Born and raised in the city of Chicago, Nicole “Nicci” Mertens is a Chicagoan through and through, currently residing in the neighborhood she grew up in. She gained expert knowledge of the landscape during her college years and time spent working as a 911 dispatcher and later as a police officer. Her experience in these roles honed her ability to maintain a calm demeanor, have empathy for her clients and be a fierce negotiator. Now with four years in real estate, she continues to serve her local community by helping people close deals and buy their dream homes.

Mertens serves all residential client types in the Chicago metro area, its northwest side and surrounding suburbs. She provides a truly personalized experience to each client by getting to know them and tailoring her service to their specific wants and needs. She says, “No two real estate transactions are the same, just as no two people are. I look at it as building a relationship first; serving their real estate needs will follow based on that relationship.” Applauded for her patience, fun style and even-tempered approach, Mertens’ largely referral-based clientele appreciate her prowess in navigating and mitigating stressful situations.

Set apart by her ability to persevere and a commitment to expand her expertise, she credits being a part of a supportive team – the Bella Hart Group – to her combined success and work-life balance. Reflecting on what success means to her, Mertens describes, “To keep going when the market is tough, or the deal is tough or just being an agent in general gets tough; it’s important to remember your ‘why’ and keep going.” Her most significant professional accomplishment over the past year was pivoting from part-time to full-time work in the industry and surpassing her sales goals.

A member of the national and multiple local Realtor associations, she and her father enjoy participating in marathons together. This year, they are proud to have run the annual River to River Relay and finished with their best time yet.