Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty
Carol Collins, broker associate at Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty, doesn’t focus on sales volume. She measures her success by the number of happy clients. “I love my job and helping my clients have the best experience buying or selling possible,” says Collins, who has worked in real estate for 25 years. “Fortunately, happy clients and sales volume are always linked together.”
Collins works with buyers, sellers, investors and corporate relocation clients in the Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, River North, West Loop, Bucktown, Wicker Park and North Center. She treats every transaction as if it were her own purchase or sale, advising clients with an eye toward the future of their investment. “Whether it’s new construction, buying in an up-and-coming location, or a property to renovate, I quickly size up a property’s potential appreciation. You can make a good property great, but it’s hard to improve a bad one.”
In 2017, Collins sold her own home in 10 days for a record-high price of any like unit in the Gold Coast after having completed a down-to-the-studs rehab prior. She then purchased a new construction home on the North Side, primarily for her growing teens and to be closer to her oldest son’s high school. “It’s always good for a real estate broker to know firsthand what it’s like to be the buyer and seller.”
Collins has continued to streamline and grow her business in 2018: She’s added a client care assistant and has made every transaction paperless. “My clients, assistant and I are all able to immediately access whatever we need. We all have incredibly busy lives so the simpler the process, the better the client experience.”
Collins is a member of the Chicago Association of Realtors (CAR) and the National Association of Realtors, and has consistently been named a CAR Top Producer. She has volunteered at Fourth Presbyterian Church, St. Chrysostom’s Day School, LaSalle Language Academy and Notre Dame College Prep over the years. She also supports the American Cancer Society, Young Life and World Vision.
In her spare time, Collins enjoys working out at Equinox, doing yoga, and attending her sons’ sports games. “Date nights with my husband and trying new Chicago restaurants is also a lot of fun,” she says.
