Illinois 12-4-17

ILLINOIS EDITION

How to Make Your Commute PRODUCTIVE When it’s Time for a HOME OFFICE

FEATURED AGENTS

KAREN BAKER AMY & TIM SCHILLER COVER STORY

BRITTANY & KARL LANDENBERGER

KEEPING IN TOUCH – How to Stay in Your Clients’ Lives for the Long Haul TURN OPEN HOUSES Into Destinations

ILLINOIS EDITION

KAREN BAKER

Karen Baker is fortunate to spend her Whether staying in touch with her client 7 in the 17 21Karen takes ad career promoting the quality of life or marketing her listings, area where she was born and raised. Even tage of the resources Coldwell Banker prov after having lived out of state for a number agents to cast their nets far and wide. “W of years, Chicago’s Western suburbs remain professional photography and a lot of d her favorite place to live, work and play. “I’m mailings,” she says, noting that she gets a second-generation real estate professional, response to mailings. “Everyone is inund so this was something I was exposed to growwith email and many people like to get so ing up,” says Karen, a Broker with Coldwell thing in the mail, so we go back to basics.”

Banker in Oak Brook, IL. “In 2001, I was also of course advertises heavily online and living in New Jersey and considering a new used social media as well. career. Real estate was a perfect fit for my skill set and I BRITTANY was already passionate eight BAKER “Most of all, I like building relationships,” & KARL about it.” After KAREN AMY & TIM SCHILLERsays Karen. “ years in New Jersey, Karen moved back to Chicago in 2009, estate is more relationship based than transaction base LANDENBERGER where she briefly worked with her mother until her mother’s me. I learn something new with every transaction as no retirement at age 82. transactions are ever the same.” She likes helping people igate the steps between stages of life. In 2017, for insta Karen and her mother followed similar paths,CONTENTS starting in she worked with several adult children who were sellin real estate later in their careers. “My mom started when her family homes where they had grown up. “It can be e children were grown. I had the best mentor!” says Karen tional to sell their parents’ homes, but it’s an honor for m of her mother’s 32-year tenure with Coldwell Banker.

“By help she says.

“We even connect them with resou 4) WHEN IT’S TIME 19)them,” TURN OPEN HOUSES the time I returned I had been a top producer in for clearing out the home, how to sell possessions and ho FOR toAChicago, HOME OFFICE INTO DESTINATIONS Morristown, NJ,” she says. Representing buyers and sellers put closure on that final chapter.” in her old stomping grounds of Oak Brook, Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills 13) and Elmhurst, cameIN naturally to Karen, Karen takes part in YOUR important causes, inc KEEPING TOUCH – who Personally, 22) HOW TO MAKE also works in Naperville. receives very high referral ing the Oak Brook PRODUCTIVE Historical Society, the Chicago Co HOW TOShe STAY IN aYOUR COMMUTE rate, with the past couple of years being nearly all referral of Global Affairs, and the Wellness House, a support CLIENTS’ LIVES FOR THE and repeat clients. Karen also enjoys working and guiding ter in Hinsdale for cancer patients and their families. “T LONG HAUL first-time homebuyers through the process. offer tremendous support, which I was fortunate en to receive when going through my own cancer t “My clients know that I truly have their best interests at ments six years ago.” She also loves the fine arts, tr heart and that I care about them,” she says. “I am very especially NYC and Italy, maintaining a healthy life accessible and I go above and beyond with professional, and spending time with her family, including a daughter Phone 888-461-3930 | Fax 310-751-7068 concierge-level service.” They also appreciate the quick recently earned her real estate broker license. responsemag@topagentmagazine.com rate that they can expect from Karen.| “I have perwww.topagentmagazine.com sonally No sold and purchased or relocated several times, so I “She’s definitely considering Coldwell Banker,” Karen portion of this issue may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior consent of the publisher. Top Agent know firsthand they’re experiencing,” buyers andprecautions of heraredaughter, Elizabeth Baker, who represents the Magazinewhat is published

