Former actress sets the stage in real estate

Jerfita stands in front of a home she recently sold that was on the market or less than 10 days. | Jackie Pilossoph~For Sun-Times Media

Updated: November 8, 2012 2:52PM

GLENVIEW ­— Some say 2011 was the worst year for real estate in decades.

Yet, real estate broker Missy Jerfita had her best year ever and will tell you it all comes down to proven results and trust.

“I think we’ve developed a good reputation,” said Jefita, who has lived in Glenview with her husband and two children since 2002. “In hard times, people don’t want to take a risk, so they go with someone who is proven.”

Jerfita has been an agent for Koenig & Strey since 2003, and said she got into the business with the goal of selling just a couple houses per year for some extra income, but ended up with sales that were over $10 million in her first year.

A former actress who had roles in several commercials, corporate videos and even a part in Chicago’s well-known comedy play, “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding,” Jerfita credits her acting career for her ability to persevere and achieve such great results in real estate.

“Acting set the tone of why I’m successful because you have to be fearless to be an actor,” she said, “You go into an audition and there are seven people watching and judging you behind the camera, so you develop a thick skin and you’re not afraid of failure. So, I wasn’t afraid to pick up the phone or knock on doors and get rejected.”

Jerfita also came up with a strategy early on in her career. She decided to develop a niche in the Glen.

“There were so many realtors who did everything, so I thought, ‘I’m going to be good at one area and if anyone wants to move or live in the Glen, I am going to be that person they contact,’” said Jerfita, who also lives in the Glen. “So I went on a mission to learn as much as I could about the Glen.”

Matt and Sandy Walsh recently hired Jerfita to sell their home in the Glen. It went under contract in one week.

“I think the fact that it sold so quickly is a combination of a good house and a good agent,” said Matt, “Missy has such great knowledge of the market and we felt comfortable with her immediately.”

Over the years, Jerfita has branched out into other areas of Glenview and beyond, and has a team of five other specialists who work under her, including three buyers agents, a city agent, a North Shore specialist and an assistant. As for herself, Jefita now only works with sellers.

When she gets a new client, she said she doesn’t put the house on the market right away.

“I spent a lot of time de-cluttering, staging the home if necessary, and doing touch ups, things like painting, fixing loose door handles, making the lighting better, tidying up landscaping, and other changes that will make the home more attractive,” she said.

Jerfita said the first couple weeks a home is on the market is the most important, because all the buyers have seen everything, and are waiting for a new house.

“Missy gave us suggestions and we ended up refinishing the floor, painting, doing some necessary repairs and cleaning up the yard,” said Dagmar Embree, a client of Jerfita’s whose Glenview house recently sold in 10 days. “She also priced the house right and did a great presentation.”

As for the current market, Jerfita said this is a good time to sell because a lot of people cannot afford to sell, so inventory is down 30 percent in Glenview.

“My goal is to make my clients raving fans,” said Jerfita, “I want them to say, ‘Wow! They made it so easy for us.”

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