When Kati Spaniak started her business 10 years ago, her goal was to become the number one agent in Northbrook.

By focusing on becoming known, liked, and trusted in the community, she grew her business quickly and became the natural choice for residents ready to make a move. Spaniak, team leader and real estate coach with The Spaniak Team-eXp Realty, serves buyers and sellers on the whole North Shore, with an emphasis on Northbrook — the town she is a lifelong resident of.

Clients love that someone from The Spaniak Team is accessible at all times, providing the highest level of customer service. To ensure the transaction runs as smoothly as possible, agents on the opposite side of the transaction receive the same level of care.

Aware that the wrong decision could cost clients hundreds of thousands of dollars, she is always honest about the market, their price and feedback about the homes they’re buying or selling. “Many agents try to sugarcoat it,” says Spaniak. “I try to give information in a way that will help my clients come to the ‘best’ conclusion in regard to their home search or sale.”

She shares her hard-earned wisdom with other agents in her book, “How to Build a Rock Star Real Estate Team Without Going Crazy,” and by teaching. Of the brokerage’s 86,000 agents, she is recipient of the 2021 Icon Instructor of the Year award.

She is currently President of the North Shore Barrington Association of Realtors, she has served on its board of directors for the past three years. Part of her goal for the upcoming term is to promote collaboration between agents and brokerages, building each other up rather than acting like competitors.