Debra Kukulski-GRI;ABR;RECS;e-PRO Real Estate Expert Northern Illinois

Your Cary Area Real Estate Consultant

I have been a full-time, professional REALTOR® since 1994 specializing in the sales and marketing of homes, land and investment property in Cary, Fox River Grove, Crystal Lake, Barrington, Algonquin, Lake In The Hills, McHenry, Lake Zurich, Lake and McHenry, Kane and Suburban Cook Counties.

Debra Kukulski disclaims liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance upon information, products or services contained in this blog, or for accuracy of comments or opinions posted by visitors to my blog, or for links to other websites and the content, products or services that may be offered on or through those sites.

What I can do for YOU!

Consistently outstanding in my field, my business continues to grow through referrals. I am the recipient of many awards in recognition of exemplary performance in the field.

I am a member of the McHenry County Association of REALTORS® where I help maintain the professionalism of the industry by serving on the Professional Standards/Grievance Committee. I have also served on The McHenry County of Realtors Technology Sub-Committee, The Multi-Board Grievance Committee, and the MLS or Northern Illinois Runt Group. In addition to my local involvement, I am also a member of the Illinois Association of REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS®, and REBAC (Real Estate Buyer Agency Council) and RECS (Real Estate Cyber Society). All of these associations uphold a strict code of ethics and ensure that their members are up to date on the latest marketing techniques and legislation affecting real estate.
To fully serve my clients, I also hold membership in the Multiple Listing service of Northern Illinois (MLSNI).

I am also a "Member of Influence" in the McHenry County Association of Realtors, which represents the top 10% of Realtors in our board.

What my clients say....

Debra,

I just wanted to say thank you for the ton of work you put into selling my condo in such a tough market. You put so much time and effort into making this deal work that I was starting to think you were getting a $112,000 commission rather than that number being my asking price. This was the 3rd time you helped me buy or sell and I hope you are available for all my purchases in the future. Thank you so much and if anyone needs a reference you can give them my personal number. Thank You,

Jason P.

Palatine, IL

Hi Deb,

Just wanted to Thank you again for helping us buy our "Retirement Home". As usual it was a smooth transaction from beginning to the end. We have used your services and excellent knowledge of the Real Estate market 2 times before, and will definitely use you again if there is a 4th or 5th buy or sell in our future. You and Remax are above the rest!!! Thanks

Adele and Nancy

Crystal Lake, IL

I cannot say enough about how awesome Debra Kukulski has been to work with. We met Debra when we were looking to sell our first home in Aurora and move to Elgin. Debra built an immediate relationship with us... she listened! Her goal was to get us in our dream home; she never compromised that. She set us up with a local listing agent to sell our Aurora home, because she wanted to make sure she had an expert in that region selling our home. Debra has wonderful resources and they all love her and work hard for her clients. It is very easy to see why they would. Debra had great advice about all aspects of real estate, selling, and buying. Debra chimes in with her expert advice to help you make the best decisions, she really does her research well. Debra helped us find the perfect house in Elgin that met all our needs. She matched us up with an awesome loan officer and we were in our new home in a matter of months. She kept in contact over the years offering her services. We contacted her on several occasions about property questions. When I referred her to my in-laws to help them find a house, she gave them her best service as if they were a million dollar client. Even though they decided they were not ready to be homeowners yet, she gave them her first class expertise and most of all, her time. She continues to ask how they are doing, even though they never ended up buying a home

When Mark and I decided we had outgrown our home and it was time to move again, we didn't have to look farther than the refrigerator door to call Debra Kukulski. Again, she was now going to sell the house she had sold to us. Debra gave us great advice on how to price and stage our home in a stale market. She pushed us on getting our house ready to "cash in" on the timing factor. The selling of our house was remarkable! We had over 300 other houses in competition with us and we had a contract within 60 days!!! I had friends who were selling their homes who were amazed at how frequently she called me and sent me e-mails. I think they were a little jealous that they weren't getting the same service I was from their Realtors. They were even more amazed at how quickly I had my house under contract, considering the competition and the bad market.

The real story about how dedicated Debra Kukulski is to her clients came about 12 hours before the closing of the house we were buying. Debra had once again helped us to find a dream house with all the bells and whistles we were looking for and more without ANY compromises!!! Except our dream house almost didn't happen when the loan officer made a horrible error on closing costs. Debra contacted several of her mortgage broker friends to help fix this and they had worked till midnight solving the issue. When we showed up for closing we had no idea what was going to happen. Debra collaborated with the lawyers at closing and held out for the best scenario for Mark and I. When the lawyers could not agree Debra trumped the deal with the new loan option. Everything worked out! You can't predict how other people will do their jobs, but one thing is for certain that Debra's goal is her customers satisfaction and she will do her job and anyone else's to make that happen!

We are very happy in our Crystal Lake home, who knows if we will ever move again, but one thing is for certain that if we do, once again we will look no further than the refrigerator door for Debra's number to make our dreams come true once again. Sorry it has taken so long to write, but there are so many wonderful things to say about you and I can't compromise that!!!

