ILLINOIS 10-19-20

ILLINOIS EDITION

5

Tips to Get New Clients

Uncommon Contact:

CONNECTING WITH CLIENTELE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA

3 EASY AT-HOME

DIY PROJECTS TO INCREASE PROPERTY VALUE

FEATURED AGENTS

ELISA NIESEN & LYNNE GERDING KATIE TROCCOLI COVER STORY

KEN LEMBERGER

ILLINOIS EDITION

KATIE TROCCOLI ELISA NIESEN & LYNNE GERDING

AgentGerding Katie Troccoli’s determination to make The non-profit work Ka To market listings, Elisa and Lynne take Elisa Niesen and Lynne are the 9 19 23 a difference hasand been a constant throughout books and a personal approach, stuff door of knocking in mov dedicated dream team behind “Elisa the neighborhood, spreading the work via Lynne Homes.” Together they use their her life. As a young girl, her father, a former Girls, release date 202 social media, and reaching out toKatie other top talents for design to help sellers obtain instilled in her the value WWII paratrooper, issues has addr agents in the area.

They also take advantage the best value for their homes by updating of an education, telling her, “You can be involved in advocacy of all the marketing tools Keller Williams before they sell. At the same time, they anything you want to be. All you have to do it Residents Against a P has to offer. “Our goal is to creatively encourage buyers to envision how they set your to it.” think outside of the boxHaving and sell discovered the house plan could transform their newmind homes to It was also her father who piqued her interest in real estate, teaching her waste landfill just west before it’s even listed on the MLS,” Elisa create a beautiful haven for themselves— to focus things others might not noice, like engaged says. The proof of this zation approach is in thein a ten along with more equity.

Anon impressive theofdrainage and foundation of a property. landfill outmillion and their wa numbers—they close $12 to $15 ninety-eight percent their business KEN LEMBERGER ELISA NIESEN KATIE TROCCOLI in transactions a year with sale pricethey of reali comes from repeat and referral clients in this astruggle, & LYNNE GERDING $350K to over a million.

Naperville, the western suburbs, and the tive contamination in Katie took these lessons to heart—both in her City of Chicago. chosen career and in advocacy work for her community two companies, Radium Dial an To give back to the community, Lynne is very involved of Ottawa, Illinois.

Local leaders had swept this co in puppy rescue. Together Lynne and Elisa contribute This team’s origin story is rooted in remodel and design. rug, and, a while, wa to fundraisers and non-for-profits thatfortheir clients Katie are Lynne Gerding started renovating, designing and decoCONTENTS earnedOnce her her realclients estatewere licensepassionate in October, 1984, Infree the time, end, she Ottawa hadtime 16 sites about.

In Elisa’s spends rating homes in theKatie early 1980s. pregnant with herreferred third child, thirty-six Cleanup List.enjoys Through her advoc with Now, her two children, while Lynne playing ready to move from while their “starter” homes, Lynne with her three granddaughters.

Thedangers two women a and them to a friend who was alater, real estate but by the broker years she isagent; the managing of Washington expose and share hazards 4) UNCOMMON CONTACT: 15) 3 EASY AT-HOME DIY passion creating late nineties, she realized thatRealtors, no one knew those homes office Square an independent in for Ottawa.

PerChristmas wreathes out of vintage WITH CLIENTELE PROJECTS TO materials. betterCONNECTING than she did. her She called up her Realtor friend and father’s advice, she continues to walk propertiesINCREASE Beyond this, Katie is president asked,THROUGH “Do you thinkSOCIAL I could beMEDIA a real estate broker?”

PROPERTY VALUEAssociation, an organization tha with a keen eye, looking for problems that might exist For the future, they plan to continue helping their clients Twenty-one years later, the rest is history! or arise. If she represents the seller, she advises them on Veterans’ Days events and provi reach their goals by providing excellent, enthusiastic repairs need be made. she represents the buyer, graves. She is als service a vision all for eachveteran’s home can be!

