4 - 12 Strategies Homebuyers Can Use to WIN in Multiple Offer Situations
BUYERS - Learn 12 Strategies on How to WIN in a Multiple Offer Situation
February 25, 2021
By Richard “RJ” Freedkin, Realtor - RENE, ABR, SRS
NOTE – Multiple bidding wars are happening mostly in the sweet spot of home prices for our region - namely $150,000 - $450,000 and for NEWLY listed homes (homes that have been on the market for a while are not experiencing as many bidding war issues). This does not mean that a very desirable higher end home will not experience the same frenzied bidding wars we are seeing in the sweet spot range… they are still happening. Careful analysis of the market area and homes being sold in relative proximity to the properties you are looking at should be examined to determine if any of the below strategies should be applied.
MULTIPLE OFFERS...
For a home seller, this is a dream come true, but for buyers it can be a nightmare losing home after home to other offers. We just sold a home to a couple who have been looking since last May 2020 and have lost out on so many homes they made offers on - even ones they bid way over list price! They were very frustrated to say the least!
Today, with well over 30 buyers vying for every home that gets listed for sale, almost every real estate transaction ends up in a multiple bid situation.
So, lets first start off by saying sometimes you just are not going to win out on a multiple offer situation unless you are paying all cash, can close when the seller wants, offer a price that is better than the others and you may be willing to give up on many things like a home inspection. Sometimes the home is going to be so high in demand in this market that you are going to have to let someone else overpay for the home.
Right now, there are so few homes on the market and so many buyers that almost every home that goes up for sale (if it is in good condition and is priced anywhere near market value) is going to be under contract in a matter of a day or two.
With that said, there are ways to make sure you have a fighting chance as a good offer that gets accepted is not always the highest priced one.
Also, if you see a home show up in your email about a property that just got listed for sale, DO NOT WAIT TO GO SEE IT. Odds are it will be under contract in 24 - 48 hours. So, if you see a home go up for sale on Tuesday do not make the mistake of thinking you can go see it on Saturday as it will probably be gone.
This also means that if you are wanting to see multiple homes at a time, there may not be enough of them on the market and by the time you wait to see more come on the market, the ones you initially wanted to see are already gone.
1) MAKE SURE YOU GIVE YOURSELF PLENTY OF TIME TO LOOK FOR A HOME
If you are looking to purchase a home in the next couple of months, odds are you are going to look at many homes and will wind up making offers on some. Keep in mind that in this market with so many buyers for every property, you are probably not going to get chosen as the winning bid on the first home you choose to make an offer on. Being prepared for this is going to make things easier when it happens to you. It also means that if you have a lease coming due or other situation that has a date requiring you to be in the new home by then, you will need to make sure you do not start looking 45 days or even 60 days before that date. A real estate transaction on average takes 45 days to complete and if you do not allow for the possibility of making offers on homes and losing them to other bids and needing more time to find more properties and making offers and so on, you can find yourself in a bad timing situation. This may also mean that you may end up finding a home slightly sooner and having to make one or two extra overlapping rental payments for the property you are living in now.
2) MAKE SURE YOU ARE ALREADY PRE-APPROVED FOR A MORTGAGE BEFORE YOU EVER GO OUT LOOKING AT HOMES!
I cannot stress this one enough. If you wait to do this until you find the right home, by the time you do get pre-approved, that home is going to already be under contract. Also, make sure your lender actually "Pre-Approves" you and not just "Pre-Qualifies" you. There is a HUGE difference between the two. For more on that topic, read my article below:
Also, if your lender tells you the maximum price you can afford is $350,000.00 then you will want to be looking at homes in the $325,000.00 - $335,000.00 range to allow for price bidding to bid up the price. (Applies to homes in good condition, newly on the market and priced properly)
3) PRICE
In the current market, you need to be willing to swallow your pride and realize that you are probably going to pay list price or above to get the home that has multiple offers on it - sometimes substantially over list price. This is one of the strongest seller markets in over 20 years so don't think you are going to get the deal of a century. Negotiating a lower price in today's market is virtually impossible unless the home has a lot of issues or has been on the market a long time (in this market that can be as little as 30 days).
4) CLOSING DATE
Be flexible on your closing date. If you can close on a date that the seller wants to close on you may have a better chance of getting your offer accepted. Some other buyers have date certain requirements because of closing on their home or lease expiration etc. If you do not have those constraints, you may be able to beat out higher offers because you can meet the seller's needs on a closing date.
5) DOWN PAYMENT
If you can come up with more money down to change your loan approval from an FHA to a Conventional loan, you will also have a better chance of getting your offer accepted. Perhaps you can get a gift from a family member or if you have the cash but just didn't want to part with it, consider doing so if at all possible.
6) FINANCING
On a multiple offer situation seller's, guided by their Realtor, will usually consider offers in the following hierarchy:
- CASH is KING
- Conventional Loan Financing with 20% or more down
- Conventional Financial with 10% Down
- Conventional Financing with 5% Down
- VA / FHA
These are not always a hard rule as there are other factors that can have a seller accept an offer with less than attractive financing terms if other terms such as price, closing date flexibility, waiving of inspections etc. can all have influence on a seller's willingness to accept the offer.
7) BUYING "AS-IS"
Sellers do not like to be "Nickel and Dimed" and sometimes they don't even want to be bothered with making ANY repairs to the home. Buying "AS-IS" may give them more assurance that you will take the house as it stands even if there are some issues with it. Keep in mind you still have the right to do a home inspection (unless you waive that provision as explained in the next paragraph). If you do not waive inspections, you can still purchase the home "as-is" to help lock up the contract over your competition BUT if your home inspection uncovers issues you just don't want to deal with, you still have the right to cancel the contract during the inspection / attorney approval period and get your full earnest money back. However, I have been successful on almost every "as-is" deal in getting some repairs and or credits if negotiated properly. Buying "as-is" may give you an edge up even against other higher offers.
8) INSPECTIONS
While not always a good idea and I do not recommend, there are times when waiving these can get your offer accepted over other offers. If you are handy and can fix many items on your own, you may opt to waive a home inspection. Keep in mind, I do not suggest you do this, but I have had buyers offer this as they have exceptional carpentry, plumbing, electrical or other construction knowledge or backgrounds. While I always recommend getting a radon inspection as well, again you can opt to waive that. You can always do those on your own after moving in and should the radon level be higher than acceptable norms, remediation can be somewhere between $1500 to $2500 but that could be cheaper than possibly overpaying $5,000 for the home.
Sometimes on newer homes (i.e.: 5 years or less) you may feel safer waiving those than on older homes. Waiving inspections can land you the deal but can also present headaches later on if you do not know what issues are lurking behind walls, in attics or more so be very careful with this and always consult your attorney 1st before deciding to waive any inspection.
Final note on Home Inspections. In this market it is ALWAYS a good idea to let the seller know that if you are going to perform inspections, that you will not "nickel and dime" them with a laundry list of minor repair items. Let them know that you will only be concerned with large health and safety items. Caulking windows is NOT a health and safety item. Keep in mind that the seller probably just received multiple offers. If they get fed up with a "nickel and dime" buyer, they will pretty much have no hesitation to kill the deal and either put the home back up on the market where they will have a bidding war (again) or go back to the other offers who probably are still trying to get other offers accepted and would jump at the chance to have a shot at the home again.
