Digging Into Stone with Raegan and Tina Winn of Natural Stone Design

Welcome to the latest edition of Feral and Fabulous, where we delve into fascinating industries and conversations with remarkable guests. Today, we’re thrilled to have Raegan and Tina Winn, the dynamic duo behind the thriving business, Natural Stone Design. In this insightful interview, we explore their journey in the natural stone industry, their expertise in real estate, and even a few entertaining anecdotes.

The Genesis of Natural Stone Design

Raegan and Tina Winn, owners and operators of Natural Stone Design, have an inspiring story. Raegan’s journey began in the early ’80s, entering the countertop business with a focus on laminate and acrylic materials. Working alongside family, he quickly learned the ropes but soon branched out on his own. By 2006, they founded Natural Stone Design, transitioning from laminate to the challenging yet rewarding stone business. Starting from humble beginnings in their garage, the Winns have built a successful enterprise over the years.

Challenges and Triumphs in the Stone Industry

The stone business is not without its challenges. As Raegan and Tina navigated their way through the industry, they learned valuable lessons about handling heavy materials and the importance of precision in installation. Investing in advanced machinery like bridge saws and CNC machines enabled them to expand their capabilities and offer more flexibility to their customers.

The couple also shared insights into the various types of stone materials they work with, including granite, quartz, quartzite, and marble. Among these, quartzite stands out as a popular choice due to its durability and aesthetic appeal. Despite the challenges of handling delicate materials with natural fissures, the Winns continue to deliver high-quality craftsmanship.

Insights into Real Estate

Aside from their success in the stone industry, Tina Winn also brings her expertise in real estate to the table. Together, the couple ventured into real estate, where Tina has built a commendable career. While Raegan supports her endeavors, he admits preferring to keep a low profile during open houses and showings, often assisting by driving or providing company.

Personal Anecdotes and Adventures

In a lighter segment of the conversation, the Winns share amusing stories from their lives outside of work. From Raegan’s encounter with hawks that led to a few battle scars, to memorable trips to an ice bar and tales of motorcycle mishaps, their stories add a delightful personal touch to the podcast.

Throughout the conversation, we’ve been given a glimpse into the world of natural stone and real estate through the eyes of Raegan and Tina Winn. Their journey is a testament to the power of hard work, adaptability, and a strong partnership. We thank the Winns for sharing their expertise and entertaining anecdotes with us and Raegan for always being a good sport when we tell the hawk stories! We look forward to having them back for future episodes as friends of the podcast.

Until next time on Feral and Fabulous! Keep on keepin’ on!

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From Healing Wounds to Selling Houses with Leslie Gutierrez

Welcome back to Feral and Fabulous! In our latest episode, we welcomed an exceptionally vibrant guest, Leslie Gutierrez. As a member of The Howell Group, Leslie shared her unique journey from being a biomedical scientist working in wound care to establishing herself as a real estate agent. This blog captures our conversation, delving into her personal and professional insights.

Career Transition: From Scientist to Real Estate Agent

Leslie’s path to real estate wasn’t a straightforward one. After being laid off from her corporate job in the biomedical field, a career pivot seemed necessary. Surprisingly, Leslie candidly shared that she initially perceived real estate as an easy venture. However, she quickly discovered otherwise, and it wasn’t until about two years into her new career that she gained confidence in her work and understood the business thoroughly.

Challenges and Changes in Real Estate

Leslie explained the learning curve that new agents experience, highlighting the misconceptions shaped by reality TV shows about real estate. According to Leslie, these shows often glamorize the industry, painting a picture of glamour that rarely aligns with reality. Through experience, she learned that success in real estate requires persistence, adaptability, and sometimes acknowledging when to say, “I don’t know.”

The Impact of AI in Real Estate

We also touched on the influence of artificial intelligence in the real estate industry. Leslie recounted an anecdote about clients who relied heavily on AI-generated suggestions, even to the detriment of their home-buying process. This experience illustrated the importance of human expertise and intuition, qualities that AI cannot fully replicate.

