Kim Schnoor is a broker associate with RE/MAX Advantage Realty in Chain O’Lakes.
What was your first job in the realty industry? As an agent – at a time when fax machines had not been invented, computers were fairly new and offers were negotiated late at night at the kitchen table of a seller’s home while the buyers waited outside in the driveway.
Where did you grow up? I grew up in Mundelein and moved to the Chain O’Lakes area at 17. I recently purchased a Gold Coast condo, so now I have the best of both worlds!
What is your favorite free-time activity? Reading, snorkeling, shopping for antiques and spending time with my family.
What do you do to relax when you’re stressed? Clean.
If you weren’t a Realtor, what would you be? A counselor or minister.
If you could have lunch with a well-known figure (living or not), who would it be? Thomas Jefferson. But it would have to be dinner.
Where is your favorite place to hang out? On the roof of our building in Chicago, overlooking Lake Michigan.
What do you love most about the industry? “Home” is a key part of life, and we have the ability to help people with their homes. I love architecture, history and people, so this business is a good fit.
How do you distinguish yourself from the crowd of agents? I run my own race and don’t compare myself to the other people in my industry. But what I am told by clients, other agents, lenders and attorneys with whom I work is that they love my attention to detail, my marketing and my responsiveness.
What is the most difficult aspect of your job? Working with people who are losing their home to foreclosure or short sale.
Where do you go to network and meet new clients? After 27-plus years in the business, I am blessed to have a business that is almost 100 percent repeat business and personal referral. I am active in my community, Rotary Club and church, and was a school board member for 25 years. Just being out and about, having dinner locally or going to the grocery store, people stop and let me know that they will be calling me to list or buy, or that they just gave my info to their friend or relative. I work with second-generation clients, which is wonderful and a real honor.
What has been your greatest accomplishment? Raising our family and watching them become productive, kind and honorable citizens.
What is the last good movie you saw or book you read? “The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch was the most recent book I’ve read. Up was the most recent movie I’ve seen.
What is your favorite restaurant? For Chicago, I would say Bistrot Zinc on State Street, and in Chain O’Lakes, it is Fairmont Shores.
Architecturally speaking, what is your favorite building in Chicago? Any building older than 80 years old on Lake Shore Drive.
What kind of car do you drive? A BMW and a 1969 Chevy Camaro convertible.
Smartphone or paper? Smartphone.
What is your favorite city after Chicago? Paris, France.
What is your advice for someone new to the industry? Treat it like it’s really a job, not a little part-time thing until the next new thing comes along. Treat everyone with kindness and respect, and pay attention to the details.
Mrs. Schnoor is an excellent agent. She has sold 2 of our homes in the past and helped us locate the “perfect lake front lot” on which we built a wonderful home. Mrs. Schnoor always represents the client in the best way possible.
I agree with Mr. Riggs. Here’s why: Mrs. Schnoor sold my last 3 homes, and helped me to find all of my homes over the years, including my current home which is perfect for me. Each sale (and purchase) was at the right price and timely. For my last home sale, she knew who in the area was looking for a home like mine, made a phone call, and quickly connected the dots. The buyers of my home were as happy as I was. Mrs. Schnoor knows what she’s doing, and she does it quite nicely.
I must agree – Kim Schnoor is the only agent that I would work with in her area – it’s a question of both trust and competence – and Kim is blessed with both of those attributes.
Kim is hands down the best realtor all around. She’s thorough, pays attention to detail, always has your best interest at heart and someone to look up to. She has emphasized that through her upstanding success year after year!