Elisa6) Niesen fell in love that with real to estate when If she SMALL YARD? BIG 20) 5andTIPS TOforGET she She prepares them to issues front. As she says, Again, Inc., a non-profit dedicate bought her first home. initially herface license in up NEW STATEMENT: HOW TOgot MAKE CLIENTS better In off2013, to goshe in left withheryour eyes open.” entertainment, and education. H order to flip homes “you’re as an investor.

THE MOST OUT OF MICRO corporate career to join Keller Williams. There she met launched an FM (low power) radi Lynne, and they bonded over their design background.

OUTDOORHelping SPACES clients make good decisions is a big part of FM, in Ottawa, giving residents “We joined forces, Katie’s became aapproach. team, and“I hittry theto ground educate my buyers so they talents and knowledge. running,” Elisa explains. can create wealth.” As Katie sees it, with stable financial footing, clients “can payand their house off ahead of TheirPhone boundless energy, positivity, enthusiasm, 310-734-1440 | Fax 310-734-1440 betterBut credit report, and have a better excitement sets themschedule, apart fromhave other aagents. so does mag@topagentmagazine.com | www.topagentmagazine.com whichand “creates stronger their experience withlife,“ renovation design.a“Our clientscommunity.”

are thrilled to see how their homes can be transformed No portion of this issue may be reproduced in any mannerto whatsoever without prior consent of the publisher. Top Agent fit their families perfectly,” Lynne says.

Magazine is published Feature GA,in Inc.the Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy of published Withbymost ofPublications her listings $30,000-$250,000 range,

materials, Top Agent Magazine cannot beannual held responsible expressed or facts supplied by its authors.

Katie’s average volumeforisopinions between $1 about and $2 For more Elisa Niesen & Lynne Gerding, To subscribe or change address, send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com.

Their clients rave about the amazing, boutique serviceof her clients are repeat million.

Notably, the majority please email elisa@elisaandlynnehomes.com the U.S.of focusing on volume, Elisa and they Published provide. in Instead

customers or referrals. Like most agents, sheor lynne@elisaandlynnehomes.com, uses online Lynne dedicate themselves to each of their clients, platforms virtual toursthem to market properties call (414)and 305-1825, or visit them at building close relationships andand checking in with keeps in contact through social media, texts, and calls. elisaandlynnehomes.kw.com long after the transaction is over.

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If you ask Katie what sets her apart, she replies, “People know me. They know me to be honest and straightfor-

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Uncommon Contact:

Connecting with Clientele Through Social Media Social media is one of the newest and most powerful tools in an agent or mortgage professional’s arsenal. With just a few keystrokes, you can stay top-of-mind with buyers, sellers, and borrowers near and far, past and present. The key is knowing how to use these mediums to your advantage, working smarter instead of harder to keep the thread of professional relationships intact. With that in mind, here are a few ways you can maximize the pull and power of social media by shifting just a few of your ideas and practices for the better.

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Not everything has to be about business.

While your relationship with a client or fellow vendor began over the course of business, your relationship going forward doesn’t have to be limited. One of the great things about social media is that’s it’s social. Not every comment, post, or communication has to revolve around your business, its metrics, or turning a sale. In fact, you should do your best to branch out and curate a brand and online identity that’s about who you are and

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the lifestyle you’re authentically interested in living. In that vein, consider interacting with clients in an organically-driven way, encouraging them during life’s milestones, reaching out with a local event, restaurant, or news item that’s relevant to their interests or neighborhood. The goal is to be a persistent presence in their lives without feeling like a talking head. Engage as you would like to be engaged with, as a human being with interests and needs and boundaries. Keep that personal thread in mind and your dynamic will shift from past business contact to present resource.

Expand your medium.