Personal Insights and Interests

Aside from her professional journey, Leslie offered a glimpse into her personal life. A San Antonio native, she cherishes her roots and family connections. Leslie also shared fascinating facts about herself, including a past feature on MTV’s “Global Grooves” and her impressive completion of one marathon and thirteen half-marathons.

Passions and Hobbies

Travel emerged as a significant passion for Leslie. Although work commitments limit her travel adventures, her bucket list includes destinations like Spain and a return visit to Greece to experience its culture more thoroughly. Despite her love for travel, Leslie is grounded in her familial bonds and community connections in San Antonio.

Is it Time to Go Already?

Our chat with Leslie highlighted the unpredictable yet rewarding nature of career and life paths. Her story is a testament to the value of resilience and staying true to one’s commitments amidst the challenges. Whether you’re in real estate or another field, Leslie’s journey reminds us of the importance of flexibility, learning, and passion.

Join us next time for more enlightening conversations on the Feral and Fabulous podcast. Until then, keep on keeping on!

We need your help to grow the show – Invite your friends and family to watch on YouTube or listen to us anywhere you get your podcasts – Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio and many more!

As always, please like and subscribe (and throw us a comment once in awhile – we love to hear what you think!).

Balancing Real Estate and Family Life: Insights from Danielle Prouse

Welcome to another exciting edition of the show, where we bring to you inspiring stories and insightful conversations with people from all walks of life. Today, we delve into the world of real estate with our special guest Danielle Prouse, a member of The Howell Group with Keller Williams Legacy. Join us as we explore the secrets behind balancing a successful career in real estate with the demands of family life, as well as discuss some fascinating topics ranging from favorite home features to the impact of social media in the industry.

Starting in Real Estate

Danielle Prouse began her real estate journey in September 2019 and has already made a significant impact within her field. In an industry where experience matters, Danielle’s journey of nearly seven years has taught her invaluable lessons and her eagerness to read, learn, and explore show in her depth of knowledge and understanding of real estate transactions.

Balancing Career and Family

One of the major challenges real estate professionals face is managing client expectations while ensuring quality family time. For Danielle, daycare plays an essential role, allowing her to focus on her career during the week but ensuring her children are well cared for, engaged, and socializing in a supportive environment. This approach showcases the wisdom gained from experience, highlighting the importance of making quality family decisions.

Favorite Home Features

Danielle’s favorite home feature might surprise you: it’s the backyard! An aficionado of older homes from the ’50s through ’80s, she enjoys mature landscaping, big trees, and ample outdoor space. This sentiment is echoed, especially in places like San Antonio, where outdoor living space is often seen as crucial as any interior feature.

Client Preferences and Surprises

Throughout her career, Danielle has encountered numerous surprising client decisions. Often, a seemingly minor feature, such as a narrow driveway or poor kitchen layout, can drastically impact a potential sale. She shares funny yet stressful stories, including unexpected encounters during virtual tours, reminding us of the unpredictability inherent in real estate.

The Role of Social Media in Real Estate

Undoubtedly, social media plays an important role in marketing properties, yet Danielle highlights an essential caveat: not all Realtors need to be influencers. While platforms like Zillow and Realtor.com are invaluable tools for spreading the word, the primary aim should always remain on serving clients effectively and selling their properties, rather than just gaining followers.

Family Showings and Life Lessons

Showings often become a family affair, and having experienced the challenges firsthand, Danielle emphasizes kindness and composure when dealing with energetic children during tours. Her own upbringing and experiences with discipline inform her adaptiveness and empathy toward her clients and their unique needs.

Feral or Fabulous – Everyone’s Favorite Segment

Towards the end of our episode recap, Danielle participated in our weekly, fun segment called “Feral or Fabulous,” sharing her opinions on various topics from charcuterie boards (a fabulous favorite) to the creepiness of wax museums. This segment offers a lighter glimpse into her personality and preferences beyond the professional space.

