It was around February 2020 when I and my wife decided on buying our own dream home. We were apprehensive and had absolutely no idea of how to go about doing it but we needed to start somewhere. I believe home buying could be a very stressful process, especially for a first-time homebuyer. I thought Google would be a nice place to start looking for a realtor who could help us find our next dwelling. I did my search online to look for a firm with a proven track record, good ratings & testimonials and who could understand what we exactly were looking for within the location of our choosing and of course, keeping it under our budget!! And then the pandemic struck the US to make the whole process a lot harder. We weren't sure if any realtor would be willing in person in these troubled times to go around the city, to show us properties in reality.
Obviously, Market standing, credibility turnaround time, and knowledge played a significant role in our realtor choosing process. While googling, I looked up the best realtors in the Chicagoland area and that's where I came across McPherson Westhoff realty. Emailed them the next day and got a call back within hours from them asking about our selected areas/ expectations for our new home. They took down all the information and customized our property search results based on the criteria we set. Here is where Laura Duckett with Compass Realty was introduced to us for the first time to help us see some properties in which we were interested and we are glad we were.
Laura struck me as an incredibly knowledgeable, patient, honest, helpful punctual, diligent, passionate realtor who loves her job and who was one step ahead in her game of finding us the right property as per our requirements with a pleasing personality. She's serious about her work and humorous when the moment calls for it . She was reachable whenever needed and always inboxed newly listed or upcoming properties depending on the frequency we asked for. She scheduled showings of the properties, even from a third-party website in a timely, meticulous manner with a properly printed travel map at a short notice. She totally respects her clients' considerations, be it price, neighborhood, budget or you name it. We were always comfortable discussing anything and everything with her. To be honest, we became friends with her, talking and looking over multiple properties and it gave us a sense of personal connection with her within a short span of time. We never felt rushed in, forced into buying anything, or any unsolicited advice from her. She would drive with us to multiple properties in a single day all around Chicago and would give suggestions of what needed attention in a potential property, looking closely at the mechanicals, foundation, walls, flooring, ceiling appliances, and materials. She was on top of answering any questions we had, and if she wouldn't know the answer right away she would make an extra effort to find them out by the end of the day to text later. I remember her sending texts even during the late-night hours about a ghost query I had. It wouldn't be an exaggeration if I could say she not only won our trust, she won our hearts!!
Well, after we decided on buying our current home, Laura made the whole process of negotiating, comparing the comps, putting in the offer, inspection, hiring a real estate attorney, and getting a lender at a cheaper rate super quick and super smooth. She kept everyone in the loop while we went through closing with 100% transparency. Unfortunately, Laura couldn't be present because of social distancing restrictions during our closing during the pandemic so she asked us to have our picture taken outside the title company with her headshot and that's exactly what we did. LOL. She, in turn, framed that same picture and gifted it to us at the time of handing over the keys to our new house. That was hilarious!
Later when we became new homeowners she suggested a firm to help us with our moving, setting up internet, and other utilities transferred into our names all of which went through like a breeze and for free!! Our home buying process couldn't be any easier than what Laura made it.
I highly recommend Laura as one of the topmost real estate agents one can find for the Northwest/ western suburbs. Please call her for all your real estate needs, see her in action and I'm sure you'll be delighted you did because she's exceptional in what she does. We kinda sat back and relaxed while Laura did all the work for us. We appreciate a lot all of what you did including the leaf blower which you gifted us with is in use every single weekend reminding us of you being by our side ;).
Thank you, Laura!!
- Paul and Meghann Zabala
If you have been searching for an incredible real estate agent, you can now stop your search.
Laura is hands down the best real estate agent that we have ever used. We were moving from DC to Chicago, in the middle of a lockdown pandemic, and she was up to the task. She was incredibly responsive, listened to exactly what we were looking for, and she set up viewings within the hour. She face-timed us for viewings and made it feasible for me to come out to see the houses within very short notice. When it came down to a contract, she gave me realistic expectations and she was an incredible advocate on our behalf. She set us up with streamlined attorneys, inspectors, and mortgage companies that made the process smooth at every stage. In closing, she even watched our 3 kids (including an infant) so we could meet with the attorneys. She gave us lists of contractors for future projects, and her husband (who is a contractor) even came to do a few minor fixes on move-in day. To top it off, she gave our kids a year-long pass to the zoo and bought them a trampoline. Seriously, it doesn't get any better"
- Jeremy and Jessi Marxs
Simply put: Laura is the best!!