Many Realtors are comfortable on Facebook as an interactive meeting to connect with clients, but there are several other mediums where you can connect with clients both past and present, as well as future. Particularly when courting Millennial clientele, the fastest-growing segment of the buying market, a presence on Instagram and Snapchat are key to finding new faces, demonstrating hot properties, and creating an interactive brand as an agent. Not only does this help when you’re listing a property and seeking potential buyers, but it also serves as a perusable portfolio of your work and real estate prowess. You can also use these mediums to interact with clients on an outlet they might feel most comfortable in. Liking pictures, commenting, streaming Instagram Live home tours and Stories are all ways you can build engagement by simply spreading your social media presence around. Likewise, Top Agent Magazine

these photo and video driven mediums are popular for home design ideas, and before and after renovation pictures. When you expand from Facebook into these new platforms, you’ll already have plenty of visual content ready to be transferred and consumed by an expanded audience.

Don’t just react.

Create your own content.

It’s easy enough to post a link to a new listing, or retweet a helpful article on real estate news. Creating your own organic content is a different story, but worth its weight in gold when it comes to luring engagement, ranking higher in search fields, and overall crafting an interactive presence for yourself and your business online—which is where more than 90% of homebuyers and sellers begin their process. Creating your own content can seem risky, or else like no one is listening in a digital world already crowded with information. However, original content is sure to boost personal engagement with your social media pages, guaranteed.

Instead of recycling content, consider posting a video with a Q+A theme for first-time homebuyers, or perhaps posting a live tour of a new listing will perk up your clientele surfing at home.

No matter how you decide to expand your social media presence when it comes to interacting with clients, consistency is key.

Find the ways that work best for you and stick to them, and you’ll watch your audience and business grow in tandem.

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Small Yard? Big Statement: How to Make the Most Out of Micro Outdoor Spaces When house-hunters compile their lists of musthave home items, a dreamy backyard space is often near the top. After all, who doesn’t want an outdoor oasis of their very own? From summer barbecues to open space for your dog to frolic— everyone has their own aspirations when it comes to creating the perfect backyard paradise. But as homebuyers seek properties deeper within city limits, and Millennials opt for properties with 6

urban amenities and access, home-connected outdoor spaces are becoming a bit smaller in stature.

Of course, size isn’t everything when it comes to outdoor space. Even balconies, rear patios, and ultra-tiny yards can provide homebuyers with the outdoor reprieve they crave—even on a smaller scale. For a few ideas that can help you envision all the possibilities of a micro outdoor space, read on for inspiration.

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Think vertically.

When space is at a premium, think up instead of out. In other words, make the most of small spaces by capitalizing on your backyard, balcony, or patio’s overhead height. Mood-setting string lights, hanging pocket or wall gardens, floating shelves, and modern overhead hangings can create a sense of privacy and luxury without cluttering the square footage on the ground.

Soothing sounds set the mood.

Upgrade the look of structural components.

Not in love with your patio pavers? Don’t have the sweetest view off your balcony? Whatever your small backyard living space gripe may be, there’s always a solution if you go back to the basics. Consider the structural components of your outdoor space that you aren’t in love with and there’s likely an affordable, eye-pleasing solution. For instance, plenty of home goods Top Agent Magazine

retailers make a variety of punchy or luxe outdoor rugs that can disguise stained or lackluster outdoor flooring. Power-washing is another great solution for old grime and dirt that’s an eyesore. Don’t have a great view? Planting ivy on bare walls, installing adjustable mood lighting, or hanging planters can create a more inviting ambiance.

While there may not be room for a swimming pool or pond in a micro yard or balcony, you can still bring the calming presence of water to your outdoor oasis. Fountains run the gamut in sizing and price, making this amenity an easy acquisition. What’s more, a running fountain not only adds a soothing sound to your space, but it also helps drown out noise from the street or the neighbors—making your space entirely your own and stress-free.

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Don’t compromise on your culinary dreams.

