This Real Estate Life: The Baird & Warner Lincoln Park Podcast

Is "balance" an illusion? Perhaps life is really just a game of tetris? Today's guest, Marjorie Allabastro, talked us through her realistic and inspiring approach to how she manages her successful real estate career, while providing a loving and supportive environment for her two amazing children as their sole caregiver. To say Marjorie is an inspiration is an understatement. She has built a fantastic career, guiding clients she loves through their real estate transactions with a smile, and all while making the choice to be a single mom and raise two beautiful boys. Marjorie recognizes that it can take a village, but she has also found inner strength she didn't know she had, and leverages that to dominate her days. But don't be intimidated - she knows that her busy life requires patience, forgiveness, and an understanding that things don't always go exactly to plan...and that's ok! If you catch yourself making the excuse "I don't have time for that", take a listen - Marjorie is proof that by implementing some strategies and skills, you can have a fulfilling career AND a fulfilling family life, with each supporting the other. 

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Connect with Marjorie ➡️

📞 : 773-301-2993,

Instagram: @marjorie_allabastro_realtor,

www.MarjorieAllabastro.BairdWarner.com

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About Marjorie Allabastro ➡️

Providing the best possible real estate experience through service and professionalism. 

I understand the real estate process may seem daunting, and that every situation offers its own unique challenges and opportunities.  Whether this is your first venture into real estate or you're looking to sell your long-term family home, my goal is to listen to your needs and objectives, while delivering you the most worry free and professional real estate experience possible.   From Chicago to the North Shore, I will be your trusted advisor and invaluable ally throughout your negotiation and real estate transaction process!          

Having grown up an architect's daughter, I have an intimate knowledge and passion for real estate.  Much of my professional career has been spent in both residential and corporate real estate development, including large scale Green Building projects.  With over 15 years overall of real estate experience in the city of Chicago and North Shore, I am an enthusiastic and knowledgeable resource, ready to help you buy, sell or lease your property.  I am also able to utilize the latest technology and market resources to guide my clients into making educated decisions in all of their real estate transactions.  I am also a member of the National Association of Realtors, Illinois Association of Realtors, Chicago Association of Realtors, Young Professionals Network, Luxury Portfolio International and Leading Real Estate Companies of the World.   

I am here to help you meet all your real estate goals.  Please feel free to call or email me to consult on your real estate needs at 773-301-2993.  And don't forget to check out my client reviews!

Thanks to his prior business experience, Mark Kowalik already knew how to be a successful entrepreneur before getting into real estate...he had just never sold a home before. However, that didn’t stop him from becoming the Chicago Agent Magazine Rookie of the Year! Like many Realtors do, Mark decided to utilize open houses to meet potential clients and build his business. But unlike many Realtors, Mark actually committed to this strategy and acted with intention every step of the way - from prep, to the open house itself, to his astute follow up. To this day, Mark continues to be a Top agent for Baird & Warner, and a top agent in the city of Chicago, by utilizing his relationship-building skills and unmatched work ethic to leverage his open houses. This episode is truly a masterclass on how to successfully use open houses to grow your business, so listen up! We guarantee you’ll find at least one way you can improve your current open house strategy...

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Connect with Mark ➡️

Instagram: @markkowalik,

www.MarkKowalik.BairdWarner.com,

📞: 708-207-7672

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About Mark Kowalik ➡️

I offer my clients a superior service that is focused on listening and delivering results. I value my clients time. I'm organized and disciplined to ensure my communication is consistent, precise, and measurable. I'm a professional real estate agent in the top 1% in my field with market knowledge that gives my clients the competitive knowledge they need. I would welcome the opportunity to earn a spot as your "go-to" real estate advisor.

#ActiveInMarket

My Goal is to keep my clients actively involved! I keep my clients involved in the Real Estate Market by providing up-to date market conditions & education, walking them through the transaction process, and providing information and guidance to enable them to make the decisions that are right for them. I fight hard for each of my clients! Through hard work, honesty, and hustle, I'm honored to have reached the top 1% of sales at Baird & Warner company-wide. In the past 3 years alone, I've completed over 70 transactions with combined sales of over $28 million. I utilize my expertise and experience to deliver the very best to my clients.