9) NOT SUBJECT TO THE SALE OF A CURRENT HOME
While not always possible, if you can qualify to purchase the new home without having to sell a current home, this will at least put you higher up in the running. In this market making an offer that is subject to the sale of a home can be the kiss of death for an offer as sellers don't want to make their sale subject to the possibility of your home sale deal falling apart which will affect their home sale. They will most likely have many offers not subject to the sale of a home (as many offers will be coming from first time homebuyers) to consider an offer that is subject to the buyers selling their home. If you have a home to sell and cannot qualify to purchase your new home without selling your current home, you will want to look at #10 below as the homes that have been on the market for a while will be more likely to look at any offers they get. Also, if you have no choice but to make your offer subject to the sale of your home, it is best to have already put your home on the market but most important, already have it under contract. This may make your seller feel more comfortable in taking a "contingent offer" if you already have a buyer for your home AND possibly show your seller what the terms are of your sale.
For instance:
- Is your buyer a cash offer or have a very strong down payment and financing?
- Do they have a house to sell too (this is a big problem because of the possible "domino effect")
- Have your buyers already gone through the home inspection and there are no issues etc?
10) LOOK FOR HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE MARKET FOR LONGER THAN 30 DAYS
This could be a hidden gem or spell problems. Many times, especially in this market, sellers and even their realtors get BIG heads and put a home on the market for far too much money. This can cause the property to sit on the market for longer than it should while the seller waits to get the offer they will probably never see. (and even if they do, it may not appraise out which would sometimes kill the deal because buyer would not agree to pay the higher price understandably). The longer the home sits on the market the more "stigmatized" the property becomes.
How many times have you or someone else you know saw a property that was on the market for a while and said, "there must be something wrong with it"!
A long time on the market used to be 180 days but today it can be as little as 30-45 days. When you see every reasonable home under contract in 1 to 2 days, 30 days seems like a lifetime! Could there be issues with the home? Certainly! But many times, it could be that it was just way too overpriced, and it just sat there accumulating what the seller interpreted were low ball offers after low ball offers. (when in actuality they were probably pretty close to what the market would pay for it even in this inflated market). But the stubborn seller just let it age on the MLS further stigmatizing it. Then perhaps they lowered it a paltry $1,000 hoping the same buyers who already saw it would suddenly jump for joy and bid on it. NOT!
As the days on the market age, less and less buyers will bid on it let alone even come to see it thinking there is "something wrong with it" when it may just be that it was overpriced to begin with. This is a good opportunity to perhaps get the home at a much better price than what it would have sold for in the beginning had it been priced right from the get-go.
11) ESCALATION CLAUSES, TAX PRORATIONS and MORE
A good Realtor will be familiar with Escalation Clauses, Tax Prorations and other key elements (and how and when to use them) that can all add leverage to your negotiation strategy and help you land the home you want to purchase so make sure you follow the guidance contained in #12 below.
NOTE: A properly written escalation clause along with the other strategies contained in this article can many times get your offer accepted over others. The escalation clause is one of the most important negotiation strategies to get your home but also to prevent you from overpaying during the dreaded "Highest & Best" offer period. Be sure to ask me about this and how it can work for you!
12) HAVE A GOOD REALTOR WHO IS EXPERIENCED IN NEGOTIATING AND NOT A PART TIME AGENT OR NOVICE REPRESENTING YOU.
Yep, this is my shameless plug...
Learning how and when to use these strategies is the job of an experienced real estate professional. I have over 40 years real estate experience in all aspects of real estate and also have been certified by the National Association of Realtors as a RENE (Real Estate Negotiation Expert). Don't leave your homebuying (or selling) transaction to just anyone... choose the best!
Call me and I would be happy to guide you through all the intricacies associated with this unique real estate market and which, if any, of these strategies we should consider using for your home-buying situation.
Any questions? ☎️ (847) 922-8423
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Article written by:
Richard "RJ" Freedkin, Realtor
eXp Realty, LLC
RENE, ABR, SRS
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Questions? Contact Richard
(847) 922-8423
Find out more about Richard's Extensive Real Estate Background Here:
Copyright 2021, 2022 - Richard J. Freedkin - All Rights Reserved
Testimonials
"
I came upon Richard Freedkin quite serendipitously. He was showing a ranch my mother was interested in. Right off the bat
he had done his homework. He showed us several documents he’d prepared to comprehensively edify us as to the property’s
market worthiness and desirability. But there was no pressure – he simply answered each of our questions revealing a deep
knowledge and breadth of real estate experience. As we got to talking more, we learned of his forty-year real estate career
during which he authored several books and traveled the country as a well-compensated public speaker on his passion
for real estate and the level of industry understanding that this passion had gained him.
During this first showing, I gazed at the kitchen countertop upon which several real estate agent business cards were littered. I
said to Richard, “Wow, you have a lot of competition, don’t you?” Without hesitation, he replied. “I have no competition; nobody
does what I do” Then he explained the lengths he goes to to sell a home at the optimal price. I hired him on the spot to sell my
house.
We embarked on simultaneous missions to sell my home and purchase a home for my mother. On the buying side, Richard
scoured the market daily and led us to several potential matches. But he did this knowing full well that it was a futile
exercise. Our resources would not allow any purchase until my house was sold. He did this simply to keep my mother’s
optimism alive as a favor to both of us.
On the selling side, no detail of preparation was too small, and no market reach was too vast. He and his clever co-agent
Samantha led us daily as to how best prepare the property – things you’d never think of – but he had his own published book
on the subject of course - which he gifted to us!
After we prepared the house, in came the photographers. We had a virtual tour, drone photographs, twilight photographs… We
all waited four days for the photos to be developed. I thought they were great. Richard and Samantha did not! They
reconvened, did some more staging, hired a photoshop guru to virtually stage several rooms…Voila, we now had a grand piano in
our living room! They put feature cards throughout our house pointing out its attributes. Then they put 18”x30” expertly
photoshopped renditions on tripods of most rooms depicting the room’s possibilities if more modernly or elegantly decorated.
We sold the place at our asking price in four days. The buyer let us know that it was the high-class showing that persuaded them.
They had flown in to the area for a weekend and viewed 14 houses in two days. Ours was the first they visited and of course
they were floored. They viewed the next 13 houses and none compared. Richards respect for the property and the process
translated into immediate clear value to them.
During the negotiations for both the sale of my home and the purchase for my mother, there were several crossroads where
serious money was on the line. I consider myself to be savvy enough in matters of business but I tell you, at these junctures,
deferring to Richard’s sage council saved me thousands.
What more can I say to convey this team’s over-the top approach to seeing you through the real estate maze profitably?
They manufacture the classy lawn signs personally? – They do! They utilize proprietary methods to blast your offering
statewide? – They do that too! This was truly first-class treatment.
Thanks Richard!
"
- John Griffin - Geneva, IL
"
We would highly recommend Richard Freedkin. He was tireless seeking and showing us properties. No matter how frustrated we were and how many homes we rejected, he always kept a positive attitude, encouraging us and assuring us that we would find what we were looking for. We knew early on that Richard’s goal was not simply to complete a sale and move on but to satisfy our needs, no matter how long it took. He always pointed out the good and bad in places we viewed and knew what to look for regarding things like water damage, roofs needing repair, the proximity of railroad tracks, the quality of construction. He was very prompt in responding to questions we had or in booking showings that we requested. Richard understands real estate laws and regulations, taxes and mortgages. What he didn’t know he inquired and responded quickly. We couldn’t have asked for a more expert realtor.