by Feature PublicationsHer GA, Inc. Although taken to ensure the accuracy of published sellers trust that Karen knows what needs to be done and how generation of women in the family materials, Top Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors. to be a REALTOR To subscribe or changeaaddress, send inquiry mag@topagentmagazine.com. think she’s going to carry the torch!” In 2018, Karen’s go to be efficient throughout transaction whiletoreaching their Published in the U.S. to try new things with real estate technology to broaden goals. Meanwhile, she is focused on creating “win-win” sitreach, perhaps with a new, but very familiar, colleague. uations and enjoys excellent rapport with other agents.

2

Top Agent Magazine

To learn more about Karen Baker,

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com

Top Agent Magazine

3

When It’s Time for a Home Office

by Nancy Michaels

So, you’re tired of clearing your papers off the dining room table every time someone wants to eat (how dare they!). And you’re still recovering from the business call you were forced to take that time your 5-yearold pressed the phone into your hand just as you stepped from the shower (it’s amazing how professional one can sound while wrapped in a towel and dripping wet).

fairly easily for this purpose. Use bookcases, filing cabinets, plants, screens, even lighting to define your work space. It’s essential that you remain committed to your space as office space. Without this psychological distinction between home and work, the two areas of your life may slide into one another, causing you to lose focus, and thus, productivity.

Sounds like it’s time for a home Choose furnishings that are ergooffice. nomically correct, and which fit in with the decor of the rest of your Ideally, you’ll have a spare room to home. Lighting should come from turn into office space—preferably three sources: natural, ambient and one with a locking door. An extra direct. Give yourself enough storage bedroom, the basement, or attic can space to keep your work area all serve this purpose. If you don’t uncluttered. You may want to store have room for a dedicated office, your supplies in another part of the take a look around your house to see house, keeping just a week’s worth where you can carve yourself some in your office. And schedule a space. A closet, bedroom corner, weekly or biweekly cleanup where hallway alcove or even the area you go through your papers and files under a stairway can all be converted and either throw away or stow away 4

Top Agent Magazine

anything that is not essential to the daily operation of your business.

event of a power failure. An uninterruptable power source supply is also a must for the home office.

This will keep your computer running during a power outage until you’re able to safely shut it down.

Almost every business requires a computer system. Don’t skimp. You want something with enough speed and memory capacity to last into the future. A good-quality inkjet, or Another essential component of the preferably, a laser printer is also home office is telecommunications, essential. Investigate the all-in-one meaning telephone, fax and Internet printer, fax, copier and scanners. access. An account through an These may save you money as well Internet service provider or online as precious office space. I also service shouldn’t cost more than $20 recommend a computer backup per month and it will give you the system, which will protect the ability to send and receive e-mail. contents of your hard drive in the Top Agent Magazine

5

It’s essential that you remain committed to your space as office space.

You’ll probably want more than one answering” from your phone comphone line, three if you’re using one pany. It’s just a few dollars a month line for a fax and modem hookup. and sounds more professional than It’s wise to invest in a business line, an answering machine, and which which allows you to list your won’t break down while you’re on business name and number in the vacation. phone book and with directory assistance. To keep costs down, use A home office can either improve that line for incoming calls only. If productivity, or harm it. You may find you don’t want the expense of a yourself doing paperwork at 2 a.m. business line, but can do without a when you should be sleeping, or repeat of the shower scene, order flipping to General Hospital at 3 p.m. “distinct ring” service from your when you should be working. It’s phone company. This is a separate helpful to treat your home office as phone number which rings into your you would an outside office, complete home line, but sounds different from with “starting” and “quitting” times. your normal ring. This alerts you This will help you stay focused, and family members to incoming organized, and productive. And your business calls. If you’re dishing up family will appreciate having their dinner or washing the dog, you’ll dining room table back. know to let your answering machine, or better yet, your electronic voice Nancy Michaels, of Impression Impact, mail system, grab the call. If you’re works with companies that want to reach in the shower, hopefully your 5- the small business community and with small business owners who want to sell year-old will know to do the same. more products and services. Copyright©, You may also want to order “call Nancy Michaels. All rights reserved.

