Janet Kohl
Janet Kohl is the Principal Broker of Janet Kohl Group at Coldwell Banker
Residential. Janet Kohl Group is a real estate team in Chicago and the North
Shore specializing in listing and selling property in Illinois and working with
sellers, buyers, investors and developers worldwide. Janet is a Real Estate
Consultant and Certified Luxury Property Specialist with a 20-year background in
real estate investing and developing, including multiple awards for home
restoration. She has extensive knowledge in digital media communications, video
and marketing lifestyle brands and products.
Janet offers clients invaluable experience in the high-end market. Her expertise
includes restoration, renovation, investing, and living. Janet can identify
investment value where others might miss it. These skills and talents are brought
to each client and every real estate transaction, whether a straightforward sale, a
flip renovation, a total historically accurate restoration or simply a smart
investment. Janet values hard work, honesty and integrity and takes great pride
in helping others by being available and responsive to clients and friends alike.
She views herself as an entrepreneur first and runs her business like a business.
Janet puts her experience, background and talents to work for buyers, sellers,
investors and developers in the city and the North Shore real estate markets of
Chicago and also serves clients across the United States and globally, frequently
consulting, guiding and accompanying cross-country or cross-continent luxury
buyers, sellers and investors.
Working With Sellers
Selling a home is all about getting the highest net with the best terms in the
shortest amount of time, and the least amount of stress. This is accomplished
with proper pricing and marketing for the property and superior customer service
to the client. Janet has an extensive background in maximizing profits as an
investor. She knows how to properly market and show real estate, from
appropriate renovations, beautiful design and staging to great photography, video
and broad market exposure globally on all platforms.
In her early professional years Janet held positions within the media industry and
now hosts a lifestyle show. She brings this marketing and media savvy to each
and every listing with her 20-point marketing strategy. Janet brainstorms the
unique quality, features and story of your home and markets its most desirable
attributes through multiple visual, video, online and print media. She utilizes the
vast resources and tools of Coldwell Banker Previews International, Coldwell
Banker’s global luxury division and websites. Janet also ensures that every
property is placed on Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, Yahoo real estate, msn and
other major real estate websites that receive over 70% of the total online real
estate traffic worldwide. She knows that her clients appreciate that leads on their
homes are delivered directly to her within 15 seconds so she can promptly follow
up with a potential buyer. This technology edge, coupled with her real estate
experience and knowledge of luxury brands makes Janet uniquely qualified to
represent any listing, especially upper bracket homes.
Working with Buyers
Buying is about finding the right house to call home or the right place to escape
and the best investment in the right location. Whether a primary residence,
vacation home or income property, Janet has personally gone through the buying
process many times as both an investor and purchaser, so she knows what you
need and expect. She adeptly advises buyers on value, growth potential, lifestyle
and, of course, renovations, and can provide an excellent list of trusted contacts
for renovating or restoring. She has a streamlined buying system that makes the
process easy and enjoyable. She has it down to a science. If buying in a new city
or internationally, Janet has amazing connections, as well as knowledge in most
luxury markets and can help with that transaction as well. Janet is pleased to be
your resource, advisor and skilled negotiator through the entire process of finding
your next home or investment.
Janet as Restorer
Janet has a passion for art, architecture, historic homes and preservation. She
has painstakingly researched, salvaged and meticulously restored the details of
historic homes in both Evanston and Chicago to award-winning perfection. Janet
was initially drawn into real estate by a love of home and garden and the inability
to find an affordable house with the architectural details she craved. She bought
a decent but nondescript vintage house in an up-and- coming neighborhood in
Chicago and decided to renovate it into what she wanted. Janet did some of the
work herself and acted as general contractor and project manager for the rest.
This speculating and design talent then turned into a business. Soon, Janet took
on the decade-long project of restoring, to historical accuracy, a significant
National Landmark home, in Evanston’s Lake Shore Historic District, designed by
famed architect Earnest Mayo. As a result, in 2010, Janet received the Design
and Preservation Award from the Mayor of Evanston and the property was
nominated as an Evanston Landmark. Then, in 2014, she received the
prestigious Chicago Association of Realtors Good Neighbor Award. Janet’s home
has been featured in movies, television and print, and has been a decorator’s
showcase-house. Read more here.
Janet at Home
Janet lives in Evanston with her two sons and a lot of animals, including a
Sulcata Tortoise named Turt Reynolds. She enjoys travel, running, kayaking,
yoga, all things home and garden, and has a passion for personal development.
Janet recently wrote a book about how to change your life in 100 days and she
hopes she will inspire you to create a home and a life you love. Janet invites you
to watch her on-air reel. Click here to watch.
“What I thrive on most in life, whether on or off the real estate field, is helping or
inspiring people on some level. Frequently when someone is looking for a new
home, especially a first home, or is transitioning out of a home, they are hoping
to improve their life on some level – they want to live the dream or find happiness
in the next phase of life. That process goes deeper than mere real estate and
because I believe anything is possible, I also think anyone can create a home
and a life they love. I enjoy being part of that process by sharing my expertise,
advice, guidance and friendship. Ultimately, I want to see others succeed, be
happy, create a soulful home and live their purpose. If I can help do that, then my
life is worthwhile.” – Janet Kohl