Oak Lawn Eagle Ridge’s Native Sells Real Estate—
Winning Hearts While Closing Deals
When Prospect Equities’s Cindy Maka launched a real estate career in January, 2004, she faced huge challenges. At almost twenty-three years, she looked neither experienced nor wise to skeptical clients. With no family or friends in the brokerage business, she got no breaks starting out. Before long, the real estate bubble burst and virtually ended sales.
But Cindy had embarked on a plan, and she stuck to it. Doors shut in her face. Prospects said “no”. Undaunted nonetheless, she did not stop. Then, alas! Given keen expertise, hard work, and a warm, genuine personality, she broke into the business.
Year one, she earned “Rookie of the Year” and produced $1,901,900 in sales. In both 2006 and 2007 she sold over $4 million. By 2007 she was recognized as fourth top producer of Prospect Equities, Inc. Even in the bedraggled 2009, she topped $1 million. Each year Cindy has earned “Outstanding Performance Status”—clearly!
“It’s serious business, but this career is a fun thing for me to do!” exclaimed Cindy who treasures her success most because she loves the satisfaction of helping clients make sound real estate moves that fulfill their needs and dreams.
When she graduated Cum Laude from St. Xavier with a BA in Business Management, her dad advised that Cindy try real estate. Her dad, mom and husband, Chris manage apartment buildings. Nothing like a father’s advice, and Cindy bit!
Her parents helped her business having instilled their work ethic: “From sunrise to sunset, work”. Also, they insisted that little brother Randy get a real estate license—at 20 years old—so he could help cover the open houses that the industrious Cindy could handle. (Brother Randy is now an attorney with specialty in Corporate Law.)
Husband Chris, Cindy’s star support, has also stood by at Cindy’s every turn. The first two years he drove Cindy Sundays as she knocked on doors of “For Sale by Owner” homes to tactfully offer help and seek business. At times it felt hopeless, but they kept on. Finally, after six months the first listing struck.
Further, each chilly December Cindy and Chris would approach approximately 300 neighbors in the Eagle Ridge subdivision. She wanted to introduce herself to them all, and hand out magnetic refrigerator calendars for the New Year with her picture and contact information.
“Hey, aren’t you the girl on the real estate calendar?” Cindy started to hear at year three, when calls and listing agreements increased. Cindy believes face to face contact allows both parties to see and approve of the other. The couple continues to pass out the holiday refrigerator calendars every year.
In 1991 at ten years old, Cindy actually met her target market when the family bought a home in Eagle Ridge of Oak Lawn. When Cindy married in 2002, the folks moved to Orland Park, and the newlyweds took the house. Given her enthusiasm, the lifetime resident knew she could sell Eagle Ridge. She would focus there to develop her business.
As an Eagle Ridge resident, Cindy is committed to helping to build neighborhood spirit and community. She gives back whenever possible at local Polish fundraisers and parish activities.
“Home is more than a place where you live,” reflected Cindy who believes that if people know her, they may feel more comfortable with her over other realtors.
Meanwhile, she wants to help to both make her neighbors and subdivision residents feel at home and safe, and to meet and know each other. Knowing more people herself helps business. That’s easy for people-lover Cindy as she loves connecting—any time, any place!
Cindy feels safer for herself and clients with her husband Chris’s presence as she works. When he drives or mans the flashlight, Cindy can give 100% of her attention to the realty task and her client. As a perk after closings, Chris sometimes corrects small problems for Cindy’s new homeowners—at no charge!
“People have been very trusting of me and my husband,” Cindy beams relating how recent buyers entrusted their newborn baby girl to Chris’s care after meeting them but once. With the baby occupied, the buyers could see the houses on their list without distraction.
Cindy’s first selling couple’s two oldest boys fell for Chris and would crawl all over him. Their baby joined his brothers later. Nowadays both families gather for dinners that the extended families attend as well.
The Makas are people who want to give back. To help complete customers dream homes, Cindy even gave some clients a washer and dryer, and another client a stove, bringing her to tears of appreciation.
“Knowing they are happy because of my efforts makes me happier than my paycheck does,” smiles Cindy, with moist, twinkling eyes. Cindy keeps on top of her deals, checking them endlessly—no matter what! She feels she would not be doing her job if she didn’t. On annual Orange County California vacations, Cindy answers her phone. Clients must feel she’s right there at all times.
Great resulting appreciation results as seen in these quotes from a thank you note from Katie and Dave: “…always keeping up with everything…took care of us and made sure we got a good deal…helped make this confusing information clear…we were informed and comfortable with the process….”
“I’ve had other agents yell at me for lowering my commission rate, but to me, something is better than nothing. I am in the business to make my clients happy, and I don’t want to see people’s dreams vanish,” Cindy explains. She focuses on future business, not just one transaction, and referrals have skyrocketed. If she lowers a commission, she makes it up in referrals.
Cindy shows respect for her clients by never pushing. She guides them with what she knows and they make the decisions. Cindy cares deeply that people know her as honest and trustworthy. This commitment to truthful, caring integrity seals deals.
Meanwhile, such professionalism and her warmth often lead to friendships with clients. Cindy and Chris attend weddings, barbeques, birthdays, christenings, and parties, and they often share dinners. These friendships develop naturally over time. Cindy loves being included and tells clients they make her feel like family
“You are family!” past clients spout. With the business handled, ongoing friendships mean for Cindy that her clients are truly satisfied. But Cindy has a respectful, winning personality that people appreciate and want to be around.
“Cindy draws people to her because she cares so much. They just naturally trust her,” says Chris of Cindy. She’s simply one loveable person!
Besides all this, good looks never hurt anybody either. An adorable blond, Cindy’s charm, energy, style, and smile, and Chris’s handsome, wholesome appeal both catch the eyes. Obvious best friends, this couple look like they just stepped off the Dancing-with-the-Stars set.
Early on, as her experience and confidence grew, Cindy sought a new broker who would give her greater autonomy. Seeing the success of agent friends who had signed with Prospect Equities, Inc., in July 2005 Cindy joined PE where she has free reign to set her own commissions while her previous company set a minimum rate for agents. Now, Cindy runs her business as she wants, in every respect. She likes her PE Orland Park branch office (one of six PE offices from Joliet to Lincoln Park) for its familiarity, convenience and reputation.
Cindy values and looks up to Broker Owner Richard Killian who answers questions quickly, and both helps and looks out for agents. Cindy can be herself approaching “the boss”. She likes the Oakbrook Terrace corporate office for its friendly staff and laid-back atmosphere. Cindy herself likes to take things as they come and make the best of what happens.
As to a market recovery: it’s not getting better soon. Prices are lower and lower, and “nothing’s moving”, per Cindy. Buyers shop and sellers show, but contracts continue hit or miss. We have to get rid of all the foreclosures and short sales before things will improve, she says. Sellers who aren’t in trouble suffer the worst hit. Nobody will pay full price with all the discounts available. Homes turn around slowly now.
Nonetheless, Cindy’s $1 million plus sold in 2009 represents many sales and showcases the success of a classy lady whose know-how inspires while she has the time of her life helping clients handle their real estate needs.
