Rising Guru Kristin Skiles with Century 21 Sheetz

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.

Rick Ripma: 0:17

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.

Ian Arnold: 0:33

Now get ready to unlock the doors of success. One episode at a time.

Rick Ripma: 0:41

We are really excited today to have Kristen right, Kristen Skiles. Yes. And you're with Century 21 sheets. That's me and you are a rising guru. You're doing great.

Kristin Skiles: 0:52

I certainly think so.

Rick Ripma: 0:53

You're doing awesome. Congratulations. It's not an easy, it's not an easy job to get going.

Kristin Skiles: 0:57

It's not at all no.

Rick Ripma: 0:59

So before real estate. What did you do? Where'd you grow up? You know, what was your life like? Oh, gosh.

Kristin Skiles: 1:06

So I grew up in a small town in Northwest Indiana. I moved down here for college and never wanted to go back. lol Indiana, okay. Yeah, my parents still live there. I did have to move back there for a little while while I went back to hygiene school or a while I went to hygiene school. So I'm a dental hygienist. That was my career. I am still practicing as a hygienist. I've been doing that for 13 years, which doesn't make sense because I'm not old enough for that. But

Rick Ripma: 1:39

you're way too young to work for 13 years.

Kristin Skiles: 1:41

Yeah. So yes, I've been practicing as a dental hygienist I do have a background in sales. I used to do a lot of like promotion work. Okay. Everything from you know, the fun liquor promos and bars to weird things like giving away lettuce. Giving away laughing away lettuce.

Rick Ripma: 2:01

Yeah. Why did you give away

Kristin Skiles: 2:02

lettuce? Because they paid me really nicely to do it. Yeah.

Rick Ripma: 2:05

What company was given away love as much metal lettuce company?

Kristin Skiles: 2:07

Yeah, it was called Organic girl. Okay. And ultimately, I ended up with a lot of lettuce and green onions in my fridge. That don't last that long. They don't and people are really weird about taking lettuce from a stranger standing outside of a gym. That's where they wanted me. That's where they paid me to go. So that's what I did.

Rick Ripma: 2:26

Okay. Yeah, that's interesting. Yeah, I

Ian Arnold: 2:28

don't think I'd be I'd be taking stuff in a stranger. It'd be different. Like you're standing inside a Kroger or something and be like, Hey, have a free lettuce. That's different. Yes. Oh, no, I was out on the streets. That's, I don't think I'd do it.

Kristin Skiles: 2:40

I mean, like, Hey, you're walking out of the gym, have some lettuce like what am I trying to tell you?

Ian Arnold: 2:45

You're fat. You know, salad.

Rick Ripma: 2:49

I could see it. If if the gym kind of sponsored it. Right. You know, they were part of it so that people knew you weren't just standing there. Yeah. But otherwise. Plus, like for me, I'm, I'm when I come out of the gym. I'm coming to work.

Kristin Skiles: 3:04

I don't go to the gym. So I don't really know what. That's where I come.

Rick Ripma: 3:07

I don't go. But I do it in the morning. I don't do it at night. So everybody's different. So

Ian Arnold: 3:13

how did you So you went for dental school? Yes, dental hygiene. So what made you even think about real estate?

Kristin Skiles: 3:20

That's a great question. So I've always been into homes. Right? I do a lot of DIY, not like painting walls, like taking out walls. Oh, really? Oh, yeah. Take them out. Oh, yeah, I'll take out a wall, I'll plumb a bathroom. I'll do it all. So I've always been into that kind of stuff. I remember as a kid getting like an architecture design program for a gift once like, it's always just been an interest. And I've been practicing, you know, doing the dental hygiene thing. And I kind of just needed to change. my really good friend is an agent. I'm working alongside her. She had kind of been nudging me to do it when she started to do it. And I just couldn't wrap my head around making it work. I have two kids. I have a husband that works nights, just how would I make that balance? So we fast forward and I'm not loving my job. The physical aspect of it, you know, neck pain, back pain, that kind of stuff. That was in the back of my mind. Like okay, Kristen, you need to kind of come up with a different game plan for the end, you know, where are you going to finish out your career. And then a lot of things happened all at the right or wrong time, depending on how you want to look at it that made me pull the trigger and take the class and get my license and sit in this chair and talk to you guys.

Rick Ripma: 4:47

So how are you like balancing the two jobs because you really have two full time jobs. It sounds like

Kristin Skiles: 4:55

three if you count the kids. Well, yeah,

Ian Arnold: 4:58

we don't

Rick Ripma: 4:59

count your Her husband,

Kristin Skiles: 5:00

oh yeah, he might count four and a half. You know, I'm just doing the best I can. So I am fortunate that I'm only working four days a week doing hygiene. So Wednesdays, I get to totally dedicate to real estate, you know, I have lunch breaks, I have evenings, I have weekends, just you squeak it in where you can write, and it's not like real estate has a set schedule, you need to be able to work at all those random times. Unfortunately, for me, it just means there are certain times that I can't work,

Rick Ripma: 5:26

right. So most people want to probably do real estate when you're not working, right? Anyway. So it actually makes make sense. It's amazing how many people I have a friend who works for a real estate agent, he's now an agent, but his, his his agent that brought him in as a doctor Full Time Doctor at St viz. And, and but he has, he's a real estate agent also. That's why it works like seven days on or eight days on or something and then he's off, okay, he was bored, I needed something to do.