6

Top Agent Magazine

BRITTANY & KARL LANDENBERGER Top Agent Magazine

7

Serving the southern suburbs of Chicago, Karl and Brittany primarily focus their efforts in the Will, Cook, and Southern Dupage County communities, while personally calling the Frankfort area home.

BRITTANY LANDENBERGER Husband and wife real estate duo, Karl and Brittany Landenberger, both bring a strategic sales sensibility to their work as agents. With Karl’s vast knowledge in sales, selling office technology and equipment, combined with Brittany’s tenure as a marketing strategist for a Silicon Valley based start-up, they decided to unite their talents and venture into the world of real estate. Their interest began after they prepped and staged their own home on their terms, and then negotiated the purchase of their next home. After those successful transactions as relative amateurs, the two realized there was more to real estate than they’d ever imagined.

They applied their newfound interest and longstanding skills to earn their licenses, and since then they’ve never looked back. “It’s the best 8 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

decision we ever made,” the duo agrees. Today, Karl and Brittany have cultivated a trusted reputation as agents with a personable, capable approach—along with a proven track record of success to date.

Serving the southern suburbs of Chicago, Karl and Brittany primarily focus their efforts in the Will, Cook, and Southern Dupage County communities, while personally calling the Frankfort area home. As Team Landen, Karl and Brittany take a personalized approach to their work, while incorporating tailored strategies to ensure that each transaction is customized for the client and property at hand. “When we walk into a home, we do a strategic marketing analysis,” Brittany explains. “We consider all the details, like who the target market is and how to incorporate interesting social media campaigns.

We’re also big believers in using custom marketing videos tailored to each home.” In fact, Top Agent Magazine

As Team Landen, Karl and Brittany take a personalized approach to their work, while incorporating tailored strategies to ensure that each transaction is customized for the client and property at hand.

Karl and Brittany’s tech-savvy approach to listing properties has yielded superior results.

Focusing on professional photography, video, and social media campaigns ensures maximum visibility for properties new to market, with some videos earning up to 10,000 views.

Team Landen was also approached by Comcast, recognized as top agents in the area, and accordingly have filmed commercials and TV-spots that add even more exposure to their personal brand and listings.

The surest sign of their success to date?

They’ve managed to net a robust percentage of their business from referral clientele—a testament to their ability to deliver, while curating a positive transactional experience. “The thing that we like most about our work is helping people,” the couple agrees. “Oftentimes, we become like counselors and trusted advisors to our clients, and by the end of the transaction Top Agent Magazine

KARL LANDENBERGER we’ve gone beyond our business relationship and have become friends. When you’re able to overcome problems on behalf of your clients, that’s what really makes it all worthwhile.

Sometimes that means working with first-time homebuyers to get them qualified and help them find their dream home. Sometimes it means working through more difficult situations that clients are facing, like divorce or a death in the family. In either case, it’s our job to help them move forward and begin the next chapter of their life. It’s not always easy, but it’s incredibly rewarding.”

To stay connected to their network of clientele, Karl and Brittany take their trademark personalized approach. From staying up-to-date Copyright Top Agent Magazine 9

10Copyright Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

on family happenings through social media, to crafting client appreciation gestures and Thank You campaigns to demonstrate their gratitude—Karl and Brittany most value their ability to serve others on the path to homeownership. “Karl and I work around the clock and we really care about our clients,” Brittany says.

“Whether we’re working with a $60,000 condo or a $1,000,000 listing, we put in the time and care necessary. Potential clients can read the reviews we have online and get a good idea of who we are and what sets us apart. Our clients are our number one priority.”

