Love, Loyalty & Respect

Family-owned buyer · Tampa Bay & South Georgia

We buy land, old homes & businesses in distress.

ERNELL Group is a family-owned buyer of land, older homes, distressed businesses and property. We're a local, family-values alternative to big corporate buyers. You talk to the owner, and we try to keep your family's legacy in mind.

No pressure and no obligation. As-is is fine. If you'd rather we not contact you again, just say so.

Illustration of open land, an older two-story home and a small family storefront
What we buy

Property with a story, in any condition

Our main focus is land acquisition, real estate acquisition and development, in Tampa Bay, Florida and South Georgia.

Our main focus

Land & acreage

Rural acreage, vacant lots, inherited land, family farms and land with back taxes or no clear plan.

How it works: we look up the parcel, check zoning, flood and access with the county, then talk through a purchase, seller financing or a partnership.

As-is

Old & distressed homes

Older homes, inherited houses, vacant properties and homes that need repairs. No need to fix or clean anything first.

How it works: tell us about the house, we walk it with you, and we make a written offer for you to review with your attorney.

Keep the legacy alive

Distressed businesses

Family businesses in trouble, and owners who are retiring or ready for a transition and want the name and the people looked after.

How it works: a private conversation about what you've built and what matters to you, then a transition plan you're comfortable with.

Commercial

Commercial & yard property

Contractor yards, industrial and heavy-commercial lots, and buildings with truck access, about 1 to 10+ acres.

How it works: we confirm the zoning and allowed uses with the county, check access for trucks, then discuss terms.

More about what we buy

Why sell to a family business

Not a corporation. A family that respects yours.

Big corporate buyers run on volume. We'd rather do fewer deals and do them right.

  • You talk to us directly

    No call centers or layers of middlemen. You deal with the owner, Shawn Clayton, from the first call to the end.

  • Your family legacy matters

    Land, homes and businesses often carry generations of work. We try to keep that in mind in how we buy, build and run things.

  • No pressure, ever

    Take your time, ask questions, talk to your family and your attorney. "Not right now" is a fine answer.

  • Flexible terms may be possible

    Depending on the property, we're open to a straightforward purchase, seller financing, an option, or a partnership.

  • Honest and in writing

    We check the facts with the county before making an offer, and everything goes in writing with an attorney and title company involved.

  • We aim to move quickly

    We'll be upfront about each step and what we still need to check, so you're never left guessing.

Land acquisition & development

Building on solid ground

Our long-term plan is to acquire land and develop it responsibly: land that becomes homes, yards and working property for the community, rather than another line on a corporate spreadsheet.

Mark Orton Lane · Colquitt County, GA

A 33.32-acre property where ERNELL Group is exploring a land development opportunity with the landowner.

Generic illustration of a rural land parcel outline with trees and road frontage
  1. Now

    Land & real estate acquisition

    Buying land, older homes, distressed businesses and yard property in Tampa Bay and South Georgia.

  2. Now

    Development

    Exploring development opportunities with landowners, starting in Colquitt County, Georgia.

  3. Long-term goal

    A paving company

    Crews, trucks and a yard, built on Shawn's 14+ years in asphalt and paving.

How it works

Four simple steps

  1. Tell us about it

    Send the form below or email us. A county or address and a few details are enough to start.

  2. We talk and look

    A conversation with the owner, then we check public records and visit the property with you.

  3. Written offer or plan

    If it's a fit, you get a written offer or proposal. Review it with your family and your attorney.

  4. Close the right way

    An attorney or title company handles the closing. No surprises, no pressure.

AI services for Florida paving contractors

Built by a paving guy. Powered by AI.

We also set up simple AI tools for paving, sealcoating and striping contractors. They're listed below from the fastest to get going to the ones that take longer to set up. AI doesn't replace your eye for a job. It replaces the typing.