Kristin Skiles: 5:59

And I mean, I'm not doing it because I'm bored, that's for sure.

Rick Ripma: 6:02

Pick up a lot of clients from the dental office,

Kristin Skiles: 6:06

I'm trying. So I've been in my practice for 10 years, I have very solid relationship with most of my patients, they know everything about me, and I know everything about them. So my kind of go to move is to put them back in the chair, have my instruments, getting them out and be like, so do you want to sell your house. But I've definitely talking to everyone about it. And they liked me and respect me enough to think that even if they don't need to have a need for me, most of them are even asking for my cards. I'm not necessarily just handing it to them. So right now that is my biggest source of networking and trying to get

Rick Ripma: 6:41

referrals, you do anything beyond just talking to him in the chair? Do you get their information so you can follow up with them and keep in touch with them is.

Kristin Skiles: 6:48

So a lot of that if they expressed interest in having a need for my services now or in the future, then I do ask them, Can I go ahead and get you information? I have this great newsletter I can sign you up for I can, you know, touch base with you in a few months, kind of see where you are. And they all have told me yes. And no one has unsubscribed from that newsletter yet. So

Rick Ripma: 7:07

yeah, that's good. Yeah, that's good. So it's amazing, though, because it's such a great place to meet people. And if you've done it for 10 years, like you said, they all know you, and they trust you. And who doesn't want to talk about real estate? I don't know, pretty much everybody wants to talk about real estate, right? I either own a home and want to talk about what's going on in the market. What are values doing and what are interest rates doing? Or I don't own a home and I want to know, can I buy a home? Or what are we gonna do get ready to buy a home. So it's like a perfect setup.

Ian Arnold: 7:35

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, you're missing the whole point. They probably don't want to talk at that time because she's stuffing stuff in their mouth. Well, that's

Rick Ripma: 7:40

the beauty. They can't talk she can listen. Yeah. You know, I do. They, the dentists in the ADESA they always ask all these questions. I don't know how you understand what I'm saying? How did they? I mean, it's amazing. Oh, yeah, sure. rackets fine. What? How do you know what I said? I can't tell what I say.

Kristin Skiles: 7:59

Alright, so my patients do what I say. So they all have really great hygiene. So I don't have to work really hard. So we actually get to have a really nice little social welfare. And my dear. Yeah, so that helps.

Rick Ripma: 8:10

Yeah, not everybody follows the rules. I understand.

Kristin Skiles: 8:14

If you want to be in my chair, you're gonna follow my rules. Yeah.

Rick Ripma: 8:17

That's good.

Ian Arnold: 8:21

So you got into it. So did you do anything else to get going besides talk to talk to your clients? Dental Hygiene and everything? Did you do open houses? How else did you?

Kristin Skiles: 8:35

So I've done a couple open houses. They weren't very successful. So you know, it's a little off putting when you're new to it, and you're, you're trying to figure it out? I am. on the lookout for fizz bows. I'm trying to figure out like what my niche is going to be, you know, and I haven't had enough experience to know which one I like. But I'm just I'm trying to think a little bit outside of the box because I don't want to go after what everyone else is going after. So I'm trying to you know, look for the fizz Bo's I am thinking Fizbo is what for sale by owner. Okay. Okay. And I'm thinking about pursuing maybe the SRBs, the senior real estate specialist. I do currently have a listing, and it is they are, I don't want to call them elderly, but they're a little bit older. And it kind of made the wheels start spinning. I'm like, it's a different kind of interaction, right. And I don't have my grandparents anymore. And you kind of get that little reminder, like you get that grandparent feel and you know, yeah, yeah.

Rick Ripma: 9:38

It's a, what we've noticed is everybody finds their niche. Because that's really you, you get into real estate. And one of the things I'd like to know is, so what's different about real estate than what you had anticipated it to be? And then before that, let's talk about so do you like working with the An older generation because some people just love that other people prefer first time homebuyers, what are you finding that you at this point that you really? Or do you like at all right now?

Kristin Skiles: 10:10

I like it all right now I can't. It's hard to pick, you know, I'm trying to be a bit more proactive. I know a lot of people find their niche by they just kind of fall into it, right? They see where the world takes them. And then it kind of just happens organically. I am kind of being more proactive, trying to seek them out. I don't know right now, everyone. I like the excitement of first time homebuyers. The opportunities, being able to educate them, because with my background in hygiene, education is a huge part of it. So being able to educate people just kind of comes naturally to me. So that's where, you know, I think I think I could be an asset for the first time homebuyers, but I don't know.

