Guru Lauren Hewitt with FC Tucker

Rick Ripma: 0:00

Welcome to Indy's Real Estate Gurus, your ultimate guide to the dynamic world of real estate in Indiana. And I'm recruited by your hard work and mortgage guy and I've been in real estate and mortgages for over 24 years.

Ian Arnold: 0:13

And I'm Ian Arnold, a loan officer on Rick's hard working mortgage. We're both with advisors Mortgage Group together will empower you with expert advice market trends is Bestival stories from Guru realtors and local experts. Whether you're a homeowner and investor or pro, join us as we navigate the thriving in the real estate market. Now get ready to unlock the doors of success. One episode at a time. All right. Hey, Lauren, thank you for joining us. And let's get into a little bit about what did you do before real estate?

Lauren Hewitt: 0:49

Sure. I actually had two careers before real estate. So after I graduated college, I started my career in New York City in the art world, selling really, really expensive artwork and working with some of the most renowned artists mistakes of the 20th and 21st centuries, and I was in their PR and communication department. I then, so I was there for about six years. And then when I got engaged my husband, I moved to Chicago and I shifted career slightly. And I started working at a branding and marketing agency. On the Account side, so client services side of things, and working with companies like AON Hewitt and Allstate and Old Town School of folk music, a really wide range of companies just helping them develop their marketing strategy.

Rick Ripma: 1:49

Before we go too far down that path. So right now you're with FC Tucker, correct? And how long have you been with them?

Lauren Hewitt: 1:57

Just over five years, just

Rick Ripma: 1:58

over five years. So you've and you're doing phenomenally well. That's why, you know, we we really make sure that people who come on and really know what they're doing, and you're doing phenomenally well. And you were able to do that coming from New York. And then now did you grow up here is this I did not grow up. So you don't have? So how? How did you get going in real estate? What made you switch to real estate? And how did you get going?

Lauren Hewitt: 2:20

Sure. So I had started actually studying for the real estate exam when I lived in Chicago. And then I had my second child and things got a little crazy. And a couple months later, we wound up moving to Indy. And I kind of thought, if I'm going to try this career now is now is the time. And so, you know, to your point, right, I did not grow up here, I did not have a network here, I really didn't know many people at all. And so really, that was my initial step was to try to build a sphere, which I did through open houses, and I would conduct two to three open houses every weekend, pretty much.

Rick Ripma: 3:07

So open houses I know work really well. And I know, especially you know, I, these are the newer agents that we're now going to start talking with a little bit just to, you know, find out about them also. But what would you what, what advice would you give to a newer agent on, on how to conduct an open house?

Lauren Hewitt: 3:29

Sure. For open houses, I really tried to focus on just making a good connection with people, the focus is more on quality versus quantity. And after doing them over and over, you start to understand what questions you can ask to help gauge where they are in their house buying journey. And you know, I'm very strategic, I was very strategic about the open houses that I chose and focusing on what areas I wanted my future business to be in, and also what open houses I felt would perform well on social media, of course, with the listing agents permission, and, you know, just just trying to meet people where they are and forming that really genuine, genuine, authentic connection, I think is the most important thing. And then, and most important, really is the follow up just consistently following up. Yeah,

Rick Ripma: 4:29

it's amazing how many people think that what you do is really about real estate and it really isn't about real estate. It's really about communicating and and people.

Lauren Hewitt: 4:38

That's absolutely correct. Yeah.

Rick Ripma: 4:41

And, and so that I mean that to me, that's the most valuable thing you can do. And that's kind of what you did. It also it's the other thing I always like to point out is you worked you know, it's it's I think people sometimes miss that and that that's what you it's, it's not always obviously what What you do matters, but you got to do something.

Lauren Hewitt: 5:02

Yeah, I, I don't think there's some huge secret sauce in real estate. It's really the people who put the work in will eventually see the results, as long as you're working smartly and strategically and are intentional, intentional about what you're doing.

Ian Arnold: 5:21

And so did you have any mentors when you first got in?

Lauren Hewitt: 5:26

I think my managers from my brokerage have always been a really great support system for me as far as real estate goes. But I didn't have like a specific mentor.

Ian Arnold: 5:39

Yeah, it's interesting on how people one they choose their mentors or even like, who you define as mentor. So it's interesting, Rick made this comment, because he talked to his son one time is the whole, you got lateral mentors, and you got upper mentors, and just you work in a Tucker office. And one thing we know about talker people, they like to show up and work in there. So

Lauren Hewitt: 6:04

Oh, yeah, I think it's really important. As far as who you surround yourself with? And I mean, absolutely, I think there are so many incredible agents at fc Tucker, and also specifically within the Carmel office, and just showing up every day and asking questions and trying to, you know, understand from them, what has worked and what hasn't, and just, you know, staying diligent, yeah.

Ian Arnold: 6:35

So what made you choose working at Tucker? What, what, what caught your eye there?

