If you have a few minutes, Phil Pierce has no problems clueing you
in on what makes him so successful. Despite talk about a burst real estate bubble, Pierce seems to be doing just fine.
After all, the Prudential Network Realty agent sold more than $26 million in real estate last year.
And if Pierce has a few extra seconds to spare between showings,
you will no doubt learn a thing or two about precious jewels [he was a wholesale jeweler for 20 years]. And he'll tell you
exactly where to go to get a good steak.
"I wish I had his luck," said Jennifer Sexton, a Prudential colleague.
He's one of those guys who can talk to anyone about anything.
Pierce's sales record isn't due just to luck. He works hard to be
one of the top-selling real estate agents in Northeast Florida, Sexton said.
As a small example, before Sexton and several other Realtors arrived
to inspect one of Pierce's properties, he checked every room to make sure the beds were made.
"You do what it takes," said Pierce, as he went into the kitchen
and grabbed the Windex and some paper towels. He'd just noticed some spots on the cocktail table inside a $3.2 million oceanfront
home.
Cleaning isn't a part of his job description, but for Pierce, sales
are all about customer service. It is the cornerstone of his sales mantra: customer service and good marketing.
It doesn't matter if he has a listing for a $150,000 condo or a $7
million property because "It comes down to customer service. Client satisfaction is everything," Pierce said.
He knows there's a direct link between client satisfaction and sales.
And he said that's not just with real estate, that's with any industry.
And it doesn't hurt that he's just a great guy. Erin Bryan, a fellow
Realtor at Prudential said he's "very personable. Not everyone can do that."
Pierce recently helped Dean Billick and his family relocate from
Cincinnati. Even though they follow different teams on game day when it comes to college football, the two men hit it off
right away.
Billick was referred to Pierce by his banker.
"I consider him a friend, not just a professional agent," he said.
Billick only had good things to say about Pierce, and he's not surprised that Pierce is a top-selling agent in the Jacksonville
area.
Having moved around the country working in college athletics, Billick
said Pierce was, "by far the most professional and best agent we've ever had." Billick also pointed out that he never had
a problem getting Pierce on the phone.
Pierce said selling real estate is a lifestyle. If a client needs
to meet in the evening, he's available.
Christy Budnick, who also works with Pierce at Prudential Network
Realty, said one word can sum it all up when it comes to him. "Dedication -- he's committed to everything he does. He doesn't
do anything half way."
Pierce already had an impressive sells record by his second year,
making it into the company's top five in sales. "The only way you can attain that level of success in a short time is hard
work and commitment to the profession. He truly loves what he does and that shows," Budnick said.
For Pierce, another key factor is marketing. He likes to create a
buzz about his properties. He recently pulled out all the stops to lure colleagues to an oceanfront, multimillion-dollar listing.
He served treats catered by an Italian bakery. When his associates
arrived, they were just as surprised as they were impressed. They joked that they expected grocery store cookies, not Tiramisu.
But that's Pierce, they said.
For one property he wanted to sell, he contacted 14,000 Realtors
in Atlanta via e-fliers.
"It's thinking out of the box and not doing things the normal way,"
Pierce said. He put that property under contract a short time later.
Technology has allowed him to be more aggressive in his marketing
campaigns. "There is a buyer for everything. And you only need one buyer," he said.
He was confident another million-dollar listing would sell, describing
it as the perfect beach house with perfect views.
As for the talk about a slowing market, Pierce said he thinks Jacksonville
remains in a good position. He's predicting more growth for the area.
After being a traveling salesman for 20 years, he compares Jacksonville
to places like Charlotte, N.C. He said there's still a lot in store for Jacksonville, which is why he's not discouraged by
the negative outlook being cast on the real estate market.
Sitting on the couch directly overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Pierce
said, "How could anyone not want to live here?
"Where else can you live a vacation everyday? Look out that window
-- that is why people move here," he said.
And it doesn't hurt that you can play golf and finish your day at
a restaurant that he promises has one of the best steaks you can find anywhere.
jacksonville@bizjournals.com | 396-3502
All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. 
