We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jeff Hill. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jeff below.

Jeff, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

My son wanted to get his scuba certification, and I’d been egging him on for a while. So I finally signed him up with DAYO SCUBA. While I was at it, I thought, You know what? I’m going to do this the right way. I’d been certified back in 2013, but it had been a while since I’d been in the water, so I enrolled in a refresher course so I could go through it with him and be a better diver.

During the course, my instructor asked the normal getting-to-know-you question: “So what do you do for work?” I told him I was in real estate. No pitch — just conversation between dives.

Not long after that, he said, “I’ve got a house in Winter Springs I’ve been thinking about selling. Would you come out and talk to me about it?” I said absolutely, and we set up a marketing consultation.

We sat down, talked through his goals, and I laid out a clear plan for how I would position the home, market it, and guide the transaction from start to finish. He hired me, we put the home on the market, and we got it sold.

That first commission hit different. It wasn’t just the money — it was the moment it clicked that this business was real, and that I could earn someone’s trust without a warm introduction. It came from showing up, being consistent, and doing what I said I was going to do.

The best part is it didn’t end at one sale. We’ve stayed friends. I support DAYO SCUBA, they support me, he’s referred family to me, and I’ve referred plenty of people their way too. It’s humbling — and it’s a reminder that the best business still happens the old-fashioned way: relationships, trust, and follow-through.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Jeffrey E. Hill, a Florida REALTOR® with Sally Love Real Estate, based out of Wildwood and serving Marion, Citrus, Levy, Lake, Sumter, and the surrounding areas—especially The Villages. My tagline is “Just Jeff, Just Results.” That’s not marketing fluff—it’s how I operate: clear communication, disciplined follow-through, and steady leadership when the stakes are high.

I got into real estate after spending years in roles that demanded precision and accountability—field service, account management, and project management, along with earlier experience in the building trades. That background shaped how I work: I don’t guess, I don’t wing it, and I don’t leave clients in the dark. I plan, I verify, and I execute. Real estate is still a relationship business, but the best outcomes come from a repeatable system and strong communication.

What I provide is simple to describe but hard to do consistently: The Golden Move Seller System. It’s my step-by-step framework for guiding homeowners from “thinking about selling” to a successful sale with fewer surprises. It starts with a pricing strategy supported by a Professional Opinion of Value, and then moves into preparation, positioning, marketing, showing strategy, negotiation, and transaction management. The goal is straightforward: attract real buyers, protect my client’s timeline and bottom line, and reduce stress by keeping everything organized and explained.

The problems I solve are the ones sellers feel but don’t always know how to name: uncertainty about price, fear of making costly mistakes, confusion about what matters versus what doesn’t, and frustration when communication is inconsistent. My job is to bring clarity, structure, and calm to a process that can feel chaotic—while still being direct and honest about what will get the home sold.

What sets me apart is that I’m relationship-first and process-driven. I’m proactive, I communicate clearly, and I keep tight control of next steps. I also bring a practical eye to a property—how condition, presentation, layout, and market expectations will impact demand and negotiation—so my clients make smart decisions without overcorrecting or overspending.

What I’m most proud of is earning trust with consistency. When a client tells me, “You made this simple,” that means everything—because selling a home isn’t simple. It takes leadership, a plan, and a steady hand. That’s what I aim to deliver every time.

The main thing I want potential clients to know is this: if you hire me, you’re not getting guesswork—you’re getting a proven system, honest guidance, and a professional who treats your sale like it matters. Just Jeff, Just Results.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

One of the biggest pivots of my life wasn’t one decision — it was a series of decisions that slowly moved me closer to the work I’m meant to do now.

I spent 26 years in the ATM service industry, working in roles like field service, account management, and project management. It was steady work, and I learned a lot about problem-solving, systems, and showing up when things mattered. But over time, I realized I wanted to be in a role that was more connected to people and community — not just equipment and operations.

That led to my next pivot: I stepped into the Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce, where I had the opportunity to work directly with business owners and help support the local economy. Being around entrepreneurs every day changed my thinking. I saw what it looked like to build something from the ground up, to earn trust, and to create your own momentum.

From there, I made another leap — I became a small-business owner myself. I ran my own business for a period of time, and it taught me a lot about responsibility, customer service, and what it really means to stand behind your name.

Then reality set in: I’m not 25 anymore, and the wear-and-tear of physical work started to add up. I had to make an honest decision about the long game. I didn’t want to keep pushing my body until it forced a decision on me. So I chose to pivot on purpose — I closed that chapter and committed fully to real estate.

That decision has been one of the most rewarding pivots I’ve made because it brought everything together: my background in project management, my experience working with people, and my respect for doing things the right way. Real estate is emotional and high-stakes for most families. My job is to bring clarity, structure, and steady leadership so my clients can move forward confidently and avoid costly mistakes.

The biggest lesson from that pivot is simple: sometimes the most professional move you can make is to recognize when it’s time to change direction — and then commit completely. That’s what I did, and it’s what I bring to my clients now: focus, discipline, and results.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

In my experience, reputation is built the same way every time: transparency, honesty, and consistency. People don’t remember fancy talk — they remember whether you told them the truth, whether you followed through, and whether you respected their time and money. I’d rather have a tough conversation early than a crisis later, so I’m straightforward about pricing, condition, timelines, and expectations. When you combine that with being a good human being and doing what you say you’ll do, your reputation takes care of itself. Don’t Bullshit them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jeffreyehillrealtor.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.e.hill.2025
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-e-hill-realtor-a032a870/