Lauren Hewitt: 6:40

I think I knew that. Because I had just moved to the area, and I didn't, you know, have huge name recognition or anything like that I wanted to be affiliated with a brand that had really strong brand recognition. And in my opinion, I mean, Tucker has the absolute strongest local brand around. And, you know, their level of expertise is also, I think, really superior. And I appreciated all of those resources, and also just their network and everything that they had to offer, it was the whole package.

Rick Ripma: 7:20

Yeah, I personally is kind of off that subject a little bit. I personally, I'd show up at that office, because you're you're right on the moon on in Carmel. And it is, as we're talking off air, it is one of the most gorgeous offices I've ever seen. It's just absolutely stunning. It's worth going to visit you just to see the office. Absolutely.

Lauren Hewitt: 7:40

And keep in mind, I had moved here from after living into cities where I never even needed a car. I don't actually own a car until like maybe six months before I moved here. And you can walk everywhere. From there. It's so central, there's just a lot going on around you. And so it really feels like you are in the heart of Carmel. And that's where I wanted my business to be. And I wanted to have that energy to really work off of,

Rick Ripma: 8:10

it's not only that, you've got all that which I love. And there was a car show was this weekend, I'm into cars. So of course I went to the car show. And we parked in the garage where you right there because because that's where I always go, you know, I know where to park there. And it's just, it's such a wonderful feeling to walk around that area. And to I don't know, it just there's something about it that Carmel did a very good job in that in that area.

Lauren Hewitt: 8:40

Yeah. So when I started working in that office, Midtown Plaza, was not even finished being built yet. And, and so I think, you know, all of the development that Carmel has done over the past 20 years. So I was new to town when we moved here, but my parents had moved here when I was in college, so they've been here for over 20 years. So this has been sort of a home base for a long time. So I was familiar with the area and had seen all of the all of the development going on in Carmel and that area, especially they've done such an incredible job with as far as the city planning and the intentionality with how they built things and what they put there and who in the audience that they're targeting.

Rick Ripma: 9:24

And there's parking. Yeah, you know, that's a big deal. I know it sounds so silly, but I live in Carmel, but I'm on the all the way in the border on on Boone in Boone County for Boone County and so Zionsville is very close. So we go into downtown Zionsville downtown Zionsville can be very difficult to get around. It's a beautiful little quaint little town, but it's hard to park it's hard to do a lot of things karma was not karma was very easy. I think I think the parking is a is a big deal. But I'm getting to my question is how do you think that the value of what karma has done there and some of the other things things that they've done. That value adds to the to the housing market here in Carmel.

Lauren Hewitt: 10:06

Oh, sure, I think that making a decision to buy a home in Carmel is a very, very smart investment there. I mean, the amount that they have already done in Carmel, just over the past 20 years or so is really incredible. And to see what else they have planned future forward, it just, I mean, it is so thoughtfully planned out and in a way that will continue to attract people and jobs. And all of that plays into the economy here with the goal of also keeping property taxes low. And I just think the city has so much to offer by means of, you know, opportunity as far as just economic growth and things for families to do and you know, things for people really of all ages to do. So. Yeah, yeah.

Rick Ripma: 11:11

And you have small children.

Lauren Hewitt: 11:14

I have an eight year old, a six year old and a one year old,

Rick Ripma: 11:17

that's considered small to me. Does that keep you busy?

Lauren Hewitt: 11:21

It does. It does. Yeah. How

Rick Ripma: 11:23

do you juggle that with real estate?

Lauren Hewitt: 11:25

I mean, it's a constant juggling act, but you know, just finding ways to involve them in my business if I need to, you know, I mean, after I had the baby, I'm like how I, you know, I didn't have a lot of time to really go out and have lunches with clients or coffees because I, you know, he's a newborn and taking care of him. So I would start inviting, like, my clients over to my house for brunch and dinners every weekend, and any excuse I could to really see people and, you know, I sponsor my kids soccer teams, and it's just, you know, it's part of your life. It's sort of a seamless blend. And, you know, you try your best to balance but it's constant juggling act. Yeah.

Ian Arnold: 12:16

Yeah, we'll say so since you've been in the industry for roughly five years, it is kind of nice that the kids are growing up with it. A couple of reasons is the first one is just because they get to see one, how their mom works. I mean, it's not like, you go to work while they're at school, and you're always working. But it's that part that they get to sometimes go with you. And like, Oh, I gotta go unlock this house. So somebody can walk through it and show it and everything. And your eight year olds like, oh, yeah, do you see this nice bathroom?

