Momma Who is Rocking It: Meet Jen Novak, Who Puts the "Real" in Local Real Estate

Jen Novak has a way of balancing it all and doing it with grace. She is a full time mom of three girls (Gracelyn, 22 months, Reagan, 6 years and Rylie, 8 years) and also a full time real estate agent serving the Davidsonville, Maryland area. More importantly, she is the type of person that when you talk to her that she feels very present, like you are the only person in the room. This beautiful trait absolutely contributes to success within her home and in selling homes. Here is what I learned from the wonderfully talented and refreshingly real Jen Novak:

• How long have you been a real estate agent?
• Ten years
• Why did you want to become a real estate agent?
• I wasn't a school person and I was always in sales and had a strong desire to help people. It was a great fit.
• How many hours do you work a week?
• It is off and on. When I am busy with clients I work all the time. On average, I am in the office three days a week and work from home the rest of the time.
• What trends do you see in the current real estate market?
• It is shifting into a seller's market. Homes are selling really fast and buyers are competing against one another. I love it that way. I'd much rather be tons busy than twiddling my thumbs.
• Best advice for someone wanting to put their house on the market.
• Curb appeal. The outside is the buyer's first impression so you want to make it a good one. I always tell my clients to make them fall in love before they even walk in the door.
• What is the biggest mistake people make when selling their house?
• People do searches online and often believe that their house is worth more than it is. They should hire a professional that knows the market in their area.
• What is the best part of being a real estate agent.
• Helping people. I love helping people.
• Most challenging part?
• Finding the perfect house. Finding "the one". Sometimes it is the 40th one.
• How do you balance it all?

• I don't know that I do (laughing). I try my best. I have a supportive family- that makes it easier. I feel like a frazzled mess most of the time. When I spend time with my kids, I try to make it fun.My clients understand that my kids sometimes work with me.
• Does seeing so many houses make you want to move or have the opposite effect, to never move again?
• I want to move all the time. I love Davidsonville. I see things all the time in people's house that I want and get ideas from.
• How many years have you been married and what are your best tips for making it work?
• Ten years. I try to be his biggest fan and I know that he's mine. I used to feel guilty before going to appointments but we have goals as a family so we work together to make it work.
• Last time you had a date a date with your husband?
• Tonight! Fingers crossed; I'm trying to get a babysitter...
• What do you feel hottest wearing?
• Cute jeans and a tank top.
• Your three girls range from almost two years old to 3rd grade. Does it get easier or more challenging?
• I think easier in some ways; I feel I can relate to them more. They are the cutest, funniest, most awesome little people.
• Describe the best family vacation you've taken.
• The beach is our favorite place. We love hanging out in Ocean City or Bethany Beach- we are definitely a beach family.

Ten years of smiling.
Steve and Jen Novak have a way of making the juggling act of two full time careers
with three young children look effortless.

• Is there a trip you hope to take either with Steve (husband) or as a family?
• I would love to go to Greece as a family.
• Last time one of your children made you smile.
• This morning.
• What is the most challenging part of being a parent?
• Protecting them. It is a struggle to both protect them but to let them live their lives. I struggle with that all the time. 
• Last time that you feel like you rocked as a parent.
• I just found three pairs of matching socks for them to wear- I was so overjoyed!
• What is your best time management tip?
• With my business, I always need to be on my phone or on e-mail. But when I'm in the carpool line, my phone is off. The first hour they are home is their time. I carve out time to devote to them.
• Best organization tip?
• Shove everything in the closet and hope that when your mother-in-law comes over she doesn't open it. 
• What is your standby recipe when you don't have the time or energy to cook?
• Pasta with marinara sauce. My girls also love mozzarella caprese and we use fresh tomatoes from the garden in the summer.
• If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would do?
• I would go on a crazy shopping spree and buy everything I've ever wanted. Fashion would come first.
• Do you have a mantra or words that you live by?
• To be like my grandmother was.  'What would Granny do?' is what always goes through my mind.
• What lesson or lessons do you hope your children are truly listening to you about?
• To try to be kind. I want them to be kind and courteous, polite and sweet people even to each other. We do a kindness chart and they get points for every act of kindness they show.
• If you could create more hours in a day, what do you wish that you had more time for?
• Wine and pedicures.

Amen to that. You can find the busy and lovely Jen at www.jennifernovakhomes.com or on her blog www.therealhousesofdavidsonville.com.