Cindy James: Empathy, Listen, Plan Top Agent Jacksonville
Release Date: 05/30/2025
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How to 2.5x Your Sales in a Down Market: $8M to $20M in 2025
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What if the secret to your real estate breakthrough isn't a better market... but a better mindset? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes welcomes Kaitlin Chernyshov. Kaitin shares how she went from uncertainty and switching seven brokerages to becoming one of Northeast Florida’s top-producing agents. Despite working in what headlines call the worst real estate market in recent years, she has already closed over 40 homes and is tracking more than 20 million in sales for 2025. Kaitlin unpacks the mindset shift that sparked her explosive growth, her transition...
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Tiffany High: How Wholesalers / Flippers Build Predictable Scalable Businesses
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Maria Raymer: Top 1% Realtor JAX/St Augustine/Ponte Vedra
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What do buyers and sellers really need an agent for, beyond opening doors and filling forms In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down Maria Raymer. Maria’s journey from a young agent who questioned her value to a market leader known for straight talk and service. She explains how treating people with honesty and investing real time in them creates momentum that money follows. She shares how early office mentorship and daily reps built skill and confidence, plus how to communicate value even when you are new and your clients are older than you are....
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Corey Hasting: Christie's International Real Estate First Coast
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Jamie Hallman: "Consider It Closed" Professional TC's
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What if the key to scaling your real estate business isn’t selling more homes, but learning how to delegate smarter? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Jamie Hallman, founder of Consider It Closed and a powerhouse in the world of transaction coordination. Jamie shares her fascinating journey from working as a registered dietitian to traveling the world on a mission trip, and ultimately discovering her passion and skillset were perfectly aligned with real estate coordination. She opens up about how her solutions-driven mindset, love for...
info_outlineWhat happens when you mix discipline, precision, and deep empathy into a real estate business?
In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes welcomes Cindy James. Cindy is a licensed REALTOR, & Broker Associate, public speaker, and co-owner of Island Construction & Remodeling in Jacksonville, FL. With over 30 years in the corporate world and a background in real estate investing, Cindy blends business savvy, local expertise, and construction knowledge to help clients buy, sell, and transform homes with confidence. She’s built a standout brand by leading with heart, hustle, and an unwavering commitment to helping clients turn houses into homes—and investments into opportunities.
From flipping homes and streamlining renovation projects to guiding emotional first-time buyers, Cindy emphasizes the power of listening, empathy, and having a process. She doesn’t just help clients buy and sell homes—she helps them achieve life goals with clarity and confidence. Whether she's organizing a move, catching missed home defects, or coordinating cleanouts, Cindy shows that elite real estate agents are much more than transaction managers—they're life facilitators.
If you’re a real estate professional looking to elevate your client service or a buyer who wants a seamless and empathetic experience, follow Cindy James and stay connected!
Highlights:
00:00 - 05:12 Military Discipline & Early Influences
- Life with a drill sergeant father
- Spanish at home, English at school
- Friday night inspections and household order
- Lessons from growing up in a military family
- How discipline shaped her professional habits
05:13 - 12:34 Corporate to Real Estate Evolution
- 30-year corporate tenure at Florida Blue
- First home at 22: love for new construction
- Real estate investment beginnings
- Applying Six Sigma to her business transition
- Passion for process and continuous improvement
12:35 - 21:45 Making Chaos Seamless for Clients
- Problem-solving in real estate transactions
- The unexpected moving day challenge
- Leveraging contractors for fast turnarounds
- Protecting clients from behind-the-scenes stress
- The goal: smooth closings and stress-free clients
21:46 - 33:59 Relationships, Referrals & Reputation
- Creating client advocates through service
- Going beyond the transaction
- Building trust through action, not just words
- Referrals from people she’s never even sold to
- Consistency and care over commissions
34:00 - 46:02 Listening, Empathy & Emotional Sales
- Reading the room: listening with eyes and ears
- Understanding the story behind the sale
- Helping clients through trauma-driven moves
- The art of conversation and natural empathy
- Counseling clients while closing deals
46:03 - 01:10:01 Construction, Data & Dual Expertise
- How she became co-owner of a renovation firm
- Business structure meets on-site grit
- Seeing potential in properties others pass on
- Pricing renovations and value-add upgrades
- Targeted marketing using data and strategy
- Conclusion
Quotes:
"Everything is a process—we just don’t stop long enough to actually see it and map it out." – Cindy James
"My clients don’t need to know about the chaos behind the scenes. They need to feel like it was simple." – Cindy James
"I will talk you out of buying a house if it’s not the right thing to do." – Cindy James
"I don’t pretend to be perfect. I’m here to help people achieve a goal—that’s what drives me." – Cindy James
To contact Cindy James, learn more about her business, and make her a part of your network, make sure to follow her on her Website, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Connect with Cindy James!
Website: https://RealEstateWithCindyJames.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cindy.james.realtor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063589868070
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindy-james-realtor%C2%AE-broker-associate-3907a01a3/
Connect with me!
Website: toprealtorjacksonville.com
Website: toprealtorstaugustine.com
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