Rick Ripma: 10:51

Yeah, you know, for most people, if they haven't bought a home in a while, they all need education, because it changes all the time. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I'm sure that you've seen changes already. So let's, let's go on to the question, what is it that you? Like, what did you think real estate was going to be like? And then what, from what you thought was different than what you thought?

Kristin Skiles: 11:15

I think this is gonna be a really boring answer. It's really kind of what I expected. Okay. Um, a lot of it has to do with, I have that good friend who we've talked about it as her career is gone. So that's kind of opened my like, I just knew what to expect. And I haven't had any surprises yet. That's good. Yeah. Yeah, they'll come. I'm very aware that they will come.

Rick Ripma: 11:41

Well, most people that we've talked to, you know, even the the gurus that have been in it for a long time, they'll go Oh, yeah, I thought, you know, a lot of them watched HGTV and all that. They thought that's what it was like. And it's you know, it's that misconception that people have. Are there any misconceptions that maybe you had that, like from a from a homebuyer perspective, that maybe they don't really understand what a real estate agent does?

Kristin Skiles: 12:08

You know, everyone thinks that we just show up, stick a sign in the yard, and then cash our check and go shopping at the end of the day. But there is a lot of background, like, the most important part of our job is to make it look like that's all we do. Like that's why we're an asset to you. Because then you don't have to do those things. You don't realize that something's about to hit the fan, because we whether we know how we're we reach out to our network, we fix it, we find a solution, we come to you with solutions, not problems, right. And I think that's a big thing that from the consumer side, they don't even expect, because they

Rick Ripma: 12:41

don't you hide, not hide, you solve something before they even know it's a problem. So they never feel that stress. Because there's already enough stress. Right? Right. Yeah, for sure.

Ian Arnold: 12:54

So you're with Century 21. So what made you actually decide to join them, I know, they're one of the biggest Realtors companies around here. But what made you choose them,

Rick Ripma: 13:04

specifically sheets,

Kristin Skiles: 13:06

specifically sheets. So I keep mentioning my friend, her name is Whitney. I'll just put that out there. So when he spoke very highly about them, she talked about the education opportunities, the support that they gave, and then I went to one of the sales meetings, and I met the staff at our particular office. And I decided right then in there, I had no need to even talk to any other brokers. I just felt that they were going to give amazing support. Our particular office is full of cheerleaders, you know, you can go to them with your problems, you can ask for help, you don't feel like you're gonna get stabbed in the back because someone else is gonna go after what you're trying to work on. And as a new agent, I think that having the opportunity to have the education, the technical support, the marketing of all the things that century 21 sheets has to offer, I think as a new agent, I would have been an idiot to not take advantage of

Rick Ripma: 14:00

how critical is that in the how they mentor you how they're there for you, when there's issues that come up that you have people to talk to, that can help you walk through, I think it's vital for anybody looking to buy or sell a real piece of real estate that they they have somebody either has a lot of experience or has people on their team, mentoring them that have the experience, they can go get those answers. How important Have you found it?

Kristin Skiles: 14:27

Extremely, I think I don't think there's anything more important than that. You know, I'm out here trying to make it look like I know what I'm doing. I took a class, I passed a board, I got a license. That doesn't mean I know anything. So without these people surrounding me, I would just be tripping over myself, or I'd be making mistakes left and right. And we can't have that you want to we you know, we want to follow the rules. When we buy the book. We want these deals to hold up like I'd be lost without it.

Rick Ripma: 14:54

Yes. I understand that. I just wanted to kind of emphasize that. I thought it would make sense to do that. Yeah, so If somebody's out there, and they're going, oh, I want to talk with with Kristen.

Kristin Skiles: 15:04

Yes. Kristen wants to talk with you. What would be the best way for them to get a hold of you call or text me? 219-308-8076? Okay, call or text? That's 219-308-8076.

Rick Ripma: 15:19

I see I have a short memory. So you got to remind me come on

Kristin Skiles: 15:23

to 193088076. That's good. I think I

Rick Ripma: 15:27

still won't remember. But that's good. It does help to have have have it done several times. And to get a hold of the inner I got a HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com That's HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com. You can look us up there and get contact us from there. You can call us at 3172672 1938. That's 317-672-1938. You can attack text, that number that is a call.

Ian Arnold: 15:50

Yeah. So don't feel bad. He had messed it up our own phone number. So I know this is going to be a weird question for you. Because working basically four and a half times jobs. So let's say you got to not work. What did we catch you doing for fun?