To give back to the community they call home, Karl and Brittany are involved in a variety of Top Agent Magazine

civic and charitable causes. Karl partners with Lincoln-Way Foundation, supporting the local School District 210, where he once attended school. “It’s what made me who I am today, and that’s why I give my time,” he says. As animal-lovers, Karl and Brittany also give to Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium. In their coveted free hours, the two love to travel, spend time with their Yorkie pup, Sparky, and get away to their summer cottage in Michigan.

Looking ahead, Karl and Brittany show no signs of slowing. They plan to grow their team, with the potential of bringing on a listing agent, a buyers’ agent, and a full-time assistant in the months ahead. After becoming million-dollar Copyright Top Agent Magazine11

top agents in just a few short years, and armed with an incisive outlook toward the future, the best is assuredly still to come for Karl and Brittany Landenberger. “When it’s all said and done,

we really create a lasting bond with those we work with,” they reflect. “Our clients can trust us. We care about what we do, and we’re committed to doing the best job possible.”

To learn more about

KARL & BRITTANY LANDENBERGER visit LandenRealEstateGroup.com, e-mail teamlanden@landenrealestategroup.com, or call Brittany at (815) 534-0315 or Karl at (815) 953-6991 www.

12Copyright Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

g n i p e Ke h c u o in T

HOW TO STAY IN YOUR CLIENTS’ LIVES FOR THE LONG HAUL

One sign of a great real estate agent is there long list of loyal client following. Part of achieving a great referral base is being a great realtor during the transaction. But, that’s only half of the work. To truly be your client’s realtor for life and keep them coming back to you as well as referring others to you, you have to stay in their lives past the transaction. Keeping in touch with your past clients can be one of the most important parts of your business, and one that many realtors tend to push to the wayside.

Do you stay in your client’s lives, or do you disappear? People refer people that they feel they know well and that they trust, people they consider friends. However, earning and keeping your client’s trust involves maintaining a delicate balance with how much you contact them. Experts recommend reaching out to your clients at least quarterly. But, it’s not just about how often you stay in touch. You also need to be mindful about how you are reaching out to them. Here are some tips on how to keep in touch with your clients for the long haul: Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

13

INDIVIDUAL PERSONAL CONTACT One of the best ways to keep in touch with your clients is to simply give them a call every once in a while. Follow up and see how your clients are doing. Offer them assistance if they need it. Personalized contact helps to ensure that you remain as important to your clients long after the sale as you were during the transaction. Giving your clients a call on special occasions such as birthdays or holidays also makes for a great personal touch.

Of course, nothing beats face-to-face contact. Stopping by to say hello can be a great way to keep in contact. An even better way to catch up and maintain that friendship is to set up a lunch or coffee date with past clients. Giving individual clients your undivided attention goes a long way towards maintaining that bond you formed during the transaction and earning your client’s loyalty and trust. Interactions like this make a lasting impression on your clients.

Of course, many busy REALTORS® may not have time to follow up with every client oneon-one. A great way to still give personal attention to your clients without meeting each and every one for lunch is to throw a client appreciation party. This allows you to get in some face-to-face time with each client and make sure they all get your undivided attention and quality time to catch up with you, even if it’s only for a short time.

Now, if you have a lot of past clients, this can be difficult to manage during one party. One way to get around the numbers problem is to organize smaller events based on client’s interests. Instead of throwing one giant party, host a pool party for the families with kids or a wine and cheese get together for single clients. Hosting special events like these ones goes a long way towards keeping your contact with past clients more personalized and setting you apart from those businesses that simply send them a calendar once a year.

PROVIDE CLIENTS WITH USEFUL NEWS PROVIDE CLIENTS WITH USEFUL NEWS One way that many REALTORS® keep in touch with their clients is by sending them newsletters. This form of contact can be a double-edged sword. You want to make sure you provide them with useful information that reminds them of your value as a real estate professional.

Otherwise your communication will amount to nothing more than spam, and clients will think of you less as a trusted friend and more as a nuisance salesperson.