If you love to entertain in outdoor spaces or relish the chance to man the grill—small outdoor spaces don’t have to trip you up. Grill options (both propane and charcoal) come in a range of sizes, many of which can be outfitted securely to balcony posts or be tucked away and out of sight when out of use. Consider nesting tables or those with a removable leaf to adjust your seating and dining options depending on company.

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Another trick? A small, oscillating fan can keep air flow moving in a small space during grill season—and can be easily affixed to walls or posts, as well.

Don’t let yourself or clients be discouraged by spaces with more limited square footage in outdoor areas. Furniture and design trends have already begun shifting toward providing better small-space options, and at the end of the day, a backyard space is all about providing an area for relaxation. With a few well-placed, strategic choices, you can still have it all.

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KEN LEMBERGER Top Agent Magazine

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KEN LEMBERGER Top Agent Ken Lemberger is a solo agent alongside his dad at RE/MAX based in Roselle, Illinois, covering the northwest suburbs of Chicago.

Ken Lemberger has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. “When I was a teenager, I was mowing neighbors’ lawns and looking for ways to earn money,” he recalls.

At the end of high school, his father went into real estate, and Ken would watch and learn the business from him. “I loved what he did and ultimately followed in his 10 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

footsteps,” he says. That was 32 years ago, and he’s never looked back.

Ken now works as a solo agent alongside his dad at RE/MAX based in Roselle, Illinois, covering the northwest suburbs of Chicago. “This is where I grew up, so I know the area well,” he exclaims. Ken Top Agent Magazine

reports that his business is 80% repeat and referral clientele. “At this point, I am working with the next generation of clients, helping their children buy their first homes,” he asserts. “It’s a great feeling.”

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Ken believes the reason his clients keep coming back or making referrals is because he is the point person from start to finish.

“I am someone they can count on. I am available to answer their questions 24/7, 11 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

“I’ve also assembled a great team of vendors that aid my clients in either preparing their homes for sale or fixing up a new home long after the house closes.” and they appreciate that,” he states. “I’ve also assembled a great team of vendors that aid my clients in either preparing their homes for sale or fixing up a new home long after the house closes.” His team of referrals include painters, plumbers, electricians and contractors.

To stay in touch with his clientele, Ken reaches out to his clients throughout the year as well as sends out an annual magnetized calendar. “I love going into my Copyright Top Agent Magazine 12

clients’ homes and seeing that calendar hanging on their refrigerators,” he asserts.

“It’s one of my best promotional tools.”

Ken has been in the Top 100 for single agents for RE/MAX of Northern Illinois six out of the last nine years. He was ranked number 57 out 100 in 2019 and has been a 5-Star REAL ESTATE AGENT award winner for the last 10 years. His many designations include CRS, GREEN, SRES and the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing.

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Ken begins his marketing process with getting the home photo ready. “I have landscapers and painters ready to step in order to spruce up the place if needed,” he says. He then brings in professional photographers and videographers to present the home in its best light. Ken utilizes Homesnap to promote the listing. “It goes out to all social media as well as Google, which gets us thousands of views,” he says.

What Ken loves most about his job are the relationships he builds. “It’s about Top Agent Magazine

helping people with probably the biggest transaction they will ever make in their lives,” he says, “That’s huge and I’m honored to be a part of it. At the end of the day, I’m helping families find a place to call home.”

An avid runner, Ken frequently participates in community charity runs. “That’s how I like to give back,” he notes. “I get to combine my love for the sport with helping people in need.”

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When not working, Ken incorporates running into his routine. He’s been participating in marathons for the past 20 years and has plans to participate in one marathon a year.

Ken hopes to stay in the business for the next 20 years. “I plan to remain consistent with my practices and would love to grow,” he notes. “You’ll still see me door-knocking, making calls, and sending out cards.

It’s my goal to continue to help families find the home of their dreams.”

To learn more about Ken Lemberger, please call (630) 205-8340 email kenlemberger@gmail.com , or visit kenlemberger.com www.