We are first-time home buyers and she turned this really daunting venture into something really fun -- even in the midst of a pandemic!
From the first meeting, Laura made us feel at ease. You can tell she really wants what is best for you. She is supportive, kind, professional, fun, and really just the whole package.
We couldn't be luckier to have had her referred to us -- and we can't wait to recommend her to everyone we know :)
Thank you for helping us buy our first home Laura!!
- Paul and Lucy Paul Senner
Laura is truly an incredible agent! We had an amazing experience with her and absolutely love our new home! As first-time buyers, she walked us through everything we needed to know and was so supportive and responsive the whole way. She made the buying process fun and stress-free. She has a ton of drive and she will definitely make sure you get a place you love.
We put in an offer for a very popular spot that had many competing offers, and she ensured we got the place! We were so incredibly happy and she worked so hard to ensure the full process was a breeze for us.
We would highly recommend!
- Kaitlyn and Matt
My husband and I just bought our first home through Laura. We had been working with a different realtor for nearly 2 years but kept losing out on properties that we bid on. We felt like we might never buy a house. Once we switched to Laura, it took us a mere 3 months to find our home. She was extremely knowledgeable about the market and the pricing in the areas we were looking in. She understood what our needs were and didn’t show us anything that was outside of our price range or scope. Once our offer was submitted to the sellers, Laura made sure to negotiate that ours was the most competitive despite a multiple-offer situation. She also took care of us through the whole closing process by giving us great advice and connecting us with an attorney. She even set us up with a service that helped us with our move. We appreciate Laura so much and highly recommend her.
- Nancy Wu & Daniele Sitzu
We have worked with Laura to rent out a rental property, and both times have been a great process. With the impacts of Covid she worked with us to get the right renters for what we needed. She is reliable, honest, and we have really enjoyed working with her. We look forward to continue working with her for our future real estate investments.
Working with Laura has been amazing. She listened to what our needs were and responded quickly to our questions. She definitely helped us as first-time homebuyers and guided us in the right direction. We would definitely recommend her to anyone who is looking to buy in the Chicago area.
I highly recommend hiring Hayley and her team! Hayley is a fantastic realtor! She is professional, energetic, honest, and VERY knowledgeable about Chicago real estate. She helped us buy our dream home -- a single-family home in Roscoe Village in Chicago that was being built as new construction. My husband and I were not the easiest clients. We were pretty picky and looked for several months before we found "the one." So, Hayley pulled out all the stops and actually found our home on a "drive-by" -- not from the MLS. She then helped us negotiate the contract, which is an especially tall order on new construction. Even after we were under contract on the house, Hayley was a tremendous help to us in picking finishes and finalizing plans for the construction of the house. It was such a relief having her help us navigate the many steps of a real estate purchase."
Colby was great! She helped me navigate the housing market and find a place I loved that was under budget. She was wonderful to work with!
I was moving to Chicago from out of state and had no idea on where to start when looking for a place to live. Colby helped so much and made the process very easy for me for living out of state during the whole process. She helped me find the perfect place for me and was very helpful in getting me the first condo on my list. She answered all my questions and helped me every step of the way all the way through my close. I’m very happy to have had Colby as my agent and I would recommend her to anyone looking to buy a place in Chicago.
My wife and I were relocating from out of state and Kate did a fantastic job helping us find a home in the Wilmette area. Kate helped with all of the research, was extremely proactive, helped us tour homes virtually due to COVID and ultimately helped us find a fantastic new build home. Kate then successfully negotiated the deal at a favorable price point. Since purchasing the home, Kate has helped us coordinate appointments with the new home until we relocate to Chicago. We highly recommend Kate and will definitely use her services in the future.