Lauren Hewitt: 12:50

Yeah, I mean, occasionally, like, I, I don't really bring my kids on showings, like, ever. Unless, it once in a blue moon, like, if I have to, I will. But I do think, you know, obviously, there's mom guilt for not being around all the time, because real estate is a 24/7 job. And a lot of it is evenings and weekends. But, you know, I think they see, I hope they see my work ethic. And I think they, you know, their perception is often on Mommy, like, surely you're like involved in everything or, you know, everyone you know, and, and so I hope that they see that that work ethic and that that inspires them. And not that's what I hope is the takeaway, ultimately. So

Ian Arnold: 13:41

I want them to be able to say you know, a lot more people. So if somebody's listening to this, and they'd like to either buy or sell or just talk real estate with you, what's the easiest way they can contact you

Lauren Hewitt: 13:53

can call me 317-527-6033 can email me at Lauren dot Hewitt at talk to tucker.com. I have a Facebook page, I have an Instagram account. So if you put my name on Google, it will come up Lauren Hewitt. Yeah. And how do you spell UHEWI? TT?

Ian Arnold: 14:14

Oh, that's easy, Ricky when you could do that?

Rick Ripma: 14:15

Well, yeah, I was thinking that's not how I spell it, I spell it wrong. So that's how I do things, you know. And to get a hold of the inner I got a HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com That's HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com. Or you give us a call at 31767 to 1938. That's 31767 to 1938. So I've got a you have your you have your kids and you're able to separate that which is which is can't be easy. How do you How are you able to do that? Well, let's go to a different question. How? Obviously one thing about having having kids get you like we knew a lot more people when we had kids because our kids you get to know their kid It's parents, and then your your you go to the soccer games and all that. How does that benefit you and your business?

Lauren Hewitt: 15:07

Well, I'm I think, you know, it's an honor to be able to help people in your community. And so, you know, it's, it's just pretty cool when when you have a personal connection, I mean, most of my business is through referrals. And so it's someone that I know or have worked with before. And so I think, and that is the goal, you know, to be able to inspire enough competence and trust. And for people to be happy with the experience, and that's a goal is for those referrals to keep generating business for me.

Rick Ripma: 15:48

Yeah, I think it's so valuable to be able to have a job where you can go, and you can go to your kids game. And you it's not that you're working. But everybody wants to know about real estate, who doesn't want to know about real estate? What the markets doing? I got to think it's an easy conversation.

Lauren Hewitt: 16:07

Yeah, I mean, I think there is always a fascination somehow with the market and with homes in general. And so, yeah, of course, it will come up and conversation often. And yeah, you know, I think we have limited time. So if there is a way to, you know, find instances that crossover between business and family, that's great. So, yeah,

Ian Arnold: 16:36

all right. So I know you got the three kids, young kids, but let's, let's get to know you a little bit more. If I were to take away your phone, you cannot work for 24 hours. What do we catch you doing for fun?

Lauren Hewitt: 16:49

Oh, gosh, that sounds amazing.

Rick Ripma: 16:54

I'm gonna kill you

Lauren Hewitt: 16:55

know, I mean, I love exploring and walking, hiking, reading. I think I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I wasn't working for that long period of time. But I mean, I like to travel. I love to cook. And yeah, I mean, most of my time is spent with my family. That is number one. So that is typically where you'll find me is with the kids.

Ian Arnold: 17:22

Yep, I understand. So do your kids like hiking and going like nature trails and stuff? They do? Yeah. So we your kids are close to our age or my kids age. So our age? Yeah, for eight and six. Hold. We recently introduced our kids to orienteering, which is they put like little checkpoints through a park and they give you a map and a compass and the kids have to figure a way to get to each checkpoint in your time. Wow, my kids love that because they're in the woods. They're just making up their own trails. And so I highly recommend that.

Lauren Hewitt: 18:00

Interesting. I have to check it out.

Rick Ripma: 18:01

So where do you take them hiking? Or where do you like to go hiking?

Lauren Hewitt: 18:06

Sometimes we go to Eagle Creek or I mean, just around the neighborhood. I mean, you know, nothing too crazy. Yeah, just whatever.

Rick Ripma: 18:14

Yeah, that's yeah, we my kids are really into birds. Okay, so when I say that my eldest son owns a bird tour company takes people all over the world birding. My middle son is a birder and he takes he's a tour guide from older sign to Plus, he's a field biologist, so they're really into that. The other one is in Chicago. Oh, wow. Yeah. He's a he's an A. I can never remember what they call. Yeah, he's investment banking is what he was in. But now he's in. I can't remember. Anyway, he Yeah,

Lauren Hewitt: 18:45

we spent a lot of time at like the parks and playgrounds and Carmel. And that's usually where you can find me with them.

Rick Ripma: 18:53

That's not the Carmel specifically worked on. I was on the karma Planning Commission for seven years. And karma this I'm very impressed with what what's happened and I've been in Carmel since 1990. And I've just very impressive. That's one of the things they realized they had a lack of parks. Do you feel like we have a lack of parks now?