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3 Easy At-Home DIY Projects to Increase Property Value Most homeowners have a lengthy list of chores and bit projects they intend to accomplish around the house. Oftentimes, those to-do items are completed piecemeal over a long stretch of time, or else sometimes not at all. However, when it comes time to prepare a home for market, all those tasks begin to pile-up and overwhelm. The Top Agent Magazine

list of things to do before the photographer comes or the first open house is held might seem endless, but not if you tackle just a few things here and there as you go. These sorts of projects—easy, DIY, at-home tasks you can accomplish in a few hours or less, with tools you most likely have on hand— go a long way with marginal effort.

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Complete a quick rehab of closets and storage areas Many agents advise clients to declutter and depersonalize their spaces ahead of professional photography and home showings. The idea is to provide prospective buyers with a neutral palette. Not only does this allow them to imagine their own lives unfolding within those four walls, but it also helps make a home’s square footage stand out. One way to add visual space to your home without calling in the contractor is to declutter common storage areas and closets. When buyers can get a complete look at a closet’s capacity, or a pantry’s depth, or the garage’s full functional potential, they get a better sense of a home’s potential and thus, its value.

In that vein, consider decluttering and cleaning your high-traffic storage spaces: the garage, pantries, closets, attics, and basements. Besides, organizing and discarding unwanted items help you prep for a move anyway, while giving potential buyers a peak at how spacious your home really is.

Add easy curb appeal with a bit of sweat equity Sure, curb appeal can arrive in the form of a new mailbox, pathway lighting, or updated house numbers, but it can also come cheaper than that. Curb extends to the upkeep of your lawn, landscaping, and home’s façade, and there are plenty of ways 16

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you can give these zones a refresh without spending anything but time. Keeping your front and back yard green and uniform adds a lux layer to exterior square footage.

Likewise, polishing the outside of your windows, trimming hedges, and sweeping the walkway can make a tidy and wellcared for first impression. There are other measures you can take too. Planting wildflower seeds in empty beds, or collecting some landscaping rocks to frame mulched areas can add a bit of character to your residence. Repainting the front door, ensuring trees are trimmed, and keeping back patios Top Agent Magazine

neat and uncluttered also underscore a home at its finest, which is ripe for buyers to snatch up.

Transform tiled spaces into sparkling clean surfaces.

Bathrooms and kitchens are where sellers can stand to add plenty of value in the process of selling a home. While pricey renovations might be out of the question for some, there are still affordable and time-effective ways you can transform for these spaces for the better. Cleaning,

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bleaching, or redoing your tile grout—in either kitchens, bathrooms, or other tiled spaces—can give these high-trafficked areas a new lease on life. Ensuring windows, mirrors, stainless steel appliances and backsplashes are streak-free and polished also demonstrate to buyers that your home is well-cared for and practically move-in ready. Sometimes, the devil is in the details. You might consider relining drawers, changing out knobs and fixtures,

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or else decluttering cabinets and shelves for a fresher look.

No matter the challenges ahead as you prepare your home for sale, completing a few small tasks every weekend or so can put you miles ahead of the competition.

Without spending a dime, you can add serious value to your home’s bottom line, setting you up for success as you begin your own home-shopping adventure.

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ELISA NIESEN & LYNNE GERDING Elisa Niesen and Lynne Gerding are the dedicated dream team behind “Elisa and Lynne Homes.” Together they use their talents for design to help sellers obtain the best value for their homes by updating before they sell. At the same time, they encourage buyers to envision how they could transform their new homes to create a beautiful haven for themselves— along with more equity. An impressive ninety-eight percent of their business comes from repeat and referral clients in Naperville, the western suburbs, and the City of Chicago.

This team’s origin story is rooted in remodel and design.

Lynne Gerding started renovating, designing and decorating homes in the early 1980s. Once her clients were ready to move from their “starter” homes, Lynne referred them to a friend who was a real estate agent; but by the late nineties, she realized that no one knew those homes better than she did. She called up her Realtor friend and asked, “Do you think I could be a real estate broker?”