Kristin Skiles: 16:11

Let me I have to think way back on that one. So I have an 18 month old. So let's think back to before he came around, know spending time with the kids. You know, everyone likes that being outside, my boys love to be outside. If I were to have a me day, that would involve a cup of coffee on uninterrupted and still hot by time I finish it. And maybe some projects around the house. You know, using a power tool is kind of soothing to my soul.

Rick Ripma: 16:41

Yeah, it sounds like it did like the knock walls down. And yeah, absolutely. That's we've had we remodeled our house, and they knocked the wall down. And it's like, Man, I'm looking, I'm going I don't want to do that.

Kristin Skiles: 16:55

It's intimidating. You know, I watch videos on social media about it. And I'll see something like, oh, I would not want to do that. And I'm like, Hey, dummy, you have done.

Ian Arnold: 17:05

So has your husband ever come home? And then there's a wall missing? And you're like, I wanted that down?

Kristin Skiles: 17:09

Yeah, my favorite was I was taking out like this closet frame and I was like squatting on top of the washer and dryer one day, and he walks out and he just looks at me, and then acts like he doesn't see me and walks away. And I'm like half building like drywall down. I'm like, alright, we'll just keep going. So yeah,

Rick Ripma: 17:29

so you were pulling the drywall down? Because you were taking it out or wanting to see what was behind it.

Kristin Skiles: 17:34

Ah, I think it started with I wanted to see what was behind it and ended with I just didn't want it there. Okay,

Rick Ripma: 17:40

I'm impressed. I'm in it also, probably, how does that I would think how does that help your real estate career, I think that's a real value to have that knowledge,

Kristin Skiles: 17:48

I think that it helps me when I'm with buyers that maybe see a put something about the house that they don't like I can be more realistic about what it would take to fix it. You know, painting isn't a big deal, like small little repairs, people underestimate what they can do with a hammer like, so I can definitely help identify that and kind of guide them and maybe suggest you shouldn't be trying to do that yourself. Just because I'm stupid enough to do it doesn't mean you should. You've learned. I have Yes, yes.

Rick Ripma: 18:21

So what would you say your superpower superpowers are as it relates to real estate?

Kristin Skiles: 18:26

Oh, I'm gonna go with building the relationship, which I feel like encompasses a lot. So it's kind of a cheater answer, you know, you build a relationship by helping educate by communicating, which is so important by listening to what they have to say, and just being very clear and direct and open with your clients.

Rick Ripma: 18:54

Yeah, it's it's a, it's just an interesting, I just think that it's it's interesting, but I also think that there has to be another one of your trades, and I'm guessing you're very good at managing your time. Right Drew?

Kristin Skiles: 19:13

If you asked me, I'm gonna say yes. If you asked my husband, he would say no. But yeah, you have to I'm, I'm always thinking three steps ahead. So I need to do A, B and C, but it would make most sense to do C A and then B because I can let this do this while this happens in that. So I look at the bigger picture, which drives my husband nuts, because he likes to say I'm late to everything, but I would like to assure you I'm on time for everything. Not half an hour early like him.

Rick Ripma: 19:42

That was everybody has a different Yeah, different belief of what on time is Yes, it definitely is. So I read something the other day and this just kind of kept it out of my head that they said don't manage your time, manage your activity, or activities. Okay, so maybe you're just really good Managing the activity so I think we met there what they meant by that was as you've got to manage you're getting the right things done. Right. So there they were very good at a read this they were very good at at. That's what they were telling us to do get back get good at managing your activities, not your time. Does that make sense? Yeah, does it I never thought of it.

Kristin Skiles: 20:20

I am notorious for being like, let me just do one more thing, just one more thing, which is why I'm always on time for things in that early like him. So

Rick Ripma: 20:27

yeah, I'm the same way. I'm, I'm not a half an hour early. I'm, uh, right on time. And if I don't want to be late, but I don't want to sit there for five minutes, either.

Kristin Skiles: 20:39

My time is valuable. I respect everyone's time. And just I yours just as much as mine. So if I can be using that five minutes to be doing something better, I'm going to Yes. Yeah,

Ian Arnold: 20:49

I agree. Yeah, you guys are horrible. People. You slipped, arrive early. All right. Felt it. So what is like one piece of wisdom somebody has given you, as you've, you started to come up and become successful as real estate.

Kristin Skiles: 21:07

Don't be afraid. That means you need to go knock on a door if that means you need to pick up the phone and make a call. If that means you need to talk to the person sitting next to you at the bar, you know, like, just don't be afraid. Put yourself out there and have those conversations. Alright.

Ian Arnold: 21:24

So when you when you say don't be afraid, so what's the worst thing somebody can say to you? If when you approach them

Kristin Skiles: 21:31

know that?

Ian Arnold: 21:32

Okay, how hard is that? Yes. Get over it. You know, it's interesting. Rick and I talked about that, especially like phone calls, cold calling and stuff like that. What's the worst they can do? cuss you out? Hang up. Okay. All right. call the next person. Right.