Lauren Hewitt: 19:13

Oh, not at all. So many so many amazing playgrounds and parks? Yeah,

Rick Ripma: 19:18

there's I mean, everything is great. And near you. You've got phenomenal parks. My wife used to do the bluebird boxes because she's the burger and family at the West Park, okay. Love that.

Lauren Hewitt: 19:34

They have some really neat ones at West Park too. So they have that little playground that's hidden in the in the woods with the zipline. It's really neat. And then they just redid the other part. The other playground in West Park, too.

Rick Ripma: 19:46

So yeah, they've added space. They're trying to get the bicycle. I like to ride so they're trying to get the bicycle paths. Okay, yeah, people call them walking paths I call you probably call them a walking path, right like walk I like to ride. But anyway So let's get back to business. What would you say your superpower or superpowers are?

Lauren Hewitt: 20:07

I would say my superpower is probably my drive and just this continual pursuit for excellence.

Rick Ripma: 20:16

And, and so when you're when you're how does that show up to your customers?

Lauren Hewitt: 20:23

I think that I mean, I'm giving 1,000% For everything that I do very thorough. Very, always, always trying to figure out how I can give the best possible experience, researching options for them. You know, very detailed, very comprehensive, and everything that I do. Yeah,

Rick Ripma: 20:53

that's extremely important. In real estate, especially, there's so many things that there's so many pieces to the puzzle that people don't actually see. In fact, that's a great question we like to ask. So what are some of the misconceptions that customers have of what a real estate actually, a real estate agent actually does?

Lauren Hewitt: 21:12

Sure, I think that there is a common misconception that in a real estate agent's job is to open the door, to see a house right showing houses. But really, that is just like, the smallest percentage of our job, even within a transaction. So I think that our days are usually divided between the aspect of actually running a business and then working with clients in transactions. And within those transactions, you know, finding a home is absolutely an important part and, you know, listening to clients and understanding what their goals and needs are. But a huge part of the job is, once you're under contract, on either side, from listing or buying side actually making it to the closing table. So for me, I mean, like, 99.9% of all my career transactions have closed, and you know, so so just always helping people get from point A to point B, smoothly and quickly. And I think I lost track of what question

Rick Ripma: 22:26

it? Well, you answered it, because it's about there's so many misconceptions out there. Yeah. And and I think it's important, you know, somebody who's very detailed, like you won't miss those all the details, right? Because there's a lot.

Lauren Hewitt: 22:45

Yeah, I mean, I think I think that you have to be both good at seeing the bigger picture and mapping, helping your clients map out a strategy, but then also being really good with the details and understanding the nuances and implications of every opportunity and decision that they need to make. So you know, really, my goal is to be a partner for my clients. It is their job to make decisions, you know, and in I know, it's this phrase of, you know, the biggest decision of their life is tossed around a lot. But really, it is a huge financial decision, and where they're going to spend most of their days if they're buying, and if they're selling, you know, being able to get them top dollar. And so those decisions are decisions that I think it's important that they make. And so my job is, is to be able to help empower them and educate them to make those decisions, and really using my expertise and my constant, you know, drive for excellence and desire to learn more, and just be really expert at what I do in order to help inform them.

Ian Arnold: 24:02

So you mentioned that basically, showing a home is like, maybe one or 2% of what you actually do. So what do you spend? What do you think you spend most of your time throughout the day doing?

Lauren Hewitt: 24:15

Managing expectations?

Ian Arnold: 24:19

That's a good one. No, I

Lauren Hewitt: 24:20

mean, really, that's, that's in thinking creatively about, you know, problem solving, too, especially in this market, I think and, but, you know, it's there always timelines that you're up against. And the really cool thing about real estate is that every transaction is different. And each transaction has its own unique set of problems. And so helping solve those problems within a short timeframe in a way that helps both sides achieve their goals because, you know, it's you know, real estate is really a collaborative effort. Hurry. When you think about it between the buyer and the seller, we're both, both of them ultimately have the same goal and we're trying to get them there,

Rick Ripma: 25:08

they definitely have the same goal. One, one, you know, the seller wants to sell their house, the buyer wants to buy the house so that it's just, you know, there's there's times when it can be very contentious or difficult. And just from talking to you a little bit, I'm guessing that your personality helps a lot and keeping your customers calm.

Lauren Hewitt: 25:28

I mean, I think I learned very quickly, when I started this job, that that is like one of the most important characteristics of a realtor is to be able to be calm in a stressful situation, and to be able to find different ways of solving a problem when confronted with it. And not freaking out and just always been sort of that calm presence and helping people figure out what the solution is. And there is always a solution. It's just trying to figure out how to get there. Yeah.

Ian Arnold: 26:07

And I think that's one thing that's great about you working for Tucker, and it's just, you go in the office, you may be just making your phone calls, doing whatever, but then you your couple offices over you might hear somebody going through a situation, and then you learn how they did it. So that you know if that ever happens to you, you know how to get through it. Or you can ask somebody,

Lauren Hewitt: 26:30

sure, always learning from different agents and different experts in the field and knowing who to call. When for what? Absolutely, yeah.

