Before getting into real estate, I was a professor. I was born and raised in England, but came to the United States for graduate school. After getting a PhD in English literature from Brown, I came to Chicago and taught at DePaul University. I'd always been intrigued by real estate, though, and after my wife and I bought a condominium I got my license in 2004.
The skills I developed as a researcher and teacher serve me well as a realtor. To write a PhD thesis, I had to process a lot of very complex information and then present my analysis of it clearly and compellingly. That's much like the work I do now for buyers and sellers, sorting through a lot of complex market data to figure out what a property is worth and then using clear and compelling language to present a property (if I'm working for a seller) or an offer (if I'm working for a buyer) as attractively as possible.
If you're a buyer, I'll show you all the homes and give you all the information you need to make a good decision. I've been doing this since 2004 and am very familiar with the market and the process of buying all kinds of property. I've found my clients homes that they love and have negotiated great prices for them. However, I've also advised clients not to buy a particular property and occasionally not to buy at all. Since almost all my clients come to me by referral, it's far more important that they feel I have helped them make the right choice than that I make a sale.
If you're a seller, my role is, first, to give you a precise idea of your home's maximum value. I'll then give you detailed suggestions for getting your house ready to go on the market. Once the house is ready and the photos are taken, I have a two-pronged approach to marketing: first, I make sure that buyers can find the listing wherever they look for it; secondly, I "push" the listing to the people who are most likely to sell it, the most productive agents in the area and price range. Just as important as finding a buyer is keeping them, and I stay right on top of the transaction all the way to the closing.
I've sold properties of all kinds--condos, houses, and multi-unit buildings--all over the North Side of Chicago, as well as in Hyde Park and Kenwood on the South Side. Since 2008, I've been selling homes on the North Shore, from Evanston up to Highland Park. For what it's worth, I'm a "top producer" with both @properties and the Chicago Association of Realtors. "For what it's worth" because I don't think it's worth much: selling millions of dollars' worth of property does not necessarily mean you're representing the best interests of your clients.
George started working with me in 2014. I looked long and hard for a partner my clients could trust as much as they trust me. Tanya joined our team in 2021 and Emilie in 2022. Both of them are terrific and just as focused on serving our clients' best interests.
Take a look at my testimonials. I can also give you names and numbers of former clients. They would be happy to talk with you about their experience of buying or selling real estate with me. I look forward to working with you.