Rick Ripma: 21:46

And I think it's okay to be afraid. It's not okay to not to let it stop you from doing what you know you need to do.

Kristin Skiles: 21:52

That's a good way to put it. Absolutely. Yeah. It's okay to

Rick Ripma: 21:54

be afraid. Everybody has things that you know, there's some people we talked about cold calling, but there's some people they have no fear of cold calling, right? That just is not something they ever worried they love to talk on the phone. I had a girl that worked here with us. She had no fear of the phone at all she call it she'd call anybody anytime didn't matter. But there was other things she would be afraid of. You know, but it's just it's just, I think the key is, it's okay to be afraid. Do it anyway.

Kristin Skiles: 22:22

They don't know you're afraid. Right? So Right.

Rick Ripma: 22:25

And the more you do it, the better you get. Absolutely right. The first time you do something, you're probably not that good at it.

Kristin Skiles: 22:30

I am, are you?

Rick Ripma: 22:34

I'm terrible. The first time I did a radio show it was I'm glad I don't have a copy of it. Okay, get it was horrid. even know what station it was on? I was the I still mess up? Right? I mess up quite a bit. And I've been doing this for 15 years, you'd think I'd have it down by now. But it's still just the way it is. Just get out and worry about it. Yeah, don't worry about it. So what's your daily grind? Like as a realtor?

Kristin Skiles: 23:02

It's never the same. So depends on am I working with a buyer? Or am I working with my seller Am I trying to find someone to work with. So I do make it a point every day to do something. For the last four days, it's been trying to make one flyer that I want to mail out to some people, and whether it's just adjusting the font or asking someone's opinion. But that's been taking up a lot of my time. So the the daily grind is just making sure you are doing something.

Rick Ripma: 23:35

Now, why is it is a isn't a taking up a lot of your time because it's the perfectionist in you that has to have it perfect or or is it some other reason?

Kristin Skiles: 23:44

I'll go with the perfectionist. I want it to be the right thing. You know, if I'm going to mail you something, I want you to look at it. I want it to mean something. I'm not doing this just to do it. Right. It needs to have a purpose

Rick Ripma: 23:56

to be valuable. Yeah. Yeah. And they can only it can only be valuable if they look at it and go yes, I want to read this and it has something of value to them. Absolutely. Yeah, that that makes that makes perfect sense. You want to go Oh, I thought you okay.

Ian Arnold: 24:13

Yeah, I thought you're running this show.

Rick Ripma: 24:14

I do. Not very well. Very well. So what are your big goat? Go? What are your Go big or go home goals for the for this first year? First few years in the business?

Kristin Skiles: 24:27

I want to make it past the three year mark because that's when most agents give up drop out decide it's not for NASA. Yeah. So I'm not going to be one of them. I I want to do it right. I know. So I came in kind of late, you know, the COVID mad rush if whatever you want to call it. It's over. But a lot of these agents that started during this time, they jumped in, they didn't have to do it. Right. They everything was just unorthodox and just trying to get these deals through and now that things have changed in the market. They have to learn how to properly fill out a form and You know, communicate things. And so I don't want anyone to ever say that. I didn't do that I want to do it right. I want to, you know, get a few deals closed, maybe that would be helpful. That'll help get me past that three year mark. And I want I want to build a referral base. You know, I'm using some, like lead sources right now. But I want to be successful because other people see how valuable I am and tell their friends and family about me.

Rick Ripma: 25:30

Yeah, that's those are good goals. Well, thanks, and and how important reaching those goals as your mentor mentor has been.

Kristin Skiles: 25:40

Absolutely amazing. The benefit to one of them being one of my best friends is I can text her at anytime, day or night. And I usually get a response. The, our branch manager is always available for me and super, like super supportive. And without having that positivity. I don't think I would make it to that three year mark. You know, of course, as a newer agent, I'm I'm at that point where I'm just trying to, you know, cover what it costs to become an agent. And you have those down moments and Whitney's great at being like you're you're doing better than most people at this point. So having that cheerleader and that support is just, I can't even find the words to describe it.

Rick Ripma: 26:26

What I just I been harping on a little bit, because I think it's really important for people to know, especially if there's somebody listening that's thinking about getting into the business. So if there is somebody listening or people listening that say, you know, I'm thinking about getting into real estate, what would you tell them? What What would your advice be?

Kristin Skiles: 26:45

If you want to do it, do it. But do a little research to understand what exactly that entails, you have to do the class, you have to pass the test, which most people don't do on the first try. Then you have to find your home, where are you going to be practicing as an agent. And then you have to realize you have to put yourself out there you have to go find these clients like they aren't coming to you. You have to build your brand. And do it with all these people competing around you. There was a Facebook post the other day about looking for an agent in Plainfield, Indiana. I had been there for eight minutes. And there were 43 comments already. By a couple hours later, there were like 600 agents chiming in saying, hey, Pick Me Pick Me. You have to be prepared for that. Like, you just you have to realize that it is a hustle. It is a grind. It is not you roll out of bed, and houses just sell themselves for you.