Clients react much more positively to communication containing information that is pertinent to their lives. Update your clients on what is going on in their local community and 14

Top Agent Magazine Top Agent Magazine

housing market. Demonstrate your knowledge about the community and the things that are important to your clients. Include information about local cultural events, community news, housing statistics, information on the mortgage market, home maintenance advice, home design tips, and anything else that your clients will find personally useful. Your clients will always be interested in value.

SEND CLIENTS MEMORABLE AND PERSONAL CARDS Sending your clients cards related to important events in their lives and letting them know that you remember those events and care will go a long way towards building and maintaining a close personal relationship with them. You want to make sure your cards stand out, though. Sending popular holiday cards can be a mistake, as they will most likely get lost amongst all of your clients other holiday cards and will be quickly forgotten. Instead send something more personal such as: HOME ANNIVERSARY CARDS: Send cards to each client on the anniversary of the closing of their home.

CONGRATULATORY CARDS: Remember important events such as wedding anniversaries, graduations, new babies, etc.

SPECIAL BIRTHDAY CARDS: Instead of just sending your typical birthday card, add something special to yours that will stand out. Include a $1 scratch off ticket or a $5 gift certificate to Starbucks. Make sure to include a handwritten personal note.

GIVE CLIENTS AN UNUSUAL GIFT Make sure the gifts you send your past clients stand out. Send your past clients an odd gift at the beginning of the year or on a holiday. Think outside the box and send things like funny magnets, customized mugs, a personalized piece of wall décor, and other fun and unusual items. A great way to make your gift stand out even more is to include a funny note with it that will catch their attention as well as make them think of you. For example, one cute idea is to send clients a bag of popcorn with the note, “Real estate is popping, give me a call.” You could send a bag of goldfish with a note attached that says, “I’m fishing for your referrals.” Get creative and have a little fun with it, your clients will notice and remember you for it.

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

15

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOCIAL NETWORKS

Social networking sites make staying in contact with past clients in a more informal and friendly basis much easier. Connect with your past clients on Facebook. This will help you stay up to date on the important things happening in your pact clients’ lives. In return, it provides you a great platform for keeping those past clients up to date with what is going on in your business as well as keep in contact in a more informal manner. Use Facebook to remind past clients to check their basement after a heavy rain or that they can contact you for help during tax time.

You can even organize your contacts on Facebook into customized lists such as “past clients,” “industry contacts,” etc. This will help you better manage your Facebook contacts.

This will also allow you to view specific news feeds based on these lists and send messages to a particular list of contacts. Don’t forget about the many other social networking sites such as Twitter or LinkedIn either. Utilize this technology to drive personal contact with your clients.

STAY ORGANIZED No matter how you choose to keep in contact with past clients, make sure to be consistent.

Consistency will help you stay organized and diligent about reaching out to your past clients regularly. A tool used by many real estate professionals to stay organized is a customer relationship management solution. Whether you use one that is online or a computer software program, this will help you stay organized when managing your contacts and allow you to set notifications to alert you when you need to contact certain clients, send out gifts, plan a client appreciation event, and many other things throughout the year.

Staying organized and consistent in your contact with past clients will help you continue to build and manage your referral base, as well as open the door to repeat and referral business.

16

Top Agent Magazine Top Agent Magazine

KAREN BAKER Karen Baker is fortunate to spend her career promoting the quality of life in the area where she was born and raised. Even after having lived out of state for a number of years, Chicago’s Western suburbs remain her favorite place to live, work and play. “I’m a second-generation real estate professional, so this was something I was exposed to growing up,” says Karen, a Broker with Coldwell Banker in Oak Brook, IL. “In 2001, I was living in New Jersey and considering a new career. Real estate was a perfect fit for my skill set and I was already passionate about it.” After eight years in New Jersey, Karen moved back to Chicago in 2009, where she briefly worked with her mother until her mother’s retirement at age 82.

