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Passing the Illinois Real Estate License Exam is a major accomplishment, involving hours of study and preparation. But it’s only the first step on your new career journey. Are you ready for what comes next? Find out what you need to know about your next steps after passing the exam.
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In a hot seller’s market, making your clients’ offer stand out can make the difference between closing a deal and starting the home search process over. And while offering the best possible price for a property is probably the most common way to ensure your clients’ offer finds its way to the top of the seller’s inbox, it’s not the only way to make sure your offer attracts attention. Learn more about some strategies to write the winning offer, every time.
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Starting a business — any business — is a tough proposition. And starting out as a rookie real estate agent is tougher than setting up shop in almost any other industry. Building relationships, creating a robust referral network, and developing the habits and workflows that allow an agent to balance business servicing with business origination can all make it seem daunting to stand up a real estate brokerage.
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Real estate brokers are, by nature, independent creatures. In fact, independence is one of the most oft-cited reasons real estate agents and brokers choose their career. The ability to focus on the areas that interest you, build your business at your own pace, and being your own boss are all powerful draws for motivated self-starters.
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Just like our homes, your real estate business is only as solid as its foundation. And every successful real estate business is built on a foundation of relationships. However, for busy agents, finding the tools and the time to cultivate relationships within your sphere can be difficult. Learning more about how to keep your network engaged and sending you referrals can ensure that your business continues to thrive and grow, no matter what the future holds.
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Real estate is a relationship business. And whether you’re just starting out on your real estate career or are a seasoned professional looking to grow a thriving business, the importance of your partnerships cannot be overstated. Your brokerage is more than just a name on a shingle, it’s a set of support systems, mentorship, training, and tools.
At Baird & Warner Lincoln Park, you’ll have access to Chicagoland’s most powerful tools, resources, and support, so that you can keep your attention where it belongs — on turning your business into everything you want it to be. Read on to learn more about the unexpected benefits of a real estate career at Baird & Warner Lincoln Park.
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As the daughter of an architect, real estate is practically in Marjorie Allabastro’s DNA. Visiting job sites with her father sparked a lifelong enthusiasm for the subject that is evident in her passion for her work. Marjorie started out in real estate development, then took a career detour into the corporate world, but nothing could hold her back from a return to real estate. She brings a sharp focus, clear love of the subject matter, and a tireless work ethic to every transaction, building an enviable loyalty among her clients, who return to seek her services again and again as they navigate home purchases over the years.
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There’s a lot that goes into the typical day of a Chicago real estate broker. Here at the Baird & Warner – Lincoln Park office, one of the things that we encourage all of our agents to focus on is making sure that they are putting their time to the highest and best use. For new and experienced brokers alike, this often comes down to understanding the difference between the activities that generate new business, and the activities that service the business you already have.
Too often, I see agents get caught up in servicing their business at the expense of generating new opportunities. While this may feel productive in the moment because you’re doing a lot of things, it often means that you’re not focusing on the activities that will actually allow you to grow your business, and make it more sustainable and lucrative for the long haul.
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Though she is still early in her real estate career, broker Kate O’Neill has already learned a lot of valuable lessons — and earned some impressive successes in less than one full year in the business.
For one thing, Kate has yet to have a buyer of hers pay above list price, “which is pretty big in the current market that we’re in,” she says. “I’m pretty proud of that!”
For another, Kate has quickly earned a glowing reputation around the Baird & Warner – Lincoln Park office for her social media savvy, particularly using Instagram as a channel to speak to her sphere, sow the seeds for long-term referral relationships, and reach her ideal millennial buyers.
“One thing with my social media that I always keep in the back of my mind is to treat it like my business card and my social proof,” Kate says. “That way, when people look me up, any potential new clients or friends of mine who know I just got started in this can see that I’m busy and that I’m actively working. That I’m constantly hosting open houses, or selling a property, or teaching them something that they didn’t know.”
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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!”
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