Rick Ripma: 27:47

Yeah, that is absolutely true.

Ian Arnold: 27:49

All right. So what is one lesson you have learned?

Kristin Skiles: 27:59

Follow your gut. You know, we don't want to walk away from a potential deal. But if you're getting an icky feeling about it, it's not worth it. So follow your gut. Yeah. Or even if you're you think it could turn into something. That's another example following you grew up following your gut isn't always walking away from something negative, it could be helping you find something positive.

Ian Arnold: 28:23

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, we deal with the same thing, especially now, most times, we only talk to people on the phone and through emails and text messages. We don't see a lot of people come in. Sometimes we'll be asking for stuff. And then it's taken a while really like, some doesn't just seem right. There's something Something seems off and you advanced it a couple of weeks, you're like, that's what it was. So trust me, yes. Follow your gut is a huge thing.

Rick Ripma: 28:48

You want to try to overcome, yeah, whatever it is, you know, but sometimes, sometimes you can overcome it. And sometimes you're better off walking away. To make everybody happy. I mean, if you what you want is a win win for everybody. And sometimes it's not, you know, it's not the right, right situation. You know, going back to what you said, were there were all those people, you know, going after that listing, how do you separate yourself from everybody else?

Kristin Skiles: 29:16

I'm still trying to figure that out. You know, we all try to point out that we bring a particular value and as a newer agent, I am still trying to pinpoint what is my particular value? So I'm still figuring it out. I

Rick Ripma: 29:30

don't know. But we know some of them. You're very you're very still, it's, it's I wrote it down so I wouldn't forget you're able to to control your activities, you know, your manager activities, you're able to. You said your superpower was relationships and building those relationships, which I think is actually what real estate is about. I don't think it's about homes. I think it's about relationships. I think you're right homes. As part of it, but relationships is what it's about. So it's all about building those relationships. And that's something you're strong at. Yeah, that you bring in you already brought in, which is, which is really good. So if somebody does want to get a hold of you, and they want to buy or sell real estate, what's the best way?

Kristin Skiles: 30:16

Oh, please call or text me at 219-308-8076? Like I said, just a simple text or phone call. 219-308-8076.

Rick Ripma: 30:28

Yeah, see, the people don't want me saying the number because I always mess it up. I mess up my own numbers. So nobody wants to be the same number. So you need to get hold the inner I got a HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com That's HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com. You can look us up there, get it contact us from the website, or you can give us a call at 317-672-1938. That's 317-672-1938 you can call that number. It does not accept texts.

Ian Arnold: 30:52

All right, so here's gonna be the question of the week. I hope you're ready for this ready? What was your first car?

Kristin Skiles: 30:59

Okay, so my first car was a 1992 Rs Camaro, with T tops, no air conditioning, that when we got it, when you pop the hood, there was nothing in it just kind of a hose hanging out. And my dad built it for me. And within the first 30 days of having my license, I got pulled over. Within the first two months of having my license and driving that car. I may have wrecked it. And then I had to pay to repair it.

Ian Arnold: 31:33

So did your dad second guess after the wreck whether he should have got that car?

Kristin Skiles: 31:38

I think he knew going into it that he shouldn't have gotten that car. And we traded it for a Bonneville pretty quickly. But I loved it. I had good that that wreck actually, as terrible as it was is probably one of my favorite memories.

Ian Arnold: 31:58

So what made it one of your favorite memories?

Kristin Skiles: 32:02

Um, so my brother was in the car with me. And we had gone to go sell some raffle tickets. He was a wrestler. So we were selling some raffle tickets. And I was late getting home. So I was driving way too fast. And the cops flew by. And this is not the smartest thing I've ever done. I thought I could hide from the bullies. And I tried to turn into a driveway and just like went over this embankment. And the cops, of course, come back for me. And they have like their guns drawn and the lights shining on me. And they don't know. They see me and my little brother get out of the car. And they're like,

Rick Ripma: 32:38

that's a small town. Small Town. Yes, I know. Yeah.

Kristin Skiles: 32:41

Yeah. So I'm sitting in the front seat of the cop car. They call my parents and my brother is standing with the other officer helping him direct traffic and selling raffle tickets to these people.

Rick Ripma: 32:53

So successful.

Kristin Skiles: 32:55

So I mean, I did have a favor, right? So yeah, like it just in. It's a good memory.

Rick Ripma: 33:03

So I have to know what motor did your dad put in this Camaro?

Kristin Skiles: 33:08

I don't know. I don't remember. It was fast. It was fast.

Rick Ripma: 33:12

Yeah, but way too big a motor. And it sounds like probably with somebody behind the seat behind in the seat with lead foot. Yes, I've been known to have a lead foot.