"
- Jake Eisenwasser - Lincolnshire, IL
"
Richard Freedkin is the best realtor we could have hoped for. He was patient with us as we searched for the perfect home, and he was always available to answer our questions. He knows the real estate industry inside out, and his expertise was invaluable in helping us navigate the buying process. He guided us through the entire process, from start to finish, and was always available to answer any questions we had. Working with him has been an incredible experience especially for our first home. We couldn't be happier with our experience working with Richard, and would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a realtor!
"
- Jeremiah Stephens - Gilberts, IL
"
Working with Richard was the best decision we could have made when entering the 2022 housing market. In looking for our first home, Richard was incredibly knowledgeable, and was able to walk us through each step in a clear and concise manner. He is a great communicator and worked diligently to understand our needs, all while providing excellent support in navigating the market. I truly feel that his expertise enabled us to find and subsequently close on a perfect home (in about a month no less!). His skills made us feel at ease and confident throughout the entire process. As first time home buyers, we could not be more thrilled with our experience! Richard is the absolute best!
"
- Christina Hoblin-Lamorena - Algonquin, IL
"
We had the great fortune to have Richard J. Freedkin as our realtor when selling our home. He had previously helped us purchase a home in the suburbs, so it was obvious that we were going to use him to sell our home in Chicago.
He is very knowledgeable on the current housing market, home sales and marketing.
He came into our home and told us exactly what needed to be upgraded or repaired to get it on the market. He was very hands on with any work that needed to be done. If he could not do the work himself, he found a competent trades person to complete the work.
He has a great attention to detail. His virtual staging, soft staging, feature cards and pictures in the house took the property to another level.
Richard definitely exceeded our expectations. The house went on the market on a Thursday and by the end of the weekend we had multiple offers. We are grateful for his incredible work which resulted in our home being sold for $80,000 over list price.
We would highly recommend Richard for all your real estate transactions.
"
- Michael and Judy Jacobazzi - Chicago, IL
"
Outstanding Experience — Richard Delivers Results!
Working with Rich was nothing short of exceptional. Our home had over 40 showings in just 3 days, which led to MORE than 12 offers and ultimately sold for $80,000 over list price. We also secured very strong backup offers, giving us complete confidence throughout the process.
Rich consistently went above and beyond—from preparation to strategy to communication. His expertise, energy, and commitment made all the difference. If you want a realtor who truly knows how to maximize your results, Rich is the one you want in your corner.
"
- Warren and Regina Coler - Algonquin, IL - (sellers)
"
I just finished showing your listing at 1661 Kensington and I have to say I have never walked through a home that was represented and put together as professionally and beautifully as you have.
In all the years I've been doing this I have never seen anything like this, so kudos to you! Your sellers must be so happy!
My clients love the home and I wanted to know if the seller was going to wait for highest and best or if they're just gonna look at the offers as they come in. - We will be putting together a super strong offer.
"
- Susan Yon Hansen - 20 Year Realtor - Century 21 (by text message)
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We are so fortunate to have found the best Realtor, Richard J. Freedkin to help us buy our first home in Chicagoland. How he helped us find our home in Schaumburg, Illinois was truly a five-star experience. As a first-time homebuyer, I was nervous and had a very specific list of what we wanted down to location, layout, and being in a great school district. Richard respected those priorities completely and stayed focused on finding homes that met our criteria.
He showed us up to eight homes a day and never once made us feel rushed or pressured. What I appreciated most was his honesty. He gave us real feedback on each property, not just the highlights. We had a print out for every project we visited with the disclaimers and a place to take notes. His knowledge of the local market and what to watch out for in a home made all the difference. He gave us books that walked us through the entire experience. I felt completely supported and informed every step of the way.
I can go on and on about the various ways he went above and beyond to help us find OUR home. Not just any home. Richard’s communication was excellent. He was always quick to respond and patient with our many questions. It never felt transactional; it felt like he genuinely cared that we found the right home. He went well beyond what I expected from a Realtor, and I wouldn’t hesitate to work with him again or recommend him to others. Trust me - you won’t regret working with him. You’ll just wish you found him sooner.
"
- Patricia Hoffman - Schaumburg, IL
"
We feel like we hit the lottery with Richard J. Freedkin as our Realtor. We found a home on Realtor.com and within minutes of requesting a viewing of the home Richard called us. Having not purchased a home in over 30 years, we were apprehensive about the process and the recent changes for the buyers. At our first meeting Richard provided us with books he wrote (home buying and home selling) which were very informative. He also came prepared with the details of the properties that we were interested in seeing. Richard helped us through every step. His communication was excellent throughout the entire process, he was always available to answer our questions. (even after we closed on our property) He is very knowledgeable, professional and personable. We would highly recommend Richard to anyone looking to buy or sell a house!
"
- Michael and Judy Jacobazzi - Roselle, IL
"
First let us tell you how we came to know Richard J Freedkin, Realtor. We live in Willoughby Farms in Algonquin, IL. Richard would often send, by post, a large and classy, colorful postcard showing the homes he had sold. This postcard Indicated the homes that he sold and within days of the first showing, the amount over list for each home and the positive reviews that others posted. We first started seeing these in our mail over a year ago and said this is the Realtor we need. He consistently sent out these postcards throughout the year showing the same successes over and over. So we called Richard when we were ready to sell and he told us what he could do for us and how he was going to do it. And I'm telling you he did exactly as he said he would. The first day of showings we received an offer and by the 3rd day we had 7 offers! Our home sold on the 3rd day! He sold it for $25,000 over list and for cash no less! Wow! We just were amazed when he gave us the news on that 3rd day!
How did he do it? By his extensive knowledge of the real estate market by being part of each facet needed through the years. Including but not limited to the buying and selling of homes but also being a mortgage broker, being a general contractor and a national speaker explaining to others how to sell their homes and quickly. Getting to know Richard was truly the best part of this new journey we were to begin because we realized he cared and he cared about us. He told us the things that we should do to help sell our home and even helped us do those things; i.e., installing new lights, new doorbell, accent lighting, etc. Putting in items throughout our home that really made each room stand out. We can attest that there has not been a single realtor in the past 50 years of our marriage that gave us that amount of caring, attention or assistance and let me tell you the longest we've stayed in a home is for 15 years so that's how many realtors we have worked with over the years and have never used the same realtor twice. We would definitely use Richard again. However, we think it's time to stay put and to retire. Richard found us a beautiful home just to do that. So as far as realtors go, we saved the best for last!
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- Ronald and Lillian Fowler
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We worked with Richard J. Freedkin to find our home in Aurora, IL., and we’re so glad we chose him. He really knew the buying process inside and out, but what stood out most was how thoughtful he was during every showing. He paid attention to what we wanted and never made us feel rushed or pressured.
You can tell he genuinely loves what he does. I’ve never met a realtor who puts so much effort into creating helpful resources and making sure his clients understand every part of buying or selling—and actually get a good deal.