Rick Ripma: 26:39

So have you sought, let's say you have a problem? What is your process and to helping that to making sure it's a smooth fix.

Lauren Hewitt: 26:49

So I think it's first understanding what the issue is actually getting to the heart of what the issue is not just what it appears to be on the surface, and asking questions, and helping to understand what your client wants out of something, you know, it might not always be what it seems on the surface. So getting to the bottom of that first. So defining what the problem is. And then, you know, researching or think brainstorming different ways to go about you're solving and in talking through my client with, what their options are, and what the potential implications might be for each of those paths.

Rick Ripma: 27:35

Yeah, I just, I just I look at those. And it's like, everybody has a different way. And like for me, and I think that's kind of what you said, the first thing I always do is I go okay, what are my what are my possible solutions? You know, I want to figure out, what are the solutions to this, you know, ABC, whatever it happens to be? And then I'm sorry, I lost my train of thought.

Lauren Hewitt: 28:01

I think I think we're talking about how you solve a problem. And for me, it's a lot of times about asking questions, honestly. And helping uncover different possible routes of going about something.

Rick Ripma: 28:16

Yeah. Asking questions is vital for pretty much everything I was, I was on a seminar, and they were talking about that. And they were saying, you know, how do you get? How do you get to any place if you don't ask questions, and then listen,

Lauren Hewitt: 28:28

yeah, that was another big that's the big key, right?

Rick Ripma: 28:32

Don't just sit there and think about what you're gonna say next. Right, right, right,

Ian Arnold: 28:35

right. No, we don't need to listen. What are you guys talking about? What do you say? Alright, so how would you describe your brand?

Lauren Hewitt: 28:44

My brand? I would say my brand is authentic and sophisticated. And that's a hard question to describe. I mean, I can tell you what my value proposition is for my business. But what is that to describe? My value proposition is expert guidance to empower today's homeowner.

Ian Arnold: 29:08

Did you call it that yourself? Or?

Lauren Hewitt: 29:10

Yeah, I did. Actually. That's awesome.

Rick Ripma: 29:13

All right. He's in market. You were in marketing, right?

Lauren Hewitt: 29:16

I was in marketing and branding strategy, which we're going to talk about that after

Rick Ripma: 29:19

you get through with your stuff.

Ian Arnold: 29:20

You tell me that I need to switch jobs? No. All right, well, I want somebody to get in contact with you whether they're looking to buy or sell their home. How would they get in contact with you?

Lauren Hewitt: 29:31

You can call me at 317-527-6033 or email me at Lauren dot Hewa at talk to tucker.com or you can follow me on Facebook or Instagram.

Ian Arnold: 29:43

And do you have a certain handle or is it just Lauren Hewitt?

Lauren Hewitt: 29:47

It's Lauren Hewitt with some underscores and dots. If you put my name in, you will find it. Yeah.

Rick Ripma: 29:52

And you and is he wi TT? That's correct. All right. And to get a hold of either I got a HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com That's HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com. You can look us our information up there, you can give us a call at 317-672-1938. That's 317-672-1938.

Ian Arnold: 30:10

All right, so, we always like to do the question of the week and this one might be kind of interesting. I'm writing. I think it's gonna be very interested. Okay. What was your first car?

Lauren Hewitt: 30:21

My first car was inherited from my dad. It was a green, sparkly Eagle Vision.

Rick Ripma: 30:31

An eagle vision Eagle.

Ian Arnold: 30:33

The First Eagle Vision we've had I can't even picture what an Eagle Vision is. Well, I

Rick Ripma: 30:37

sold Eagle visions. I worked. I ran that was John. Oh, geez. Eagle.

Ian Arnold: 30:41

So it's the Flintstone car?

Rick Ripma: 30:43

No, no, not that bad. No, but that. It wasn't a bad car.

Lauren Hewitt: 30:48

A good car. I Yeah. I inherited it. was back in high school. Yeah.

Rick Ripma: 30:54

Okay. It was green. It was green. Do you like green?

Lauren Hewitt: 31:01

My first choice for a car if I were picking but you know, so what

Rick Ripma: 31:05

color is your car today? Green? No, it's

Lauren Hewitt: 31:07

white. Why?

Ian Arnold: 31:08

I was gonna go black or white? Yeah,

Rick Ripma: 31:11

yeah, that's my favorite. I have a black card now. But mostly if I can I get a white car. I whites my favorite color on a car? I don't know why, but it is. So I love I think that's a great car. So what's your favorite car that you've had?

Lauren Hewitt: 31:26

My favorite car? I mean, keep in mind, I'm like a city person. So I for me, it's about utility really. I really have loved my Mazda CX nine. It's a good solid SUV drives like a car versus an SUV. It's got space for all my three kids and all of my all my staging materials and my signs and everything that comes along with real estate.

