RE/MAX UNITED, WHEELING
What was your first job in the realty industry?
Realtor
Who inspires you?
My kids
What is your favorite free-time activity?
Boating and golfing
How did you learn the business?
By being hands on. At the beginning, I concentrated on doing rentals and converting rental prospects to buyers. It worked out great because you get to talk to a lot of clients who do not own homes and most of the time they don’t know they can buy one.
What was your most difficult sale, and how did you succeed?
I was representing an elderly woman who had a bad experience with another Realtor. I found her an excellent deal, and the day of closing she thought it was too good to be true and did not want to sign. Luckily, her lawyer was able to explain that the deal had no hidden drawbacks and we were able to close.
What is the most difficult aspect of your job?
Managing time and prospecting
What was your worst job, and what did you learn from it?
I was a direct marketing rep for a cable company. I did learn a lot about selling since I had to literally knock on doors and offer services.
Where do you go to network and meet new clients?
I use Facebook as my No. 1 source. From Facebook, I find out about events and parties that I can attend to meet new people.
What has been your greatest accomplishment?
The freedom of not having a boss and being able to spend more time with my family
What was the last good movie you saw or book you read? The Goal, a novel by Dr. Eliyahu M. Goldratt
What is your favorite restaurant?
Cafe Iberico, a Spanish tapas restaurant
Architecturally speaking, what is your favorite building in Chicago?
I like the Chicago Tribune Building. I love the detail and the history of its construction.
What kind of car do you drive? BMW 545i
BlackBerry, Palm or paper? BlackBerry
What is your favorite city after Chicago?
Boca Raton, Florida
In 10 words or less, what is your advice for someone new to the industry?
Put in your 40 hours a week of work and you will succeed; real estate is a profession, not a hobby.