Ian Arnold: 33:22

Yeah, yeah. All right. So we'll get back on the realist. Alright, so let me put a little crystal ball in front of you and say in about 10 years, what's your ultimate goal for this real estate? Like, do you want to your own team stuff like that? Or?

Kristin Skiles: 33:42

I don't know, I'm still you know, figuring out like, what would that mean? What would it mean to have a team I would, I think that that is something that I would be interested in. But I just, I want to lay my head down on my pillow at night and feel that I I'm successful at what I'm doing, I of course won't be able to provide for my family. I want to have the flexible schedule that comes with it. I I want and 10 years look back and think that I made this career change. And it was the right thing for me to do.

Rick Ripma: 34:17

Yeah, cuz it's a big deal. It is a big deal. Yeah.

Kristin Skiles: 34:19

And it's not just about the numbers like of course we all have jobs because we need to pay our bills, but I want the whole package I want it to just fit my lifestyle and be happy with my life which means professionally and personally. They're all intertwined because especially with ours that we do with real estate is you know, it does work into your your private life and in your private life is also when you're trying to network and build your business. So there really isn't that clear separation. So

Rick Ripma: 34:50

so how do you see social media playing into that?

Kristin Skiles: 34:54

I I think it's probably gonna be really important. I come from that generation that you know, Use DOS operating system. So computers aren't necessarily my strength, because I haven't had a need for them as a dental hygienist I put in chart notes, like, you know, I'm not building social media campaigns. And you know, I'm trying to make this flyer, it's just not something I've had to do. So it's intimidating. But it's something that I'm realizing that I have to master and understand. And keep in mind that how you use that social media changes all the time. It's not a set in stone kind of path. But I think it's gonna be really important, because that's how people communicate.

Rick Ripma: 35:34

Yeah, it's hard to say what I mean, I There are agents. That's how they do their business. And they've exploded because there's other agents that are also exploded, they don't use social media at all, you know, and I think it just goes back to that relationship, social media as a way to stay in front of people and keep that relationship going. You know, it's like, when I was a kid, obviously, there was no computers, there was nothing. So when people moved away, you never saw him again. My kids, when people move away, they're still friends on Facebook. Right. And so they, they still get, they're all well out of college, and they still have all their you know, a lot of their friends because of social media. Absolutely. And I think it's, I think, I think it could be critical, but you really do have to have to learn how to use it. Yes, yep. And you got to be careful.

Ian Arnold: 36:22

So you earlier you mentioned your newsletter. And this just came to me. So what do you actually put in your newsletter that you send people monthly. So this

Kristin Skiles: 36:29

isn't my personal newsletter, this is something that all of the sheets agents access to, and it's just called Neighborhood News. And you put in their address, and it sends them a monthly, just kind of breakdown of what's going on in their neighborhood home values, and this and that, and one of my potential prospect, they aren't ready to move yet. And they don't even know where they want to move. So we're kind of just playing around with putting different zip codes in there for her to monitor and see if that is an area that she wants to look into living into look into living

Rick Ripma: 36:59

well. It's it's awesome that they do it. And based on the neighborhoods being put in the address, because that's, that's what I care about, right? I want to know what what what solid in my neighborhood what the pricing is. And when I say neighborhood, it can be a little not just directly in my neighborhood, although I prefer directly in my neighborhood. But I just think that that's a phenomenal thing to do. And, and we're in it's an email that you don't mind getting, it's a newsletter you don't mind getting because you get it. And it has information, like you said, you want something that's going to benefit people.

Kristin Skiles: 37:28

Right? Yeah, you know, we get a lot of stats sent to us on a regular basis. And I am in Indianapolis address. And I look at these and like but that isn't even close to pertaining to my particular neighborhood. So yeah, having more honed in information is always helpful,

Rick Ripma: 37:43

right? Because we talk a lot about national trends. And we talk about state trends, and even Indianapolis trends, right. But there's a huge area in Indianapolis, there's some areas that are probably selling houses in a day or two. And there's other areas that are taking, you know, 6080 days 90, I don't have any idea, right. I just know that it's not a consistency across every area. No, it's not. And prices are saying way.

Kristin Skiles: 38:10

Right. You know, you have Hamilton County, and then I'm close. I'm based in Hendricks County. And I mean, there's a huge difference just between those in peep bowl. A lot of times if you say Indianapolis, both of those areas are part of what they picture in their mind. So there's definitely big Yeah,

Ian Arnold: 38:27

yeah. And Indianapolis. Even though we got a lot of the suburbs around like Carmel fishers, everybody considers that. But still, those are different counties. Yeah, people. I mean, we're just so we got so big, so fast. I don't think people realize that yet. So do you plan on keeping both jobs for a while? Or do you plan on trying to after real estate fully takes off? Do you plan on Wheaton that out? Or What's your game plan?

