Real estate runs in the family for Claudine Schramko. Her father is also an agent, and her husband, Chris, works in commercial real estate. (Jim Slonoff photo)
As a 30-year resident of Hinsdale, Claudine Schramko said she is proud of the hometown she and her husband chose for their family. As a real estate agent, she finds joy in helping to make Hinsdale someone else's new home, too.
Schramko, an agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago, specializes in residential real estate. After spending years at home caring for her three daughters, she decided to enter the world of real estate four years ago. While selling homes was a new venture for Schramko, sales was not.
"I had a fairly rigorous and successful career," Schramko said of her previous employment.
With her daughters grown, the time and energy she once dedicated to her children now is spent caring for her clients, Schramko said.
"I work for my clients. I represent the interests of my clients. I handle every assignment as I would for family," she said.
Schramko holds a degree in marketing and psychology from Loyola University. Both areas of study lend themselves to her work as a real estate agent.
A move, even if it is to a person's dream home, is full of both angst and joy, Schramko said. She aims to remove as much of the stress as possible, allowing the buyer or seller to enjoy the process and focus on what's ahead.
"I get immense gratification from helping people find the joy in making a move," she said.
Schramko said marketing can be the difference between a home that attracts potential buyers and one that sits on the market. She recalled a Hinsdale home, listed by another agent, that sat on the market for about a year without a buyer. After taking over the listing, Schramko remarketed the home with fresh photos that showcased its charm and potential.
"I had three offers within the first month. We didn't even paint," she said.
Even in today's seller's market, Schramko said she advises her clients to make changes that allow a buyer to picture themselves in the house. Too much clutter or brightly colored walls can make it more difficult for buyers to see it as their own.
Schramko said those who desire a new home shouldn't be scared away by today's interest rates.
"You marry the house, you date the interest rate," she said, noting that homeowners can refinance their mortgages when rates drop.
Similarly, those hoping to sell their homes should not be scared away by the holidays, Schramko said. She said she and her husband are living proof that homes can and do sell in December.
"We weren't even looking and had no intention of buying," she said. But while driving home from Oakbrook Center one winter day back in 1994, they spotted a house that would quickly become their first Hinsdale home.
"I continue to feel privileged to live in this town," said Schramko, who is an active member of the Infant Welfare Society Hinsdale Auxiliary, Brightpoint (formerly Children's Home & Aid), St. Isaac Jogues Church and the Hinsdale Junior Woman's Club.
Whether it's in Hinsdale or another Chicago suburb, Schramko said she works to help every client find a place they can love just as much as she loves Hinsdale.
"Whether buying or selling, it's my job to help my clients navigate the market to achieve their goals for themselves and for their families," she said.
