Love Where You Work Book 2020

love where you work

01 WHO WE ARE

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WE ARE PRACTICED COMMUNICATORS, SKILLED NEGOTIATORS, AND PERSISTENT CLOSERS. AS AN IN-HOUSE SUPPORT TEAM, WE ARE HARMONIOUS, LAYERED, KNOWLEDGEABLE, AND COMMITTED TO SUCCESS.

IT BEGINS WITH A GREAT ENERGY IT CONTINUES WITH A DEDICATION TO OUR CORE VALUES. A CULTURE OF INNOVATION, COLLABORATION, AND SUCCESS. Open company-wide communication. Ongoing education and training. Next-generation technology. Fluid response to market conditions. Agency-level marketing and branding. Service to client and community. Local leadership.

OUR CORE VALUES

EVERYTHING IS RELATIONSHIP

STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE

IMPROVING INNOVATION

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OUR CULTURE IS A REFLECTION OF OUR BROKERS AND STAFF AND, JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, THEIR COMMITMENT TO THESE VALUES EACH AND EVERY DAY.

AT THE CORE EVERYTHING IS RELATIONSHIP. IMPROVING INNOVATION. STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE. THESE ARE THE CORE VALUES BEHIND OUR FOUNDING. Living these values means we devote ourselves to building and maintaining strong relationships and treat everyone with respect and kindness. It means we actively search for ways to improve and up our game. It means we challenge ourselves to introduce innovations that propel our industry forward. And it means we deliver the highest level of quality, service, and support in everything we do.

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WITH THE CORNERSTONES OF TREMENDOUS PERSONAL SALES SUCCESS, A LONGSTANDING FRIENDSHIP, SHARED PHILOSOPHIES, AND A MUTUAL VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF CHICAGO REAL ESTATE, MIKE AND THAD EMBARKED ON THE MOST SIGNIFICANT VENTURE OF THEIR COLLECTIVE CAREERS —THE FOUNDING OF @PROPERTIES IN 2000.

MEET OUR CO-FOUNDERS A NATIVE OF MINNEAPOLIS, THAD WONG BEGAN HIS CHICAGO REAL ESTATE CAREER IN 1996 AND QUICKLY ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL REALTORS® IN THE CITY. ORIGINALLY FROM BOSTON, MIKE GOLDEN CAME TO CHICAGO IN THE EARLY 1990S AND BEGAN WORKING AS AN HR CONSULTANT TO FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES. HE EMBARKED ON HIS REAL ESTATE CAREER IN 1995.

Mike and Thad joined forces in the late 90s and became the #2 sales team in Chicago in 1998. By 2000, their formidable presence in the city earned them a coveted #1 position for three years consecutively.

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AWARDS AND HONORS

2008 CHICAGO AREA ENTREPRENEURSHIP HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

2016 INMAN INNOVATOR AWARD: MOST INNOVATIVE BROKERAGE

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS LIST OF LARGEST PRIVATELY HELD COMPANIES IN CHICAGO

10 LOVE WHERE YOU WORK 2013 ERNST & YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR – MIDWEST

2016 CHICAGOLAND ENTREPRENEURIAL CENTER’S MERRICK MOMENTUM AWARD

LINCOLN PARK BUILDERS CLUB IMPACT AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO CHICAGO REAL ESTATE

CHICAGO TRIBUNE TOP 10 PLACES TO WORK

LINCOLN PARK BUILDERS CLUB

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IMPACT AWARD

LOVE WHERE YOU WORK CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS FAST FIFTY LIST OF FASTEST GROWING COMPANIES IN CHICAGO

INC. 5000 LIST OF FASTEST GROWING PRIVATE COMPANIES IN AMERICA

2018 INMAN INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

02 WHAT WE DO

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WHERE OTHERS SEE CHALLENGE, WE SEE OPPORTUNITY — THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXCEL, TO SUCCEED, TO GROW, AND TO SERVE.

