Step into the world of success and innovation with Real Estate Champions, a compelling TV show that highlights the exceptional leaders, agents, and investors shaping the real estate industry. Each episode uncovers the strategies, leadership, and insights that fuel the success of industry trailblazers, offering practical takeaways for professionals across residential, commercial, and investment real estate.
Real Estate Champions brings together top professionals and thought leaders from various sectors of real estate, including residential, commercial, and property development. These influential guests share their journeys, expertise, and advice to inspire and empower the next wave of real estate leaders and entrepreneurs. Today our host, Morgan Allen, spoke with Tonya Baudek.
Tonya Baudek
Realtor at Summer House Realty
Website Address: www.tonyabaudek.com
Short company description:
The name “Summer House” stems from a vintage house used to relax and cool down in the summer months, and the office design is inspired by a “flagship” design that’ll take your mind onto the nearby waves. Our agents in Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach bring local, tested expertise – and at Summer House Realty, status quo is never enough. Agents continue to train, hone new skills, and stay on the cutting edge of the market so every single person they help gets the best in customer experience and smooth buying/selling processes.
Expertise. Results. Communication.
Transcript:
Morgan:
Welcome back to another episode of Real Estate Champions, where we highlight those in the real estate industry making an impact. I’m Morgan Allen, joined here today by Tonya Baudek with Summer House Realty. Thank you for being here.
Tonya:
Thank you for having me.
Morgan:
Yes. So Summer House Realty has done some incredible numbers. It’s a really awesome brokerage. You seem to love working there, so tell me more about it.
Tonya:
Yes, I have been at Summer House almost since the inception of the company in Fernandina Beach, going on almost ten years. It’s a wonderful place to work. Great broker, great family-orientated business. And it’s boutique style. We have a big focus on community and giving back, and I really can’t see myself working anywhere else.
Morgan:
Yeah. It’s beautiful what we were talking about off set with the great philanthropy work that you guys are doing. So tell us more about that side of things.
Tonya:
Yes, absolutely. Well, we early on partnered with an organization out of Charleston called Water Mission. One of their missions is to help communities and countries around the world either have access to or build wells for potable water. They also step up when it’s a disaster situation, even here on U.S. soil, which is nice. And we commit 10% of our commissions to go to the organization.
That number has grown and grown over the years, and we were so proud to be able to present them in person with a check last year of $100,000 toward the organization. It just feels good to know that we’re part of something bigger.
We’re getting geared up for our big Walk for Water that is coming October 17th on Amelia Island. We’ll start from Central Park on Atlantic Avenue on the 17th, and that is a Saturday. And we’re hoping to raise awareness and raise some additional funds for the organization.
Morgan:
That is so exciting. So the Walk for Water, you said they’re taking buckets of water?
Tonya:
Yes. Walkers take a bucket down to the ocean, fill it up with a little bit of water. If you can only carry a little, that’s fine. Or if you want to put more water in there, then walk back to Central Park with the water.
I think it’s roughly about a mile there and then a mile back. So it’s doable. And there’s no rush. We’re not on a timer. It’s not like a 5K run or anything like that.
Morgan:
I’m sure there’s some competitive people.
Tonya:
Well, yes. And then we take the water, fill up pools with it there, and we’ll have food and music and again opportunity for sponsorships. It’s really just about bringing awareness. I think many people are shocked at the fact that over 30% of the rest of the world is living without potable water.
That’s something here in our country, we go in the bathroom and we turn on the water, we take showers. We’re very blessed. To think about that. I also had experience with living with temporary water situations while I was living in Honduras in the Peace Corps for two years early on after I graduated college in the early 2000s.
So again, it really resonates with me. It’s a wonderful organization, and I’m proud to say that Summer House is part of that and will always be, as long as we’re around.
Morgan:
That is incredible. And so Summer House, you told me the humble brag. Will you tell our audience how great you guys are doing in Nassau County?
Tonya:
Yes. I think really when it comes down to differentiating yourself between any other brokerage, there’s a lot of competition in Nassau County. A lot of real estate agents and a lot of brokerages and some of the larger names. We surpassed them in the volume of sales last year and in the last couple of years, with over $300 million worth of volume of sales.
Again, it’s a true team effort. We all work together, we collaborate, we co-market. If I have a listing, I know that my colleagues and other agents in my office are sharing that listing and promoting it.
I think it’s a mindset shift that has happened in the last ten years with marketing and with real estate and working collaboratively. Because I think oftentimes real estate agents, as technically contract workers signing on with a brokerage, it’s always wondering what they are going to offer, what they are going to bring to the table for you.
But knowing that I personally am backed up by a wonderful team at Summer House, it doesn’t matter if I need help with an open house or I need help with someone to put a sign in the ground. I know I have a team and a family, essentially, that I can lean on.
Morgan:
There’s nothing like it. You have to have a good team around you to be successful. Yes, I love that. So what are some of your favorite parts about Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach?
Tonya:
Oh, it’s difficult because there’s so many. When I’m working with customers who are coming from out of state, I feel like sometimes I’m overly enthusiastic, like this is the best place on the planet. But I truly believe that the quality of life in Fernandina Beach is very high.
It’s no secret that the school system in Nassau County is one of the top. It is the top in the state. That was a goal that the county was really reaching for, to surpass Saint Johns County for a long time.
That outdoor living really speaks to my heart and to my family. We spend a lot of time fishing. We kayak, we hike, we bike on the Greenway and at Fort Clinch.
I saw a sign a few years back that stuck with me. It said, I live where you vacation. And that’s a true statement. We do have a lot of folks who want to invest in a vacation home. They may not be ready to relocate because they live in Atlanta and that’s where their job is.
I actually have a closing coming up. My buyers live in Atlanta and they’re buying their beach home, a second home that they’re going to be using off and on. And they’re super excited about it.
Morgan:
Oh, I love that. Well, one last question for you. What does it mean to you to be a real estate champion?
Tonya:
It means helping people and it means serving people. That is always my number one goal. I was taught at a young age the golden rule, to treat people like you want to be treated and you have a good life.
When I’m working with customers, a buyer or seller, I’m always focused on treating them how I want to be treated and giving five-star service. Sometimes it even means going to my car and getting a magic eraser and cleaning that one little last touch of dust that needed to be cleaned up. I’m willing to do that.
I think that goes a long way in the profession of real estate and other careers, as I’m sure you would agree.
Morgan:
Yeah, definitely. Well, thank you so much for sharing your expertise with us and your heart with us as well.
Tonya:
Thank you for having me. I appreciate your time.
Morgan:
And viewers, thank you for tuning in to another episode. If you want more information on Tonya Baudek and Summer House Realty, head on over to PropertySolutionsNetwork.com and we have it all right there. We’ll see you in the next episode of Real Estate Champions.
Sarah:
I’m Sarah Olson and I am the creator and founder of the Real Estate Agent Success Academy. We are a mentorship program for newly licensed real estate agents nationwide. The Academy is based on four key principles to really set up agents for success from the beginning, and that really starts with finding their home as a real estate agent. That is the backbone of where they’re going to thrive.
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