Local Real Estate Pro Turns Backup Job into Lifelong Career

Bill Biros already had a job when he decided to give real estate a shot. After a 30-day trial period, he was hooked.

After handing in his resignation for his position as an investigator with the state of Illinois, Biros joined a real estate office in Evergreen Park in 1979. After getting some experience under his belt, he opened up his own company, .

“I took six weeks of vacation and comp time from my state job to go into real estate,” Biros said. “I gave myself one month. On the thirtieth day, I sold my first house and on the same day, my first and only listing sold. I went and resigned that night.”

Mainly dealing in residential and small commercial properties, Prudential Biros also manages properties and has some small-scale investment properties, he said.

Biros said he has stayed with what was once his back-up career option for so long—over 30 years—because of all the benefits it brings to his life.

“Every day you meet new people,” he said. “You can definitely help people. For most people, the biggest investment they’ll make in their life (is buying a home). I’ve sold houses to people and 20 years we’re friends."

It’s also not uncommon for Biros to sell homes to the now-adult children of past clients, he said.

Biros and his team of 20 agents have their main real estate market territory in Evergreen Park, Beverly, Montgomery and Oak Lawn, he said. However, they have been known to venture outside of those lines and have worked in the Chicago Loop neighborhood, the north side of the city, the southeast suburbs and other areas.

“We go all over,” he said.

Biros never expected to see his real estate office grow to such a large group, he said, He initially intended to have a one-man office. However, he quickly realized that “if you’re out selling houses and not answering the phone,” it’s a problem.

When Biros first opened up shop and realized he needed some help, his daughter, then in eighth-grade, assisted him with secretarial duties in her free time. In 1983, his mother began to answer phones as well.

“At that time, I was a one-man office,” Biros said. “Then I took on a couple of agents. I never anticipated it getting this large.”

It’s no secret that the poor economy has been particularly rough on the housing market. However, Biros and his team have not only been able to combat it, they were named the number one Prudential office in the Midwest last year.

Despite getting that honor, “we were struggling to keep our doors open,” for awhile, Biros said. “What we have seen this last month of March, since the beginning of the year, is more people looking at more houses. This March, we signed more contracts than we have since last June. We’re cautiously optimistic that things are improving.”

Biros also makes sure that he and his realtors are in tune with their clients.

“I think the key in any economy … is when you’re talking to your clients, listen to what you’re saying and find them what they want,” Biros said. “If you listen to what they say, the sales will follow. You can’t fool someone into buying a house. Find what they want, and the sales will come.”

Biros has been so respectful of clients that his business receives a large amount of referrals, he said. He credits the good customer service to his staff, many of whom have been with him for 10 or 20 years, he said.

Two of those agents are two of his six children, Biros said. He'd like to see the business stay in the family after he eventually retires. While his kids were growing up, they all took turns working in the office in an administrative position at one point or another, he said.

“Obviously I would like to see one of the children take over the day-to-day operations,” Biros said.

Named the 2008 Business Person of the Year by the , Biros and his office have always been involved in the community, he said.

“We’ve been in Evergreen Park since 1982 and we always support it, especially in good times,” Biros said. “Most of the community organizations sponsor teams and we felt we always answered the calls (to do that). We’ve received tremendous support from the community.”

For more information about Prudential Biros Real Estate, visit their Web site at www.birosrealestate.com or call 708-422-0011.