Today we’d like to introduce you to LaNita Cates.
After owning her own marketing and advertising company for 9 years, Chicago Top Agent LaNita Cates became a realtor purely by accident. “I always scoured ads looking for companies that were looking for part-time marketing and advertising positions and I offered to work for them as their consultant.”
By chance, LaNita answered the ad to a top RE/MAX Plainfield agent, and after a quick interview the following day, she was hired to work 15 hours a week for the realtor handling all of her marketing and advertising. After working at the REMAX office for a few months, LaNita knew her heart was in real estate. “I fell in love with the real estate industry quickly and decided to get my license.”
LaNita got her license the end of 2006 and worked as a buyer’s agent for the realtor that hired her to do marketing. But after 8 months, she wanted more. “I felt handcuffed being a buyer’s agent and wanted more freedom to make my own decisions so I decided to work independently.” LaNita is glad she did – in 2007 as a full-time agent on her own, she sold 24 houses and today she averages 40-45 sold homes per year.
“Going through the housing crash was a fast learning experience,” says LaNita. “In 2008 which was my 2nd year in real estate, realtors were quitting, people were losing their homes, lenders were in trouble, foreclosures were starting to show up and it was simply a crazy time.” I was told, “If you can survive this crash being a new realtor, you are going to be really good.” And LaNita did survive and learned a lot. “Real estate wasn’t easy during this time,” she says. “I saw more mold, water in basements, holes in ceilings, squatters than I care to remember. But it made me the realtor I am today.”
An outstanding reputation is something she is extremely proud of and it shows based on her 5-star reviews on Zillow. “I work hard for those reviews!” laughs LaNita. “I want to give my clients a 5-star experience, and I hope, at the end of their home buying or selling experience with me, give me a-5 star review.” And it shows with LaNita leading Plainfield and surrounding areas with the most 5 star reviews of any other realtor.
She was also honored in November as “Overall Best Will County Realtor” voted by clients in the Herald News for 2017. “I was shocked! I was also very honored and humbled that my clients thought to put my name in and to vote for me every day. I give a lot to my clients so it was nice that they gave back to me by voting me the best.” She was also inducted into the RE/MAX Hall of Fame in 2015. “I love RE/MAX and have only been a RE/MAX agent. I can’t imagine going anywhere else.”
Experience really does matter when working with both buyers and sellers. “Because I sell a lot of homes, I see a lot of homes. I, of course, then see a lot of situations and problems. It’s because of my experience with the housing crash that I can typically resolve the problem for all parties involved. I’ve never been the type of realtor that takes a back seat and hope someone else solves the problem. I take the wheel and do whatever it takes to get the situation resolved to move forward.”
But one thing she thinks her clients would tell you about her? Something that stands out? “I’ve been told that I’m a very trustworthy person and that the clients feel they are in good hands and feel like I will do what’s best for them, not me.” LaNita says she hears weekly “I’ve never trusted someone so quickly like I do you! Heck, I trust you than most of my family!” It’s a compliment she takes seriously because she will not lie to her clients and she will always do what is best for them.
LaNita recalls a time she was showing a house to a retired FBI agent. “I was myself, like always, but knew he was reading me. So, when he said “I know I can trust you,” LaNita knew she passed the test of all tests. “An FBI agent knows how to read a person!” LaNita says with a laugh.
Owning her own marketing and advertising company helps LaNita market and advertise daily. “I definitely go the extra mile helping clients. I don’t care if you have an $80,000 listing or a $400,000 listing, you are treated and marketed the same. It goes for my buyers as well. If you have a $90,000 budget or a $700,000 budget, you are treated exactly the same.”
LaNita sums up her real estate experience with this: “I love people. It’s rare that I don’t like someone because I think there is good in just about everyone if you get to know them. I truly want to help my clients and I want them to come back to me when their housing needs change. I want them to feel like they can call me in 5 or 10 years and ask me any question or need guidance.
I actually had a former buyer in Chicago call me with a real estate question this summer. I helped her and her fiancé buy a house maybe 7 years ago and she called me and of course, I remembered her. We chatted and then connected on Facebook. It’s awesome when clients feel they can reach out to me.”
What were you like growing up?
Super shy – my mom said I didn’t start talking until I was 3 years old. I grew up in the country so loved hunting, fishing, exploring for hours in the woods, ice skating on our pond, playing with the cows, pigs, chickens. I had a pony for my 7th birthday and its name was Blaze. So loved being outside.
Contact Info:
- Address: 24215 W. Lockport St., Plainfield IL 60544
- Website: www.veryhappyclients.com / www.myplainfieldhome.com
- Phone: 6303411545
- Email: lanitacates@yahoo.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.