ALWAYS GROWING, ALWAYS INNOVATING WHEN @PROPERTIES WAS FOUNDED, MIKE GOLDEN AND THAD WONG ENVISIONED A NEW BROKERAGE WHERE CLIENTS NOT ONLY EXPERIENCED THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SERVICE, MARKETING, AND SUPPORT, BUT WHERE THE NEXT GENERATION OF REAL ESTATE WOULD BE BORN. @properties’ dynamic culture and creative energy breathed new life into the local market. The burgeoning boutique firm soon attracted successful, tenured brokers who entrusted their business and their client relationships to @properties, and the results speak for themselves.

Since 2000, @properties has become the largest residential brokerage firm in the entire Chicago metro area and the 9th largest brokerage firm in the U.S. by sales volume.

Despite tremendous growth, @properties maintains its small feel, collaborative environment, and commitment to being a local company that serves both client and community needs. Every resource we develop and dollar we invest is founded on bringing maximum value to our clients and brokers.

Source: BrokerMetrics LLC, Closed Sales Volume, Residential Properties, Chicagoland, 1/01/2019 – 12/31/2019. 9th largest brokerage firm in the nation based on RisMedia 2020 Power Broker Report.

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OUR IN-HOUSE PROGRAMS CONSTANTLY ADAPT TO ENSURE OUR BROKERS FEEL ADEPT AT RUNNING THEIR BUSINESS HERE AND HAVE THE FRAMEWORK TO ENHANCE THEIR CONTINUED PROFESSIONAL GROWTH.

BENEFITS OF JOINING US WHEN A BROKER JOINS @PROPERTIES, WE WORK TO PROVIDE THE MOST SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE, THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ALIGNMENT OF BUSINESS, AND THE WARMEST WELCOME. Our dedicated transition team includes key members from management, marketing, IT, and operations — all focused on supporting an individualized, step-by-step integration to @properties, but it doesn’t end there.

Our in-house programs constantly adapt to ensure our brokers can seamlessly run their business here and have the framework to enhance their continued professional growth.

Beyond orientation and training, our ongoing focus is on business development, planning, and growth. Our brokers attend an array of small group classes taught by in-house trainers and coaching professionals, and regularly meet one-on-one with managing brokers for business planning.

We strongly believe in the power of consistent marketing and branding, and the exponential success found in growing referrals, networks, and spheres.

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OUR CULTURE OUR BROKERS AND STAFF ARE THE HEART OF OUR ORGANIZATION. OUR CULTURE IS THE HEARTBEAT. While we’ve grown over the years, our culture hasn’t changed.

We are committed to celebrating the individual while strengthening the team. We value relationships above all else.

And we not only enjoy working together, we enjoy being together. From movie nights and kids’ parties to holiday celebrations and company expos, the energy we create and sustain with a thriving, inclusive culture extends to our business.

Having fun serves many purposes – and it comes naturally to us.

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03 HOW WE EXCEL

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WITH NEARLY 3,000 BROKERS, EACH WITH A BROAD SPHERE OF INFLUENCE, WE HAVE OUR OWN “MARKET WITHIN A MARKET” RESULTING IN THE MOST EFFICIENT TRANSACTION ENVIRONMENT IN LOCAL REAL ESTATE.

A MARKET WITHIN A MARKET OUR HIGH RATE OF INTRA-OFFICE SALES SUCCESS IS A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF THE @PROPERTIES NETWORK. The @agent app – our exclusive internal communications application – helps our brokers efficiently match buyers and sellers, share and receive information on new listings and vendors, and generate powerful pre-market exposure for properties.

It’s also a nod to our collaborative culture, where communication and teamwork are inherent to our everyday environment.

Our brokers have broad spheres of influence that form a vast source of new business, and aligning that business with fellow @properties colleagues is second nature to us.