#ActiveInCommunity

My community has given me so much. Hosting free community events throughout the year is one way I can give something back. Another way I give back is by donating a bike to World Bicycle Relief organization for every 3 home sales I complete. I have already donated dozens of bikes and don't intend on slowing down any time soon!

#ActiveInLifestyle

For me, being #active extends to every area of my life. Whether it's leisurely biking, competitively participating in IRONMAN triathlons, or just enjoying the outdoors and local parks with my family, I love to get out and be...that's right, you guessed it...#ACTIVE!

Lucky episode #13! What an amazing journey this podcast has been so far...and we’re just warming up our mics! 🎙 Each week, we’ve been fortunate to spend time with an incredibly talented Realtor in the Baird & Warner Lincoln Park (Chicago) office to learn about themselves and their businesses. We’ve shared lots of laughs, all while learning what makes our great agents, well, great! To celebrate getting picked up by Apple Podcasts (Rate, Review, & Subscribe please!), Jon and Negeen share their favorite podcast moments so far...it’s like the cliff notes of Season 1 if you’re just tuning in...but without all the good juicy details...you’ve got to listen to the episodes for that! And visit us at www.BWLincolnPark.com to learn more about our office!

Get ready to take notes! This week's guest, Dan Asher, (a.k.a. one of the hardest working Realtors in the game), shares his story of leaving behind his successful home building and real estate businesses in St. Louis, and rebuilding his real estate practice in Chicago. Dan moved to Chicago to pursue a dream less than one year ago, and he already has reaped the rewards of his consistent efforts, networking, learning, and overall grind. Starting a business in a new city with little to no existing network is NOT easy, but Dan has used his past experiences, and embraced new strategies to already achieve success in this new venture. He and his supportive family love their new Chicago life, and he's excited to continue to grow his real estate business, serving up a 5 Star experience to the home buyers and sellers of Chicago with his expertise and professionalism. 

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Connect with Dan ➡️

Instagram: @danasher_realestate,

www.DanAsher.BairdWarner.com,

📞: 773-329-7920

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About Dan Asher ➡️

I take representing my clients’ best interest personally. It’s important that you work with a real estate professional that takes the time to understand your goals and really listens to you in order to formulate the best strategy and plan to help you reach your real estate goals. Everybody’s situation is different and real estate is not a “one size fits all” industry. We will work side by side to tailor and customize a plan for your specific needs. You deserve to receive personal and dedicated service throughout the entire process.

Expert. . .

As Realtors, it is our duty to our clients to be their trusted real estate experts. It is important to combine continuous learning and education with real world experience. It’s extremely important that your real estate professional is dedicated to being an expert in the real estate business. The purchase or selling of real estate has many consequences and your real estate agent must be competent in representing you throughout the complicated process. I've been in the real estate and homebuilding industry for 15+ years and continually strive to improve my knowledge of the real estate industry. The real estate industry is constantly evolving and it is vital to work with a Realtor that is constantly staying up to date with the changes.

Advocate. . .

It’s crucial that you have an advocate on your side of the transaction that is working persistently on your behalf. As your advocate, I work diligently to negotiate your side of the deal. It’s important to have an agent that is working hard to ensure you’re properly represented.

Consultants. . .

In order to truly help my clients reach their goals, I listen first and then consult with the best path forward. I promise to give you my honest and sincere feedback based on what you tell me and will then advise. There are times when it’s best for a client to stay in their current home or to wait a little longer to make a purchase and I will help you make the decision that is best for you. I am focused on being your long term, go-to and trusted real estate professional. Many things beyond the current market conditions contribute to whether or not it is the “time to sell” or “time to buy” and we will discuss all those varying factors in detail together.

Professional. . .

I am a real estate professional that is passionate about this business. I am committed to providing you with the utmost professional service and experience. I continually strive to improve my skills and ability to deliver an excellent experience to my clients.

2020 got you feeling confused about the market? When you have a mastery-level understanding of the data, and a clear focus on a handful of local markets, you can succeed through any challenge the real estate market faces, and this week's guest is proof of that. B&W top-producer, John Irwin, has intentionally built his award-winning real estate career to focus on high-end homes within a local market, and has leveraged his exceptional understanding of the data and market to create trust and ensure confidence in his clients that he is, without a doubt, THE best broker for the job. Listen in to learn how John got his start, why the data matters, and for a few of his predictions of what is to come for Chicago real estate! Spoiler Alert: It may include boats.

