Stephanie Littlefield has been a Realtor with Watson Realty Corp. in Jacksonville Beach since January of 1999. Before real estate Littlefield has been a manufacturing engineer with Hughes Helicopters on the Apache Helicopter Program and an administrative assistant with Nintendo of America and a chiropractic assistant.
WHAT MADE HER GO INTO REAL ESTATE?
“I was sick of having to go into an office every single day and having to punch a time clock. I enjoy people and like to be in different situations everyday and that’s probably what got me thinking about getting into real estate.”
HOW DOES YOUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE HELP YOU NOW?
“I think I developed people skills in my previous jobs, especially at Nintendo. When it got to the point when customer service could no longer handle a call on the line or a problem someone was having, it got switched over to us. I became a people problem solver. Also, when I worked at the chiropractor’s office I had to deal with people and I really enjoyed dealing with people instead of tasks in front of me day after day.”
COLLEGE
Littlefield has a bachelor’s degree in business management from Georgia College.
AREA SHE COVERS?
Littlefield’s farm area is Dolphin Cove in Ponte Vedra Beach. “There are over 400 homes in there and I’ve been farming that area with all of my marketing materials for years. I got creative and have given out rulers, fly swatters, coozies and letter openers. I give those things out three times a year, plus my magnetic calendar once a year. I don’t mail the stuff. I hand deliver it and it takes me about four days. It’s amazing when I walk through because people will invite me in and show me all the ‘Stephanie’ stuff I’ve left over the years. I don’t get all of the listings out of there, but I get a lot of referrals. I do get the bulk of my business out of there.” She has sold homes from Vilano Beach up to Atlantic Beach and as far as Kernan Boulevard.
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE BEACHES MARKET?
Littlefield said she hasn’t seen the prices drop out at the beach as much as she has at other areas. “I’ve seen sales down a little bit, but not that much. I truly think that we are having a correction right now. Prices were crazy for two or three years. Sales are starting to pick up along the beaches area.”
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING DIFFERENTLY?
“I used to walk Dolphin Cove and leave postcards saying ‘If you want to sell your home, this is what’s been happening in your neighborhood’. Now, I’ve twisted it to say ‘I depend on your referrals’ or ‘If you are thinking of buying an investment property, this is a good time to do it’. So, I’ve kind of switched gears because I’ve always been more of a listing agent than taking buyers around looking at homes.”
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT REAL ESTATE?
“The different challenges you have and the different personalities you have to work with. One good challenge I’ve had is when a buyer is thinking one price range, but can only afford another. And I’ve been able to convert them into the mindset they need to be to buy a home. “
BEST ADVICE?
“Make a to-do list everyday and also even when things are down, you just have to pick yourself up everyday and do what you can.”
PET PEEVES?
She isn’t fond of discount real estate companies that don’t offer full service to customers.
LESSONS LEARNED?
“Document everything. You should document conversations and emails because you may need them.”
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS?
St. Augustine Women’s Council of Realtors and the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors. Politically, she is also president of the Republican Women’s Club of St. Johns County and the corresponding secretary for the St. Johns County Republican Executive Committee.
- by Michele Newbern Gillis