Danielle Prouse embodies wisdom beyond her years, expertly balancing a demanding career with family responsibilities. Her thoughtful insights on everything from daycare to driveway dimensions enlighten us to the diverse challenges faced within real estate. We thank Danielle for sharing her story and being a part of the team. We look forward to watching her career continue to grow and will be there to cheer her along the entire way!

Join us next time as we continue to explore the intersections of career, personal growth, and lifestyle choices.

As always, please like and subscribe (and throw us a comment once in awhile – we love to hear what you think!).

We need your help to grow the show – Invite your friends and family to watch on YouTube or listen to us anywhere you get your podcasts – Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio and many more!

Looking for a Realtor? Contract Danielle at (210) 478-6821 or danielle@prouseshouses.com and she’d be happy to help you buy or sell!

Friendship, Nostalgia, and Career Evolution with Renee Pinner

Welcome to the latest episode of Feral and Fabulous. In this special edition, we have an exciting guest – Renee Penner, a longtime friend and fellow real estate agent. Renee is not only a fellow Keller Williams Legacy Realtor, but also a longtime member of The Howell Group, Kim’s award winning real estate team.

This conversation spans decades of cherished memories, career transitions, and the enduring strength of female friendship. Join us as we revisit the past, celebrate the present, and anticipate the future.

Reconnecting with a Lifetime Friend

In this episode, host Kimberly Howell reconnects with Renee Penner, a friend from as far back as the 1980s. Their journey began at Southwest Research Institute, navigating a predominantly male professional environment and sharing a mutual love for career growth and personal development.

The 1980s: A Bumpy Start at Southwest Research Institute

Back in the day, the working scene was notably different. Women like Kim and Renee were a rarity at Southwest Research Institute, especially in fields like engineering and physics. But fate had something in store for them – meeting each other made the workplace feel a little less isolated. They explore how those initial experiences and a shared sense of humor catalyzed a lasting friendship.

From Engineer to Real Estate Professional

Renee shares her journey from engineering to real estate, a transition spurred by both personal circumstances and encouragement from family. Despite starting her career in engineering at her father’s behest, Renee’s true calling seemed to lie elsewhere. After a stint in engineering with Texas A&M, she shifted gears post-divorce in 2015 to enter the dynamic world of real estate, a decision our host supported, and encouraged, wholeheartedly.

The Real Estate Roller Coaster

Real estate, as Kim and Renee discuss, is far from the glitzy portrayal many envision. It’s a demanding field full of complexity and unpredictability. Renee’s analytical skills honed as an engineer have served her well, but the career comes with surprises, such as the struggle of not having complete control over every aspect of a deal. Building a reliable team of professionals is crucial, and together, they’ve curated a network essential for navigating the highs and lows of the industry.

Personal Growth and Learning

Renee reflects on what it takes to be successful in real estate: observation skills, analytical thinking, and the ability to navigate contractual complexities. Beyond technical skills, her social nature – a rare trait among engineers – has also been a significant asset in fostering client relationships.

A Nostalgic Walk Down Memory Lane

Amidst the professional stories, this episode brims with nostalgia. From the wild ride of the 1980s to concerts and escapades that left indelible marks, Renee’s recollections serve as a poignant reminder of life’s vibrancy. They recall fond memories of movies, concerts, and family times that bonded them even closer.

Feral and Fabulous Moments

The episode isn’t complete without our light-hearted segment: “Feral or Fabulous.” Whether it’s reminiscing over popcorn-laden movie nights, Christian Slater movies (Amazon affiliate link), or debating the feral nature of target practice and snow, this section is a fun, whimsical capture of personal preferences and quirks.

I Guess It’s Time to Go

As this episode closes, it’s clear that while careers may change and years may pass, friendship is a constant. Kim and Renee have come full circle, finding joy and fulfillment in both their personal and professional lives. This episode of Feral and Fabulous celebrates that journey, one marked by resilience, humor, and a shared commitment to living life fully.

Join us in the next episode as we continue to explore the laughter, lessons, and love life brings. Thank you for being part of our podcast. Please like and subscribe!

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