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Connect with John ➡️

Instagram: @johnirwinrealestate,

Facebook: @johnirwinchicago,

www.JohnIrwinChicago.com

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About John Irwin ➡️

THERE ARE OVER 11,000 REALTORS SERVING THE CHICAGO AREA, ALL WITH VARIOUS BACKGROUNDS AND LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE. Finding the right agent for you can be a daunting task. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place.

YOU WON’T FIND A REAL ESTATE BROKER THAT KNOWS THE CHICAGO MARKET BETTER THAN I DO. My business is based upon a sophisticated level of analytical, sales, marketing, negotiating and technology skills which allows me to identify and capitalize on emerging trends.

Chicago is a complex city and I specialize in helping my clients thoroughly understand market conditions at the national, local, and neighborhood levels that affect their specific property type. This enables them to make the most informed decisions to meet their personal real estate goals and maximize their real estate investment.

I BELIEVE IN QUALITY SERVICE. My success is based on my personal service and attention to detail.  While guiding my clients through every aspect of the home buying and selling process, their needs and interests are my only priority.

For the past decade, I have been consistently ranked among Chicago’s top real estate brokers and have been featured in Chicago’s major media outlets, including ABC News, Crain’s Chicago Business, The Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun Times and DNAinfo. The ultimate measure of my success; however, is that the majority of my business comes from client referrals.

AN IMPRESSIVE TEAM. I am especially proud of my association with Baird & Warner and their unmatched resources that expands my reach locally, nationally and worldwide. Our staff includes some of the most talented specialists in the real estate industry.  For over a century and a half, Baird & Warner has been the dominant force in Chicagoland real estate, building a record of success, innovation and longevity unparalleled in the industry. 

Whether you would like to discuss your real estate goals in detail or just have a few questions, I look forward to talking with you. - JOHN IRWIN

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Awards & Designations ➡️

Repeatedly awarded B&W “Founder’s Club” and Chicago Association of Realtors “Top Producer - Residential Sales Volume”

This week, we interviewed Marc Dumas - known around the office as the go-to guy. If you need something or have a question, he is always happy to help or lend a hand...all while building and servicing his own successful real estate business! Marc is an active member of several communities, from his family, to his fraternity, to local organizations and charities, to Donut Friday (check his IG for this gem!), and certainly, his community of happy clients. Supporting others is not just his mission, it's his way of life, as he truly lives to give! Marc has shown other Realtors that you can build a successful business through involvement with various communities that you are passionate about. While the business success is never his goal, it's a natural byproduct of his dedication to his organizations and the meaningful relationships he builds while pursuing his passions. Leading with his heart always, Marc is an inspiration!

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Connect with Marc ➡️

Instagram: @marcsellschicago,

Facebook: @marcsellschicago,

[email protected],

MarcDumas.BairdWarner.com

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About Marc Dumas ➡️

A lifelong Chicagoan, Marc Dumas is a full time Professional Realtor® for Baird & Warner's Lincoln Park office and a partner in the Real Group Real Estate team, focusing on helping his clients buy and sell homes all across Chicagoland. Having lived in such neighborhoods as Chatham, Lincoln Park, North Center, the Loop, Bronzeville and Rogers Park, he is uniquely qualified to speak about this great city and all it has to offer.

He enjoys taking a direct, hands on approach with his clients and is supported by his great office support staff and team at Baird & Warner. Thanks to the great ability he has to build and cultivate relationships, he’s able to leverage that skill into helping his clients find that perfect home. Marc truly understands the dynamics of the Chicago real estate purchase and rental market and is an expert at educating his clients so they can make the best decisions for their needs.

Marc has a B.A. from DePaul University in Political Science with a minor concentration in Business Administration that has provided the solid foundation on which his sales career has been built. His work ethic didn’t start in real estate (that started with mopping floors for his parent’s janitorial company), but followed him from his past career in business to business sales, with such companies as CDW, Brother International and others where he was awarded multiple sales leader awards and commendations.

He feels that being a Realtor® is about more than joining professional organizations; he believes that people should be involved in their communities as well. He serves on the Board of Directors of Northside Community Resources, an organization dedicated to advocating for housing change in Chicago. Along with membership in the Chicago Association of Realtors, Marc also serves on the South Loop Elementary Local School Council,, the Children’s Oncology Services Gala planning committee, the Chicago chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and is the National Secretary and memebr of the Board of Directors of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity.