We recently sold our townhouse with Haley. I was so impressed meeting with her because of her expertise. She provided a concrete plan with a timeline and had great recommendations. Likewise, she had all the needed resources we needed and got things done very quickly. When the house went live, we had multiple offers in less than 6 hours. She was also able to secure us a contract in less than 2 days. It was seamless, stress free experience from beginning to end. She is the best! We cannot thank her enough!
We hired Hayley and Anna to sell our home after listing with another realtor 18 months earlier. Hayley and Anna were honest, made a lot of thoughtful suggestions, and displayed confidence in getting our home sold. While some recommendations were hard to hear and digest, they were right, and got our home multiple offers in less than a week of listing. Their market knowledge, expertise, and professionalism was instrumental in our home sale. We would recommend them without question. Thank you again Hayley and Anna!
My husband and I recently bought our first home with Hayley. We were referred to Hayley through close friends who raved about their experience with her, and we couldn't be happier that we were able to work together too! Hayley was so attentive throughout every step of the process. As first-time homebuyers, Hayley was super helpful at navigating the process, and she made us feel knowledgeable, educated and excited about the process along the way. Her expertise really came in handy when touring units, negotiating and throughout the entire closing process. Everything with Hayley felt super simple and easy. Not only that, Hayley was such a lovely person to work with, and we look forward to working with her again in the future. Thanks Hayley!!
Hayley worked her magic and, no exaggeration, made all of my homeowner dreams come true! As a first-time buyer, I had an endless number of "stupid" questions and didn't know what I didn't know. Hayley made it clear, easy and efficient. She took the time to get to know me and my preferences as a homebuyer and gave me all the information I needed along the way to make the best (and successful!) decisions and added her insight and expertise along the way. If I could go back and do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing!
Amazing realtor. Really went above and beyond with finding the perfect condo for my family. Made sure we got everything we wanted and more. She is very responsive with texts, calls and emails. Highly recommend and will definitely use again when buying or selling.
Hayley did a fantastic job with both the sale of our condo and the purchase of a new one. It was the easiest, most seamless move we’ve ever had. She sold our condo above asking price after just ONE showing. She negotiated upgrades for the new condo and gave great advice as far as what to ask for and what to prioritize. I was really shocked how smoothly everything went with both the buy and the sell, and while I hope we won’t be moving again any time soon, I’d use her again in a heartbeat.
I cannot praise Hayley enough. She is incredibly knowledgeable about the Chicago neighborhoods and real estate market and it was obvious from start to finish that she truly cared about finding my best fit rather than just making a quick sale. I knew I had made the right decision during our first viewing when Hayley was asking questions of seller's real estate agent that I didn't even know to ask. As a first time home buyer she was incredibly patient with all of my questions and always gave me her honest opinion about the places we looked at. When I finally chose to make an offer on a home, there were already a couple of offers outstanding and Hayley helped me put together a competitive bid that ultimately won the day. I truly would have been lost without her.
Hayley is a joy to work with! She's very responsive to emails/texts/phone calls and she knows the real estate market well. She was a true advocate during every stage of my searching for and buying my first condo and made it a truly personal experience. She even offered guidance and references for renovations, and in true character followed up months afterward to see that we had been successful. She is also a wonderful teacher - knowledgeable, patient, and eager to answer questions. Hayley's work ethic is inspiring, and I wholeheartedly recommend her services to any potential buyer. When it comes time to sell, I will be contacting her again. Until then!
We had a great experience working with Hayley. She helped us sell our three bedroom condo in Uptown and was truly a amazing resource. She helped us navigate an insane pandemic market and we ended up moving up the timing for listing our property to take advantage of low supply and high demand. We were able to command a higher price than we expected and would not have been able to do so without her guidance. Hayley exceeded all of our expectations. She knows the market, and was extremely helpful during negotiations. She was extremely responsive over phone and text and never made us feel like we were unreasonable. Hayley definitely has a passion for real estate and an amazing commitment to customer service. Our transaction was not the easiest, dealing with a inexperienced and difficult buyer and with many unrealistic demands, and we could not have gotten through it without having such a strong relationship with our agent. Hayley gave sound advice, allowed us to vent and brainstorm, and was a loyal advocate. We knew we were in great hands every step of the way.
