It started like most big ideas do—full of excitement, a little naïveté, and no real sense of just how much it would take to see it through. And slowly, it led me to uncover a passion I hadn’t realized was there.

 

An old Victorian on Jennings Street—3,000 square feet of historic charm and hidden disasters—was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. The first day I had the keys, I pulled up the carpet expecting hardwood. Instead, I found warped, fire-damaged poplar you could see through into the basement. Every step forward, I took two steps back. I felt like I had opened Pandora’s box.

 

I learned about the house from John Hall, a friend and former mayor, who encouraged me to go for it. Built for Ernest Tripp, son of North Vernon’s founder Hagerman Tripp, the home had stayed in the family for generations. When I bought it, I also inherited boxes of old letters, love notes, and family history that made me feel instantly connected—not just to the house, but to the town itself. 

 

Even while working 12-hour shifts making medicine for a pharmaceutical company, I spent nearly all my free time on the renovation. It took over my life in the best way possible. I loved the problem-solving, the conversations with neighbors, and the process of bringing something forgotten back to life.

 

However, it also came with its fair share of challenges. We removed six layers of wallpaper, just to find the plaster underneath crumbling away. A plaster specialist spent six months restoring the walls. I couldn’t afford the $40,000 paint quotes for the exterior, so I did it myself—hand-scraping and painting through the winter. I know every square inch of that home. People in town would drive by and slow down or even stop to watch. It became something of a local spectacle—this 25-year-old out there bringing the historic home overlooking downtown back to life.

 

I put my entire life savings into that house, and then some. I went $75,000 over budget and had to find creative ways to keep financing the project. It wasn’t just a personal project either. Two weeks after I bought it, I met Hailee, my finance. From the beginning, she was with me. Every hardware run, every last-minute project, every hard decision, she was there for. As we rebuilt the house, we built our relationship. She didn’t just support the project—she lived it with me.

 

That renovation changed everything. It taught me new skills, introduced me to people I now work with every day, and pulled me deeper into the community. I joined the Historical Society Board, the Tourism Board, the Board of Zoning Appeals, and the Area Plan Commission. I helped launch North Vernon Main Street and got involved in revitalizing our downtown. That experience made me realize I didn’t just want to work on homes—I wanted to help others do it too.

 

Eventually, I left my job to become a REALTOR®. Starting over was nerve-wracking, but I went all in. I sold 35 properties in my first year—and 51 the next—which confirmed I was on the right path. Real estate, restoration, and community work all started to overlap in the best way. I’ve helped bring four new businesses downtown in 2024 alone, worked with local investors to find creative solutions, and kept finding ways to breathe life back into buildings people had given up on.

 

Today, Hailee and I live in a historic building downtown and have plans to open a clothing store, The Brass Rabbit, right in it. This is our home, our work, and our future—all rooted right here.

 

That Victorian home on Jennings Street gave me the tools, the network, and the drive to build a life I love. What started with one risky renovation became a career, a mission, and the foundation for everything I’m doing today.

 

In real estate, I want to be known as someone who gets things done—someone who finds solutions, connects the right people, and figures out how to make it work, even when it’s complicated. That’s what I love about real estate—every deal brings a new challenge, and every client has a different story. A lot of my work has centered around our downtown, which is why I see that as my legacy. It’s where I’ve invested the most time and energy. The buildings I’ve restored, the businesses I’ve helped open—it’s all about strengthening the community and keeping things moving forward.

 

I take pride in being the kind of agent who shows up. I answer my phone, stay involved, and make sure my clients feel supported from start to finish. While I specialize in historic homes, I enjoy working with all buyers and sellers. I especially focus on listings—making sure each home is well-presented, professionally photographed, and marketed with care. I also have a strong social media presence, which helps me get the right eyes on the right properties. But more than anything, I build trust. Whether it’s working through a tough deal or just being there when someone needs me, I’m all in for my clients.

 

Sincerely,

 

Daniel Smith