Richard, thank you for helping us find our home. If we ever decide to sell, we’ll be calling you again.
"
- Audry Starzyk - Aurora, IL
"
I worked with Richard J. Freedkin, Realtor on my home purchase in Hoffman Estates, IL, and he was incredible. Richard’s knowledge really stood out—he even saved us time by pointing out when homes weren’t worth stepping into due to foundation issues or being overpriced for their condition. He also went above and beyond, like helping remove a huge desk in our new place that was taking up half the room. Great communication, honest advice, and truly looking out for us—I’d definitely recommend him and work with him again.
"
- Abdessettar Ibourki - Hoffman Estates, IL
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I was referred to realtor Richard J Freedkin for the sale of my home in Waukegan, IL. He was very professional and knowledgeable. He explained the process with clarity and took his time to make sure I understood the information he shared. I have worked with other kind realtors, but Richard really knew his stuff.
Although he was requesting updates that didn’t seem doable, it made me realize that those details make a difference in the end. I was very proud that the buyers were going to benefit from these small touches that makes life less stressful for everyone involved.
I really liked the energy and positivity he brought with him each time we met. The
home preparation, staging and marketing added to the ease of selling my home. It sold for more $15K more than asking, plus I had 7 backups.
The difference between Richard and another realtor is that I learned some valuable strategies and skills that I could apply towards my search for a new home in the future. The materials in his books is very informative.
I would strongly recommend Richard J Freedkin to family and friends. He is very good at his profession.
"
- Gloria Salazar - Waukegan, IL
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Earlier today I showed a home to my buyers that was being sold by Richard as listing broker on behalf of his clients the sellers. Richard does a fabulous job in the home listing process: he positions the home on the market in a very competitive pricing strategy, showcases all the features of the home thoroughly and beautifully, provides immediate and ample detail on the home features as well as fast well-answered questions from buyers — he even makes his digital listing brochure available via QR code for quick access. And he is easy to reach when customers or other brokers call. I highly recommend working with Richard when looking to sell or purchase a home. ~Adriana
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- Adriana Laura Cook - Winnetka, IL
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We had the great fortune of working with Richard J Freedkin for the recent purchase of our home. By chance, he was referred to us, and we are nothing short of amazed at his attitude, expertise and ability to find us the exact home and property we were looking for. He is highly experienced, not only in real estate, but in the ins and outs of contract negotiations and lending/mortgage banking. We looked at some 15 properties and, even with his busy schedule, he made us feel as if we were his only clients. His communication is outstanding - no question went unanswered no matter how big or small. He scheduled showings for us quickly and met the needs of our busy schedule. Once we found a property we liked, he easily and swiftly tendered our offer and helped us negotiate the best deal, especially in this crazy market. He obviously knows this business backwards and forwards. We highly recommend Richard J. Freedkin for all of your real estate needs.
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- Shelah Hoblin - Woodstock IL
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I used Richard for a home purchase and had a great experience. I found him through a friend’s recommendation and couldn’t be happier. Unlike other agents I spoke with, he didn’t rush me like I was just another number. He helped me find a home I really loved and I would definitely recommend him to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and friendly agent. He even wrote a book on buying and selling your home, he knows his stuff!
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- Evelina D. - Orland Park, IL
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From the very first appointment with Richard, to the closing of our sale, Richard exuded the highest level of professionalism I've ever had the privilege of enjoying. My husband and I have bought and sold 12 houses in our lifetime. Never have we had a better experience! Richard shows up prepared, he knows the market as well and gives an honest assessment of what he believes your property should sell for. Our home sold within a day of being on the private Network and he got the home sold for $60,000 above list price! I attribute that to Richard's marketing expertise. Our home was well seen even before entering the market. If you have a home to sell, I would put my full trust in Richard and his team. He will honestly tell you what you need to move, remove, paint, fix etc. to get it done. But he doesn't just do that, he's willing to roll up his sleeves and help! Very rare these days. Richard is very pleasant to work with. His response time on phone calls is immediate!
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- Sandy Krc - Geneva, IL
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We found Richard Freedkin online while looking for homes for sale & he showed us a listing of his. He seemed very knowledgeable/sincere/willing to help & also provided us with a home-buying & home-selling books. The books were also very helpful & informative. We decided to use him for our home purchase. Richard was extremely professional, timely, helpful & has exceptional communication skills. We are not easy to please & viewed many homes. Richard was always there for us with his positive attitude & unwavering support. We would absolutely recommend Richard for any Real Estate transaction(but or sell)!!
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- Mark and Joyce Sherman - Palatine, IL
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Richard is an excellent agent who assisted me in the purchase of my first property. Richard is extremely knowledgeable on all things real estate and assisted me with understanding my needs, identifying suitable properties, and producing competitive offers. I can't stress how above and beyond Richard goes to ensure his clients receive prompt & comforting service. Especially in a difficult market, I fully credit Richard with my transaction and could not be happier. I highly recommend Richard and will continue to mention him to all my family/friends when real estate needs come up. Thanks so much Richard!
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- Chuck Cutler - Buffalo Grove, IL
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Choosing to work with the realtor Richard J. Freedkin in purchasing my new home in Lake Barrington Shores made the inherently stressful experience of home buying a uniquely stress-free one! Richard's attention to detail, positive attitude, and clear communication were very refreshing.
There were a few unusual issues I faced in purchasing this home which Richard promptly sorted out, always advocating for clarity and fairness from the sellers.
His advice in handling negotiations was insightful and professional, and I totally believe that he always had my best interest as a priority. I liked that he would always return calls and texts immediately.
Richard is a very personable, experienced, and knowledgeable professional and I recommend him most highly. I always trusted his judgment and appreciated his strong background in marketing, sales, and finance.
I cannot think of anything he could have done more to enable the purchase to proceed more smoothly; it was truly a pleasure working with him and I would definitely reach out to him again were I to purchase another home.
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- Mary Christoff - Lake Barrington Shores - (purchase)
"
I am happy that we decided to use Richard J Freedkin as our Realtor for the sale of our home in Pingree Grove. He reached out to us once we were ready to move forward with putting the house on the market. He asked lots of questions prior to meeting us in person and was well prepared once he did come to see the property. He had lots of market research and plans on what could be done to have our home updated and have the best chance of getting sold. He was the first Realtor we have ever used, but compared to the others we met, he was above and beyond the clear choice. He asked plenty of questions and went through his program and provided material for us to review and explained the different ways he can market for us.
Richard definitely went above and beyond his role as a Realtor. He helped install fixtures, reached out to reliable contractors and handled any projects on the house. I didn't have the added stress of having to deal with meeting contractors and hoping they do a good job. All contractors he used did an excellent hob and were professional. He definitely put his all into making sure everything was wrapped up and stayed on the timeline we set.
His marketing was also something we felt would help us in selling the house quickly. He had posters, online marketing, analytics, virtual staging, signs and pictures in the house highlighting new/updated features. Also the actual staging that was done in the house elevated the space and I felt as if I was in a completely different home. I actually was second guessing selling lol because of the great job him and his team did.
If I ever have a property to sell or buy, he would definitely get a call from me to be my Realtor. I highly recommend him as a Realtor. You are definitely getting your money's worth and will have peace of mind in knowing your house will have a high chance of selling and most likely over asking price. That's how good of a job he does. He is very confident in what he does and I can see why. He definitely exceeded our expectations and helped us sell our house the weekend it went on the market.