1

Estimate & bid drafting, per job

Send the measurements, plans or photos and your prices. We return a draft estimate with scope, quantities, line items and exclusions. You review it and send it.

Why it's fast: same day to 2 days per estimate, job by job.
2

AI estimate template + quote follow-up

A branded estimate template, an AI setup loaded with your unit prices, follow-up messages for day 2, 5 and 10, and a 30-minute training.

Why it's fast: set up and delivered in 1 to 2 days.
3

Google Business Profile + reviews

Profile cleanup (services, service area, photos), ready-to-post updates, and an honest review-request routine with a QR card. No fake or paid reviews.

Why it's fast: 1 to 3 days. Some changes wait on Google's review.
4

Website with a quote form

A one-page site with your services, service area and a "Get a Free Estimate" form that sends leads straight to you.

Why it takes a bit longer: 2 to 4 days to write, build and test.
5

Done-for-you social posts

Posts written in your voice from your job photos, scheduled for Facebook, Instagram and Google, plus a monthly report with real numbers.

Why it's slower: the first week of posts in 2 to 3 days, then it builds month by month.
6

Missed-call text-back

People who call while you're on a job get a quick, polite text back, plus a list of missed callers to call back.

Why it's slowest: 2 to 7 days, because business texting registration can take days to approve.

We don't promise a set number of jobs. You own your Google profile, domain, phone number and data.

Free lead magnet

Your free 24-hour demo estimate

  1. Send one recent job: measurements, or an address and photos
  2. Share your unit prices, or we'll use sample prices clearly labeled SAMPLE
  3. We build a branded demo estimate and send it within 24 hours of getting your job info
  4. A 15-minute screen share, so you can decide if it saves you time

Complex or public bid packages can take longer, and we'll tell you up front. Demo estimates are drafts: you review, you set the price, you send it. Your numbers stay private.

Estimator's corner: the tonnage rule of thumb Shawn used for years:

Tons = SY × thickness (in) × 110 ÷ 2000

Example (math only): 1,200 SY at 1.5" ≈ 99 tons, before waste. Your plant's mix design is the real answer, so always verify.

Request a free demo estimate

For contractors. Selling property? Use the property form instead.

Example: about 2,400 sq ft lot, sealcoat plus crack fill, 2 coats, restripe 18 stalls.
Prices for the demo

Can't submit? Email info@ernellgroup.com.

About ERNELL

A family business, from the crew up

ERNELL Group is the business name of ERNELL LLC, a Florida company based in the St. Petersburg / Tampa Bay area and owned by Detaurius "Shawn" Clayton.

Shawn has spent 14+ years in asphalt and paving. He knows land, roads and hard work, and he knows what a family's property and business can mean to them. ERNELL tries to carry family values into every business, piece of land and property it touches.

Our motto says how we want to treat people: Love, Loyalty & Respect.

  • No hype, no fake reviews, no made-up results
  • No pressure. You decide, on your timeline.
  • Everything in writing, with an attorney involved
ERNELL crest: a shield with a city skyline, farm fields, a winding road, a house and a truck, under an ERNELL ribbon and the motto Love, Loyalty and Respect
Contact

Tell us about your property

Land, an old home, a business or a commercial lot. Tell us a little about it and we'll reply by email. There's no cost and no obligation.

  • Email: info@ernellgroup.com
  • Based in: St. Petersburg / Tampa Bay, FL · buying in Tampa Bay & South Georgia

Prefer email? Send the details by email instead.

ERNELL buys as a principal investor for its own account. We are not licensed real estate brokers or agents and don't represent you. Any offer we make is not an appraisal. We encourage you to talk with an attorney (and your family) before signing anything.
All agreements are reviewed by our attorney before signing.

Property details

A street address, a parcel ID, or just the county and state is fine.
Situation (optional, check any that apply)
Acreage, condition, who is on the title, what matters most to you. Anything you'd like us to know.

Can't submit? Email info@ernellgroup.com.