After 19 years in the industry, Mark Raffaelli is more certain than ever that real estate was the best career choice for him. “I started off doing appraisals, and when I found a good deal, I would tell people about it,” he said. Soon, people began asking him to let them know whenever he found properties, and he realized that becoming an agent would be the smartest next step. “I’ve loved it ever since,” he says. Today he works with Compass, serving Chicago and surrounding regions. He has an assistant and two junior brokers. Together they provide superior service and guidance throughout every step of the transaction.

“Communication is huge,” he explains. “A lot of my competitors still have trouble communicating. I answer my phone, I never say no to anything and will have someone from my team be there if I’m not available.” For his buyers, he makes sure to answer every question, and educates them on every aspect. He understands that it is one of the biggest purchases his clients will ever make, so he takes the process very seriously. When it comes to his sellers, he also goes above and beyond, taking his time to market them. “I don’t just take a home and throw it on the MLS. I do a lot of social networking, drone photography, staging, and I also offer a program

that helps them make the most from their home.” If any part of the home needs work, and his clients don’t have the money to fix it, the compass concierge program will offer the money to them as a loan (interest-free), which would be paid back when the home sells. “If the floors, kitchen and bathroom needs to be done, for instance, and it would cost $30,000 for them to fix but would make them back $100,000, I’ll set them up on the compass concierge program,” he says.

After the transaction, clients leave glowing reviews about their time together. One recently said, “Mark defies what you would expect in a real estate broker. His knowledge of Chicago buildings, neighborhoods, and communities is incomparable. He did a fantastic job selling my Tri-Taylor home. My home was listed with 2 other agents before I found Mark. His efforts in the first two weeks were more than the combined efforts of the other brokers. From day one Mark was meticulous, diligent, hard-working and honest. He said he would sell my home at a certain price point during my expected time-frame and he did!”

When Mark isn’t working, he’s staying involved in the community through disaster relief work. He established a foundation in 2011 that helps victims of natural disasters. They donate everything one would need in a disaster including baby food, clothes, non-perishable foods, animal food, and cleaning supplies. In the future, he would like to reimplement a program where a portion of every closing is donated to a charity.

As Mark continues to grow, his love for this industry only gets stronger. “I learned years ago that if you’re going to do something, you have to love it. If you love your job you won’t work a day in your life.”

For more information about Mark Raffaelli, please call 312-371-4812 or email mark.raffaelli@compass.com

Illinois Real Estate Agent Mark Raffaelli