"
- Ray Rodriguez - Pingree Grove, IL
"
On our first meeting, Richard came prepared with articles on home buying and what to expect in the market. He also gave us a copy of his book “How to Navigate the Home Buying Process”. He asked pertinent questions of what we were looking for in a home and our goals. Based on our responses, he set up homes for viewing. Richard did his homework. He was very knowledgeable about the areas, what it offers, the average price of the homes, and what homes were selling for in the areas we were searching. Every instance, he came prepared with description and details of each home we were viewing and gave us a printed copy that included data, tax bills, and any disclosures. He spotted water leaks, water damage, drainage, age of furnaces even before we noticed. He has a keen eye and knows what he is doing and what he is looking for on our behalf. He was our eyes and ears and his perspective was key to us because we are not experts. He knows the market and home structure very well. Richard was also very mindful of our availability and set up viewings that were convenient for us. He was also very patient with us because at times we asked to view homes out of the way or last minute. He never said no or ask why we wanted to view something outside our goals. He always encouraged us and never pushed us to settle till we found the home we truly wanted. Richard is very humble and we truly appreciate and value his time. He always put us first and reassured us. We did try another agent prior to Richard but we felt rushed and not important or valued, like we were wasting their time. Richard doesn’t make you feel that way. He values your opinion and genuinely tries to help. We regard his expertise highly. He not only helped us find a home but the lending, inspection, closing, and everything else. The transaction went so smoothly. We were a little nervous, but everything fell in place, amazing! Richard’s expertise in his field and great customer care and service is why I would recommend him
"
- Joyce Doma - Streamwood, IL
"
We recently worked with Richard J. Freedkin to purchase our condo, and the experience was excellent from start to finish. We found Richard through online interest and decided to move forward based on his previous reviews - and it quickly became clear why he came so highly recommended. Richard was extremely knowledgeable about the market, the condo-buying process, and all the details that come with it. We have worked with Realtors in the past, and Richard truly stands out. Compared to other agents we’ve used, he was more attentive, proactive, and thorough, making sure we fully understood every step along the way.
What really set Richard apart was how much he went above and beyond what we expected from a Realtor. He was always available to answer questions, followed up promptly, and stayed on top of every detail to keep things moving smoothly. His communication was outstanding, clear, timely, and reassuring throughout the entire process. What we appreciated most about Richard’s services was his genuine care, PATIENCE, and attention to detail. He made what can be a stressful process feel organized and manageable, and we always felt confident that he had our best interests in mind. We would absolutely recommend Richard to anyone buying or selling a home. His professionalism, KNOWLEDGE, and dedication make him an excellent choice. We have already recommended him to a few friends and a relative, and we would not hesitate to use him again for a future home purchase or sale. Thank you, Richard, for finding us our dream place!
"
- Raj kaur - Chicago, IL
"
As a first-time homebuyer, I didn't know what to expect-but working with Richard J. Freedkin made the whole experience smoother than I could've imagined. We had very specific parameters for our search, including being in a strong school district, and Richard was locked in from day one. He didn't waste our time-he stuck to the criteria, showed us multiple homes each day, and helped us narrow down what really mattered.
Richard gave honest, thoughtful feedback on every home, pointing out things I wouldn't have noticed on my own. You could tell he knew the market and had our best interests at heart. He was available day and night, answered every question, and always followed through.
I've never worked with a Realtor before, but I can't imagine anyone doing a better job. Richard went above and beyond-this was more than just a sale to him. He was professional, reliable, and genuinely helpful. If you're buying or selling, especially for the first time, I'd absolutely recommend Richard. We'd work with him again in a heartbeat.
"
- Christian Kisereu - Schaumburg, IL
"
Richard’s motivation is underpinned by your best interest, which speaks volume to his character and loyalty as an agent. I couldn’t be more gratified with his ongoing dedication toward searching for my home, from viewings to closing as well as communication between. Richard’s book showcases his streamlined technique, and alongside tremendously executing negotiations evince the fruitful efficacy of his methodology. Throughout the entire process, he thoroughly answered my questions had before having even asked them and transcended expectations by affording an uttermost sense of equanimity amidst a process that can look rather frenetic at times. Richard truly is a guide that furnishes one’s home buying process replete with confidence and satisfaction per all facets. I will undoubtedly consult him in any future endeavor of realty. Many thanks to you, Richard!
"
- Jeremy M D Jaeger - Lake In The Hills, IL
"
We had the absolute pleasure of working with Richard on both the purchase of our new home and the sale of our previous home, and we truly couldn’t have asked for a better realtor. His years of experience, deep knowledge of the market, and data-driven approach gave us a huge advantage in both transactions. But what really sets Richard apart is his willingness to go above and beyond for his clients—his dedication is truly unbelievable.
When it came time to sell our home, Richard didn’t just offer advice—he rolled up his sleeves and got involved. He was literally changing outlets, connecting us with a network of reliable and affordable service professionals, and ensuring every detail was handled to maximize our home’s value. His expertise in home sales isn’t just from experience—he has even taught courses on selling houses, and it absolutely shows.
Richard was an absolute blessing to our family throughout this process, and we are so incredibly grateful we found him. The only downside? He did such an amazing job that I don’t have a reason to work with him again in the foreseeable future—and I’ll genuinely miss working with him. If you’re looking for a realtor who is knowledgeable, hands-on, and truly invested in your success, Richard is the one you want in your corner.
Thank you, Richard, for everything!
"
- Jason Fulford - Inverness, IL
"
Richard J Freedkin was an amazing person to work with from the
moment we met, we connected with him very quickly. Richard
has a prestigious work ethic, he would get the paper working at
midnight to make the offers to other homes. Any house that we
wanted to see he would attend the matter very quickly. Richard
knew the times my husband and I were available to see homes.
He understood how important it was to see homes right away. In
this market we needed to see the homes as quickly as possible,
he made all appointment times work for us. Richard set us up
with our Financial person, to get a full loan on a New home.
Richard advised us to purchase our new home first and sell our
property afterwards. In this market, it was crucial not to be
contingent on sell our home. Richard promptly recognized all of
needs and our wants on purchasing our new home. He basically
hand picked our new home for us. Richard was the one who
suggested we come look at 3215 West Kinley in McHenry Illinois.
We loved the house and made an offer the same day we saw it.
The offer was accepted, and we soon closed on the home on
August 10, 2023.