Whether staying in touch with her client base or marketing her listings, Karen takes advantage of the resources Coldwell Banker provides agents to cast their nets far and wide. “We do professional photography and a lot of direct mailings,” she says, noting that she gets good response to mailings. “Everyone is inundated with email and many people like to get something in the mail, so we go back to basics.” She also of course advertises heavily online and has used social media as well.

“Most of all, I like building relationships,” says Karen. “Real estate is more relationship based than transaction based to me. I learn something new with every transaction as no two transactions are ever the same.” She likes helping people navigate the steps between stages of life. In 2017, for instance, she worked with several adult children who were selling the family homes where they had grown up. “It can be emotional to sell their parents’ homes, but it’s an honor for me to help them,” she says. “We even connect them with resources for clearing out the home, how to sell possessions and how to put closure on that final chapter.”

Karen and her mother followed similar paths, starting in real estate later in their careers. “My mom started when her children were grown. I had the best mentor!” says Karen of her mother’s 32-year tenure with Coldwell Banker. “By the time I returned to Chicago, I had been a top producer in Morristown, NJ,” she says. Representing buyers and sellers in her old stomping grounds of Oak Brook, Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills and Elmhurst, came naturally to Karen, who also works in Naperville. She receives a very high referral rate, with the past couple of years being nearly all referral and repeat clients. Karen also enjoys working and guiding first-time homebuyers through the process.

Personally, Karen takes part in important causes, including the Oak Brook Historical Society, the Chicago Council of Global Affairs, and the Wellness House, a support center in Hinsdale for cancer patients and their families. “They offer tremendous support, which I was fortunate enough to receive when going through my own cancer treatments six years ago.” She also loves the fine arts, travel, especially NYC and Italy, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and spending time with her family, including a daughter who recently earned her real estate broker license.

“My clients know that I truly have their best interests at heart and that I care about them,” she says. “I am very accessible and I go above and beyond with professional, concierge-level service.” They also appreciate the quick response rate that they can expect from Karen. “I have personally sold and purchased or relocated several times, so I know firsthand what they’re experiencing,” Her buyers and sellers trust that Karen knows what needs to be done and how to be efficient throughout a transaction while reaching their goals. Meanwhile, she is focused on creating “win-win” situations and enjoys excellent rapport with other agents.

“She’s definitely considering Coldwell Banker,” Karen says of her daughter, Elizabeth Baker, who represents the third generation of women in the family to be a REALTOR®. “I think she’s going to carry the torch!” In 2018, Karen’s goal is to try new things with real estate technology to broaden her reach, perhaps with a new, but very familiar, colleague.

To learn more about Karen Baker, visit karenbakerrealestatebroker.com, email karen.baker@cbexchange.com or call/text 630.390.9060 www.

Top Agent Magazine

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 17

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com http://www.topagentmagazine.com

18

Top Agent Magazine

Turn Open Houses into Destinations People are busy. Even those who are actively looking to buy a house or want to learn about the market for a future purpose have busy schedules.

But with bit of added time, creativity and investment in making open house into destinations, you’ll see greater turnout. And we all know that greater turnout increases the likelihood of offers.

There are several creative ways to hold an open house with a mindset of hospitality and with the goal of providing something of value to each person who attends.

Top Agent Magazine

The neighbors-only open house Some agents embrace the “nosy neighbor” concept as a benefit, not an eye-rolling challenge.

With his client’s permission, Wesley Peters, a Keller Williams broker in the Baltimore Metro Area, often gets the neighbors together before a home hits the market. “We invite other brokers, too, but we include as many neighbors as we can,” he says, explaining that he schedules these events for a Thursday or Friday evening, happy hour-style, rather than midday on a Sunday. They get a better turnout at 5:00 pm than

Top Agent Magazine ®

19

midday on a weekend when the neighbors are busy with their lives. In a relaxed setting, conversations flow, neighbors can mingle and catch up, and the buzz begins before the home is listed.

In advance, prepare invitations and hand-deliver them to homes on the streets you and your client agree are best to include. The destination is the event; the value each attendee receives is the social interaction and the removal of any awkwardness over visiting their neighbor’s house.

