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Phil Hanna (Charles Rutenberg Realty) Real Estate Agent

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Phil Hanna
location_on Indian Rocks Beach, FL — Charles Rutenberg Realty
Get to Know Phil Hanna

I began my career in 1979. My father and I owned a small ad agency in Indiana. He passed away that year and my aunt and cousin owned a Century 21 office and encouraged me to try real estate. I took all the classes and begin the journey with them. I found that years of experience in the advertising world, helped my in properly positioning real estate. Also, dealing with many types of business owners and clientele, provided a 'people-sense' you just don't find elsewhere. Armed with these gifts, I was able to carve out a very comfortable living in my new found venture. I have always kept a hand in the advertising as well and found that I actually could do both. After my father died, many clients and past TV stations asked me to do freelance work. I was a co-host on PM Magazine, and still wrote and voiced many radio and TV scripts in my market. I reversed the roles in 1982 to work with an old college friend to create a national television program called, AGDAY. This 30 minute agribusiness program still airs today. I moved to Florida shortly thereafter. I dabbled in real estate and investment property for  a while, worked for a major bank in their marketing department and also for a national advertising agency, Bozell Jacobs. I feel there was a reason for all these stops along the way. While in the banking industry, I learned much more about financing, how boards make lending decisions and how bankers and lenders think and operate. The ad agency took my creativity to another level all together. Tampa was the big-time. As the 12th largest ADI in the country, I had the good fortune to work with stellar advertising professional. Graphics designers that were outstanding in their craft and copywriters that made my stuff look like first-graders work! But, I listened and learned. I was able to be part of the team that put the Florida Lottery together. From there it was back to real estate, but this time I was hired away from the ad agency by one of my clients, First Property Management. If the name Sam Zell means anything to you that is First Property and the Equity group. Over the next seven years, I helped first property grow from 54 apartment communities to over 457. Again, there is a reason we stop at different stations along our journey. I gained a vast knowledge of commercial real estate, buying and managing apartment communities. I was on the team as Sam took the company public. It was an exciting time. I love Florida and my job was being transfered to Maryland. I decided to let the job go alone and I would stay in the sunshine. Now, what are you going to do? No job, but a creativity that has enabled me to see opportunity at most every turn, I rejoined my cousin from Century 21 again, but this time he was in Florida and in the role of investor. Together with four others, we had this concept to allow buyers to call a toll-free phone number and hear 'Professionally Recorded' information about a home. The phone number was captured by this new concept called, "Caller ID" and then our computers would reverse match to find out who the caller was. Folks called it brilliant, we called it, "Hometel". We were the first to create such a tool for Realtors and it took off. It was a wonderful opportunity for lenders to get data and pre-qualify a buyer then turn them over to the Realtor that had the listing on the property they called in about. We did very well. Ding-Ding. There goes the bell, the train is pulling away from the station and this part of the journey is just a fun memory. Next stop, full-time real estate again ... Ah, with a twist. Since I have this creative streak running through me, it is hard to keep it suppressed. I have this massive TV background and I thought why not bring homes to life with TV? Ever hear of the market ain't ready yet? well about six years ago that was a concept I was trying to do. The internet was not fast enough to carry the video and this thing called, 'streaming' hadn't been created yet. Now, the buzz is video. Every realtor that has had fifteen minutes with a camcorder taking movies of the kids in the back yard is a self-proclaimed Cecil B. DeMille. With no regard for shot composition, lighting and story telling we are out to tame the lion. I decided to do it differently. I invested in a $10k Sony High Definition camera, professional light kit, camera boom, mics, green-screens and more to do it right. Now, I am writing, shooting, editing and voicing all my own stuff and for a fee with even help the competition. Right now, most agents are going the $300 route. You can't even get a good suit for $300, how do you expect to showcase a persons largest asset for that kind of money. You can get close if you have the eye and the tools. I am probably being over critical and should let the market play-out. cream rises to the top. Here is a link to one of my homes shot in HD:http://www.vimeo.com/911435.

Well, enough ranting. I need to get out and sell something today. Real Estate has been real-slo for most of us in Florida. I think that it is showing signs of reviving itself. I have been through five of these market downturns and we always bounce back. My saying is, "If nobody makes money in bad times, we'd have no bad times!"

 

Phil

Certifications

Primarily, I focus in residential. I like people... Well, most people anyway. I enjoy helping others find a dream-home. I get concerned when lenders and slick Realtors worry more about their commissions than the clients that make having the opportunity to make a commission possible. My father taught me many things, but one I will never forget was to put your customer first, your company second and yourself last and you will always be successful. So, that's what I do and it has worked. I don't sell more real estate than anyone. My wall is not filled with awards but, my heart is. I have gotten great joy out of making the most of this business where everyone wins. Sure, you have to be a firm but fair negotiator. I look at the art of real estate as a match-maker. People have needs and should be properly matched to a home that fits their needs and affordability. Sometimes, you have to be the devils-advocate and the voice of reason. Yes, it may cost you a quick sale, but the long-term affects are worth it. People know when they have been treated with respect. 

Since 1979 I have seen pretty much everything this business has to offer. Interest rates broke 10% for the first time in the country's history just four-days into my new career! I jokingly asked clients if they wanted to go to the bank for a mortgage of just put it on their Visa or MasterCard! I even had one of those old credit card zip-zap machines to bring the joke home! Hey, you gotta laugh a bit as you take life's journey. I do some commercial work. It is not as much fun as residential but certainly more profitable. I now have the luxury of selecting my clients. I don't and won't work with just anyone.  If you are a good person and are looking for a team player in finding you the right home and you and have a dash of loyalty in you, then I will work with you. Otherwise, the phonebook is full of agents who can show you houses.

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Tall, dark and handsome.... ah, wrong blog! I have been involved in real estate since 1979. I work in residential and commercial areas. Primarily serve: Indian Rocks Beach, Gulf Beaches, Belleair.