Kristin Skiles: 38:53

My goal is to be a full time real estate agent. I think I'll have to phase it out. I'll have to kind of cut down to two days a week and then completely phase it out. I have you know, my dream timeline for what that's going to be. And then I have my realistic timeline for what that's going to be and then I have my I'm going to take it as it comes. And we're just going to see where this ride takes me.

Ian Arnold: 39:17

So does your husband think you're always busy? Yes.

Rick Ripma: 39:22

I think she is. She is always busy. So what would you what would you say? Is there something that's happened or there we thought, okay, this is exactly what I want to be doing.

Kristin Skiles: 39:34

It's coming, I can see it. I can I can reach it. But I haven't hit that point yet. I'm not deterred from it. I'm not thinking that this isn't what I want to be doing it. It is really hard for me to have that feeling. Because I did think that maybe I would have cut back on my hygiene hours by now. But I haven't so,

Rick Ripma: 39:54

but it's um, you know, let's face facts. The market is is a tougher market right now. And there's not a lot of listings. And there's so it's it is a much tougher market, it's a great time to get prepared. And it's not that you can't get listings, you can't get sales you can. But it's, it's much more difficult today. So it's it's using your time wisely, is what gets you to where you want to be. Right, you have to keep that goal in mind, the problem problem for most people is, and I'm one of these, I'm not patient. And I always have to remind myself, you got to be patient, it just got to take some time. But that's hard to do.

Kristin Skiles: 40:35

I think that is going to be my biggest challenge, because I am a very impatient, I'm a very right now kind of person. And that is not what this job is. And that goes in with how I also thought I would be able to spend more time on it than I currently get to.

Rick Ripma: 40:52

But yeah, it's but it's it's a it's just the way it is, you know, yep. And you just got to you got to deal with the hand you're dealt

Kristin Skiles: 40:59

exactly. I try really hard not to try to change, change things that I can't control. So I just yeah, one day at a time,

Ian Arnold: 41:08

it is interesting. So the last time it was a really tough market was like, Oh, 809, it is interesting how many of the top gurus started then. And they're like, We didn't know anything different. We just went out there and did our job. And it just worked out in the end. And that is basically I think where you're going through now is alright, just got to put my work in. And later on, it pays off.

Kristin Skiles: 41:30

Yes. And that thought has definitely crossed my mind. I kind of mentioned earlier, I think I'm glad that I didn't jump in during the big COVID Boom, when I really kind of started to spin the wheels and think I wanted to do it. Because this is going I'm going to learn the most by coming in at this time. And I do have the benefit of I have a steady income to kind of fall back on. When we hit these road bumps.

Rick Ripma: 41:55

You learn the most during the most difficult times. We don't make change when everything's great, right, right. We just keep the we try to keep the status quo. But when life changes, and life always changes, I've been around a while. And I can tell you life never stays the same. And you actually if you look back at it, I'm sure you're the same way you look back at it, you go, Oh, the hardest times is when I actually grew the most.

Kristin Skiles: 42:23

Because you have to think you can't. Like you said you have to change you have to think outside the box. You have to get creative. You have to take a step back and evaluate the situation versus just going through the motions. Staying with the flow. Yeah.

Ian Arnold: 42:37

So I want to try and make your job easier. Okay, so somebody's listening right now and they have a question about buying or selling their home. How can they reach you?

Kristin Skiles: 42:46

Oh, please call or text me at 219-308-8076 Any questions? If I don't know the answer, I can definitely get it for you. And I could do that via 219308807

Rick Ripma: 43:00

That's Krista. Krista. Kristen styles Kristen

Kristin Skiles: 43:03

Skye styles, although style, my son's name is Harry. And we all know who Harry Styles is. So let's not confuse

Rick Ripma: 43:13

So Kristen. Styles guile. Okay, so no T It's okay. Okay. Right. So we can get that messed up now, because I did it for right. Yeah. So they they should know that and then you're in you're with Century 21 sheets I am. And if you want to get a hold of Ian or I go to HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com. That's HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com. Or you can give us a call at 317-672-1938 31767 to 1938. And please follow us for more indies real estate gurus

Ian Arnold: 43:44

and reminder. If you have any friends, family or coworkers looking to buy, sell or refinance, let us know we'll be more than happy to help you. First, here's what I would do. If I if I were you, I would add another email to your account. Okay, but put a T instead of just I don't know just have it where they both go to the same one. Okay. It's like a web address. Sometimes people add s at the end and they both do the same. But thank you for joining us on our show. Thank

Kristin Skiles: 44:10

you for having me.

Ian Arnold: 44:13

And we look forward to seeing how much you grow over the next couple of years. I hope

Kristin Skiles: 44:17

you guys just watch me by

Unknown: 44:21

rent NMLS number 33031 MLS NUMBER 664-599-5469 equal housing opportunity some restrictions apply