Thanks Debra!

Connie and Mark P.

Crystal Lake, IL

Thank you for all your hard work in helping us sell our home. Your personal attention made us feel like we were your only clients. Your industry knowledge, enthusiasm, and creative marketing efforts certainly gave us a competitive advantage in an unprecedented strong buyer's market.

Thanks again,

Jennifer S. and Andy F.

Algonquin, IL

Dear Deb,

Just wanted to say thanks for making our experience as first-time home buyers so easy-and enjoyable. Your knowledge and expertise helped us a great deal! We wouldn't have known where to begin, but you were there to help us find the perfect home. Thanks for everything,

Joe and Heather F.

Lake in the Hills

Hi Deb,

First, everything is going well. All moved in and settling in. Second, you did a fantastic job !!. The most important thing to me during this whole process was that you listened. Right from the very beginning you didn't try to sell me, rather you worked on selling my home. Your extensive marketing of my home, the comparative analysis reports, access to the HBSR web site and your regular updates always reassured me that you were on top of things. It was a pleasure working with you and I'll certainly contact you when we're ready to upgrade.

Thanks again for all your help. I couldn't have done it without you !!

Dan B.

Spring Grove

Dear Debbie,

We have now purchased three homes in the past four years. Just by chance we found you via the Internet for the purchase of our first home up in Crystal Lake. What a find you were! You have been able to guide us through every step of the buying and selling processes and have even be able to refer us to attorneys and mortgage companies that work as hard as you did for us. You are extremely knowledgeable of the industry and helped us stay focused on the "true process" of buying and selling of homes. This allowed us to keep our emotional side out the process. You have shown that you do really care about us and not just making money. We have utilized your website and have reviewed over 1000 homes and we finally found the one that we will retire in. We will never forget all the time and effort you exerted to get us to this home.

Ron and Dothee S.

Bull Valley, IL

Deb, you did a great job selling my home in McHenry. I had to move out of state before my house sold, but I felt confident leaving matters in your hands. You found a buyer for the house, handled the final sale for me and kept me well informed throughout the process. The closing went through with no problems. I would definitely recommend you as a Realtor!

Best of luck in the new year,

Catherine N.

McHenry, IL

Hi Deb,

Happy Holidays.

Having you as my real estate agent was a wonderful experience. I knew that my concerns and housing requirements were important to you. You supplied me information that made my selection process much easier. But most of all Deb you were extremely patient with me and you never lost interest in helping me find a new home. You genuinely cared and for that I'm grateful.

Thank you again for all your assistance and have a very safe and happy holiday season.

Dan B.

Crystal Lake, IL

Dear Debra,

Thank you for the opportunity to let you know how great it was to work with you. You took the time for us when you were already so busy. We were amazed at your consideration and kindness. Thank you so much for helping us become the owners of our dream house by sticking with us through all the back and forth process that goes on during the buying of a house. You were the answer lady and we both appreciate your dedication to our desire. We look forward to working with you again in the spring. Until then, Happy Holidays and "stay warm!!!"

Pat and Brian H.

Algonquin, IL

Debbie,

I wanted to thank you for the outstanding work that you put into helping us with the purchase of our first home. Unfortunately because of the area that we wanted to be in we were limited as far as our spending power and therefore we were in a position to buy a house that was a foreclosure. I'm sure you recall all the difficulties that we faced by buying a home from a bank and we just feel that without your persistence and personal care that our transaction may not have gone through and we would have lost our house. Thank you for all the additional time and energy that you had to put in and the endless phone calls that were made. Your hard work and dedication paid off and we now have a wonderful home to raise our family.

Thank you,

Stacie and Mike B.

Cary, IL

FSBO Vs. Deb,

Anyone who would consider FSBO, should take a minute to read this note. We tried. We wasted four weeks and four beautiful spring weekends. During that time we experienced unqualified "just curious" browsers, calls from hard sell Realtors, lengthy phone conversations with prospective buyers who never showed and over $1,000 in credit card charges for the ads we ran and brochures we printed. The end result was one half-baked offer at a very low price that was so full of contingencies the attorneys would still be trying to write the contract. We called Deb. She showed up that evening with a comprehensive market analysis. This was no easy task since our house was a semi-custom built home in McHenry County on a large piece of land. We listed that evening for $10,000 more than what I was asking FSBO. Next Deb's professional brochure and website marketing. Deb's 10-page brochure on our home was full of details and pictures. The same information, including pictures, was on many websites she used to advertise our property. Our home was even one of the "featured properties" on Realtor.com. The descriptive commentary that Deb wrote said it all...perfect! Our FSBO brochure was a meager 1-1/2 pages. Within one week we had a solid contract from a pre-qualified buyer for just a few dollars under our listing price. The end result was $12,000 more in my pocket at closing by listing with Deb. So if you're serious about selling don't waste your valuable time, call Deb and start packing! You will be dealing with one of the nicest, hard working and knowledgeable professionals in the business. Thanks Deb you were great. And, oh by the way, the house you found us is perfect and we are really enjoying it, but that's another letter.