Marc feels that the best path to his success is to help others get what they need to realize their own. Because of his track record of accountability, education, attention to detail and personal attention, his clients become customers for life. He can’t wait to provide you with the same service he has provided to past clients, making you a client for life as well.

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Awards & Designations ➡️

B&W Vice President’s Club

Leading RE Relocation Specialist

Military on the Move Certified

This week was a very special one, as we had the privilege of interviewing our very own Designated Managing Broker, David Bailey. With over 15 years of real estate experience, and a lifetime of influence and learning as the son of a Broker Owner on the east coast, David has served as a resource, ally, advisor, and compassionate leader for his team of 170+ realtors and staff at his Lincoln Park office. In our conversation, David shared his real estate background, as well as his perspective on what it takes to be successful in real estate and how he approaches his position to best support his agents with their businesses. Many of our agents claim David > Google...want to find out why? Take a listen to the interview and give him a call to learn more about how he and the Baird & Warner Lincoln Park office can help you launch your real estate career, and/or take your business to the next level where you desire and deserve to be! 📞 773-697-5600

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Connect with David ➡️

773-697-5600,

[email protected] ,

www.BWLincolnPark.com

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About David Bailey ➡️

Throughout his career, David has been highly regarded for his energy, integrity and fair-mindedness. His broad market experience, enthusiasm and strong interpersonal and analytical skills enable him to bring support and professional guidance to Lincoln Park’s dedicated team of agents.

David is committed to the success of his agents. He focuses on a positive management style, offering support and mentorship in all aspects of the real estate industry including social media, technology, market analysis, sales, client relations and marketing. He leverages his experience as a top producing sales broker and his passion for training and coaching to guide his brokers towards their professional goals.

Members of Baird & Warner’s Lincoln Park team enjoy a vibrant and collaborative environment that builds and supports each individual agent’s success—whether a newcomer to real estate who requires more guidance or a seasoned professional who benefits from knowledge on the latest real estate trends. David works with every agent to help grow their business, and takes a personal interest in helping them move forward on their desired career paths. He makes it his goal to keep his management approach fresh and his team motivated and inspired.

A native of Connecticut, David was raised in a real estate family. His passion for the real estate industry was fueled at a young age as he witnessed his father’s success in building a thriving brokerage. David’s love of the business and his tenacity and drive are contagious in his office.

David graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a degree in psychology. Outside of the office, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.

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Awards & Honors ➡️

David has twice been a finalist for the prestigious "Managing Broker of the Year" Award from Chicago Agent Magazine and has led the Lincoln Park office to be consistently a top-performing office at B&W. He has coached several of his agents to become top producers for both Baird & Warner and the city of Chicago, with some even earning Rookie of the Year awards, as well as Top Volume and Unit Producer awards on the company, city, and national levels.

This week we met with 4 rockstar agents in our office to learn how they have used social media to build their brands and businesses. Massive thank you to our panel - Sara Linton, Kira Moscowitz, Lindsey Rana, and Becky Sexson - 4 amazing agents and incredible people! Perhaps we had too much fun on this episode, but we loved the takeaways and tips on using each platform, from instagram to LinkedIn, and even leveraging our virtual world to capture buyers attention through home buying webinars. If you’re looking for some insider tips on how to make social media work for you, check out this episode. Also, Yelp is the original social media? Who knew?!?! 😉

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Connect with Sara Linton ➡️

Instagram: @sara_linton_real_estate

Facebook: @SaraLintonChicagoRealEstate

Youtube: Sara Linton Real Estate

Website: SaraLinton.BairdWarner.com

Email: [email protected]

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Connect with Kira Moscowitz ➡️

Instagram: @kiramoscowitz

Facebook: @kiramoscowitz

Website: KiraMoscowitz.BairdWarner.com

Email: [email protected]

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Connect with Lindsey Rana ➡️

Instagram: @lindseyranarealestate

Facebook: @lindseyranarealestate

Yelp: Lindsey Rana Baird & Warner

Website: LindseyRana.BairdWarner.com

Email: [email protected]

