Freedom Vlog Episode 33: An Interview with Operations Manager, Tina Phoenix Howard

Hey, Freedom fans. Eric Jones, director of sales and marketing for Freedom Real Estate Group, coming to you today with another awesome blog video. As you can see, I have a guest with me. This is Tina Fenix Howard. She is our operations manager for Freedom Real Estate Group. We're going to get to know Tina a little bit better and just dig into sort of what she does with our company. So first question, Tina, exactly what do you do for the company? What do you do sort of regular day week? Give us an idea.

Officially operations manager. So I mainly my responsibilities include handling all the operating procedures within the company with the multiple divisions that we have. So it's a very complex and very time consuming, yet extremely rewarding responsibility and role.

And you actually, for the most part, it's really great that we have Tina in the office this week because you usually work remotely from Georgia, right?

Correct. Near Savannah.

And she has. It's really interesting. We sort of kid Tina a lot, but whenever we're on calls with her, used to we would randomly see her like dart away and look for something. You have a lot of wildlife around your house.

Yes.

Including alligator named Oscar, an alligator in her backyard. So he's just a little guy.

He's not huge right now. He's just a little guy.

He's still a alligator.

So look at him. Snappers.

There's interesting things. So what do you like about sort of. Second question. What do you like about real estate investing or turnkey investing, sort of this business. What do you like about it?

Real estate in general? I've been interested in it for a very long time, but specifically, my most favorite part of it is how it touches so many different areas and people's lives. So knowing how fixing up a property will bring up a neighborhood's value. Well, then also during the rehab, gives the contractors, helps the economy getting jobs and giving someone a safe home to live in. So all of those different facets are I find very interesting and rewarding to be a part of. Not only that, but every single real estate transaction is completely different. So it keeps my interest and keeps things interesting for the most part. And I never, ever get bored.

Yeah, it's never like a normal day. There's never like a copy paste day in real estate, for sure. So you're a real estate investor yourself. You own how many properties?

We have seven units right now and always looking to grow.

Okay. So since you're an investor yourself, you work in the business every day. Do you have any advice for investors out there that are either looking to get into it or have been doing it for a while. Any advice for them in general? Anything?

Yes. I would say my biggest piece of advice would be not to be afraid to pass on a particular applicant if your gut tells you to, even though they may look okay on paper. But if you have any doubts, trust your gut and always wait for the right person or screen, screen, screen, to protect yourself, your property, your asset, your investment, your sanity. It's worth waiting a month. In that time, or however long it takes to find the right person.

Yeah, that's really good advice because you could pass up on, you know, $850 in rent that month, but in the end, if you just take the first applicant that you may have that bad feeling, it could cost you 2, 3, $4,000 down the road and damages, evictions, anything like that. So that is good advice. So why do you like working for freedom? Why do you like working for this company and this team?

I've worked with Danny and Flip for several years, and I've gotten to know them very well over the years and particularly with this company. Is that everyone, we just finished our yearly end of year retreat, and we've all got to spend a lot of time together and in the same space. It was our sleepaway camp, and I got to know everyone really well. It's especially fun for me because I'm. I work virtually most of the time. Being here in the office in person and meeting everyone face to face and getting to know them on a personal level has been fantastic. And everyone is so fun and friendly and it feels like a family here. That's why I love it.

Awesome. Well, we wanted to make sure that we got Tina in person on video, because we don't often get to. So I want to make sure that we got this vlog for you this week so you can meet another face on our team and another person who is a real estate investor as well, who definitely believes in the idea and the concept and loves it. So if you follow along, you know it's time for rapid fire. So Tina has not been prompted on any of these questions.

I tried.

Here we go. You ready?

Ready.

First thing that comes to your mind.

Applesauce.

Well, the first question is favorite food?

Applesauce.

Really?

No. My favorite is peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but instead of bread, I use toaster waffles. It's delicious.

Okay. Favorite color?

Blue.

Favorite co worker.

Tiffany.

Favorite book?

Rich dad, Poor dad. I have to go with the classic.

Okay. Favorite place you've traveled?

San Diego.

Okay. Least favorite job.

Oh, my gosh. I'VE had so many not so favorite jobs. Least favorite job, I would have to say working at Cheers briefly as a server. Least favorite.

Okay. All right. Well, that's it for Rapid Fire. I hope you enjoyed meeting Tina. She is another part of our team. She has been a great asset and a true gem to work with. If you ever have questions and want to talk to Tina about anything or talk to me, feel free to email me salesreedomrealestategroup.com Be sure to subscribe and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and of course, YouTube. So you get all the latest content sent direct directly to you. And until next time, everyone, happy investing. Tina, do you go?

I can already tell I'm gonna be laughing.

Do you go by Tina Howard or Tina Phoenix? Howard.

I like the Phoenix. Okay, work it in there.

Do you want me to impersonate a Phoenix when I do it? So should I say, like, Tina Howard?

Yes, yes, yes.

I might. It's already recording, so that could be a blooper. All right, come this way. There you go. Got to be close because it's only a small frame. Okay. All right. Like, cheek to cheek.

Cheek to cheek. I'm just kidding. Ready?

What? Yeah, just don't speak.

Yes.

Yes. Okay.