Twenty-one years later, the rest is history!

Elisa Niesen fell in love with real estate when she bought her first home. She initially got her license in order to flip homes as an investor. In 2013, she left her corporate career to join Keller Williams. There she met Lynne, and they bonded over their design background.

“We joined forces, became a team, and hit the ground running,” Elisa explains.

To market listings, Elisa and Lynne take a personal approach, door knocking in the neighborhood, spreading the work via social media, and reaching out to other top agents in the area. They also take advantage of all the marketing tools Keller Williams has to offer. “Our goal is to creatively think outside of the box and sell the house before it’s even listed on the MLS,” Elisa says. The proof of this approach is in the numbers—they close $12 to $15 million in transactions a year with a sale price of $350K to over a million.

To give back to the community, Lynne is very involved in puppy rescue. Together Lynne and Elisa contribute to fundraisers and non-for-profits that their clients are passionate about. In Elisa’s free time, she spends time with her two children, while Lynne enjoys playing with her three granddaughters. The two women share a passion for creating Christmas wreathes out of vintage materials.

For the future, they plan to continue helping their clients reach their goals by providing excellent, enthusiastic service and a vision for all each home can be!

Their boundless energy, positivity, enthusiasm, and excitement sets them apart from other agents. But so does their experience with renovation and design. “Our clients are thrilled to see how their homes can be transformed to fit their families perfectly,” Lynne says.

Their clients rave about the amazing, boutique service they provide. Instead of focusing on volume, Elisa and Lynne dedicate themselves to each of their clients, building close relationships and checking in with them long after the transaction is over.

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For more about Elisa Niesen & Lynne Gerding, please email elisa@elisaandlynnehomes.com or lynne@elisaandlynnehomes.com, call (414) 305-1825, or visit them at elisaandlynnehomes.kw.com https://

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5 Tips to Get New Clients If you’ve been in the industry for a while, you’ve probably built up a healthy percentage of repeat and referral business.

Although it can be tempting to just maintain those relationships rather than generating new business, there’s something to be said for staying on top of 20

your game by never resting on your laurels. Actively pursuing new clients is not only a way to generate more business, but depending on how you do it, it could even lead to a profitable new niche. Here are just a few ways to build up your new client base.

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Become a referral partner with industry peers

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Cold Call Expired and FSBO Listings

Everyone from mortgage lenders, to financial planners, to insurance agents, can be potentially lucrative referral partners for a Realtor®. You may already have great relationships with some that just need to be more formalized. But, you don’t just want to partner with anyone, make sure these are people you also feel completely comfortable referring your clients to - people who share your values and work ethic.

Another avenue to consider is divorce attorneys – yes, you heard that correctly. Helping people go through this difficult period actually requires a very specific skill set.

You need to be able to handle the legal aspects, as well as the emotional ones. There are numerous training courses you can take if you decide to take this route, which could end up being a lucrative and much-needed specialty.

This is a route a lot of agents take when they are just starting out, that usually leads to great success. You probably haven’t cold called since you started out, and this is a great skill to build up again.

It will not only sharpen your sales skills, but could generate a lot more business.

People with For Sale By Owners (FSBOs) and expired listings, are usually very motivated to sell. This is a great chance for you to really hone in on why they need to hire you. Do you offer innovative marketing plans? Access to a large sphere of influence? Expired listing clients are looking for ways to sell a property that seems impossible to move. With FSBOs, you need to show them how you can get them more money in their pocket, even

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with paying you a commission. Pursuing both will really engage your mind to think outside of the box, which will not only get you more business, but make you better at what you do.

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3

Partner up with a Relocation Company

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Become a Builder’s Realtor® of choice

This is another niche market that you can really capitalize on if you want to pursue a new specialty. But, it is a specialty, so getting educated on the process will help you generate the business you want. It’s a complicated area of real estate, you’ll often

times be helping to facilitate dual transactions, as you try and secure a property at the same time you are helping your relocation client sell their previous home. This specialty is becoming an in-demand skill in areas that have major corporate headquarters.

