It was love at first sight for Donna Wilkens when she first moved to Chicago from Minneapolis. “I became a docent for the Architecture Foundation, so I could really know the history of this great city,” says Wilkens, a broker associate with Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty, who has worked in real estate for 20 years. “The more I learned, the more I wanted to know.” During that time, she would fantasize about the old pre-war buildings and wonder what they looked like on the inside. “Now I can drive around the city and say that I’ve been in these buildings!”
Wilkens is equally comfortable assisting clients in the luxury market as she is with first-time buyers. “My goal is to fulfill clients’ needs wherever they are in the home buying/selling process,” she says. “I go where my business takes me: Lakeview East, Lincoln Park, Streeterville, Gold Coast, Wicker Park, the suburbs…” She is also a Realtor in Michigan with Beacon Sotheby’s International Realty in Saugatuck, covering Harbor Country (New Buffalo, Union Pier, Lakeside and the surrounding areas).
Admittedly, she is the Realtor who shows clients as many properties as they need to feel like they made the right choice for themselves and because she enjoys showing the homes, too. She never rushes them through the process or runs out of energy. A strong negotiator and listener, Wilkens focuses on creating win-win situations for everyone.
Despite the pandemic, she had a great year. “It was exciting to see clients get what they wanted during the tough times of COVID,” she says. “My Michigan Harbor Country business exploded as well.”
She learned how to sell using the features-advantages-benefits model while working for American Hospital Supply/Baxter. “I am very approachable and most of my clients become friends,” she says. “They respect that I am a hard worker and am always working with their best interest in mind.” In her personal time, Wilkens can be found playing golf, skiing or biking. “I love taking advantage of all that Chicago has to offer and sharing my local insights with my clients,” she says.
