Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Ladewig.
Kelly, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
If I’m being honest, I just fell into real estate. I started college as a biology major with the intention of going to vet school. Animals have always been a huge passion of mine, and being a vet was always the path I saw myself taking. While in school, I held part time positions in sales. I realized that this was something that I enjoyed, as well as something that I was good at, which was sort of a revelation for me. Around the same time I began working at my dad’s law firm, Ladewig & Ladewig P.C. Here I was able to learn the back end of real estate, setting the foundation for my future career. Coming from a big family, I knew that I wanted to do my part in helping to pay for tuition, so I began considering new job opportunities. Real estate seemed like the perfect job for me, considering my experience. I got my license and began working. I unexpectedly fell in love with real estate. It wasn’t long before I changed my major from biology to business with a concentration in marketing, and began the launch of ‘Kelly Ladewig Homes’ which is affiliated with Baird & Warner. It really has come full circle, and it’s been great to go from working for and learning from my dad to closing deals with him at the table. I’ve even found many ways to stay involved with animals through volunteering, donating, fostering, and even adopting, so I’ve never felt like I was sacrificing that passion of mine. It’s been the best of both worlds! If you asked me ten years ago, I never would have guessed that I’d end up here- but right now I can’t imagine doing anything else.
Has it been a smooth road?
Starting out in real estate is difficult for anybody, but starting out while still in school was much harder than I anticipated. I had to work really hard to balance being a good student with working a full-time job. I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss out on any opportunities in either area. There were a lot of sleepless nights, but it was worth it. Something else that I struggled with in the beginning was my age, since I started out younger than most. I didn’t have a group of friends that were in the age bracket to buy, so I had to hit the ground running from the start. I had to go out and find my first clients, all of whom were essentially strangers. Because of this, I had to work even harder to prove myself to them. It was certainly difficult, but every single one of my clients has had a positive experience with me, and I take such pride in that. Knowing that my clients know that I have their best interest at heart is very inspiring for me. Since then, my age has actually turned out to be an advantage in the field. Being young means that I grew up with technology. I have mastered social media, which has allowed me to take a unique marketing approach to the buying, selling, and renting process. In a changing, technological society, this has proved successful for both my clients and myself.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Kelly Ladewig Homes – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Kelly Ladewig Homes has given me the opportunity to guide clients through the buying, selling, renting, and investment processes. I started off in residential real estate, which is where a lot of my focus still lies. I love doing residential because I’m able to form closer relationships with my clients. Since then, I’ve also branched off and started doing investment properties where I can incorporate my love of design through staging homes. Real estate allows me to combine all of the things I’m passionate about into one: helping people, forming relationships, business, sales, marketing, and design. I’ve truly found my dream career. While I really value traditional real estate methods, I’ve taken a bit of a unique approach. Anybody can be a buyer’s agent, but it takes something more to be a seller’s agent. I’ve worked to create an extensive social media following, which allows me to reach and connect with more people through my marketing campaigns. Because of this, I’ve often been able to bring my own buyers to the table, leading to much shorter market times. My clients definitely appreciate that! I’m really proud of the name and presence that I’ve created for myself through social media. It’s something that not many other realtors are doing at this point, so there’s a lot of trial and error and figuring it out for myself. It’s hard work, but it’s also extremely exciting and rewarding.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love Chicago! Festivals, farmers’ markets, hidden gem coffee shops, and dog parks are some of my favorite parts. I absolutely love that real estate gives me the opportunity to work from new places all the time. Each neighborhood has its own story to tell and I try to make it my job to be well-versed in those stories so that I can share them with my clients. I love the people that I’ve met, the architecture, the history. More than anything, though, I love how excited I still feel walking down the street every day. This city energizes and motivates me in the most natural way. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else! However, the poverty and homelessness are so evident here. It’s so sad to see the conditions that so many people are suffering through, especially considering that the stories I’ve learned from homeless people I’ve met on the streets are some of the reasons I love Chicago most. There is a lot of opportunity for outreach in that aspect.
Contact Info:
- Address: Baird and Warner
9145 W 151st St
Orland Park, IL 60462 - Website: www.kellyladewig.com
- Phone: 7083470609
- Email: kelly.ladewig@bairdwarner.com
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
