With seven years in real estate, including two years with Compass, Danielle Klausing works primarily with first-time buyers and those looking to downsize in Chicago and the northwest suburbs.

Her commitment to customer service while ushering clients through an often-complex process, especially with the turbulent market the last few years, 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 finds that in this market, there is no such thing as over-communicating and over-assuring her buyers and that, as cliche as it sounds, everything does happen for a reason.

Klausing maintains a straightforward approach with clients, often playing devil’s advocate with them to make sure the home they’re considering is the perfect fit for their needs. But she’s also quick with a joke to help lighten the mood. This combination helps bring clients to the table with a sense of security. “Buying a home 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 says. “The majority of the time you are working with someone who is like-minded with similar personality traits, and you know they’re serious about the purchase or the sale. Because in real estate, time is money or time spent away from the ones you love.”