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Connect with Becky Sexson ➡️

Instagram: @beckysellschicago

Facebook: @beckyjaroschrealestate

YouTube: Becky Sexson Real Estate

Website: BeckySexson.BairdWarner.com

Email: [email protected]

Running a successful business isn’t just about the grind, and no one knows this better than today’s guest, Janet Keogh – successful Chicago Realtor and Yogi! Janet has always believed in a healthy lifestyle, but has really made it part of her methodology to find balance in an often stressful career. Through creating boundaries for her business, and prioritizing her personal health and mindset, Janet has become extremely successful and fulfilled. Year after year she continues to be praised for her high level of customer service, which she claims couldn’t be achieved if she didn’t also make time for her own health and wellness. If you’ve struggled to find work life balance, especially during quarantine, then this episode is a must. #Namaste

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Connect with Janet ➡️

Instagram: @janetkeoghbroker

Facebook: @JanetKeoghRealEstateBroker 

Website: JanetKeogh.BairdWarner.com

Email: [email protected]

Check out Janet’s recent webinar about the opportunities and process for a Covid-era real estate market ➡️ https://youtu.be/7zR3Ejjtlso

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About Janet Keogh ➡️

Janet has lived in Chicago for 20 years, and brings expansive knowledge of Chicago and the subtleties of its various neighborhoods. She is detail oriented, and advocates for every client she works with. She understands that the home buying process is a huge decision and changes with each phase of life. Janet prides herself on making the buying and selling process as smooth, informative and stress free as possible.

Merging her talents with the Michael Hall Group in 2018, she is part of a top 1% producing team in Chicago. Her specialty is in residential sales and purchases and with a stellar team on her side, she has the resources available to make each transaction a success. She is a passionate yogi and certified yoga teacher that attends classes, trainings and events worldwide. 

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Awards & Honors ➡️

Received “Best of Zillow” award based on interaction with Zillow generated connections/leads. Top 5% in customer service nationwide.

The word “team” has become loosely defined and commonly misused in the real estate industry these days. Today’s guest, Scott Curcio, founder and team leader of Scott Curcio Residential, helps us understand what is truly necessary to make a team successful: it is about a group of agents having a shared vision and commitment to serve a community of clients, and create meaningful Iives for themselves and families while doing so. This clear vision has guided Scott and his team to numerous awards as they continue to reach new levels of success, together. When all members believe in the vision, the sky is the limit! If you’re thinking about joining a real estate team, take a listen and learn what to look for in a team, and also what may be expected of you as a team member. #NoPlanB

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Connect with Scott ➡️

Instagram: @scottcurcio

Facebook: @scottcurcio

Website: ScottCurcio.com

Email: [email protected]

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About Scott Curcio ➡️

Scott Curcio and his dynamic team of professionals offer more than 35 years of combined experience and are amongst the Top 1% of Realtors in Chicago. Now with Baird & Warner Real Estate, he was among the top ranks of his former brokerage, earning International President’s Elite designation as the top 2% of brokers, and being recognized as among the top 500 brokers within NRT (out of 47,000 agents). Well respected for his integrity, professionalism and superior attention to detail, his focus on client needs & support has won him praise year after year.

An expert in power pricing, staging & strategic marketing, Scott has experience across a wide range of property types. He’s sold homes in Chicago’s most popular neighborhoods, from the Gold Coast, Lincoln Park & Lakeview, to the West Loop, Edgewater & Lincoln Square. He’s also sold more homes in Chicago’s Avondale neighborhood since 2013, and maintains his position as the #1 Agent there. Annually, 40-50% of our homes sell with multiple offers and more than 60% sell in under 3 weeks.

Simply put, Scott continues to deliver impressive results for his clients. As a result, the majority of his business comes from referrals from past clients.

A former rower, Scott was a board member and founder of Chicago Rowing Union (a non-profit rowing organization) and has participated in fundraising endurance events for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation and the American Liver Foundation. He’s lived in Evanston, Roscoe Village, Avondale and Lincoln Square, and currently resides with his husband in Edgewater in an 1899 Remodeled Victorian home.

Scott is a proud graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

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Awards & Honors ➡️

Scott Curcio and his team had a record year in 2019, and were awarded with the prestigious “Silver Level in Units and Volume” by the Chicago Association of Realtors.