Looking for a realtor? You’re in luck. The Dakich Team at Compass is a powerhouse team made up of three amazing realtors: Roberta Dakich, Janet Hiatt, and Heather Starks. Indy Maven spoke with each woman to learn more about their careers and how they became passionate about real estate.
ROBERTA DAKICH, BROKER
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A REAL ESTATE AGENT, AND WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME A REALTOR?
I have been a real estate agent for 29 years! I simply can’t believe it! I worked for Xerox right after graduating from IU and became addicted to commission sales. I got married, became pregnant with our oldest child, and after a short hiatus of “what should I now do with my life,” it hit me like a lightning bolt that I should sell real estate.
My plan was to make a little bit of extra money while raising our daughter, but I was fortunate that people I knew trusted me to help them with their most expensive asset — their home! I was selling $5M-$10M each year almost right from the start and loving every minute of it. I cannot imagine doing anything else. It has been a perfect fit for my personality and lifestyle.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE LOOKING TO HIRE A REAL ESTATE AGENT?
When I looked for an agent in the Florida area to help us find a second home, my goal was to find someone who had a lot of experience under their belt, had lived in the area for quite some time, and who sold a good deal of real estate, but not millions.
I like our wheelhouse of selling between $15 million-$25 million a year. My goal is to make every client feel as if they are one of my only clients. A realtor who carries a lot of listings and works with many buyers at the same time cannot possibly give the amount of time needed to each individual client. I hope my clients feel that our team accessibility is literally 24/7! I love working with a team. How I did it for 20 years on my own is astounding to me. Janet and Heather are the best!
JANET HIATT, BROKER
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME A REALTOR?
I worked in nonprofit management for 20 years and loved making a difference. My husband died unexpectedly in 2013, leaving me to raise our children alone. I needed a career that was super flexible, had earning potential, and at the same time allowed me to help others. I met Roberta through mutual friends, and everything just clicked!
WHAT MAKES YOU SO FANTASTIC AT YOUR WORK?
I truly care about my clients. I take my job very seriously and understand that buying or selling a home is the largest financial decision most of us make. Every client is different, and I pay close attention to their unique needs. I am motivated by helping people and really enjoy the process.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB?
Happy clients! I absolutely love getting the best deal for my clients and finding that perfect house to call home. Getting to know my clients, hearing their stories, and the friendships I make along the way are my favorite parts.
HEATHER STARKS, BROKER
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME A REAL ESTATE AGENT?
I’ve always loved architecture. When I would see a home with a for sale sign in the front yard, I would always be curious about what it looked like inside and what updates had been done. I enjoyed looking up the listings and reading about the details of the property. I thought, “What the heck, this is fun, and I can make money doing it!”
WHAT MAKES YOU A FANTASTIC A REAL ESTATE AGENT?
I try to be the agent that I would want if I were looking for a home: honest, detail oriented, and no pressure. Buying and selling a home can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. I’m not the type of agent that will try to talk you into loving a home you don’t like. I hope to be the person I’d want to ride along in a car with for hours looking at homes all day long.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB?
I love It when you walk a client into a home and you can see the moment they realize that’s the home for them — and, when a seller gets the offer they’ve been waiting for. It’s a special honor to be part of that moment in time in their lives.
Created in partnership with The Dakich Team. The Dakich Team is a team of real estate agents affiliated with Compass, a licensed real estate broker that abides by federal, state, and local equal housing opportunity laws.
Stephanie Groves is the Executive Editor of Indy Maven.
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