Jennifer White ~ Above and Beyond

JENNIFER WHITE

ABOVE AND BEYOND

By Brandon Jerrell

Photos By Renee Parenteau

It is not about getting the job done. It is about getting the job done fully and honestly. It is about giving 100 percent in every situation. Jennifer White far exceeds 100 percent every time.

For Jennifer, every detail is paramount to truly satisfy her clients. “I love problem-solving and helping people find that perfect house!”

SUDDEN CHANGES

Before real estate, Jennifer worked for a catalog publishing company in Chicago. Specifically, in advertising and sales. In 2001, her former husband was relocated to Jacksonville. She then left that company and moved to Northeast Florida in early September of that year.

Following the events of September 11, 2001, few jobs were paying what Jennifer had been used to in Chicago. “I was just being patient,” she explains.

Jennifer suddenly began her real estate career in that same year. “I started helping a neighbor who was doing some part-time work for a local developer, Paul Fletcher at Fletcher Land Corporation,” she describes. “Paul Fletcher noticed that I was going above and beyond what was required of the basic administrative position. When he learned about my education and previous sales and marketing background, he encouraged me to bring him my resume. He also highly encouraged me to get into real estate.”

“He asked me to interview for a sales position. The VP of Sales hired me on the spot and told me to go get my real estate license and an onsite sales position would be waiting on me!” she illustrates. “So, with absolutely ZERO knowledge of real estate, I registered for my seven-day crash course, the eighth-day class test, and the ninth-day state exam!”

During her time in onsite sales, Jennifer accumulated core experiences that shaped her business 21 years later.

BUILDING ABOVE AND BEYOND

Jennifer’s drive has been going above and beyond since the very beginning.

“When I was onsite, I treated all walk-ins equally, always followed up with every walk-in, and I learned to be very organized. We would promote a new high-rise condo tower months in advance of our actual launch so I kept detailed lists of any and all prospects who might be interested in the new tower. Once it was time to actually launch the tower, I already had a long list of prospects.”

Although her dedication was operating at a high level, she knew there was so much still to learn.

“I came in on days off to meet prospects, attended the construction meetings so I understood the quality of construction (very important to a buyer because they have nothing to see), and attended any design meeting so I could accurately paint the picture of how the detailed lobbies and amenities would look.”

She retained and adapted these over-a-decade-long series of experiences when she transferred from onsite sales to general real estate in 2012.

“I also try to always be present for my clients by picking up my phone whenever possible; I quickly respond to emails, wake up early, or stay up late to get that one final initial or signature; truly whatever it takes! I take every client personally, so it bothers me and challenges me at the same time to uncover that perfect fit for them.”

I AM BLESSED BEYOND MEANS WITH THE BEST CLIENTS EVER!

GROWING AND LIVING STRONG

Jennifer comes from a large family of four brothers — compromising and problem-solving are just some of her innate skills. Both sides of her family come from Atlanta, GA. “We pretty much lived at Murphey Candler Park where my dad was head coach of my brothers’ football and baseball teams and my mom was the booster club president! While my brothers played football, I was the shortest, but loudest cheerleader every year!”

Tragically, her mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer while Jennifer was in high school.

“After high school graduation, with a sick mom still at home, I bounced around schools depending on her health. I started at East Tennessee State University but came home after my first semester of my sophomore year because she was so sick. I transferred to the University of Maryland that year. Unfortunately, our mom passed that July,” she shares. “I felt a little lost that whole following year at University of Maryland and ultimately ended up transferring to Meredith College in Raleigh, NC.” “Having a terminally ill parent for five years makes you a little stronger,” she concludes.

Today, Jennifer has a fabulous and supportive husband, Gary, two sons, Peyton (14) and Oliver (6), and an Australian shepherd named Dingo. “We love doing a plethora of things together – boating, fishing, cooking, playing games, family movie night,” she describes. “My husband and I are kind of homebodies so we spend a lot of time together with our kids! My dad also lives two streets over from us, so we spend a lot of time with him as well!”

Jennifer's two sons

Jennifer enjoys being on the water with her husband

INTEGRITY AHEAD

“I truly get a rush from seeing the look on people’s faces or watching them place their furniture or picture their new lives in their new home,” she reveals. “I love when clients imagine family get-togethers, where their Christmas tree will go, or where they will hide Easter eggs, plan kids’ birthday parties, where their parents or in-laws will stay when they come visit.”

One of Jennifer’s favorite business activities is finding a client’s “hot button.” She elaborates that she “enjoys finding those hot buttons and turning them into a more focused sales direction.”

“I am blessed beyond means with the best clients ever!”

Jennifer highlights that one of the most important practices in her life has been integrity. While she was in high school, her father once told her that “if you don’t have integrity, you have nothing.”

Congratulations to Jennifer White for her lifetime of hard work and dedication. Her integrity and experience always go above and beyond and will never let a client down.