Rick Ripma: 31:52

They're remarkably big inside. They are. Yeah. When I was looking for a car, I looked at them and they were too big for me. Yeah, I didn't want something. I mean, it's more of a family car and my kids are all grown. So it's like, this is a it doesn't

Lauren Hewitt: 32:04

speak to that. But it doesn't drive like an SUV drives like a car. Yeah. That's

Rick Ripma: 32:10

why I really liked car. So most cars, I know exactly what you're talking about. I was waiting

Ian Arnold: 32:17

for to say Well, I haven't had a car until I moved here. lived in New York lived in

Lauren Hewitt: 32:21

I didn't I mean, we when we moved here we had like, we inherited my husband's like, grandmother's car in Chicago. And we it was like the perfect car for a city because it was a total beater. It was like a 99 Camry 97 Camry that had like 40,000 miles or something. Crazy. You know?

Rick Ripma: 32:45

That's nothing about a Camry. Yeah. You still have that car. Your kids could probably drive that car with? Oh, yeah, they could have. Yes. Yeah, that car is gonna be those cars last forever. Yes. It's interesting to me because my son lives in Chicago. And until they moved out of Chicago, they now live in Beverly, okay, it's part of Chicago. But it's it's way out till they did that. They didn't even have a car.

Lauren Hewitt: 33:12

Oh, yeah, we didn't have a car until like, maybe the last six months that we lived in the city or something like that

Rick Ripma: 33:21

was so expensive.

Lauren Hewitt: 33:22

Yeah, I mean, we didn't have parking, like, you know, we'd park on the street. So I think the side mirror got ripped off of that Camry like four times. By the end, it was like held on by like duct tape or something.

Ian Arnold: 33:38

So I have to ask. So since you moved to Carmel. So how long did it take? You get used to the roundabouts?

Lauren Hewitt: 33:46

Not very long. I mean, I did used to like when we would come here, I would use my parents car to drive around. But I think there I think the roundabouts are awesome, to be honest. I love them. I mean, I'm a big fan. I remember Carmel before there were roundabouts and after and you can just get from point A to point B so much faster. And like I drive my kids to preschool in Indianapolis. And it's like as soon as you cross that 96th Street border, like it's just the pace is so different. I mean, here you just fly,

Ian Arnold: 34:18

especially as I used to work off 96th Street before they had roundabouts and you'd hit every single light. And it would add like 15 more minutes at least. And now you just fly right on through. So I love them. So for all those roundabout haters out there, I don't care. I love them.

Rick Ripma: 34:39

I love them. But it's not only all those things, I think they're beautiful. They are they've done a great job of putting beautiful artwork in and yes,

Lauren Hewitt: 34:48

they're beautiful and they cut down on emissions and you know, you save energy costs and energy by not having stoplights so I think I love that focus on our infrastructure and just the foresight in in making sure that that is really well thought out and well planned out component of the city before they started developing more and more of the downtown and midtown and in, you know, we're landlocked in Carmel. So like, we can't expand east or west or north or south. And so eventually the only other option is density. Right. And so if you're going to increase density, then you need the infrastructure to support it. And I love that they have have mapped that out so carefully. Yeah,

Ian Arnold: 35:38

a lot of time. Just wait, you're gonna start expanding this upwards? Yeah, it's gonna be like the Jetsons.

Lauren Hewitt: 35:44

Right. But they have they've even thought through that, I think, think they are Brainerd has talked about how like, like they, they've researched other European cities. And so they won't build higher than like five or six storeys, because that is relationally. Like, the, the, the best way for a citizen to be able to like relate to the buildings in the street. And so I don't know, it's pretty neat. Yeah,

Rick Ripma: 36:12

they've done a really good job. And they spent a lot of time and effort to do it correctly. I know from being on the planning commission, how much effort they put into it.

Lauren Hewitt: 36:22

Yes, I'm sure you know even more about it than I do. But

Rick Ripma: 36:25

yeah, they did lots of you know, they'd go places and look at other other areas and figure out what they you know what they did that works. And, you know, some of it, you hear so many people upset about some of the things but I think a lot of the proof is in the pudding. Right. Now, how many places around here are starting to put roundabouts on their streets? Because they see how well they were?

Lauren Hewitt: 36:48

Oh, yeah, I agree. I totally agree. Yeah,

Rick Ripma: 36:51

we get we get made fun out for it. But hey, it is what it is. Right? Yeah. Yeah. All right. So

Ian Arnold: 36:59

what do you think your most memorable deal was?

