Interviewed and written by Frank E. Bugaris III

"I enjoy this business of being able to make a difference in people’s lives and I don’t see that changing."

I recently had the distinct pleasure of speaking with Steve Davis; he is the Senior Broker and Partner at Qamar Group.

What did you do before you entered the world of Real Estate?

 After graduating college from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, and before entering the world of Real Estate, I held a number of customer-facing roles, including things like Educational Sales, as well as being a Personal Shopper at Nordstrom.

How has your career progressed in Real Estate?

I have been working in the industry for the past 18 years, and I started out as a Leasing Agent, helping clients with their Real Estate rental needs. I worked hard (and still do) and was ranked in the top 5 Leasing Agents at a premier rental agency in Chicago. From there, I realized I wanted to be able to help people with the next stage in their lives, that is, buying their first home. I’ve worked at a couple of major Real Estate companies in Chicago and have recently joined Qamar Group as a Senior Broker and Partner.

 It sounds like you’ve had quite the career progression. Why would you say that is?

 I would say there are 2 reasons for that. The first is that I really enjoy building relationships with people. For example, my process starts out with having a new client complete an “About You” and “What Do You Want” questionnaire. That way, I’m able to learn about a client’s needs and potential pain points and deliver a personalized experience that address those particular topics. The second is that I’m able to bring an exceptional level of value and service to clients…I want to be a trusted resource for them before, during, and after their transaction.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about starting their own business?

 The first point is to not always focus just on dollars and cents. If you’re too focused on that, you may forget why you decided to do what you do. The second point is that if you’re looking to grow, figure out how to get the systems and technology in place now that will help you be successful in the future. What makes sense now, might not be optimal later.

Where do you see your business 5 years from now?

 Buying or selling a home is a big deal; for most people their home is the single biggest asset they own. I enjoy this business of being able to make a difference in people’s lives and I don’t see that changing. As the business grows, I also want to spend more time teaching and coaching agents how to be elite…being average simply isn’t good enough. I’ve worked and learned a lot and want to share this knowledge with the next generation of people in the Real Estate Industry.

Obviously, you’re quite busy with your work. What do you enjoying doing in your downtime?

 I really enjoy playing billiards and usually play in a league a couple of times per week; I’ve been playing since I was young, and I’ve gotten pretty good. I also enjoying golf as well. Additionally, I want to give back to the Jefferson Park Community. I sponsor a “Yappy Hour” which is a fundraiser for an animal rescue; it’s a lot of fun getting a group of pet parents together to socialize and support a great cause.

A couple of things definitely shine through with Steven’s personality. First, he is an energetic man who wants his clients to have the best and most personalized experience possible when buying and selling real estate. Second, he loves what he does!

If you have any questions for Steve, give him a call at 312-513-6314 or email him at steve@qamargroup.com