When you’re searching for Chicago homes for sale or Chicago condos, often the first thing you need to do is find a great real estate agent who can help ensure the process goes smoothly. Having an agent who understands your needs, and who you feel connected to, is an crucial part of the home buying or selling process. So, let’s get to know one of Jameson’s finest!
Laura Stanek is a Jameson realtor associate who has been involved in the Chicago real estate industry for over 20 years. She was practically destined to be a real estate agent – her favorite childhood game was Monopoly! We interviewed her to learn more about her take on finding that perfect Chicago home, what to do in the city and where to live. Learn more about her life, her work and her listings after the jump.
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into real estate? Are you a native Chicagoan or a transplant?
I have always loved real estate. As a child, my favorite game was Monopoly. I bought my first building at a fairly young age (24) and have been involved in real estate ever since. I was born in Chicago and have lived as a South/Southwest sider most of my life except for a few years when I resided in my building in Bucktown.
2. What’s your favorite part of the workday (besides closing deals)? Listing a new property? Helping someone find the perfect home?
I love working with buyers and sellers. I guess my favorite thing is helping them along when they don’t understand a process or a concept.
3. What neighborhood do you live in and why did you choose it? What are your favorite things about living there?
I live in Bridgeport Village, a single family home development adjacent to the Chicago River. We have beautiful green space and a red brick path that runs along the river. I love my neighbors, the proximity to downtown and transportation as well as major highways. It feels a bit like the suburbs in the city.
4. Describe your most memorable sale.
Very early on in my career, I connected with a client from a floor call. This client ended up buying a property for $1.3 million. Talk about a good day on floor!
5. If you didn’t live in Chicago, where would you want to be? What kind of place would you have there?
If I didn’t live in Chicago, I would live in Colorado. I love to ski and my perfect home would be right in town or a ski in/ski out type lodge.
6. What do you do when you are not taking the real estate market by storm? Share your favorite hobbies, activities, sports team, things to do in Chicago, etc.
I love to spend time outdoors. I’m a White Sox fan and living right in the neighborhood makes it’s easy to decide last minute to go to a game. I have recently picked up the game of golf and I am pretty awful, but I love being outside in the great weather. I also love to snow ski and try to get as much as that in when I can.
7. Do you have your own website, blog, Twitter account, Facebook, or other online presence? Tell us what you do on the web.
I am on the web using Facebook as a networking tool. As of yet, I have not blogged or tweeted!
8. What kind of marketing techniques do you use for your clients, and what are your favorite online and offline/traditional Chicago real estate resources?
For my listings, I work really hard to determine where my potential buyers will be coming from and then figure out a way to target that market aggressively.
9. What advice do you have for first time home buyers? What about buyers who are relocating to Chicago from a different part of the United States or even a different country?
For first time home buyers, tell me about your income and expenses and I will walk you through how much money a $300,000 home will cost you per month. Most people don’t have a clear understanding of what they are committing themselves to, and I find this helps tremendously. Relocation buyers need help picking a neighborhood that is suitable for them. I ask lots of questions to help narrow the search.
10. What is the number one thing you’d want a prospective client to know about you?
My profession is real estate. It is what I know and what I love to do. I treat my clients as I would my family and understand that my business is built upon referrals.
11. Have you received any real estate awards or are you a member of any professional organizations?
I am a member of Professional Women’s Club of Chicago.
Find more about Laura, her contact info and her listings by visiting her page on our website.
Jameson Real Estate is dedicated to employing premier real estate agents who bring passion and excitement to their work everyday; your home buying or selling experience will only be enhanced by the outstanding agents that come in and out of our offices. Walking down the street, one inevitably notices the many Chicago homes for sale listed by motivated Jameson agents–perhaps one of them could be yours!
