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Hunter Hindman, who specializes in farm and land sales and is one of the National Association of Realtors’ 2024 30 Under 30 honorees, needs a unique tool kit when he’s out looking at homes or listing them. His supply list typically includes utility vehicles, trailers, boots, surveying programs, chainsaws and, in his words, “anything else needed to get the job done.”
Learn how this third-generation real estate agent uses his background and love of the land to serve clients ranging from farmers to hunters to developers of therapeutic and religious retreats, and why he believes so strongly in the American dream of land ownership.
Name: Hunter Hindman
title: land expert
experience: 7 years of experience, degree in Agribusiness Sales and Marketing, minor in Real Estate
Place: Leesburg, Missouri
Brokerage company name: The outdoor property that makes your dreams come true
Team size: Me and two buyers’ agents, Lucas McElhannon and Donna Housewright; transaction coordinator, my stepmother Tammy; listing investment coordinator and marketing manager, my sister Paige Hindman; and, of course, my agent and father, Darrell Darrell Hindman, who I turn to almost every day for advice.
Parties to the transaction: 49
Sales volume: More than US$15 million
Awards:
- National Association of Realtors 30 Under 30
- Ranked first among the company’s 50 agents in terms of number of sales transactions (2021)
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I am very proud to be a third generation real estate agent, following in the footsteps of my grandfather Clifford Hindman and my father Darrell Hindman. I attended my first real estate agent event when I was two years old when I saw my father being named president of the St. Louis Association of Realtors.
While I didn’t grow up playing with lockboxes, I grew up appreciating our family tradition of providing exceptional service to our clients and customers. From a young age, I knew I wanted to continue that legacy as a keeper of the American Dream.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received from a mentor?
My mentor, my father Darrell Hindman, taught me to always go the extra mile for my clients. From my first day in this industry, he showed me that my success was tied to the success and satisfaction of the buyers and sellers I served.
As a land expert, he showed me the importance of selling not only the property but the outdoor lifestyle that he and I both enjoyed. He taught me that caring about our clients and doing everything possible to help them succeed in their real estate journey would help me grow in my life and career.
I will always remember the words he taught me to live by in my career: “No commission is worth your reputation.”
What do clients need to know before starting a real estate transaction?
Before starting the buying or selling journey, clients need to consider and understand why they are hiring a real estate agent.
Clients need to ask the following questions to the real estate agent they are interviewing:
- Do they have the right tools? In my business this might include a dirt bike, maybe a chainsaw, and boots to make walking areas feasible.
- Do they have the right knowledge and experience?
- Do they sell the type of property you sell?
- Do they know the property values in your community or county?
While countless surveys show that clients are generally satisfied with their real estate agents after a transaction, many clients don’t listen to their agents’ advice. They sometimes forget that hiring a real estate agent and ignoring their advice is just as crazy as ignoring the advice of a doctor or attorney.
What do few agents know that would make their lives easier?
Few agents know how to divide and allocate their time. This can be a difficult task and may take a lot of time, but successful agents must know how to manage their time.
Allocate time to clients. Never give up on finding new clients and new listings. Allocate time to marketing and promotions to keep your business growing. Our businesses are constantly changing, and so will our lives. Most importantly, allocate time for family and friends. A well-rounded life will bring you career and business success.
Tell us a story about your most memorable transaction
Helping clients complete the largest financial transaction of their lives is always a reminder of the vital role we play in the lives of buyers and sellers. My most memorable transactions have always been an example of how I serve my clients and how “doing the right thing” can impact their lives and ours.
My unforgettable transaction began one morning when Mick walked into my office. He is seeking help selling his 160-acre farm in Osage County, Missouri.
We talked for over an hour about the farm, and while he didn’t have to sell the farm, he wanted to move to Florida. He shared with me the good, the bad, and the ugly about the property. We hit it off right away as agents and clients and became fast friends.
In life and work, I always strive to keep my promises and do the right thing for my clients, friends, and family. For me, in business, I always strive to go above and beyond my legal responsibilities and treat clients the way I would like to be treated. When we received an offer from him on the property that was slightly lower than he expected, I felt I did the right thing and adjusted my commission so that he could net close to what he needed. He promised not to forget my kindness and hard work.
A few months later, Mick called me to list his home in Sullivan, Missouri. This beautiful home on 25 acres sold quickly with no questions asked. Due to hard work and dedication, Mick had no concerns or issues listing his home for the full commission that our company typically charges.
Mick told me that the closing gift I give him at each end—an orca cooler with the We Live the Dream logo—is placed next to the pool at his home in Florida as a reminder of our work together . Working with Mick once again showed me the importance of “doing it right” in all aspects of business and life. Having customers call you a friend is the greatest reward you can receive in our business.
Email Christy Murdoch
