When Top Agent Terri Hunt was a young, single mom in 1986, employers still felt free to let that fact influence their hiring decisions. “I applied for a job with a large real estate company that had a number of offices in the northwest suburbs and the owner needed an assistant,” she recalls. “I didn’t get the job and he told me it was because he was concerned that I had a small child. It made me really angry!”

The next day Terri was going to a dentist appointment when she saw a sign that would change her life. “There was a real estate office next door and they had a sign in the window saying they were looking for agents and would be starting classes,” she says. “I walked in, told the broker I needed a job and the rest is history. It worked out perfectly to have a job where I could arrange my schedule around being available for my son.”

Now, more than 30 years later, Terri’s son has joined her in real estate. “The knowledge he has about technology has helped to grow the business,” she says. “We work together really well and have the same philosophy on how to treat clients. We are always looking for new ways to provide the best marketing for our listings and the best possible services for our clients.” Born and raised in Chicago, Terri moved to the northwest suburbs when she was 19 and works primarily with clients in those areas. “I do a lot of listings, as well as working with first-time buyers, move-up buyers, and clients looking to downsize,” she says.

Terri’s approach to customer service gives her a competitive advantage in today’s increasingly impersonal business environment. “I treat every client like they’re the most important client I have,” she says. “I utilize the latest technology and combine it with my extensive knowledge and personal touch to give all my clients extraordinary representation,” she continues. “I think in a lot of ways, with people so much into technology, we’re losing the personal touch. I treat everyone the way I would like to be treated.”

Terri hopes clients who have worked with her are left feeling like they made the right choice. “I want them to remember having a great experience from the first moment they call,” she says. “Buying or selling is one of the biggest decisions a client is ever going to make. I’m not just a REALTOR®; I get personally involved and always go that extra step, including helping clients decorate and stage homes. I have even taken care of pets and babysat clients’ children,” she adds with a laugh.

That willingness to go the extra mile has not gone unnoticed. Top real estate agent in Illinois Terri Hunt and her success have been honored with the RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement Award, the Chairman’s Award, and the Platinum Award. Her team is also consistently ranked in the Top 35 teams for the region. But when it comes to what she finds most rewarding about the business, that honor comes directly from her clients. “I love helping people achieve their goals and dreams and knowing I made a difference in their lives.” Looking to the future of her business, Terri plans to continue to find new ways to utilize technology to assist her clients, without sacrificing old-fashioned, one-on-one service and a personal touch.

To learn more about Terri Hunt of RE/MAX Suburban, call 847-961-5000, email terri@terrihunt.com, or visit www.terrihunt.com