Conversations with the Inspiring Lindsay Ripley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsay Ripley.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Lindsay. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Helping people has always been my driving passion. I started my professional career in 2009 in politics, focused on helping drive change on social issues that impact our most vulnerable populations and supporting candidates that drive positive social change. Because of the nature of politics, I would have some downtime in between election cycles and I found a way to help people more directly in finding their home. Real estate was massively fulfilling, working to find someone their first home, the place to raise their children, the largest investment most people will make in their lives, the launching pad for the next stage of life. I was burned out and knew I needed to make a change when I finished what would be my last campaign in 2016, so, I decided I would make a full go of my real estate career.

It took a while to find my space in the industry – the details of the transaction, working with Managing\Employing Brokers, finding clients, defining my value. I have been lucky to work with great mentors at my current Employing Broker, and with outstanding clients. Helping people take the next major step in their lives is absolutely fulfilling.

Has it been a smooth road?
Between 2013 and 2016 I had done several real estate transactions for friends and family and even sold 30 condos for a small developer in Thornton, but the vastness and vague generalization of real estate overall had left me feeling overwhelmed. With so many realtors in Denver and so many people that already knew a realtor or had a friend or family member that was a realtor, how would I stand out? What would make me any different and why would someone choose me over some other realtor?

This was overwhelming. So, when I was offered a job with a small builder in Denver as the sales manager for a new home community in Englewood, I took it. I knew almost immediately this was not the right fit for me. The job wasn’t right, the company wasn’t right, and because I was working every single weekend I missed my husband and my kids. Although new construction homes were a little easier to sell and I was selling more “units”, I was working a lot harder and much less happy – I was working for a company to sell a house, not for a client to find a home.

Once again, I was determined to figure this real estate business thing out. I was a really good realtor I just had to figure out how to sell myself and the value I provide to my clients, but why was this so hard? I read a million books on how to sell yourself as a realtor, how to be successful, how to talk to people so they’ll listen, how to negotiate. After another day of online research, I had an epiphany – I was thinking too broadly and I was only thinking about myself and my own success. I realized I needed to focus my business on a much smaller group of people and I needed to come from a place of contribution. I needed to find something within real estate that I was passionate about, could build expertise and truly make a difference in the lives of my clients.

I began to research specialization areas within real estate. First time buyers, luxury homes, empty nesters, and… divorce. My first thought when seeing the divorce specialization was: “why would anyone need that?” But the more I thought about it and recalled my parent’s divorce, my husband’s parents divorce and several of our good friend’s divorce, I thought about how they were all forced to make very big financial AND emotional decisions at an extremely difficult time in their lives. Not a single one of them had the benefit of a professional that was educated in divorce real estate, knew the process and pitfalls or was sensitive to the circumstances divorcing couples find themselves in. I knew then that I wanted to become the real estate agent I wished my parents, my in-laws and my friends had. So, I completed the course work and training and became a certified divorce real estate expert.

Shortly after receiving my certification in divorce real estate, I felt renewed and armed with new confidence and new purpose. I was ready to stop selling houses and move on to my own business. So finally, after the timing never being right (it never is), always being scared (it probably always will be), I knew this was my time to exit and I had no problem saying “thank you, next.”

I definitely still struggle with selling myself, putting myself out there, posting on social media (oh, my god, what will people say or think?), but the less I make it about myself and the more I make it about my clients and my community the easier it gets. I no longer have any question that I am truly an expert in divorce real estate, but that doesn’t mean I know everything or should stop learning. The more resources I have, and the more continuing education I receive, the more value I bring to my clients and that is what I focus on these days.

My advice to young women is: it’s okay to be afraid, but do your thing anyway. As women, we are taught to be pleasers and accommodating, rather than entrepreneurs and disruptors, and it hasn’t served us very well. Be a disruptor, be a leader, be a cheerleader for yourself and for other women, there is enough room for all of us and we are stronger together. This is your story and at any given moment you have the power to change things, the power to say, “this is not how my story ends.”

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Capney & CO Inc. story. Tell us more about the business.
My primary focus is divorce real estate, working with married couples in transition to efficiently move on to the next phase of their lives. One of the most important things that sets me apart from other Realtors is that I work closely with the Counsel of both parties to make sure any issues that may cause a delay or a problem are identified and resolved right away. I also ensure divorce settlements are followed and sales proceeds are held and distributed. I help both parties by selling their home quickly, efficiently and for the most amount of money so that they’re in the best position to move forward. I am truly passionate about helping to guide people through this difficult time in their lives with grace and purpose.

Although the focus of my business is divorce real estate, I still practice in all areas of real estate. First time buyers, empty nesters, luxury homes, but niching down has made me a better realtor overall and has brought back my passion and love of the real estate business.

Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
I think to be successful in finding and working with a mentor, as well as, networking in general, you just have to put yourself out there.

Find networking events that apply to you and just go. Even if you don’t have anyone else to go with, even if you feel uncomfortable, that feeling won’t last forever. If you have ever been to an OrangeTheory class and felt like your going to die, the instructor will tell you that being uncomfortable is where change happens and I think the same is true here.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://alltherightmovescolorado.com/
• Phone: 3035508932
• Email: lindsay.ripley31@gmail.com
• Instagram: lindsayr31
• Facebook: @alltherightmovesdenver

Image Credit:
Aimee Starr

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