Hayley is truly an expert in her field. She represented my family in the sale of our home in they city and got us several offers within the first week of listing. She brings a lot of knowledge in all facets of the home sale process and got our deal done with minimal effort from me. I also highly valued the team she brought to the table as they were all professional and responsive. Furthermore, her team was able to help find me a home in the suburbs and really delivered on the promise of urban to suburban concierge service.
My move from New York to Chicago was as easy as 1-2-3! The fabulous Hayley Westhoff and her team got me the perfect apartment, in a golden location, at the right price all in record-breaking time. Their promptness and pleasant 24/7 attention to my every request (as if I were the only client) are truly commendable. They are the very best realtors anyone can ever desire/need. Thank you, thank you!
Hayley is an all star real estate agent! We used her to both sell our condo and buy our house. She is extremely well organized, responsive, knowledgeable, tactful, honest and caring. We sold our condo off market and bought the 3rd house we saw. Hayley was our biggest advocate, and I would recommend her to anyone buying/selling in the city!
Laura is truly an incredible agent! We had an amazing experience with her and absolutely love our new home! As first-time buyers, she walked us through everything we needed to know, and was so supportive and responsive the whole way. She made the buying process fun and stress-free. She has a ton of drive and she will definitely make sure you get a place you love. We put in an offer for a very popular spot that had many competing offers, and she ensured we got the place! We were so incredibly happy and she worked so hard to ensure the full process was a breeze for us. We would highly recommend her!!
Laura really gets to know exactly what her clients are looking for in their ideal home and anticipates those needs when looking for properties. We had a very clear idea of what we were looking for in our next home, but Laura really helped us see it in even clearer detail and made it a reality. When we began looking into new construction, she was at the sales office before our scheduled appointment time, checking out all available lots that would be best suited for what we were looking for. She found us the absolute best piece of land, builder, model, and got us through the entire process smoothly! Thank you so much Laura.
Working with Laura was absolutely amazing. She does an extremely great job of understanding exactly what your looking for, amazing job answering any questions you may have and making sure you feel comfortable with every decision throughout the entire process and has a great connection with the city of Chicago, would definitely recommend if you are looking for someone who knows how to get you want you want.
If you have been searching for an incredible real estate agent, you can now stop your search. Laura is hands down the best real estate agent that we have ever used. We were moving from DC to Chicago, in the middle of a lockdown pandemic, and she was up to the task. She was incredibly responsive, listened to exactly what we were looking for, and she set up viewings within the hour. She face-timed us for viewings, and made it feasible for me to come out to see the houses within a very short notice. When it came down to a contract, she gave me realistic expectations and she was an incredible advocate on our behalf. She set us up with streamlined attorneys, inspectors, and mortgage companies that made the process smooth at every stage. At closing, she even watched our 3 kids (including an infant) so we could meet with the attorneys. She gave us lists of contractors for future projects, and her husband (who is a contractor) even came to do a few minor fixes on move in day. To top it off, she gave our kids a year long pass to the zoo and bought them a trampoline. Seriously, it doesn't get any better.
Anna was actually my daughter's agent for the purchase of her first property but I was heavily involved in the process. I have known many a real estate agent as I am a former mortgage banker. Anna is by far one of the most professional, helpful and patient agents I have known. We had great luck in finding the property quickly but the process was anything but easy. The struggles were on the seller side and they were difficult to work with. Anna was always there to help, offer advice and act as a buffer to make things as easy as she possibly could under the circumstances. If I called her and she was busy she always sent a text explaining and letting me know she would reach back out to me asap. I highly recommend Anna for all of your real estate needs! I intend to work with her again!
Anna is an incredible realtor! She was with us every step of the way during the selling process providing us with invaluable guidance and expertise. She was incredibly responsive to questions (we asked a lot!) and gave us her honest advice. Anna is thoughtful, fun to work with, trustworthy and knowledgeable and we would not hesitate recommending her!
