Chicago Real Estate Company

In searching for a Chicago real estate company to help you sell or buy a home, here are a few points to keep in mind...

  1. Size – How big is the brokerage? Is it a national organization that has locations throughout the country, or is it a Chicago-based company with full concentration on the local real estate market? If the firm is very small, does it still offer the scope of services a larger place can provide? If it's big, do you still feel like you're getting the personal attention you deserve?
  2. Website – Check out the company's website. It will tell you a lot about their services, agents and usually offers access to current property listings. A Chicago real estate company's website should also provide helpful resources for both home buyers and sellers. Does the site have neighborhood and city info? What about real estate news, sales stat updates, tips and advice, mortgage and financing information, relocation assistance, etc?
  3. Testimonials – Before deciding to go with any Chicago real estate company, find out what their past clients have to say about them. Oftentimes a firm will have testimonials posted on their website for potential customers to read. If not, call and ask for a list of references.
  4. Referrals – Ask friends, family and coworkers that have bought or sold real estate in Chicago which company they used. Find out what they liked and didn't like and whether they would use the firm again. A lot of good Chicago real estate companies are built on referral-based business. That's a great sign that the agents are competent and caring, and the brokerage fosters a client-oriented approach to transactions.
  5. Specializations – Not all real estate is the same. Buying a condo is different than purchasing a commercial building. And listing a house is different than marketing a loft development. A Chicago real estate company may do it all, or they may specialize in certain segments of the industry. Find a firm that does what you need and has a successful track record with that type of real estate business.
  6. Green Real Estate – A trend toward green home construction has made eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient elements much more available and affordable. If having a green home is important to you, you may want to go with a company whose agents are green certified (GCREP-GL).