After 13 years in the real estate industry, Sarah Martinath has learned there is no better way to understand a market than to be in the market.

Martinath, a real estate broker with COMPASS, assists buyers and sellers in the western suburbs, from first-time and move-up buyers to downsizers. When she first became licensed, she learned the territory by volunteering to host as many open houses as possible for local seasoned brokers and taking her three children to their various extracurricular activities in the area.

She began her career in real estate as a mortgage loan processor before moving up to loan officer and finally, account manager for a national mortgage lender, before selling real estate. She finds the dynamic technology tools offered by COMPASS allow her to spend more time being client centric without getting sidelined by transaction management.

“My business style is always focused on the needs of the client,” she explains. “Everything I do and how I do it revolves around them.” Clients notice how timely she responds to them. If she’s not able to give them a detailed or insightful response within minutes, she acknowledges their inquiry and assures them she’ll follow up in detail later that day. They also appreciate her follow through. “I am always keeping track of where we are in the process and what that means for the client,” she explains. “I know it is appreciated because this is something I am routinely thanked for after a transaction has completed.”

With each deal she closes, her enthusiasm for helping clients achieve their real estate goals comes through. “When you show a client that you are authentically excited for them, they feel it and they trust you,” she says.

Strictly in competition with herself, she measures success by how well she serves her clients. If they choose to work with her again or refer her to other people, she’s truly proud.