Elizabeth Dziedzic (pronounced Ji-Jits) is the owner/broker of Edge Realty Network in Southpoint, which has been open for one year.
Interesting name?
Dziedzic is from Poland. Her father was an American citizen so she was granted a green card to come to America. She became an American citizen in 2003.
Her history?
She moved to Michigan in 1993 and then to Rhode Island in 1999, where she got into real estate with a small company there. After a year, she joined a RE/MAX company and worked there for five years.
She didn't even speak English at that time. "For me to even pass the real estate test, I had to have a translator and I passed the first time. My English was really bad, but I would just explain to people and try to listen."
She also speaks German and Russian.
She earned her Florida real estate license and moved to Jacksonville in 2005. She worked at Realty Executives the Professionals for two years and she sold foreclosures with INI Realty Investments for four years.
College?
She has a bachelor's degree in teaching from a Polish college, Studium Nauczycielskie. She taught Polish to students for seven years.
Why go into real estate?
In 1995, she and her husband bought their first home. She thought the experience was fun and her agent suggested she become an agent. "I always loved houses and design. When I visit others' houses, I move walls in my head. Houses were always some type of excitement for me."
Why open your own company?
Dziedzic interviewed with a real estate company and asked the broker how much they were going to pay her. The broker responded by saying it depended on how many properties she sold that last year.
"I started laughing. I told her that I didn't think she was going to be in charge of how much she was going to pay me of my own money. If I am the cause of every closed transaction and it's up to me to find the people, what right do you have to tell me how much of my own money you are going to allow me to keep? I don't say their business is wrong, because that is their business, but it's not for me."
So, she decided to open her own company and do things her way.
Partnership with your agents?
Dziedzic has six agents at this time.
"It's more like a partnership than a brokerage because the fees are so low that most brokers wouldn't go for it, but I put my financial interests aside to create a place where the agents can make money and keep their money. It felt to me when I was actively selling real estate that I was working hard and was paying a lot of money. It was almost like a punishment where every closing, something was taken away from you. I thought something was wrong with that picture."
Her agents pay a nominal fee to belong to her brokerage, but that's it. They also have access to training, coaching, many real estate services and full use of the office at the Crexent Business Center which has conference rooms, a lounge area and a gym.
How's the market?
"We are seeing multiple offers on properties. It's improving, but it is still not at that point that it was in 2005. I know investors who would buy properties and flip them, but now they are holding on to them. It's a sign the market is improving."
Best advice?
"If I don't want someone to do something to me, I don't do it to others." Dziedzic said it is important to keep your word. "If I say I will do something, I don't care if it is comfortable or becomes uncomfortable. When I give you my word, I keep it no matter how the situation changes."
Advice for loan officers?
"Please pre-qualify clients."
Professional associations
Northeast Florida Association of Realtors.
Advice for new agent?
"Treat this as a business. In every business it takes investment and time to make money. You have to work hard at it and work hard to generate new business."
Family
She has been married to Jack Dziedzic for 30 years. They have two children, Rad 25, and Alexandra, 20.
Lessons learned?
"I am constantly learning. You can be surprised with every transaction."
—by Michele Gillis