We were lucky to catch up with Kristi Kandel recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kristi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Your ability to build a team is often a key determinant of your success as a business owner and so we’d love to get a conversation going with successful entrepreneurs like yourself around what your recruiting process was like -especially early on. How did you build your team?
<b>Building a Team: From Contractors to A-Players</b> When I started, it was just me, wearing all the hats and figuring things out as I went. A mentor once told me, “Avoid hiring employees for as long as possible. They’re the best part of running a business—but also the hardest.” That advice shaped my early strategy. I focused on building strong relationships with contractors instead of hiring employees, which kept overhead low and gave us flexibility. It also meant fewer headaches during uncertain times since I could scale back easily if business slowed.
Early on, I prioritized availability over skill when hiring contractors. I could train them and maintain client relationships myself, but this led to challenges. Work often came back incomplete, and I stayed heavily involved in the daily grind. It worked for a few years, but it became clear that to grow sustainably, I needed to bring on top talent and invest the time to train them properly.
About six years in, I made the leap and began recruiting A-players. But first, I spent a year building out systems and processes. Not just any systems, but ones that took my nearly 20 years of development experience out of my head and leveraged automation and technology to create real efficiencies. That foundation gave me the confidence to hire skilled employees who not only filled vital roles, but allowed them to own their positions.
One thing I’ve always prioritized is understanding what motivates my team beyond just work. We all want a great quality of life, but that doesn’t mean avoiding hard work and sometimes long hours. It means doing meaningful work and being willing to put in the extra effort to make sure our projects, partners, and outcomes are very successful.
If I could do it again, I would have invested in technology-driven systems sooner and focused earlier on hiring people whose goals aligned with ours. <b>BUT</b> that would also mean betting on myself sooner. <b>Which I should have done.</b> That combination of the right tools and the right team made all the difference.
<b>Key Takeaways:</b>
<b>1. Stay lean in the early stages. </b>Use contractors to maintain flexibility and reduce risk.
<b>2. Build scalable systems with automation. </b>Systems are only as good as the efficiencies they create.
<b>3. Hire for alignment and ownership.</b> Find people who believe in the mission and can own their roles completely.
<b>4. Hard work matters.</b> Quality of life comes from doing meaningful work, putting in the hours, and achieving success without sacrificing personal goals.
Kristi, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Hi, everyone! I’m Kristi Kandel, and growing up in a small Ohio farming town, I developed a deep appreciation for the unique charm of local communities. Over the past 20 years, I’ve dedicated more than 50,000 hours to real estate development, completing hundreds of projects and managing over $450 million in developments across the country working with major brands like Chick-fil-A & CVS Pharmacy. I even served on the Planning Commission for 2 years in Lake Tahoe while we were updating our Master Plan.
However, my true passion lies in mentoring ordinary people to transform overlooked properties into thriving spaces that revitalize both communities and the lives of those who live there. Which is why I started a new company in late 2023.
At Local Real Estate Developers, we empower everyday people to become developers in their own towns. Through our hands-on programs and mentorship, we simplify real estate development into clear, actionable steps that help clients turn untapped potential into vibrant spaces. Our mission is to create lasting impact by supporting aspiring developers who want to renew their communities and build a meaningful future for themselves.
<b>What We Offer:</b>
1. Blueprint for Local Real Estate Development – $197 (use code <b>”BLUEPRINT”</b> to get 50% off!)
A self-paced course designed for anyone curious about real estate development. Includes free access to our community.
2. Build It: The Real Estate Development Accelerator – 90-Day Masterclass
A hands-on, expert-led program offered four times a year for aspiring developers ready to fast-track their first project.
3. Development Mentorship Program
Personalized guidance from your advisory board to help you confidently move your projects forward.
Learn more:
For anyone curious about doing something in your community you can
<b>Checkout their website & programs:</b> https://www.localrealestatedeveloper.com/
<b>Connect directly with Kristi</b>: https://www.localrealestatedeveloper.com/free-20min-call-optin
<b>Follow them on LinkedIn:</b> http://linkedin.com/company/local-real-estate-developers
We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.
Lynn and I first met in a real estate group when she posted a question about a property her team had revitalized. She was curious if it might be possible to parcel off some of the buildings and sell them separately. I had experience in it, so I reached out, and what started as a simple conversation quickly grew into regular chats about business strategies, building a team, and managing properties.
During one of those calls, I shared my idea for Local Real Estate Developers, a business focused on empowering everyday people to revitalize overlooked properties in their communities. That’s when Lynn mentioned her marketing background and how she could help build awareness and grow the audience. Her skills perfectly complemented my vision, and from that moment, our partnership took shape.
Since then, we’ve worked together to turn Local Real Estate Developers into a platform that helps people unlock potential in their communities, create lasting impact, and build something meaningful.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Prior to starting Local Real Estate Developers, I had been off social media for years. Honestly, I preferred being invisible. I wanted to be the millionaire in flip flops and a tank top that nobody would suspect. I was focused on building a great quality of life, not a public persona. But as this new business idea evolved, I realized that if I truly wanted to expand my impact and help people see there’s a different path they can take in life, I had to show up. That meant getting online and being visible, even if it felt a little uncomfortable at first.
There’s no magic button to building an audience. You don’t accidentally go viral and become an overnight success. It’s all about consistency—showing up day in and day out, building trust, and always providing massive value for free before you ever ask for anything in return. My biggest piece of advice? Stay focused on who you want to serve, and create content that genuinely helps them solve a problem.
Here are a few tips I’ve learned along the way:
Be authentic. People connect with real stories and real people. Don’t try to be someone you’re not—your audience will appreciate honesty over perfection.
Stay consistent. Even when it feels like no one is listening, keep showing up. Building trust takes time.
Engage with your audience. Social media isn’t just about posting—it’s about conversations. Respond to comments, ask questions, and build real relationships.
Focus on value. Every post should leave your audience feeling like they’ve learned something or gained a new perspective. It’s about them, not you.
Building a presence online takes work, but if you stay consistent and lead with value, the right audience will find you. Most importantly, don’t forget why you started—your mission and the people you want to serve are what matter most.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.localrealestatedeveloper.com/
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/localrealestatedevelopers
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/local-real-estate-developers
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LocalRealEstateDeveloper