Megan McCleary used to educate advertising salespeople about the value of the Internet. Now she’s a top real estate broker in Hinsdale. The path from then to now is paved with experiences—and a little serendipity—that fuel her professional passion.

McCleary will tell you that much of real estate is about marketing, and her background in multi-media sales and sales management helped shape her approach to working with clients to market and sell their homes.

“I understand marketing well and know its relevance,” she says. “I know that consistency in advertising is important. I’ve written sales training programs for various marketing programs.”

McCleary relocated to Hinsdale from Chicago 17 years ago to raise her family, and in so doing developed strong ties to the community. She built 2 homes, served on multiple philanthropic boards as well as the school PTO Board.

“I became very entrenched in the community and really enjoy volunteerism and contributing,” she says. “All of these things prepared me for my next chapter.”

Her experiences have led McCleary to take a thoughtful and meticulous approach to helping clients buy and sell homes. While the companies she worked for during her advertising career had systems in place to maximize sales and profits, McCleary has developed a system of her own.

“I have a very systematic approach when I am selling a home, very hands on, very client centered,” she says. “I’m hyper-focused on a tight geographical area. I can’t provide the level of service that I do if I’m all over the place. It just doesn’t work.”

Her main geographical area includes homes that feed into Hinsdale Central High School: Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills, Burr Ridge and Oak Brook. Having an unparalleled knowledge of these communities and neighborhoods provides her a distinct advantage in advising clients how to prepare to put their houses on the market or make an educated home buying decision.

“One of the first things I do when I get a listing is set up a staging preview. My team and I do a thorough assessment of the home and provide concise and organized guidance on how we can collaborate with the homeowner to get the house in ‘show ready’ condition,” McCleary says. “You get one chance to make a first impression and we ensure that it is the very best.”

“We’re in a market where homes deserve attention and proper focus,” she says. “It’s important to work with someone who is experienced, understands the community and knows how to get the very best possible outcome.”

Sometimes, McCleary says, patience is key. She has worked with some buyers for quite an extended period of time, until they find the home that’s just right for them. It’s about patience and listening and understanding clients to get them their perfect match.

“I love my job.” McCleary says, “I understand that a home can be an emotional buy or sell and is also a large financial investment and you want to work with someone you trust.”

Megan McCleary and the McCleary Group is with Berkshire Hathaway, 35 South Washington Street in Hinsdale, 630-780-1913, mcclearygroup.com.