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3632 N OAKLEY AVENUE, CHICAGO 4 BED, 4 BATH / $1,500,000 ANNE PROPER 312.871.3920 PHONE 312.456.7654 DIRECT anne proper@atproperties.com

A N N E PROPER

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PROPER

ANNErealPROPER estate

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YOUR LOCAL WINNETKA EXPERT

A N N E P RO P E R

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P R OP ER

ANNErealPROPER estate

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YOUR BRAND IS KEY WE FOCUS CONSIDERABLE TIME, ENERGY, RESOURCES, AND ATTENTION ON BRANDING. That means creating a personal identity for our brokers to express their unique offering to current and prospective clients.

To us, service begins and ends with serving our brokers – who we consider to be our clients. We are business consultants, and our complete focus is helping our team of talented, creative, and professional brokers optimize the growth potential of their business.

Branding is one of the many ways we help brokers be on top of their game, and of course, top-of-mind with clients — not only giving the competition a run for their money, but a one-way ticket to second place.

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#THE LIFE WE SHARE FIND J OY AND SHARE IT W ITH OTHER S

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A TRUE STAR ALWAYS

29 FINDSALWAYS A WAY TO SHINE A TRUE STAR FINDS A WAY TO SHINE LOVE

WHERE YOU WORK

TECHNOLOGY MINDED @PROPERTIES EMBRACES TECHNOLOGY IN WAYS THAT ENHANCE THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCE AND KEEP OUR BROKERS AND CLIENTS AHEAD OF THE CURVE. At the heart of this effort is pl@tform™, our proprietary suite of end-to-end technology applications that help make the buying and selling process more seamless. pl@tform™ was developed in-house by our programming and marketing teams, and is constantly being updated and refined to respond to the ever-changing realities of real estate in the 21st century.

We pride ourselves on our ability to provide innovative tech solutions that raise the bar for our industry.

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Check out a snapshot of our tools.

Digital CMA @properties’ digital CMA is the first continuously-updating CMA platform in our local marketplace. Unlike a traditional, static CMA, our CMA is interactive and uses up-to-the-minute accurate data from the MLS, allowing our clients to see how the market is moving throughout the entire home sale or search timeframe.

Our CRM With access to our exclusive CRM, brokers are not only able to sort and qualify their database, but also receive reminders for client and prospect outreach. The CRM is automatically updated through our Deal Management System (DMS) when working with a current client, and syncs with our other tools to allow our brokers to market to their entire database or a smaller, targeted farm. @agent app This internal communications app allows our brokers to instantly post and request information on brand new properties coming on the market. Sellers’ homes get powerful pre-market exposure for a brief but critical period prior to entry in the MLS. Meanwhile, @properties house hunters get a first look at homes before they’re officially on the market. @opens This proprietary tool allows our brokers to create a custom sign-in form for every open house. They can tailor questions to fit their needs, add notes about attendees, and send a follow-up email with the click of a button. Best of all, @opens is integrated with our CRM, DMS, eCampaign tool, and more within pl@tform.

DMS: Property Folder Managing a transaction from start to finish is incredibly seamless with the help of our Deal Management System (DMS). Once our brokers have a signed listing agreement, they create a Property Folder in the DMS. This folder includes a marketing checklist that highlights what they can do to promote their listing – from ordering a sign and photos to creating flyers, brochures, and other marketing materials.

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TRAINING PROGRAMS

@ORIENTATION FOR EXPERIENCED AND NEW BROKERS: AN INTRODUCTION TO @PROPERTIES TOOLS AND RESOURCES

SMALL GROUP MARKETING ORIENTATIONS OFFERED MONTHLY

“GETTING WHAT YOU’RE WORTH” FOR OPTIMAL COMMUNICATION WITH PROSPECTS AND CLIENTS

32 LOVE WHERE YOU WORK “REAL ESTATE 101” WEEKLY CLASS FOR BROKERS NEW TO THE INDUSTRY

“IMPROV FOR REALTORS®” TAUGHT

BY OUR IN-HOUSE, SECOND CITY® TRAINED INSTRUCTOR

OUTREACH WORKSHOPS FOCUSING ON USING THE CRM TO BUILD AND STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS, LEADING TO BUSINESS GROWTH

REGIONAL QUARTERLY SALES MEETINGS FOCUSED ON NEW TOOLS, MARKETING, TRAINING, AND PARTNERSHIPS

33 LOVE WHERE YOU WORK “THE PERFECT LISTING PRESENTATION” AND “EFFECTIVE OPEN HOUSES” TRAINING TO CAPTURE MORE LISTINGS.

“DEAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM” (DMS) DYNAMIC MARKETING CHECKLIST, PAPERLESS CONTRACTING, AND TRANSACTION MANAGEMENT TRAINING.

