1st Choice Realty opened in 2007 at 668 Kingsley Ave. in Orange Park. Priscilla Wild-Aalberg is the broker/owner. Her husband, Kristian Aalberg, is the co-broker/owner.
Office history?
The office is located within Kingsley Jewelry but no one works out of there anymore. As with many companies today, all of her agents work from their home.
Wild-Aalberg and her husband bought Kingsley Jewelry in 1991 and handed the jewelry business over to her brother in 2000. She opened her own office under Priscilla Wild-Aalberg, broker, in the Kingsley Jewelry building in 2005. In 2007, she hired a Realtor and realized she needed to come up with a company name and opened 1st Choice Realty.
Even though she doesn't work from her office, it has not hurt her business. "You can't beat having your sign up on Kingsley Avenue. When people come in looking for the company, my brother just gives them my card."
Who does what?
"I handle the accounting and my husband and I share in the duties of showing property and meeting customers. We are a husband/wife team. Many customers like to work with a husband/wife team. Both of us work with the agents on training."
Why open your own company?
"I wanted to be on my own. I've been an entrepreneur since I was 34 years old. We bought Kingsley Jewelry, Gun and Pawn and then just turned it into Kingsley Jewelry and got rid of the gun and pawn shop. It was too confining for me. I like to get out and be with people. So, I went real estate school in 2002 and worked for someone else to get my feet wet and then opened my own company."
Company name?
"I chose the name because 1st lists higher than a letter. So we are the fourth company listed in the Multiple Listing Service, which attracts more business."
Agents?
The company has three agents: Robert "Bobbie" Brown, Marty Ramsey and Janet Lewis.
Company philosophy?
"1st Choice Real Estate LLC is a virtual company where agents have the autonomy to build their business and achieve their goals with full guidance, training and management available to them at any time. We seek motivated and highly talented individuals. We train new agents and prepare them for success in the business. We offer a competitive commission split. We are the alternative to traditional offices with mandatory meetings, floor duty and caravans."
Future plans?
Kristian was working for the company as an agent, but now that he is a broker Wild-Aalberg said things are going to change.
"With Kristian joining me full-time, I really am planning on growing the office with agents who really want to have a virtual office. I have a great commission split and want to just keep on growing. Everyone who works for me now, enjoys not having to sit floor duty, go into an office or do caravans."
Current market in Orange Park?
"I see a good boom going on. For me, where I've been struggling for the past few years, now I see properties going quickly. Inventory is down, prices are going up and it's really great. Properties that used to sit on the market six months, you see a listed price that is fair and above asking price and multiple offers. If you don't go in with a good strong offer on a good property, you aren't going to get it. That's my boom."
Type of agents?
Wild-Aalberg said she is looking for agents who are motivated to work on their own and like to work independently. "My agents can have my full attention, but if they don't need me, they can go out and grow their business."
Virtual office?
Wild-Aalberg said her office communicates via phone, email and texts. They have meetings about once a month at her house or at a restaurant.
Website
firstcoastflrealestate.com
Tagline?
"1st Choice is your best choice."
— by Michele Gillis