new house. Also, his experience in knowing Jacksonville helps when clients are looking for houses in different parts of town. He’s worked on the Westside, downtown and Southside. “Being a firefighter in different parts of the city over the years has helped me know it very well. I know the different types of building construction and styles to each area as well as where the schools, hospitals, parks, streets, attractions and fire stations are in each area. It definitely sets me apart.”
MARKETING?
Rushing is kicking around a few different marketing ideas right now to tie his new real estate career in with being a fireman, but hasn’t decided on one just yet.
AREA YOU WORK?
Westside. “It’s pretty slow over there right now, but I am getting a few more calls lately so it is picking up a bit.”
BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED FROM A CO-WORKER?
“Don’t give up.”
ADVICE FOR A NEW AGENT?
“Stick with in work hard and it will pay off in the long run. Getting your name out there is key.”
LESSONS LEARNED?
“It takes time and money to get going but it’s worth it.”
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS?
The Northeast Florida Association of Realtors.
- by Michele Newbern Gillis