"
- Mary Lou Garcia - Purchase of Home in McHenry
"
My wife and I used Richard for both the purchase of a new house as well as the sale of our old residence. All total, I believe we looked at over 25 houses and bid on five over the course of about 18 months. Our story is a little out-of-the-ordinary in that the sale of the first house we bid on was canceled by the seller, a situation not seen by most realtors. The story became even more bizarre in that the seller decided to go ahead and sell after all and asked us to bid again on the house, which we did. The unbelievable part is the seller backed out a second time! Not only did we not get the house we really wanted but Richard did not receive any compensation. Richard just kept on looking for the next opportunity and in the end, found us a better house in a better neighborhood. My wife found Richard’s website by just searching properties listed on online sites. Richard added us to his property notification list which gave us a heads-up on either property just listed or about to be listed. Richard tailored the notifications to fit our criteria such as house style, location, and price. We had used just one other realtor in the past to help us sell a house and that person basically just listed the house and facilitated a showing and showed up to get paid at the closing. Dealing with Richard is an entirely different experience. His knowledge of the market and, more importantly, knowing what buyers are actually looking for made all the difference in selling our house. Richard did not just put our house up for sale he developed a sales/marketing plan to attract not only buyers but also realtors who represent prospective buyers. Some of his marketing tools included recommended cosmetic improvements such as new chandeliers, a focused e-mail campaign to most of the other local realtors to unique features cards placed strategically around the house that highlighted an item such as a wood burning fireplace or a new roof. What Richard brings to the table is attention to detail. Selling a house is all about marketing and understanding what it takes to get the most dollars but not be overpriced. Sometimes it is the smallest detail that can close a deal or potentially kill a deal if the detail is overlooked. Finally, I want to extend my full endorsement of Richard Freedkin as a top-notch realtor to either market and sell a house or cut through the weeds to find the perfect home to buy.
"
- William Genzler, Elgin IL
"
I am writing this review to express my heartfelt appreciation for my realtor Richard Freedkin who recently sold my home. I had dealt with other realtors in the past but no one had the knowledge, background, many years of experience (over 40) and marketing skills he has. When he first sat down with me to discuss the sale, he had already done massive research on recent sales in the area and had all kinds of reports which supported the price he suggested we list the home for. By the time we got to the actual listing paperwork, my table was covered in reports and data. (This guy does his homework!) He also provided me a booklet that he wrote on how to prepare my home for sale. I have to say, he left no stone unturned in doing his job. He even replaced some faucets and light fixtures for me to modernize my home so it would appeal to more buyers. (What other realtors do this? I don’t think any!) His photography and videography were the best I have ever seen. I can go on and on! If someone is looking for a professional realtor to handle your sale (or purchase) you need to call Richard. I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone who needs a professional realtor to call him (and I already have!)
"
- Cheryl Jacobs Lewin - Skokie, IL
"
Richard was amazing! He is a very knowledgeable and trustworthy realtor. He made himself available and was able to work on a short timeline to get an amazing home for me. If anyone is looking for a professional to help them buy or sell their home I would strongly recommend Richard. Thanks so much Richard.
"
- Brennan Burchill - Elgin, IL
"
I am writing this review of our Realtor, Richard Freedkin to express my gratitude for his incredible work on getting my parent’s home sold for $80,000 more than the price we were originally thinking about listing it for. First, you need to know that I have known Richard for over 30 years when he owned a mortgage company. Back then, in my opinion he knew more about real estate than just about anyone else I knew. When my father passed away last year and my sister and I needed to sell the home, there was no one else I even thought of to handle it other than Richard Freedkin. Also, seeing that both my sister and I did not live in Illinois, we needed someone who could handle everything from start to finish so that we wouldn’t have to make continual trips back and forth. Richard said, “don’t worry about a thing, Ill take care of it”. When he first entered the home, he made a list of updates and repairs that he recommended we do to get the home in shape so we could get more money for it. We originally said we just wanted to sell it “as-is” so we could sell it fast, but he said we would be lucky to even get the $475,000 if we did that and that the home could sit on the market for a longer period of time. So, the repair list came to about 10K. It included a complete paint job, new carpet, miscellaneous plumbing, appliance, fireplace and other minor repairs. Also, he recommended swapping out the light fixtures and cabinet pulls for more modern ones. I’ve got to say, this guy is even more impressive than I originally thought. He handled all the repairs, getting contractor estimates, meeting with contractors, ordering the new items and even installed most of them himself at no extra cost to us other than the cost of the products themselves. Right there he saved us about 10K in labor costs and lost wages from our employments had we had to hire people to do the work plus we would have had to drive up to meet them and supervise them. It would have taken us months to make that happen. He picked the paint color and had to go through 6 different color shades on the walls to find the one he thought would get us the highest price. He personally spent over 30 days working at the house virtually full time to make sure everything was perfect (which is about 40 minutes from where he lives.) His preparation, attention to details, modern staging, and marketing is like nothing I have ever seen and well, the proof is in the pudding as he ended up with a huge number of showings and offers over list price. We sold the home in 3 days from the time it went on the market and got $555,000 for the home, so $80,000 over what the home was originally worth and for only a small $10,000 repair investment. His negotiation skills and ability get every bit of profit for us and knowing exactly how to get a way above list price offer closed with a mortgage lender even though the appraisal came in lower is a testament to his skills and knowledge that other realtors would have most likely run into problems. We closed in 30 days and couldn’t be happier with the white glove service he provided to us. Richard Freedkin knows his stuff and we will be recommending him to anyone we hear of who needs the best listing agent to sell their home and we highly recommend him to you too if you are reading this.
"
- Stephen Macfarlan - Avon, IN
"
My husband and I connected with Richard by chance and boy are we happy we did. From the moment we started working together, it was apparent that Richard was a real estate expert. His knowledge and advice helped guide us in our decision making process, and helped us to land our dream home. He was thorough and thoughtful in his communication and always prompt with his responses. He advocated for us throughout and ensured that we were well-versed on every step on the process. I could really go on and on. He was a true pleasure and gem in a sometimes challenging industry. Richard you are greatly appreciated and we will recommend you to our friends and family and can't wait to use your services to sell our former home.
"
- Katie and Jason Fulford - Inverness, IL
"
Richard met with us and outlined his vision for selling our home. We listened to all of his recommendations and he helped every step of the way. Home sold above listing price after 1 day on the market. Highly recommend Richard. Get Richard, listen to Richard, and sell your house!!!
"
- Mike McInerney - Hawthorn Woods Country Club - Hawthorn Woods IL
"
If you’re looking for a realtor, whether you’re buying or selling, your search should end with Richard J. Freedkin. Full Stop.
I was introduced to Richard on the buying end through a google search for a house to purchase. It was serendipity. There was no drama with Richard, just kindness and efficiency. His communication with me was above and beyond what I had experienced with other brokers. He immediately put me at ease with the process. He was a creative problem solver, and I closed on my current home without a hitch.
So, when it came time to sell my former home I didn’t hesitate to call Richard. That house sold within 5 days of being placed on the market, with multiple cash offers of over $200,000 above asking price. How did I do that you ask? I simply listened to Richard. I followed his advice and stuck to his marketing plan. We were a team on a mission. You just don’t get that kind of attention from most folks. I wasn’t just a number to Richard. I wasn’t just another seller, and the result was evidence of that team mentality. I now consider Richard a friend. I will not use or recommend anyone else.
So do yourself a favor and just reach out to him. You’ll get the best advice, excellent communication and someone who is clearly passionate about his profession. And one more thing, if you join forces with Richard, follow his plan. I’m serious. It worked beautifully for me.
"
- Debra Horton - Deer Park, IL
"
My husband and I highly recommend Richard “RJ” Freedkin! Our house sold in three days, significantly above our asking price, and in a community where this is not common. We can’t say enough good things about Richard!
My husband met RJ at an open house, and called me to say “I just met the most amazing realtor! He did some of the updates on the house I saw and it was GORGEOUS.”
