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By Contributor
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Annie Challenger pictured with her dog, Lemmy.
Annie Challenger with Baird & Warner North Shore was born and raised in Winnetka. The mother of seven didn’t move far, as she chose to raise her family in Northfield before creating a successful career in real estate. She has a command on the luxury real estate market on the North Shore and continues to enjoy working with her clients. In addition, Challenger and her husband, Michael Jayko, own Your Dog’s Guru Inc., a top-level dog training business. She is a passionate community volunteer with Winnetka Community House and New Trier High School.
What do you think separates you from other real estate professionals in the business today?
My singular goal as a real estate professional is to put my clients at ease. Buying or selling a house, sometimes doing both, is more than a transaction— it’s a life changing decision.
What’s most rewarding about real estate?
I am a people person. It’s why working in real estate is one of the best jobs I’ve ever had. Supporting my clients through the search for a home, its inspection, and the buying and selling process is time well spent. Closing a deal, whether it be on the buying or selling side, is a thrill because I know that I’ve made a positive impact on my client’s lives. Any way you slice it, I am helping them close one chapter and begin a new one.
In real estate, what will never be replaced by technology?
Technology will never replace the importance of human connection in real estate. As cheesy as it sounds, a house is more than just the place you go to rest your head. This business is about finding a home—the place where a young couple will raise their children, where someone will find their footing after a loved one passes, or maybe where the next Steve Jobs will build something incredible in his garage. Helping people find that special place requires face to face interaction—even if it is over Zoom sometimes. AI or new software may narrow someone’s search online, but finding a home will always require a human touch.
Annie Challenger is with Baird & Warner North Shore. For more information, call 847-528-8287 or visit bairdwarner.com/agent/106135-annie-challenger.