Lauren Hewitt: 37:03

My most memorable deal? So I think I mean, there are things that stand out in every transaction. I, I had one transaction that early on, where it was like a $100,000 listing and the appliances were, and like the H fac, were stolen out of it three times while we were on the market. So that was a memorable one. On the flip side, I had one last year kind of in the height of the market, where we had so much interest in traffic that it showed up actually as a traffic jam on Google Maps. Oh, you're kidding. Yeah. Wow. Yeah. Cars just parked like all throughout the neighborhood. Wow. Yeah.

Rick Ripma: 37:54

That is crazy. I knew is it was a crazy, busy, busy back.

Lauren Hewitt: 37:58

Yeah. And that that sale was one that was the first sale to hit and and exceed a million in the neighborhood, which is pretty cool. Well, yeah.

Rick Ripma: 38:10

So so but how do you remember how many offers you had on that

Lauren Hewitt: 38:13

house? Probably 2020.

Rick Ripma: 38:15

It's just amazing to me to hear some of the stories from then. Yeah, about how many offers how much over list price? Oh, yeah, those kinds of things. I had a friend of mine. He's an agent out of Zionsville. And he, he said, Yeah, he lost the deal. They offered 75,000 over and they lost it to somebody offered like 150,000 over

Lauren Hewitt: 38:35

Oh, yeah, I've had some transactions go$200,000 above list price. And yeah, it was it's been a pretty interesting market. And so I think, for that reason, just with the challenges of this particular market, I think working with someone who is really expert is so important.

Rick Ripma: 38:57

I was an expert, organized. I mean, you have to be I think that had to be one of the biggest challenges back when it was that busy. Is how do you manage 20 offers?

Lauren Hewitt: 39:08

Oh, yeah, I mean, I had transactions that had more than 20 offers. And I remember staying up literally until like 2am sorting through all of them and putting them in spreadsheets and helping. I mean, I mean, people don't understand they think, you know, oh, you're just gonna go with the offer with the highest price. Well, that's not always the best offer, you know, their purchase agreement is like eight or nine pages. And so there are so many different elements of an offer and having an agent help you understand what what each of those components is about and how that will could potentially impact them and you know, what they can do to mitigate their risk and that's really important.

Rick Ripma: 39:56

So how did you how did you do that? I I'd probably better how did you present that? Because you'd have 20 offers. So you'd lay it out in a spreadsheet? How, how do you present an offer? Like how is it different today than then maybe back then that when you presented an offer?

Lauren Hewitt: 40:12

Well, I think that I mean, so as an agent, it's our duty to present all offers to clients, no matter when they're, when they're received. So obviously, you present all the offers, but But you have to be able to help summarize in translate those to your clients and help them understand what the pros and cons are of each offer. You know, ensure like we have system I have systems in place to help them get there. Yeah,

Rick Ripma: 40:45

I just know, when I was, I used to do new home sales. And I went to Dallas to big home convention, and then that we went on a tour of new homes. And it was amazing how after six or seven homes you couldn't, you couldn't remember one from the other. And these were people who I mean, I'd been in I was sitting in homes all day long, right? Yeah, you know, and it was like, it can be it can I can't imagine how confusing it could get to get 20 offers, and trying to figure out

Lauren Hewitt: 41:13

which sheets and you know, I'm, I'm not sad that we're out of that world at the moment.

Rick Ripma: 41:19

Okay. Most people are Yeah, yeah. It'd be nice to have a few more homes on the market, but I don't think most people are Yeah, yep. So what are you extremely proud of in your business?

Lauren Hewitt: 41:30

I am extremely proud of being able to help so many clients achieve their goals in this really challenging market?

Rick Ripma: 41:39

And how do you go about doing that? How do you go about working with those clients in this market?

Lauren Hewitt: 41:46

I think it's really all about managing and setting expectations from the beginning. And so I have, you know, systems and processes in place that enabled me to do that. And, you know, I have it organized in a way that that helps clients understand, basically, yeah,

Ian Arnold: 42:08

so let's get let me ask you this, what do you think your favorite part of your job is?

Lauren Hewitt: 42:13

My favorite part of my job, oh, God, it's really hard to, like, I love the aspect of running a business, like the entrepreneurial aspect of it, I love that. But I but I also love working with clients, and I love negotiating deals. And like, I think the really, it's just so rewarding to to be able to, you know, take a client through this journey. And you know, so closing is pretty neat, because you can look back on where where they started and, and where they're going. And and you know, that you're you are part of helping them get there.

Rick Ripma: 42:55

So, what about the future are you most excited about?

Lauren Hewitt: 42:59

I'm so excited about all of the opportunities that are out there, I think. I mean, you know, I live in Carmel, and I work a lot in Carmel, but I also work in the surrounding areas. And I think the central Indianapolis area, in general, is it's just booming. I mean, there's just so much growth and so much opportunity, and I'm just so excited to be able to capitalize on all of that. And you know, I have really big goals, and I am excited just at the opportunity to be able to hit them,

Rick Ripma: 43:37

you know, to go along with that. I think, you know, we talked a lot about karma because we're sitting in Carmel, but fishers, Noblesville, Westfield, Zionsville Brownsburg a Washington

Lauren Hewitt: 43:49

town,

Rick Ripma: 43:50

they all have, we really are lucky.

