Work with Gaggero & Tully

Meet Gaggero & Tully

Chris Gaggero

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 you would be able to trust as much as you trust me.

Take a look at our testimonials. We 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 us. We look forward to working with you.


George Tully

Buying or selling your home can be an overwhelming process. It's often the biggest financial decision that you will make. I've always approached real estate knowing that my clients are putting a tremendous amount of trust in me. I set out to earn that trust by first listening and learning. Every client has a different set of needs. Often my first task is to help clients organize their thoughts and to provide a roadmap for the transaction. Well before your home goes on the market or we go out for your first showing, I want you to understand the current market dynamics and the strategies we have at our disposal.


Throughout the process of buying or selling your home, my job is to make sure you are making well informed decisions every step of the way.  Prior to joining @properties, I worked at a primary research firm helping investors make sure they had the right information to guide their investments. I've found this experience to be invaluable when helping my clients navigate the deluge of real estate market data. Whether it's analyzing trends in home prices, filtering through active listings or researching local school districts, I want clients to be confident that they have comprehensive information for the decisions they make.

My partner and I are proud of the service we provide. Take a moment to read our reviews. I hope it becomes clear the level of care that we invest with each client.

Our service to you doesn't end at the closing table. Whether it's advice on appealing property taxes, saving money on your utilities, recommending contractors or keeping you updated on the value of your property, we are your home ownership resource. 

I'm also passionate about the environment. I've worked closely with both energy and environmental organizations to help Chicagoans have the resources they need when it comes to home efficiency and clean energy.

My wife and I live with our two kids in Edgewater. Working in real estate has given me the chance to meet lots of interesting and exciting people in our community. I hope I have the opportunity to work with you.

Tanya Barylak Wirht


Born and raised in Manitowoc, Wisconsin I spent my formative years training as a pre-professional ballet dancer. After graduating from Cornell University, I had a successful 15+ year career in the fashion industry, leading Production and Product Development teams for global companies. For years I travelled the world, working in factories, negotiating product costs, and developing products for brands like Levi's, Gap, Old Navy, and Rachel Roy. My previous roles were highly collaborative and spanned cultures and time zones.  

Changes in life circumstances and a highly disruptive global pandemic led me back to my midwestern roots. After nearly two decades living in San Francisco and NYC, and an 18-month reflective sojourn in the woods of northern Wisconsin, my family and I made our way to Chicago.

A chance encounter led me and my family to Chris Gaggero who helped us purchase our home in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago. Working with Chris was revelatory. Chris added so much value to our personal home buying process while avoiding typical sales tactics that I've encountered so often with other realtors. Chris' attention to detail, willingness to listen, and ability to negotiate on the behalf of others are also the same skills I honed first as a dancer and then throughout my apparel career. When Chris and his business partner George Tully were looking for an additional agent to join their team I jumped on the opportunity, joining Gaggero & Tully. I realized I could turn my passion and love for real estate into a career, leveraging and building upon the perspective gained during my time in the fashion industry and travels throughout the world.

The skill set that led to my successful fifteen year career in fashion and retail and the discipline developed as a dancer translate seamlessly to serve my real estate clients. Obsessive attention-to-detail, ability to listen, navigating competing deliverables, and executing on client needs are my top priorities. To me, the behind the scenes operational requirements of each real estate transaction are as important as the actual sale or purchase of your home. Throughout the process of buying or selling your home, I will partner with you to ensure you are included, well informed and, most importantly, that you're confident that everything is being taken care of.

I'm thrilled to be part of a team that includes two other incredible humans who happen to be realtors. The three of us operate with a service-first mentality and always with the greatest integrity. When you work with one of us you work with all of us at Gaggero & Tully.

 
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