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| Becoming a real estate agent after working as the executive director of a nonprofit agency might seem like an unconventional career move. But Coldwell Banker real estate agent Jennifer Monte Fadal has made the transition with grace and accomplishment. Using her relationship building and networking skills, Jennifer has worked her way up to one of the top rookie sellers out of her Coldwell Banker class in just under a year in the business. She owes her success partly to determination and hard work. "You can't do this job halfway," says Jennifer. "You have to be serious and give it 140% or you won't make it." But her success also comes from her sensitivity to her clients' needs and to her involvement in the neighborhoods where she works. |
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| Originally from Florida, Jennifer remembers the neighborhood of her childhood populated by families and quite a number of farms rather than condos, townhomes and snowbirds. She grew up in a very Sicilian family in Tampa, Florida. After high school, Jennifer stayed in the Tampa area and studied advertising and mass communication at the University of South Florida. She went on to work as a recruiter for a major accounting firm and also administrated the firm's philanthropic initiatives. One day, she got a call from a friend in Chicago who told her about a potential position as the head of a nonprofit group called Best Buddies. Her friend, who was the director of the Best Buddies chapter in Chicago, was leaving the position and thought she would be perfect for the job. The offer sounded interesting, so Jennifer packed up a suitcase and headed off to Chicago for an interview. She fell in love with Chicago on her first visit, which made it an easy decision to move here when she got the job. |
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 Best Buddies International is a nonprofit organization that pairs people with intellectual disabilities in one-on-one friendships with volunteers. "The goal is to give the participants increased social opportunities and to give them the chance to be a real part of their community," explains Jennifer. The organization operates programs in all 50 states and about 15 countries. Jennifer ran the Illinois office as the director for about three and a half years. As the director, she helped raise funds and open new chapters and offices throughout other Midwestern states. "I started with a staff of one that eventually grew to a staff of eleven," says Jennifer.
As time went on, Jennifer started thinking about a new career that she and her husband Cristan could take on together. "We wanted to start a business together and after discussing our options, we decided that real estate would be the smartest move," explains Jennifer. "We figured that it was something we could do together, even if we decided to go out on our own and sell independently." So she left her position at Best Buddies and began studying for her real estate license.
Once she received her real estate license, Jennifer started to think about where she should go next and began to look for her first position. "I interviewed at four different real estate agencies, and found that I'd receive the best training at Coldwell Banker," says Jennifer. She went to work at the Coldwell Banker office located at Irving Park Road and Damen, where she is one of the top rookie agents of her start class. One benefit that drew her to Coldwell Banker was its mentor program, which pairs new agents with veterans who teach hands-on lessons about the real estate business by guiding them through their first few sales. "You can choose not to have a mentor," explains Jennifer, "but I wanted to learn as much as I could. Whenever I had any questions, my mentor Mike Cortez was always there to walk me through." When she has a bit more experience, Jennifer would like to join the program as a mentor, too. Another reason why Jennifer likes working for Coldwell Banker is that it's a comprehensive resource for real estate buyers and sellers. "My clients can find it all within Coldwell Banker," says Jennifer. "Whether it's mortgage help or they need some work done on their house before they sell it, we either offer it in-house or work with a complete list of preferred service providers." |
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| It only took one sale to convince Jennifer that she'd made the right decision. Through her determination and positive attitude, she won the opportunity to represent a home near Lincoln Square. "It looked like a little castle," recalls Jennifer. "It stood out in the surrounding bungalow neighborhood." After a few weeks of discussion with the homeowners, they finally gave Jennifer the chance to represent it. She sold the home shortly after that. As a career, Jennifer learned that she really loved real estate. "The flexibility is a great part of it," she says. "I also love getting to know my clients and building relationships with them. I still keep in touch with many of my clients long after the sale is over." |
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 One of the keys to Jennifer's success is her involvement with the community, something she hasn't lost from her days working for a nonprofit. "I love being involved with the community. I get excited about contributing and seeing the community change for the better," she says. As soon as she began working in the neighborhood, Jennifer joined the Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce and immediately got involved as a volunteer. She's also involved in a professional networking group, where she has met and formed alliances with both an attorney and a mortgage broker. The three of them work together as a team, offering their services to Jennifer's clients. "I've learned a ton from our interaction," says Jennifer. She's also very involved with her church, St. Thomas of Canterbury in Uptown, and she still serves as a volunteer for Best Buddies.
Part of Jennifer's philosophy is that there's a buyer for every house. It's just a matter of getting the word out to match up the right buyer with the right seller. Her experience in advertising helps her aggressively market each property to the most appropriate audiences. "I try to be there for my clients in any way they need me to be," explains Jennifer. "I provide them with virtual tours for the Internet and on CD-ROMs, marketing packets, open houses and whatever it takes to attract potential buyers. Sometimes I'll help people by bringing in a maid service to straighten up for a photo shoot, or to remove items they want to give to Goodwill." |
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| She represents both sellers and buyers equally, and specializes in helping first time buyers, senior homebuyers and buyers with disabilities. If you're a buyer, Jennifer will start by sitting down with you to discuss your needs, so that she can understand what you're looking for. "We'll talk about neighborhoods you like, so that I can figure out, considering your lifestyle, where you'll get the best home for your money," explains Jennifer. "Some agents won't show certain properties to their clients if they think they won't make enough commission. I want to find what's best for my clients, regardless of what the commission might be." Some other recommendations Jennifer has for buyers include getting pre-qualified for a mortgage, doing research on lots of neighborhoods and to keep an open mind about living in neighborhoods that are appreciating. "My approach is to be your consultant and counselor," says Jennifer. "I really want to help you find what's best for you." |
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| If you're thinking about selling your home or buying a new one and you want to work with an attentive and proficient agent, give Jennifer a call. She'll listen to your needs and work hard to help you find the home of your dreams. |
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| Read more profiles in the Member of the Month Archives |
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