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This is Jennifer, or Jen, OR Mrs. Moxie.

Jen Ingool

Jen is a Real Estate Professional (I mean – *ahem* a Real Estate Superstar)

Jennifer Ingool Real Estate Agent Long and Foster Canton

You have seen Jen here:

My Life is a Home Project

And here:

How to Texture a Ceiling :: One Example

And here (also for Mother’s Day):

Happy Mother’s Day Jen, Let’s Refinish the Porch

You see, Jen is my wife:

Jen Ingool and JB Bartkowiak Thanksgiving 2010

And she is a mother:

Jen Ingool and Evyn and Eva

I sometimes call her Jenny.

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So with Mother’s Day upon us and remembering back to those posts above, maybe it’s time I give her a little bit of the BMoxie spotlight.  First – and let’s state this for the record: She does absolutely nothing for this site.  In most cases, and some of you have heard this (sorry,Jen), she doesn’t want anything to do with it.  A woman’s prerogative I guess.  And maybe it is not the fairest statement, because she has a bigger impact than I often lead on.

It is just how we are, our life . . . and it has pretty much been this way since we started dating:

The Moxies Do, well, House Stuff

jb bartkowiak & jennifer ingool w/plastic bags on heads

This picture sits on the buffet in our dining room, 1999. (A pre-smart phone selfie.)

Yep, and just like that, plastic shopping bags on our heads (re-purposed while painting a textured ceiling).  I mean — we live with, well . . . construction.  And I knew what I was getting into, I guess, and possibly it was the reason that we (while maybe some others didn’t) worked out.  You see – it’s in her blood.  This house thing.  That’s right – her mother Vera . . . a full-on DIY original . . . who ultimately built a nice little business for herself.  And while we (apart from what we do individually) might be following (very slowing) down Vera’s path, in the mean time – real estate seems a logical good fit for Jen.  After all, and it’s simple, Jen has a passion for it.

And before I delve into a short Q&A, gonna say first – I often step back and marvel at how well she juggles it all (and manages to put up with me).  And though I don’t say it enough, maybe, she’s a pretty kick-ass mom.  I hope our little princessitects would agree.  I mean — Moms make the “Home,” wouldn’t you a say? (Really, wouldn’t you say?) And it is really tough, I can tell you, to make a home when all you have done, for say 12 years, is work on the/a house.  But she does it.  And I want to thank Jenny for that.

Thank you Jenny.  (Am I off the hook for that necklacey thing, now? and anyway….)

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Now for a Brief Interview Segment with Mrs Moxie

BMoxie:  You have been slamming with real estate lately; what’s the deal, Why?

Jen Ingool:  Business breeds business.  For example, I was volunteering at a recent school event and was talking randomly about how the market has improved.  I gave a little bit of advice to one of the woman who was also volunteering.  A few weeks later I had a new listing.  Spring, too, more people are looking to do something as the weather improves.  Plus I have been getting more calls off of my website.  (<< Editor’s aside:  Surely because of all the link love that this site has given her.  Surely.)

BMoxie:  What is the hardest part of being a real estate agent? What about real estate agents is often under-appreciated?

Jen Ingool:  Having to be available allllll the time. All the work we do that we often do not get paid for.  We only got paid if a property goes to the settlement table.  And we get a lot of stuff that just goes nowhere.

BMoxie:  What is the best part of being a real estate agent?

Jen Ingool:  Not having to go sit at a desk.  Yes, we get paid very well for time we put in, but again only if a house settles.  Plus I love houses, and I love seeing all the houses.

BMoxie:  Do you get inspiration for your own home from these houses?  I mean — Do you think being a real estate agent helps you with your own home improvements?

Jen Ingool:  Of course I get inspiration from the houses I see for our house . . . but truthfully it’s more – “Oh remind me not to do that.”  It’s more things not to do.  It helps us too with value appraisal, though you know, we don’t always follow my own advice.  But I learn and know what not to waste money on.

BMoxie: Do you think your experience with home improvement helps you as a real estate agent?

Jen Ingool: Duh!

BMoxie: What’s it like living with a total stud muffin? What is your favorite part of doing home improvement together?

Jen Ingool: Oh Gawd! Eye Roll.  (Really, she said “eye roll”) When the grand mom can take the girls over night.  And completing stuff.  Honestly, I don’t love the remodeling stuff as much as I used to.  I usually want to do stuff like make curtains, frame and hang artwork . . . stuff like that.  So I guess my answer is:  Paying other people to do it.  I much rather take the time to be with my family and do fun stuff with them.

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Thanks to Jen for taking the time to interview with us.  Hopefully you found something useful here and I officially want to wish all the mothers out there a Happy Mother’s Day. What you do doesn’t go unnoticed.  Look for more reflections from other mothers later in the week, (fingers crossed) I hope.  Thanks for reading.  ~jb

To see more of Mrs Moxie in action, check out recaps of her first two house flips posted here. The Bride of Building Moxie Flips Houses & Mrs Moxie Flips Out Again.