This can be a real score for any Realtor®.

The competition might be fierce to land a client like this, but there are numerous ways to make yourself stand out from the rest.

Gain certifications and become knowledgeable about the construction process. Be wellversed on what trendy materials, features, and finishes will add value to a property.

Get the builder on board with you by offering to take just a segment of the subdivision then wow them with your marketing skills.

Take on properties they haven’t been able to sell. You can even offer to throw an open

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Create a Website that Offers Real Value to Potential Clients

Perhaps the most useful way of getting contact information for people looking to sell is by adding a home valuation feature to your website. When people are first considering selling their home, finding out how much

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house for them. This is another way to show them the level of service they can expect from you. These clients might be harder to land, but the payoff will be enormous.

it is worth is one of the first questions they want answered. By becoming a resource to potential clients (and current clients!), you just might be the first person that comes to mind when they’re actually looking to sell.

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KATIE TROCCOLI Agent Katie Troccoli’s determination to make a difference has been a constant throughout her life. As a young girl, her father, a former WWII paratrooper, instilled in her the value of an education, telling her, “You can be anything you want to be. All you have to do it set your mind to it.” It was also her father who piqued her interest in real estate, teaching her to focus on things others might not noice, like the drainage and foundation of a property.

Katie took these lessons to heart—both in her chosen career and in advocacy work for her community of Ottawa, Illinois.

Katie earned her real estate license in October, 1984, while pregnant with her third child, Now, thirty-six years later, she is the managing broker of Washington Square Realtors, an independent office in Ottawa. Per her father’s advice, she continues to walk properties with a keen eye, looking for problems that might exist or arise. If she represents the seller, she advises them on repairs that need to be made. If she represents the buyer, she prepares them to face issues up front. As she says, “you’re better off to go in with your eyes open.”

Helping clients make good decisions is a big part of Katie’s approach. “I try to educate my buyers so they can create wealth.” As Katie sees it, with stable financial footing, clients “can pay their house off ahead of schedule, have a better credit report, and have a better life,“ which “creates a stronger community.”

With most of her listings in the $30,000-$250,000 range, Katie’s average annual volume is between $1 and $2 million. Notably, the majority of her clients are repeat customers or referrals. Like most agents, she uses online platforms and virtual tours to market properties and keeps in contact through social media, texts, and calls.

If you ask Katie what sets her apart, she replies, “People know me. They know me to be honest and straightforward, and they know I’ve fought for the community through my non-profit work.”

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The non-profit work Katie is referring to is the stuff of books and movies (literally—Radium Girls, release date 2020, is about one of the issues Katie has addressed). Katie became involved in advocacy work in 1980 through Residents Against a Polluted Environment.

Having discovered plans to place a hazardous waste landfill just west of Ottawa, the organization engaged in a ten-year battle to keep the landfill out and their water supply safe. During this struggle, they realized there was radioactive contamination in their community from two companies, Radium Dial and Luminous Processes.

Local leaders had swept this contamination under the rug, and, for a while, Katie was “not a popular girl.”

In the end, Ottawa had 16 sites on the EPA Superfund Cleanup List. Through her advocacy work, Katie helped expose dangers and hazards and sourced cleanups.

Beyond this, Katie is president of Ottawa Memorial Association, an organization that hosts Memorial and Veterans’ Days events and provides flags and markers for veteran’s graves. She is also active in Here and Again, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to promoting the arts, entertainment, and education. Here and Again recently launched an FM (low power) radio station, WRWO 94.5 FM, in Ottawa, giving residents a place to share their talents and knowledge.

For more information about Katie Troccoli, visit WashingtonSquareRealtors.com; call 815-228-2058 or email katiet1@sbcglobal.net www.

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