When broker associate Mike Greco started looking for a new opportunity after a first career in retail management, he knew he was really looking for not just a new occupation, but a new life — one where he could be more in control of his time and lifestyle.
“I wanted to have flexibility and I wanted to feel rewarded for the time and effort I put in,” Mike explains. “And I wanted a job where every day was a new challenge and I got to spend a lot of time with people — where it was a mix of being out in the field, and only having to be behind a computer for a couple of hours a day.”
That search for a more flexible, rewarding, and active career quickly led him to real estate — and to Baird & Warner – Lincoln Park.
Though he interviewed at a few different brokerages, it was meeting the staff at Baird & Warner – Lincoln Park that helped him ultimately decide that this office would be the right fit — especially as he started out in his real estate career.
“I really liked the culture that Baird & Warner has,” Mike explains. “You really get the feeling of support, not only from David, Negeen, and Diana, but also from the other brokers. It’s a very welcoming community. And that’s the type of person that I am. I like winning as a team!”
With five years of experience under his belt, real estate has lived up to his expectations and then some, Mike says.
“What I appreciate about it is: It’s what you make out of it. It’s all dependent on what you’re willing to put in,” he says. “Every day is a unique challenge, and every deal is different. It’s gratifying seeing people find a new home and being really happy with that, while being able to elevate or upgrade their housing experience and see the fruits of your labor.”
It is his passion for helping people that has led Mike to specialize in working with first-time homebuyers.
For Mike, working with first-time buyers, “means really taking extra time to explain the ins and outs of the real estate purchasing process, and how it works,” he says. “For a lot of people, the only experience they have is with rentals beforehand. And for some people, the rentals can be a stressful and impersonal experience. With homebuying, I’m really able to take the time and show you the road map of how a transaction works, and really serve as a guide throughout the entire process — all the way from initially searching for places to the closing table, and even after that.”
And because he invests extra time to ensure that the process is as smooth and easy as possible, “a lot of those first-time buyers recommend their coworkers and friends to me to help them out,” Mike says.
For Mike, the key to building a referral-driven business is to build a relationship “that goes past the closing table,” he says. “It’s about staying in touch, and seeing if they need any help. If they’re doing, say, a remodel down the road, can I recommend the right contractor or landscaper? It’s being a resource and staying close to my clients that has allowed me to continue growing those relationships with them for years on end.”
This commitment to going the extra mile for his clients is also guiding Mike into the future, especially coming out of the pandemic. Mike strives to be a great partner for his clients as they reevaluate their home and life goals — whether that means looking for more outdoor space, an extra home office, or to connect with a neighborhood that can help “maximize whatever social and home goals they have,” Mike says.
Especially now, this also means making sure his buyers have the latest and best technology to give them the upper edge, Mike says, including ZenList.
“With the surge in properties being sold off-market, I make sure to connect my clients with every opportunity,” Mike says. “I know how to get my clients off-market properties. I’m able to network through my various channels and make sure my clients are seeing everything that’s on the market and off the market, to give them that upper edge when purchasing in Chicago.”
Mike is also looking forward to gaining more experience with new construction, and is learning the ins and outs as part of the sales team for Parkline Chicago, a luxury new development in the Loop.
Outside of real estate, Mike has been a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters for eight years, and enjoys frisbee-golfing at courses around Chicagoland.
You can connect with Mike by following him on Instagram, or by visiting his site, https://www.mikegrecore.com/.
Curious about how the training, support, and services at Baird & Warner – Lincoln Park can help take your business to the next level? Reach out to us today to get the conversation started.