QUARTERLY “BUSINESS PLANNING AND ACCOUNTABILITY” TO MAXIMIZE YOUR PROSPECTING, MARKETING, AND RESULTS.

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GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICE IS AT THE CORE OF EVERYTHING WE DO, AND THAT EXTENDS FAR BEYOND SERVING REAL ESTATE NEEDS. @properties is a big believer in helping to build strong neighborhoods and communities. One way we do this is through the @gives back Community Fund, a 501(c)(3) that was created out of the desire to inspire charitable outreach and to support the city that has allowed @properties to continually grow and prosper.

Each year, we partner with local organizations dedicated to the betterment of those found in unfortunate circumstances.

These organizations not only receive our sponsorship, but personal volunteer hours from our brokers and staff. Past and present beneficiaries include the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), Christopher House, Teen Living Programs, Off the Street Club, Maryville Academy, Deborah’s Place, Noah’s Arc Foundation, Keith Relief, Imerman Angels, the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation, the Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation, and SocialWorks.

It goes without saying that philanthropy is an important part of our culture.

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36 LOVE WHERE YOU WORK TOTAL U.S. PROPERTIES

U.S. HOME SALES VOLUME

Luxury Portfolio.com

Leading RE

Sothebys Realty.com

Keller Williams

Christies RealEstate.com

Coldwell Banker

ColdwellBanker Preview.com

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services

KWLuxury Homes.com

Compass

0

5,000 10,000 15,000

Source: Mintel International Website Survey.

Number of properties greater than $1 million.

$0

$200 billion

$400 billion

Source: REAL Trends National Network 2019, Totals Final Report and REALTOR® Magazine 2019 Franchise Report.

BE LOCAL, THINK GLOBAL THROUGH OUR NETWORK, WE CONNECT AFFLUENT BUYERS AND SELLERS ALL OVER THE WORLD. @properties is a member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, the world’s largest network of independent real estate firms, and Luxury Portfolio International®, representing more $1 million-plus properties around the world than any other real estate organization. These affiliations ensure we serve every real estate need and client, in any corner of the world, with seamless execution and optimal reach.

With over 200 luxury affiliates, Luxury Portfolio International® puts our listings in front of sophisticated consumers searching for high-end properties. The program marketed over 50,000 homes last year and attracted over 3 million high-net-worth visitors on the award-winning luxuryportfolio.com. Each listing is translated to nine languages and over 60 currencies, resulting in consumers visiting the site from over 200 countries and territories each month.

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STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS IT’S NO SECRET THAT @PROPERTIES IS ON A MISSION TO SEAMLESSLY INTEGRATE THE ENTIRE REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION – FROM FIRST CONTACT TO CLOSING AND BEYOND. To that end, we’ve spent years innovating our proprietary technology and investing in partnerships that improve the buying and selling experience for our brokers and clients.

PROPER TITLE @properties created Proper Title to offer the best title services in the industry. This full-service title insurance company combines individualized client support with an unsurpassed capacity to handle a wide range of real estate transactions. Relationships with top national underwriters enable the firm’s highly experienced and knowledgeable staff to provide timely resolution of title issues in residential, commercial, and construction matters.

PROPER RATE @properties and Guaranteed Rate joined forces to form a new, independent mortgage company called Proper Rate. This new firm leverages the technology, systems, and support of Guaranteed Rate, one of the nation’s largest retail mortgage originators, while providing personalized service from a select group of experienced, top-producing loan originators with strong ties to @properties.

Proper Rate provides the highest level of service to our clients and is a reflection of the @culture inside and out.

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