Anna was incredibly amazing throughout the entire selling process. Her responsiveness, patience and commitment was so reassuring and calming during what turned out to be a stressful couple of months. Anna was on top of everything, every step of the way. She kept us up-to-date on any and all of the important items. We sold quickly and so effectively because of Anna. We HIGHLY recommend Anna to anyone who is buying or selling!
Working with Anna has been incredible to say the least. She has made my first home purchase feel effortless and smoother than I could have ever hoped. She is knowledgeable, attentive, quick to respond, and truly makes the experience fun! Throughout the process, Anna provided steady educated feedback and guidance and I am so grateful to have had a professional like her helping me through such a big step in my life. I could not speak more highly of Anna and would (absolutely will) recommend her to anyone I can!
I highly recommend Christie! She was incredibly helpful guiding me through the entire process of pricing, listing, upgrading, staging and ultimately selling my condo (for more than I thought we could get and very quickly!!) She is very determined and patient and is always available to answer questions. She went beyond what I expected from a Real Estate Agent and helped me with EVERYTHING!! Christie is a terrific agent and I recommend her without reservation
I was waffling between taking on a gut rehab and buying move in ready. Christie was a tremendous help, finding me a spectrum of options and ultimately landing on the perfect home. She gave me reliable advice and helped me stay positive throughout the entire process. A+++!
Christie is amazing! She is incredibly knowledgeable about the process involved with buying and selling real estate. She was so patient and guided me through every step of the way. She is always accessible, and pleasant even when I complicate matters more than necessary. She was truly the person I needed to help with such an investment. Will definitely keep her in mind for the next real estate transaction.
Christie helped us find a home we truly love. She put in the effort to understand our taste, needs and budget and then helped us keep our sanity during the process of buying our place. I could never have anticipated the complexity and the many moving parts involved in finding and purchasing a home. To get through it you need someone who will take the time to explain things to you and make sure you get it. Someone who is patient and will make you a priority. Christie was all that and more. We are super grateful.
I honestly do not know what I would have done without Katie! Not only is she extremely knowledgeable about the Chicago-land area, she is also an expert at all things real estate. As a first time home buyer, I had absolutely no clue what I was doing, but Katie was always there holding my hand through the whole process. She also had very detailed information packets that helped me understand all the different terminology of the industry. I had a very stressful offer process as there was quite a lot of competition for the property I bought. But Katie was never stressed! She was always calm, cool, and collected! I don’t know if I would have made it though the whole process without her. I would highly recommend Katie to anyone whether you are a first time homebuyer or even an investor! She really made the whole process fun AND easy! Thanks for everything Katie!
As a first time home buyer, Katie helped me find exactly what I was looking for. The buying process can be intimidating, but her responsiveness and assistance throughout the entire process made everything much easier for me. I can't imagine having a better experience than I did with Katie and I would certainly recommend her to anyone looking to buy a new property!
Katie was everything I needed in a real estate agent. She was born and raised in Lincoln Park, so I really relied on her lifetime of knowledge when it came to navigating the various neighborhoods, properties, and asking prices. Beyond her insights, Katie was there with me every step of the way through the process of purchasing my first home, and was patient and available to ensure I was comfortable throughout the process. She never made me feel like any question was a silly question. You may rely absolutely on anything Katie says about herself because she is honest, caring and knows her stuff!
Katie was fantastic at helping us find our new apartment when we moved to Chicago from the UK. When we were still abroad, she regularly sent us new rentals coming onto the market that fit what we were looking for. She made the process of viewing potential places so easy and painless for us. Katie is very organized, and the schedules she put together for us to view were seamless. Katie does a wonderful job of really understanding what is important to her clients in their search for a new home. She paid close attention to what my partner’s and my specific concerns and requirements were as we worked with her. I really appreciated that she was able to advise us based on what she had picked up about our preferences in addition to her own expertise and knowledge. We are so happy with the place we finally settled on and the pricing that Katie was able to help us secure. I would absolutely recommend working with Katie - we will definitely work with her again when we start looking to buy!
