She was working as an event planner for a local venue about five years ago, when Danielle Klausing decided it was time to start running her own show. Now an agent with Compass, she works primarily with first-time buyers and those in the luxury market in Chicago and the northwest suburbs; she says event planning and real estate sales have a lot in common.

“The two are almost interchangeable,” she says. “As an event planner, I worked with clients who were about to spend a lot of money on their idea of a perfect event. In order to make sure they were happy with their purchase, everything needed to go smoothly, which is almost identical to real estate.”

That commitment to customer service, while ushering clients through an often complex process, has not gone unnoticed by clients, who love her attention to detail. “I am a one-woman show, so I am there with them from start to finish,” she says.

She maintains a straightforward approach with clients, often playing devil’s advocate with to make sure the home they’re considering is the perfect fit for their needs, but Klausing’s also quick with a joke to help lighten the mood. The combination helps bring clients to the table with a sense of security, she says. “Buying a house should be an adventure with a little joke here and there,” she says.

Klausing says the majority of her business comes from her sphere of influence, but over the last couple of years, she’s built a strong online presence. “I find working with my sphere and all the referrals they send my way is the best way to conduct business,” she notes. “The majority of the time, you are working with someone who is like-minded with similar personality traits, and you know they are serious about the purchase or the sale.”