Your client’s benefit is the buzz.

A turnkey block party any time of year Once a property is listed, some agents take on the role of party planners. Certain streets or neighborhoods, they find, are perfect for lowkey social occasions. In some place, such as neighborhoods with many young families, a bounce-house or games may even ramp up the fun factor. But the idea of a seemingly spontaneous block party during an open house can be easy to pull off, whether you’re serving lemonade and cookies or coffee and pastries. The chance to meet prospective neighbors turns the event into a destination for both buyers and the neighbors; the value comes in buyers’ ability to see how the neighbors interact. Your seller’s benefit is that the grapevine will be filled with happy stories about their home. Tips: By keeping basic supplies in storage, you’ll be ready for a pop-up block party any time. Promote this type of event with targeted social media marketing and fliers or postcards to communities within a short distance of your listing.

Invite other professionals It’s common mortgage lenders to attend open houses. But why not provide even more value to people who attend? Chances are, you have more than a handful of professional partners who welcome an opportunity to join you at your open house. Consider inviting an interior designer, a contractor, a gardener, even a gardener or a painter. Invite them to your broker’s open in advance or give them time to view the property 20

before the open house begins. Then encourage them to stroll the property during the open house or to sit with you. When visitors ask about needs or concerns they may have about the house – such as loan questions, the cost of improvements or upgrades or even remodeling – you’ll be able to introduce them to an expert on the spot. For that matter, your invited pros don’t even necessarily have to be in home-related businesses!

Prospective buyers always want to know about the community when visiting open houses.

Consider inviting representatives of community

organizations, like youth sports group or owners of mom-and-pop retailers to help your visitors get a feel for the neighborhood or town. For this type of open-house, prepare a flyer or card with your community contacts on it so visitors can leave with resources as well as information.

Open house should be about the buzz. They’re about creating a conversation about your listing and making the home memorable to visitors. By giving people a unique experience they won’t forget, you’ll show your sellers how creative you are in meeting their needs.

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

AMY & TIM SCHILLER For Amy and Tim Schiller, real estate is truly a family affair. This brother/sister team was raised by realtor parents. Their father started Schiller Real Estate fifty years ago. “Our mom partnered with him and the business took off,” Tim says. Schiller Real Estate was the #1 real estate company in Elmhurst and DuPage counties for forty years. Amy and Tim both became realtors at a young age and have now been in the business for 26 and 20 years respectively.

They both started with Schiller Real Estate, working there until the family sold the company to Berkshire Hathaway. Tim and Amy worked as the top agents in the Berkshire office until their non-compete contract expired. They then left to partner with @ properties. “By joining them, we made them the #1 Listing Office overnight,” Tim says.

“Within three to four months we were the #1 Office overall and have been ever since.”

Tim and Amy lead the The Schiller Team, which is made up of ten agents and includes an office in Elmhurst and a new office in Lombard. Like their parents before them, they are the top-producing real estate brokerage team in Elmhurst and DuPage counties with more than $100 million in annual sales. Half of their business comes from repeat and referral clients. The other half is new business coming from the City of Chicago. What keeps Tim and Amy’s clients coming back? “We go above and beyond,” Tim says. “We always look at other realtors and what they do, and we always take that extra step, or ten extra steps.”

Tim and Amy have alternated between being the first and second ranked agents in town for two decades. Their combined knowledge of both the real estate market and the area sets them apart

from other realtors. Together they have over 40 years of real estate experience and they were both born and raised in Elmhurst. “We know our market. We know real estate. And we know the communities that we work in,” Tim says.

Tim and Amy are so involved with their community that they find it easy and natural to stay in touch with past clients. Two years ago, Tim reached out to the Elmhurst Park District to create a variety of public events. “As a thank you to our community and to clients future and past, we host Movies in the Park and kids events such as Fall Fest and Adventure Day.” That’s a way for Tim and Amy to give back to the area they love and grew up in.

