I grew up in Crystal Lake, Illinois about 45 minutes northwest of Chicago. Crystal Lake was, at the time, a small town on the border between farm country and heavy industry. Big buildings were and are part of the landscape of the Chicago area and the industrial North.
Summers while going to college were spent working in factories; big buildings and bastions of the economy. Remarkably, I somehow always seemed to end up in the “grinding” department of the factory, putting life and limb at risk. One machine I worked on had a vertical grinding element which occasionally would break and fly out of the machine like a bullet. I would hit the hard cement floor as if it were a Serta mattress so as to not meet an early demise. I think OSHA somehow overlooked that machine.
At the time, I did not appreciate the wonder of the manufacturing industry and the sprawling factories and warehouses that dotted the landscape off the Tri-state Tollway between Chicago and Gary, Indiana, and on into Michigan. As a Realtor who specializes in office and Industrial real estate, I have come to appreciate their appeal. It’s been said, “Do what you love and you won’t have to work a day in your life.” I love selling and leasing Big Buildings.
When selling or leasing an industrial building, there are many things that need to be taken into account. How high are the ceilings? If you’re storing large inventories, the cubic feet may be as important as the square feet. What kind of power capabilities? With most industrial users, the amperage, volts, and power phase are essential elements of the building. How many loading docks, what type of docks, levelers, and forklift ramps is the language of the industry. Door height, width, and number of grade and dock-level doors are part of an Industrial user’s equation. Though it’s not always known, the thickness of the floor can be a factor determining if a company can utilize the space. Having all this information in your marketing materials may mean the difference in a sale or lease being executed or not.
When I first contemplated putting together the Big Buildings Newsletter, I jokingly referred to it as Big Ugly Buildings. If one appreciates function over style, however, they are edifices of beauty. When we see how these properties affect the health of the local economies, they are even more appealing. Take a look at the Big Buildings in my listings. Then let me know if you’d like to take a tour of these big lovelies. For me, it will be like reliving my childhood.
As a resident of Gainesville since 1971, I have seen the real estate market in this emerging city grow at a rapid pace. My personal knowledge of the area makes me highly adept at finding the right home at the right price for buyers, and at pricing homes to sell quickly. I have more than 25 years of real estate experience in Gainesville and handle both residential and commercial transactions. Over the years, I have honed my real estate skills by
earning the GRI and CSP designations and becoming a broker. With Coldwell Banker MM Parrish, I became a Sr. Vice President.
I am well respected by my fellow agents in the Gainesville real estate community. I served as president of the Gainesville-Alachua County Association of Realtors (GACAR) in 2002 and have held several other leadership positions over the years. I was named GACAR’s Realtor for the Year in 2000.
I am married with two wonderful children.
Perry Pursell is a veteran commercial real estate professional. Serving the Gainesville market since 1986, Perry has a wide range of commercial expertise including retail, office, industrial, land, and management. Most recently as a RE/MAX agent he was recognized as a Hall of Fame Agent (over one million dollars in commissions) and a Platinum Producer. “As important as his accomplishments,” says Beery, “Is the tremendous respect Perry has earned in the industry. He is a total professional with a fun personality and someone who will be a pleasure to work with on a daily basis.”
For Perry, “I’ve had a successful career running my own show and have enjoyed every minute of it. That being said, I am a big fan of being part of a strong team, especially one that’s composed of the top talent in the area with a vision for the future that is nothing but exciting. It’s like that saying, ‘The whole is greater than the sum of its parts’. Being part of the culture of success that Beau and Todd are creating will make me a better Realtor. My goal is that my contributions will only make the whole team stronger. In the end, our clients will reap the benefits.”
Some of Perry’s major transactions include the lease and sale of the Veterans Administration (VA) Project Honor, a 20,000 square foot office building on Hawthorne Road, the VA Pain Clinic on NW 98th Street, the sale of the former Winn Dixie Plaza to Alachua County for The Alachua County Sheriff’s office, the new Sinmat location in the Northwest Industrial Park, the warehouse location for Exactech in the Northwood Industrial Park, the sale of the former Campus USA Delta Operations Center to Trade PMR, and countless other sales and leases. In 2011 he was awarded the “Innovative Marketing Award” by his fellow commercial Realtors. Perry believes that part of the reason for his success is that he’s an active community member. He’s president of the Downtown Rotary Club, a past director for three years of the Gainesville Alachua County Association of Realtors (GACAR). He’s the Current and past Chairman of the Commercial Investment Committee for GACAR. Additionally, he is a long-standing member of the Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce and a contributor to the Momentum 2015 program of the Council for Economic Outreach.
Perry is especially proud of his two children Paul and Sara. Paul is a resident of Gainesville and works at Haile Plantation Animal Hospital. Sara is a graduate of the Florida International University School of Business Honors Program and currently resides in Brisbane, Australia. Originally from Crystal Lake, Illinois Perry loves to travel and came to Gainesville after living in the Florida Keys. He says it’s no accident that he’s an avid fisherman.
Contact Perry Pursell
Office 352.264.3740
Cell 352.665.9731
Great experience. All the right things done to market the property and done very quickly. Resulted in fast offer and closing which makes everyone happy.
All went well VERY HAPPY!!!!
Thank you for a wonderful selling experience of our commercial building in Lake City! From listing to closing, Mr. Pursell and Mr. Riley were professional, courteous, patient, and efficient. We had three. Prospective buyers/renters within days, and sold and closed within three months. Thank you all for your efforts, and your long drive from Gainesville to Lake City!
Property Address Price | |
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![]() | 1 Story(s) | 95,210 SqFt | 0 Office SqFt $4,500,000 |
![]() | 0 Building(s) | 13,244 SqFt | 17 Unit(s) $3,900,000 |
![]() | Zoning | 185.00 Acre(s) $2,500,000 |
Property Address | Details |
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4445 SW 35th Terrace 470 & 480 Gainesville, FL 32608 | 1 Story(s) | 3,700 SqFt | 0 Office SqFt |
7042 NW 10th Place Gainesville, FL 32601 | 1 Story(s) | 2,000 SqFt | 0 Office SqFt |
14652 NW 27th Avenue Newberry, FL 32669 | 3 Bed(s) | 2 Total Bath(s) | 1,505 SqFt |
Property Address | Details |
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2555 SW 76 Street 130 Gainesville, FL 32608 | 1 Story(s) | 3,967 SqFt | 0 Office SqFt |
1730 NW 53rd Avenue Gainesville, FL 32609 | 1 Story(s) | 3,200 SqFt | 0 Office SqFt |
2555 SW 76 Street 130 Gainesville, FL 32608 | 1 Story(s) | 3,967 SqFt | 0 Office SqFt |