Twelve years ago, after a sabbatical from real estate and many lengthy discussions with owners Carole Davis and Jim Linn, Sandra McDaniel re-entered the world of real estate as director of training for ERA Davis & Linn in Jacksonville, Fla. Busy volunteering at the time, she was hesitant to change direction but wanted to help her friends. After some research, she soon realized that “giving back to the industry that gave so much” was a wonderful gift and opportunity.
“Before I accepted the position, I attended a training session on behalf of Jim and Carole,” says McDaniel. “At the end of the training, I approached the trainer with a few questions and he offered me a job. I said no but it did make me realize training was something I could do while giving back. I called Carole and Jim and said yes.”
Between 2000 and 2004, McDaniel’s sabbatical was filled with earning a college degree in Communications and Public Relations, volunteering at her church and local school, spending meaningful time with her family and pursuing many interests such as playing the piano, boating and snow skiing.
Enter Carole Davis and Jim Linn, longtime friends of McDaniel. In 2004, they had a need for a talented and experienced director of training. They wanted their agents to have the best of the best and they knew McDaniel fit the bill. How did they know? Well, their friendship dates back to the 1980s when McDaniel and her husband, Jerry Wheeler McDaniel, owned ERA McDaniel & Associates, the largest ERA franchise in Jacksonville, Fla. at the time.
“I really love sales so Jerry served as the broker and ran the company while I worked on the sales side,” says McDaniel. “We both attended ERA events and broker council meetings; that is where we met Carole and Jim.”
The four developed a collaborative relationship that eventually led to the merger of ERA McDaniel with ERA Davis & Linn.
In addition to the training she leads at ERA Davis & Linn, McDaniel has also volunteered as a National Trainer for ERA’s Acceleration class. She has also served on many local and national real estate panels, including an international panel for ERA Japan, where she shared her experience of how to grow the ERA Real Estate business by using ERA products and services. In the mid 1980’s she utilized more Sellers Security Plans (SSPs) than anyone else in the ERA System.
McDaniel’s top three training tips are: Give the buyers and sellers the best service they have ever received; Do what you say you are going to do; Follow the ERA commitment to service.
Looking back on her career, McDaniel marvels at the role of technology in real estate and how she has been able to embrace it.
“It is important to always change and grow,” says McDaniel. “When I first came back to ERA Davis & Linn, many people did not how to use the computer. Luckily, I had taken computer classes while I pursued my degree at the University of North Florida and could help. Now, we have a large internet café. It’s what I love about ERA Real Estate. They stay on top of technology – even with the ‘moving machine’ years ago and now, we have Zap!”
Known for having a good heart, McDaniel is also very instrumental in ERA Davis & Linn’s community involvement and recruiting.
“Sandra led the fundraising charge in sending five children to MDA Summer Camp in 2015 and she is a huge asset when it comes to recruiting,” says Jim Linn. “Our goal is to double our number of great agents. When we recruit, we promote that we have an in-house trainer and show them Sandra’s resume. They are usually impressed but if we don’t close the deal right then, we have them meet with Sandra. She is very successful in closing the deal.”
For more information, visit www.era.com.