What do Tim and Amy like most about what they do? “We love helping our clients find their dream homes and become more of a part of the community. We’ve also always liked being #1. We are both competitive. Even with each other we compete a little bit,” Tim says with a warm smile. “But mostly we enjoy giving back and making our clients happy.”

The Schiller Team donates to a wide variety of charitable organizations and sponsors the Annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot Race. In his cherished free time, Tim loves to spend time with his wife and four small children. Amy is very involved in her daughter’s school events and also loves to exercise. For the future, Amy and Tim want to continue to support their team, which they consider to be their family. “We want to grow a great team, give back to the community, and have fun doing it!” Tim says. Now those are worthy goals and ones that will benefit their hometown too!

To find out more about Amy Schiller, you can contact her via email at amyschiller@theschillerteam.com or by phone at 630.814.4065.

To find out more about Tim Schiller, you can contact him via email at tim@theschillerteam.com or by phone at 630-992-0582.

You can also check out their work online at TheSchillerTeam.com. http://

Top Agent Magazine

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 21

How to Make Your Commute Productive The highest caliber business owners and entrepreneurs utilize every minute of their day.

Though this may be a lofty goal, there are certainly ways to make our daily routines more efficient and productive. Consider the morning and evening commute—time blocks that are accounted for every day. For some of us, daily commutes may mean a lengthy drive through gridlock traffic, or perhaps just a quick fifteen-minute crosstown excursion. However short or long your commute may be, there are ways to maximize this component of your daily routine and reap the rewards.

With that in mind, take a look at some ideas below to inject some energy and productivity into your daily commute.

22

Listen to the latest industry-centric podcasts or audiobooks Whether you drive, bike, walk, or take public transportation, a commute is the perfect time to tune into an industry-oriented podcast or audiobook as a way of building your skills or getting into the zone for the day. Instead of letting your commute time be passive, you can process insights from leading industry professionals, or develop your skillset on a topic you haven’t yet made time for. Perhaps you’d like to develop your social media presence, or maybe you’d like to tap into the millennial homebuyer market—whatever the case may be, there is audio material out there suited to your interests. What’s more, podcasts are free and easy to incorporate on your smartphone or

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

tablet, and there are ample audiobook subscription services out there that make regular listenership cost effective.

Create a mental to-do list to get a head-start on your day, or to prepare for tomorrow Getting your thoughts in order with a straightforward to-do list can help you dive in once you make it to your desk, or serve as a conclusive mental routine to end your work day.

If you drive to and from work and don’t have your hands free, don’t fret. Speaking your to-do list aloud can help you detangle your thoughts and tasks by vocalizing them. You can also try breaking down your to-do list by verbalizing the day’s goals, the week’s goals, and the month’s goals as a way of structuring priorities. If your commute is hands-free, you can incorporate a variety of apps that serve as custom-made todo lists that’ll organizationally map your duties for the day. In either case, use your commute window to identify and name the tasks ahead of you, and you’ll be able to hit the ground running when the time comes to perform.

Top Agent Magazine

Tend to your personal commitments and planning A productive commute can boost your professional performance, but it can also serve your personal growth and out-of-the-office responsibilities, as well. Perhaps you can think out and plan your meals for the week so that you don’t come home burnt out and with nothing in mind for dinner. Maybe you check in with a relative or partner and catch up for a spare twenty minutes.

Not only does this eliminate a few items off of your personal to-do list, it can actually give you a more focused mind at the office. If your personal life is in good order, you’ll be able to devote your full attention to work tasks.

As the old saying goes, there are only so many hours in a day. If you added up all the minutes spent commuting around town, how many hours would amount? Though the trek to and from the office is an engrained part of professional life, it doesn’t have to be a drag. Account for those spare commute windows in productive ways, and in only a month you’ll have devoted a significant portion of your time to bettering yourself as a person and a professional.

Top Agent Magazine

23

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com

24

Top Agent Magazine