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This is Jennifer, or Jen, OR Mrs. Moxie.
Jen is a Real Estate Professional (I mean – *ahem* a Real Estate Superstar)
You have seen Jen here:
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:
And she is a mother:
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
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.