A realtor who updates your house? That was unusual! We’ve had some really incredible realtors in the past, but from the very first conversation with Richard about selling our home, we both knew we would be in excellent hands.
His professionalism, warmth, accessibility, expertise, and dedication went above and beyond anything we’ve ever experienced before. He is an excellent communicator and communicated with us every step of the way.
What makes Richard different is that he doesn't just list your home — he prepares it for your sales. Our house didn’t need many updates, but he did advise us to make a few specific, high-impact changes that would subtly modernize the house, like updating the recessed lights in our kitchen, as they had yellowed a bit. He even personally selected and installed new cabinet hardware as well as bathroom light fixtures (in addition to the recessed lighting), which improved our spaces in dramatic and noticeable ways we hadn’t thought possible.
Richard’s stager, Ann, was equally phenomenal. Together, they made our home shine for the photos and the showings — the staging and presentation were truly beyond expectations. The photographer was also great and the photos for our listing showed our house beautifully.
What sets Richard far above others is his data-based decision making and marketing. My husband and I are both marketing people, and my husband worked for the Realtors’ Association early in his career to develop some of their current algorithms and indices for housing prices--so he knows his way around housing data and real estate. RJ’s data-driven methods impressed him. That’s because RJ uses data to inform pricing—not just comps, but real-time buyer behavior to position his listings competitively and strategically. He used regression analyses to know how many people were searching for similar homes to ours, and what price ranges they preferred. Our pricing discussion included several charts and a presentation that explained his pricing recommendations, and why.
Then the marketing began. RJ used several marketing techniques to reach buyers and their realtors. We had more than 4,000 views of our home before it was even posted on the MLS. The result? We had 26 showings and SIX offers in three days! Our home sold for $60,000 above asking price.
Bottom line: Richard is an expert in selling houses, and has a proven system — a process that removes stress, maximizes value, and gets results. His communication was exemplary, and we always felt informed, prepared, and confident.
We will absolutely use Richard again and highly recommend him without hesitation.
"
- Margo Pelak - Hawthorn Woods, IL
"
We used Richard J. Freedkin for the recent purchase of our home in Wonder Lake, IL. There were two main things that set him apart from every other realtor I’ve used. Firstly, his knowledge on not just real estate and pricing, but also on the structure and components of a home that are very important to know before buying! Secondly, communication. He was helpful and updated us step by step of the way. Even after closing, he was still there to answer all of our questions. He is a great realtor and we will definitely be using him for our next home purchase!
"
- Melissa Broughton - Wonder Lake, IL
"
If you're reading reviews because you're trying to decide which Realtor to use, I was in the exact same position. I found Richard J. Freedkin, Realtor through an online search because I didn't know any real estate agents personally. I spent a lot of time researching Realtors, comparing the number of listings and sales they had completed, and reading reviews just like this one. I had only worked with one Realtor before, who had since retired, and I can honestly say Richard exceeded every expectation I had.
From day 1 while searching for our dream home, Richard proved he wasn't just there to unlock doors. He was there to educate us and help us make the best decision possible. He took the time to thoroughly evaluate every house we looked at, pointing out things we never would have noticed on our own. He patiently answered every question, explained the pros and cons of each property, and made sure we fully understood what we were buying.
Richard's knowledge of the market is truly exceptional. In today's competitive market, having someone who knows how to strategically position your offer can make all the difference. I had heard countless stories of buyers losing out on house after house, but having Richard in our corner gave us confidence every step of the way. His experience, negotiation skills, and understanding of the market were absolutely invaluable.
One of the things that impressed me most was his communication. Richard was incredibly responsive. Always replying within minutes and always made himself available. If a home we liked hit the market, he worked tirelessly to rearrange his schedule and get us in for a showing as quickly as possible. At no point did we ever feel like we were just another client. We always felt like we were his top priority.
Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions most people will ever make, and it can be incredibly stressful. Richard made the entire process feel manageable. He was with us every step of the way from our first showing through negotiations, inspections, and even the closing. He genuinely cared about making sure everything went smoothly.
As if that wasn't enough, after closing Richard surprised us with an incredibly thoughtful and generous housewarming gift that truly meant a lot to us. It perfectly reflected the kind of person he is; professional, kind, generous, and someone who genuinely cares about his clients long after the paperwork is signed.
We truly cannot thank Richard enough for everything he did to help us, support us, and guide us throughout this entire journey. He was always there when we needed advice, answered every question with patience and honesty, and gave us complete confidence that we were making the right decisions. His dedication, integrity, and genuine care for his clients made what could have been an overwhelming experience into one that we will always look back on with gratitude.
Although I don't plan on buying another home, if I ever did there is no question I would use Richard again. More importantly, I would recommend Richard J. Freedkin without hesitation to my friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, and even complete strangers reading this review.
If you're considering buying or selling a home, do yourself a favor and call Richard. His knowledge, professionalism, responsiveness, honesty, and dedication are second to none. Choosing the right Realtor can make all the difference, and I truly believe working with Richard was the best decision we made during our home-buying journey. Thank you, Richard, for everything you did for us—you are truly one of a kind!
"
- Chris Thompson - Elk Grove Village
"
Richard did a great job handling the sale of our home. He is very knowledgeable in home sales and marketing and has a great handle on current sales market conditions and trends. He communicates very well and has great contacts with trades people to handle anything that comes up with the sale of the home. He takes a hands-on approach with any repair work that may be needed and is very handy in that way. Really very helpful and comes up with great solutions with any situation that may come up. He put together a great marketing program that got us an above list price sale and his follow through is great. He has a handle on the latest marketing technology and takes full advantage to help with the home sale. Overall, we are very satisfied with Richard and eXp Realty.
"
- Tim and Lela Wong - Algonquin IL
"
We were difficult clients. We had a long list of requirements and weren't willing to compromise on much. We needed a house that could work for three generations, we wanted acreage, and we had some very specific ideas about how we wanted to live. We had also bought and sold homes before, so we thought we knew what to expect from a real estate agent. Richard J. Freedkin, Realtor - eXp Realty, LLC proved us wrong.
For weeks, he lined up six houses at a time for us to see on the weekends. If the only time we could get out was after five on a weeknight, he made that work too. He never made us feel rushed or like our list was unreasonable. We just kept looking.
One of the things we appreciated most was the amount of work he did before we ever walked into a house. He prepared a packet for every property we saw, and we saw a lot of them. He researched the actual property taxes instead of relying on what was in the listing, wrote notes in the margins, circled things and flagged things he wanted us to notice. We came home with all of it and could sit at the kitchen table and actually compare the houses instead of trying to remember which house had what. I can't imagine how much paper and toner he went through, but those packets were incredibly helpful.
He also didn't just walk through the house with us. He walked the property. He looked at the grade and drainage, roof, siding, trees and outbuildings. He would stand outside and listen for road noise. He checked whether properties were in flood zones before we got attached to them. At one house, he looked at the siding, immediately knew what product it was and approximately when it was used, and told us about its history of holding moisture and developing mold. After that, he spotted it every time we ran across it. He carried a flashlight, looked in crawl spaces and checked the mechanicals.
He was just as straightforward inside. He would tell us what was cosmetic, what actually mattered and what might cost us money down the road. More importantly, he had no problem pointing out reasons not to buy a house, even when it would have been very easy for him to just let us buy it and collect his commission.