Lauren Hewitt: 43:54

We are so lucky. It's incredible. I mean, you know, having lived in different parts of the country, I mean, I, I don't know of other areas that are quite like this, in that regard that are just still so actively growing, and that still have so much potential for growth. And I think that's a really cool thing to be part of.

Ian Arnold: 44:15

Yeah, I'm sorry. I think it's always fun. And we saw a lot of this when we had a lot of specially during the pandemic is a lot of people from out of state move here. And they would call and they'd be like, well, I want to be roughly about an hour away from work and early. And we are talking to him on the phone just like you know how far you can drive in an hour in Indiana.

Lauren Hewitt: 44:35

Yeah, yeah, I work a lot with relocation clients. Because I can really relate to being in that position. And, and yeah, I think that it's just really neat being able to show them what we have here and I'm just I'm proud of where we live. I think it's awesome. I love it here.

Rick Ripma: 44:55

That's where did

Lauren Hewitt: 44:56

you grow up? In upstate New York? Okay.

Rick Ripma: 45:00

And when you say upstate New York like Syracuse, okay, capital, okay. Yeah, yeah. Because I don't I don't I don't know New York that well, my son, my youngest son did a Ironman and, and Lake Placid. So that's, that's what I know of upstate New York. It's beautiful.

Lauren Hewitt: 45:19

It's beautiful. It snows in Syracuse from like October to June, May.

Rick Ripma: 45:28

That's not beautiful.

Lauren Hewitt: 45:30

Summers are the summers are really beautiful. It's the Finger Lakes region. But But yeah, but it has also a very Midwest vibe. I think more so than, you know, kind of more of an urban setting. And, but I, I mean, this has been home base for me for like the past 20 some years. So yeah, it

Rick Ripma: 45:54

just for me, when I think of New York, even though I've been to Upstate, I always everybody. I don't know if everybody that says I think of New York City. That's what you think of? Sure. And I think that's a great place to visit. But I wouldn't want to live there. And I know people who, who live there and they love it. And everybody has their own things just like Chicago. I love visiting Chicago. I love what you have available. But man, there's I don't think there's anything quite like the Midwest.

Lauren Hewitt: 46:20

Yeah, I mean, I love New York and Chicago too. But I think it's the really cool thing about like Carmel, and the surrounding cities in Hamilton County is that, like, they're not just bedroom communities for Indianapolis, they are really cities in their own right, and they have so much going on. And and are just continuing to evolve and offer more. And that's really neat, because so many areas are kind of already built. And, and so we can really cater to, you know, what today's citizen wants and needs. And that's pretty neat.

Ian Arnold: 47:03

So I do have to ask, since you do a lot of relocation. So do people usually have to try by House sight unseen? Or do you have people that? Do they travel here? Or is it like a mixer? And how do you work that?

Lauren Hewitt: 47:16

Yeah, that's a great question. I mean, I think it is, there is a mix of both. I mean, I, I work with clients not only moving here from out of state, but even from like internationally. And so sometimes you're navigating and time differences as well. And And ideally, I will have a weekend initially or you know, a couple days or something to kind of show them around Indianapolis and all of the surrounding areas. And you know, I spent a long time listening to clients and working with them to help them figure out what area might be the best fit for them based on their interest and how they like to spend their time. And, and of course also in relation to where they're going to be working. And so kind of honing in on areas and then once after working with people for a little while you start to get a sense for what they like. And after showing them homes, you also start to get a sense for what their aesthetic is beyond like, you know, four bedrooms and a white picket fence or something and and so that helps me to be able to help them with their search but I mean I do I spend time upfront with clients really digging deep and helping understand what their needs and goals are so that I can be there boots on the ground when they're not here and help them

Ian Arnold: 48:46

Alright, so what's the best way somebody get in contact with you were looking to buy, sell or possibly even relocate.

Lauren Hewitt: 48:53

They can call me at 317-527-6033 or email me at Lauren dot Hewitt at talk to tucker.com and they can also follow me on Facebook or Instagram. You spell my last name h e w i t t.

Rick Ripma: 49:11

And to get a hold of ena I go to HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com That's HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com Or you give us a call at 317-672-1938 That's 317-672-1938

Ian Arnold: 49:23

reminder if you have any friends, family, coworkers looking to buy sell, refinance, let us know we'd be more than happy to help you at Lauren, thank you for joining us today. It's been a pleasure having you on our show.

Lauren Hewitt: 49:32

Thank you for having me.

Announcer: 49:33

Brent NMLS number 33041 Recruitment NMLS number 6645898 You know Arnold NMLS number is 195469 equal housing opportunity some restrictions apply