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Karen Arenson of Engel & Völkers Chicago North Shore and Chicago says her career in residential real estate sales is the perfect blend of everything she loves—teaching, learning, exploring, guiding, and mentoring. “My true passion is the ‘ah ha’ moment that occurs when I have helped others achieve their potential or realize an important goal,” says Arenson, who began working in residential sales with a boutique brokerage in Chicago before moving to North Shore area with her husband. “Having received a master’s degree from Northwestern University and been on the faculty at New Trier High School, Lake Forest High School, and Lake Forest Country Day School, I was already intimately familiar with the North Shore.” Today, this long-time Glencoe resident and community volunteer is an owner/license partner of Engel & Völkers shops in Chicago, the North Shore, and Saugatuck/Douglas, Michigan.
What made you want to start a career in real estate?
Accidentally; flipping homes with my husband introduced me to the power of investing in real estate, and eventually, I knew that helping people empower their lives through real estate was what I wanted to do.
What do you think separates you from other real estate professionals in the business today?
My background in teaching and technology is a unique differentiator. While every brokerage has great technology tools, not everyone knows how to employ them to be more efficient or to assist their clients in the best ways. I am high touch through teaching my clients about the market, and still high-tech in pushing all of the information out for the most knowledgeable decisions to be made.
How do you win a listing?
I win listings by listening and connecting. People want to be heard and they want to know that someone has their best interests at heart.
If you could help any celebrity client buy or sell a home, who would it be?
I’d have wanted to assist Audrey Hepburn sell her home. She seems to me the epitome of classic, simple elegance, and I believe I would have liked working with her as well.
Karen Arenson is with Engel & Völkers Chicago North Shore & Chicago, 566 Chestnut Street, Unit 7, in Winnetka. For more information, call 773-501-6201, email [email protected], or visit karenarenson.evrealestate.com. You can also follow her on Facebook at KarenArensonRE; on Instagram @KarenArensonEV; on LinkedIn at karenarenson; or on YouTube @KarenArensonEV.
