Charter One Realty Blog

Scott Collins has been involved in real estate his whole life. His Father was a premier residential builder in Pittsburgh known for high quality and tremendous customer satisfaction. Scott’s father also owned a land development company in San Diego as well as a highly sought after interior design firm. Scott grew up in real estate and brings a wealth of knowledge to each and every client. He understands the subtleties of today’s market and knows what it takes to get homes sold for the highest price. Scott is dedicated to the highest level of client satisfaction just like his father was.

Charter One Realty sat down with Scott to learn more about his initial start in the business, what's kept him in the business, and advice for buyers looking in the Lowcountry. Catch up with Scott here.

Charter One Realty: When did you know that you wanted to pursue a career in real estate?

Scott Collins: My Father was a residential builder, so I kind of grew up in the business.  When I bought my first home, I realized that at some point,  I wanted to help other people with their real estate needs. 

Charter One Realty: Tell us about your start in the business. How did the first year go?

Scott Collins: No one was more surprised than me that I actually did pretty well in my first year.  Friends, neighbors, and coworkers all either contacted me or didn't mind that I reached out to them to help get my career rolling.

Charter One Realty: What’s kept you in the business after your initial success?

Scott Collins: Word of mouth and referral business.  My goal from day one was to make sure EVERY ONE of my clients got the very best service from me. Those clients then provided me with a steady stream of future clients because they would send their family and friends to me.

Charter One Realty: What’s one common mistake you see prospective buyers make?

Scott Collins: Trying to go it alone.  Everyone starts looking on the Internet on their own and that's fine at the beginning of the search process.  But when a buyer is ready to take the next step and actually go see some homes, ask for a Realtor's help. Realtors have the knowledge to make the buying process go smoothly and can be a valuable resource for the buyer.  Plus, it usually doesn't cost the buyer anything to hire a Realtor.

Charter One Realty: If you weren't working in real estate, is there anything else you could see yourself doing?

Scott Collins: Nope! I love the real estate business, but more importantly, I love helping people make their dreams come true.  I know that may sound a little silly, but when I first meet with a prospective buyer and they tell me about their dream home that they want to buy to start their next chapter in their lives, I really pay attention to them. Then I go out and find their dream home. Seeing how happy and excited my buyers are on their closing day is one of the best feelings in the world!

Charter One Realty: What advice do you have for buyers looking in the Lowcountry?

Scott Collins: Buying real estate in the Lowcountry is probably a little different than in other parts of the country.  For example, I was a Realtor in Chicago before moving to Bluffton. I needed to learn the differences between real estate here as compared to up north.  Being along the coastline and marshes has a different set of knowledge requirements than being along Lake Michigan.

Charter One Realty: Where are you from originally, and how did you come to live in the Lowcountry?

Scott Collins: My early childhood was in Pittsburgh and my later childhood was in San Diego.  My wife, Vicki, and I raised our family in Chicago.  Like my of my buyers, We got tired of the cold weather and high expenses of big city life.  We couldn't wait to move to Bluffton.

Charter One Realty: Please tell us about your neighborhood and your home.

Scott Collins: Vicki and I moved to Hampton Lake in Bluffton. We fell in love with all the amenities, laid back lifestyle, the freshwater lake, and all the friendliest neighbors we ever met!

Charter One Realty: Can you tell us why your community is so special to you?

Scott Collins: To us, Hampton Lake is a relaxed, easy-going neighborhood with outstanding amenities.  It is like living in a resort year-round!

Charter One Realty: How would you describe the vibe in the Lowcountry?

Scott Collins: The vibe of the Lowcountry is very relaxed and easy-going.  People that live here love the outdoors and all the water. The beauty of our area still sometimes makes me just stop a minute and stare.  Every day, I see something beautiful here. And the Carolina blue sky is simply amazing!

Charter One Realty: Do you have a personal motto or mantra that guides you?

Scott Collins: My motto hasn't changed from the beginning of my real estate career and it pertains to my clients, past, current, and future. " A Name You Can  Trust-A Reputation You Can count On!"  That is my promise to all of my clients.

Charter One Realty: Please complete the sentence: “Home wouldn’t be home without . . .”

Scott Collins: My wonderful family!