I sold homes for the builder. Now I make sure the builder treats you right.

Seven years on the builder side

I grew up in Buffalo, New York, which explains the phone number and the enthusiasm for January in Florida. I spent seven years working for the biggest names in new construction on the Gulf Coast: six in sales and one in operations.

On the sales side I was a top producer with Pulte and Del Webb, closing more than $150 million in new-home sales and earning the Tampa Bay Builders Association Salesperson of the Year award. I sat at the sales-center desk you sit across from. I wrote the contracts, ran the incentives, priced the lots, and watched what happened to buyers who walked in without anyone in their corner.

Then I moved to operations as an Operations Manager with David Weekley Homes. One of my jobs was the final quality-control walk on every home before it was handed to a buyer. For a stretch, I oversaw the SeaFlower community itself for David Weekley: the lots, the models, the trades, the handoffs. I know what a good SeaFlower build looks like because signing off on them was my job.

Why I switched sides

The on-site sales consultant is paid by the builder, works for the builder, and is measured on the builder's numbers. That is not a criticism. It is just the job, and I did it well. But it means the person explaining the contract to you is not the person negotiating for you.

I left to become that person. Found Your Florida is my buyer-representation practice, built entirely on new construction. I only represent buyers. I never list homes for builders. The builder still pays my commission, exactly as they budget for on every sale, so representation does not raise your price by a dollar.

How I work with SeaFlower buyers

• Before you tour. Builders track who brought you. If you walk into a model unrepresented, some builders will not let an agent join later. A five-minute call before your first visit protects your options.
• Choosing a builder and lot. I walk SeaFlower every few weeks. I know which builder fits which budget and lifestyle, which lots carry premiums that hold value, and what is planned behind that "preserve" view.
• Negotiating. Incentives are a starting point, not a menu. I know what each builder's division can move on and when (fiscal quarter-ends matter more than anyone admits).
• During the build. I attend pre-construction, pre-drywall and final walkthroughs, and I bring an independent inspector. Problems get fixed while the builder still has to fix them.
• Out of state? Most of my clients are. I do video walkthroughs of the lot and the build, and I coordinate remote closings.

What I am not

I am not affiliated with SeaFlower, its developer, or any builder in the community. Nobody pays me to recommend them. If SeaFlower is not the right fit for you, I will tell you, and I will point you to a community that is. I am a licensed Florida sales associate with LPT Realty, LLC, and I hold an MBA. Real estate is a licensed profession; the details are in the footer.