That mattered to us. We never felt like Richard's goal was to get us to buy a house. His goal was to get us into the right one.
We closed in August, and we're writing this from that house in Elburn, IL now. It really is exactly right for us. At this point, the only thing left is to paint it our colors.
This is our forever home, so we sincerely hope we never need a realtor again. But if we ever sell it, Richard will be the person we call. He truly understands Real Estate, having been involved in the areas of sales, rehabs, property management, and mortgage insights for decades, and he shares what he knows without ever making you feel stupid for not already knowing it. He even gave us a book to help us through the process.
If you're picky like we are, we would absolutely recommend him. And if you're buying your first house, Richard is probably going to ruin other realtors for you.
"
- James and Michelle Gonzales - Elburn, IL
"
I have known Richard for many years and highly recommend him to help my clients buy or sell a home. He takes the time and extra effort to be sure all the details are in place to sell their home quickly and at top dollar. He is excellent at helping clients find a home that fits their needs and will be in their corner negotiating the best deal possible. You will be extremely satisfied with his services.
"
- Steve Tripp - Success Lending Schaumburg, IL
"
Richard J. Freedkin was our buyer's agent for a home purchase in Schaumburg. Beyond guiding us through the purchase, he knowledgeably answered our questions on home inspection, construction, and taxes. He was highly communicative, always available, and even advocated for us directly with the seller. Richard's expertise is matched only by his generosity—he was thorough, giving of his time, and educated us throughout the entire purchasing journey. It was a pleasure having him as our realtor.
"
- Michael and Eunice Chang - Schaumburg (purchase)
"
We knew that Richard J Freedkin would be selling our home for
us. Since working with him on the purchase of our home we
knew that we wanted him to sell our home in Waukegan. Richard
met with us soon after our purchase. He knew how important it
was to us to put our house on the market right away. Richard
gave us many suggestions, from getting a pre-inspection and
painting the whole house. Richard worked on the list price very
carefully. He made sure that we would capture as many buyers
for my home. Richard suggested we go live on a Thursday,
which was very important to capture the most viewings. We went
live on a Thursday and close viewings on Saturday night, we had
received many offers. Richard stated the we had received the
best offer for the house. We confided in Richard to make the
choice of the new buyers. Richard had an attention to detail to
every part of the process. The two mini blinds he put up to the
front yard sign with solar lights. Richard made signage
throughout the house to make the buyer know the facts about the
home. We are so happy with the whole process of selling our
home.
"
- Mary Lou Garcia - Sale of Home in Waukegan, IL
"
Rich did a full analysis of our property and discussed in depth the best ways to market. Don't waste your time with another realtor, Rich is by far the best guy to sell your home!
"
- Douglas Comption - Sycamore, IL
"
Richard J Freedkin Is exceptional. I worked with him to buy my first home. My family has worked with Richard on two previous home purchases. His knowledge and expertise is world class. He was incredibly diligent and made sure I understood every detail along the way. I could not recommend Richard highly enough. It was an absolute pleasure to work with him.
"
- Greg Gault - Des Plaines, IL
"
I recently used Richard to sell my home. He was nothing short of amazing to work with! Richard is extremely knowledgeable and made himself available what felt like around the clock. He was professional and was great communicating with me throughout the entire process. I truly felt like he had my best interest at heart. I highly recommend!
"
- Marisa Roach, Elgin, IL
"
Richard J. Freedkin has now helped me with both a home purchase and a sale. Both transactions were in Palatine, Illinois. The recent sale was a property I renovated with my dad, who has nearly 40 years of experience in real estate. Throughout the sales process, he repeatedly said that in all his years, he’s never seen a realtor deliver the level of quality and care that Richard does.
Richard makes you feel like you’re his only client. He’s always available, incredibly attentive to detail, and treats every transaction as a reflection of his personal brand — and it shows. He genuinely cares about creating the best possible experience and consistently goes above and beyond.
He spent hours with us reviewing every detail to ensure the home was ready for market. He even took the time to personally install towel bars, toilet paper holders, shower bars, and other finishing touches to make sure everything was perfect — far beyond what you’d expect from most realtors.
I couldn’t recommend Richard more highly.
"
- Jake Sherman - Palatine, IL
"
Richard is hands down the best realtor that we interviewed for our house sell in Pingree Grove. He came in with a pizza box of data that made him stand out among other realtors. He had a plan and explained all of the minor details that made a big difference in the sale of our home. Richard was very responsive and hands on with the sale of the house. I will admit I was skeptical initially but he delivered and exceeded our expectations. Our house sold well over asking price and I believe it was due to his advice, experience, and guidance throughout the process. I highly recommend Richard as a realtor. If I am in the market for buying/selling He will be the person I seek first. Thanks again Richard for your amazing work on our house!
"
- Tashuna Rodriguez - Pingree Grove, IL
"
We found Richard J. Freedkin, Realtor through Realtor.com when we were looking to buy a home in Vernon Hills, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Richard was incredibly knowledgeable, honest, and attentive throughout the entire process. He was always quick to respond, flexible with our schedules, and even accommodated last-minute requests without hesitation.
Having worked with Realtors before, I can confidently say that Richard stood out because of his communication, professionalism, and genuine commitment to helping us find the right home. We never felt pressured, and he always took the time to answer our questions and make sure we felt comfortable with every step.
What really went above and beyond was the thoughtful gift he gave us after closing. It was such a kind gesture and reflected how much he truly cares about his clients.
If you’re looking for a Realtor who is honest, reliable, flexible, and dedicated to providing exceptional service, I highly recommend Richard. He made what can be a stressful process feel much easier, and we would absolutely work with him again for a future home purchase or sale.
"
- Ana Martins - Vernon Hills - (purchase)
"
Great professional. As the father of a buyer of a Vernon Hills, IL property, I also wanted to share my appreciation for Richard. I split my time between Brazil and the U.S. (Florida), so during much of the home-buying process my daughter was on her own in Vernon Hills.
Knowing she had someone as trustworthy, responsive, and experienced as Richard by her side gave our entire family tremendous peace of mind. Richard went far beyond the role of a realtor.
He treated my daughter with genuine care, provided sound advice throughout the process, and was always available whenever she needed support.
That level of professionalism and integrity is rare, and I would recommend him without hesitation to anyone looking for an outstanding real estate professional.
"
- Ricardo Martins - Vernon Hills - (purchase)
"
Mr Richard J Freedkin is truly the most professional and trustworthy realtor. My wife and I were fortunate enough to be able to work with him on buying a new estate and selling our own.(buying house in Elk Grove Village and selling townhouse in Schaumburg).Richard went beyond our expectations. He was available 24/7, followed up in every request, keeping us informed along the way. He is personally invested in preparation for sale and purchase. On our very first meeting, Richard gave us his books that describe in detail what to be prepared for as a seller and a buyer. His versatile knowledge extends beyond real estate. Richard is experienced in home construction, knows what to look for and what to ask when looking to purchase a property. Our property in Schaumburg was sold in less then a week for higher then listing price, Richard's selling strategy really works! You can't go wrong with Richard!
"
- Semir Jaganjac - Schaumburg, IL
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Data is updated as of September 20, 2026 6:44 PM UTC
