Conversations with Jen Routon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Routon.

Hi Jen, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Growing up with a single mom, she was never able to own her own home. She rented apartments and single family homes but home ownership was never something I thought was attainable for us growing up, I thought it was something only wealthy people could do. My first career was in multi-family property management, apartment homes. I started by leasing apartments and worked my way into a leadership role as a Regional Manager. Managing apartments made me realize how badly I wanted to own a home! My husband and I bought our first home when I was 23. As we moved in I had the most amazing feeling of safety, we OWNED this home, it was OURS. I realized that home ownership really can be for everyone, you just need the knowledge and help of an amazing lender and an equally amazing Realtor and it CAN be done. As a home owner who never thought she could be a home owner I wanted to tell everyone they could do it. I started wanting to be the one to help them do it. After having our second child and realizing that the corporate world just wasn’t for me I took the biggest and scariest leap of faith and became a Realtor. I spent the first year just taking classes and soaking up all that I could about the process and the contracts and how to best serve my future clients. Before I knew it I was doing it. I have had great leaders and mentors along the way who were always there for me as I was learning the ropes and even now ten years later.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth will never be a word I use to describe to selling real estate! Thankfully I am a person who hates to sit still and hates to be bored. Starting my business was harder than I thought. I realized quickly that it wasn’t just about selling real estate. I was the CEO of my own business which meant I had to understand the finances, the taxes, be the marketing person, be the lead generator, and also sell real estate! I learned by trial and error and I made mistakes along the way. It’s up and down and that is hard when raising a family. It’s hard to be a working mom and you have to learn how to delegate and how to say no. I’ve been so blessed to be surrounded by other amazing business owners and Realtors who I have learned from along the way.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a Realtor (house seller, baby holder, psychologist, shoulder to cry on and cheerleader)! Did you know that Realtor is one of the most mispronounced words in the English language? Also interesting to note, not all real estate agents are Realtors. As a Realtor, I am a member of the local, state, and national Real Estate Associations. I currently serve on the board of directors for the Denver Metro Association of Realtors. As a Realtor we adhere to a code of ethics, have additional education requirements and most importantly are dedicated to the advancement of the real estate industry and home ownership rights for all. One of my quirks is that I LOVE puzzles! The more pieces the better, 5,000 pieces doesn’t scare me. I look at a real estate transaction like I do a puzzle. There may be 5,000 moving parts but I’ve got a plan, a process, and a team and we will not stop until that last piece is placed. Every transaction is different with different personalities and obstacles and I will put my heart and soul into getting my clients to the finish line – closing! This market is hard with our lack of inventory so I have really focused on being innovative and finding my clients houses in non-traditional ways. There has never been a better time to start thinking creatively and finding solutions in new ways.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I have learned that we can’t take one thing for granted. Spending time with friends and family, going to church, concerts, the gym, a baseball game, suddenly went from being day to day conveniences to non-existent. I realized when these things were taken away, these little things were what made up my life and my community. I will never take those blessing for granted again. Our daughter came home from college for 5 months during the initial shut down and that is time I will never regret, that was time we got with our daughter that we would have never had without Covid, so there are blessings to be found. I am so grateful for the front line workers who worked and continue to work tirelessly for us; doctors, nurses, grocery store and restaurant employees, the package delivery workers, everyone else who pulled together to get us through.

Contact Info:

• Email: www.madisonprops.com
• Website: www.jenroutonrealtor.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenroutonrealtor/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenroutonrealtor

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