Bob and Alice,

Cary, IL

I cannot give Debra Kukulski a high enough recommendation. We used Deb for both the sale of our condo and for the purchase of our new home. The listing for the sale of my condo was very well prepared and listed in a variety of high visibility locations. Every facet of the process was very easy for my family and I, and incredibly well done. The Re/Max team has immaculate attention to detail, and all staff we dealt with was courteous and helpful.

When looking for our new house, we were presented with a variety of very powerful and useful tools that Deb has assembled. We were able to search using a variety of criteria to assemble a list of prospective houses, and it was always enjoyable touring houses with her. The house we eventually purchased was recommended by Deb and turned out to be exactly what we were looking for. I have worked in the sales industry for years, with a very strong focus on a very high level of customer service. Because of this, I've come to expect the same out of the people that I give my business to. I am very pleased to say that my experience with Deb exceeded even my high expectations. She was very attentive to our needs and exceeded our expectations in every facet of our relationship. I consider Deb an invaluable asset and would gladly recommend her to anyone in need.

Ed and Amy J.

Woodstock, IL

Debra helped us find our "dream" home last year as well as assisted us in selling our previous home. She was always available when we needed her and went the extra distance for us on several occasions. Although we closed on our house last summer she still keeps in contact and cares about how things are going. She is a dedicated realtor and I would highly recommend using her services!

Kelly and Jason W.

Cary, IL

A BIG GIGANTIC THANK YOU for all your hard worked you poured into selling our home, I KNOW we couldn't have done it without you...thanks, deb...alice - Alice and Bob J.

Cary, IL

Deb,

Thank-you for your help in finding our new home. You were always pleasant and kept a positive attitude. You tried to work within our schedule and get us to see the homes as quickly as possible. Your help getting us through to closing was invaluable. We also appreciated the recommendations that you gave us for the lawyer and lender. They were knowledgeable and professional.

We bought a new pontoon boat and it was delivered last weekend. We've had the pier and shore stationed moved to give us a better view of the water from our yard. Do you see the Mineola fireworks? We walked down the block and watched from land. We thought that the fireworks were great. Thanks again for your help.

John and Jackie P.

Fox Lake, IL

I've known and worked with Debra for 4 years. Debra has represented me as a listing agent, (Sold our home quickly) and as a buying agent. Whether she's looking for an investment property, or for our next primary residence she's always prompt, professional, and extremely thorough.

Jeff W.

Algonquin, IL

Hi Deb-

Thank you so much for all your help. You made the experience of buying my first home so much easier. I was able to enjoy it rather then stress about it. The web site that you set up was very helpful. I was able to shop for a place that fit my profile at times when it fit my busy schedule.

Thank you very much,

Kristie R.

McHenry, IL

We were very pleased to have you as our agent. You were a great help for us being first time homebuyers. We were worried because you don't know who you can trust to give you good honest help, and also someone to give you honest answers. We have recommended you to several friends and family members because your service was so great. The best part is that the loan officer you also recommended to us was very nice and in guiding us in what we need to do. If in the future we were to sell and buy again all over we would use you again. Thank you again for your help, and feel free to stop by anytime to see how we have settled in.

Thanks again,

Rick and Kim V., Woodstock, IL

I found Debra through an internet search. I was looking for a full-time Realtor with professional qualifications who knew what a valuable tool the internet can be. What I did not realize at the time, was that I had found gold. Real estate transactions don't always go as smoothly as we would like to think. With one thing after another, my husband and I thought we would lose our minds! First we had a buyer, then lost the buyer, got another buyer, lost that buyer, got a third final buyer, but in the meantime, we found a house but it had a mold problem the seller wouldn't remedy, found another house but lost it because our purchase was contingent upon selling our place. Then we finally found a house only to find we had to wait 2 months after closing on our place to move in. This involved putting our furniture into storage, with my husband living in Chicago, while I was living in Mount Prospect. Talk about stressful! We were extremely fortunate to have Debra as our Realtor because of all the help, invaluable advice, and guidance she provided us with selling our place and helping us find another. And the personal web site she set up was a real time saver in weeding out properties. We would not hesitate to recommend Debra to our family and friends if they need an exceptional, knowledgeable Realtor who has her client's best interests at heart.

Nancy and Dave C.

Crystal Lake, IL

Deb has treated us with the highest importance for several years now, well before and long after she helped us purchase our current home. Deb still sends us emails 3.5 years later and keeps in touch as if we were considering buying a house tomorrow!! There is no doubt in my mind who will help us in our next real estate transaction. Further more, we've never had to say, "What ever happened to Deb?" Far from the impression that we were left with in our first real estate transaction when we were young, eager and unfortunately....taken advantage of!

Ann and Rick R.

Palatine, IL

Deb Kukulski helped me sell my last house and buy this one! Very knowledgeable, she never gives up! Works incredibly hard and gets results! She is so easy to get along with...but does not hesitate to tell you what she thinks, and what you need to know and do!

Chris L.

Lake in the Hills, IL

I think you did a wonderful job and have given your name to several people. You were the one person in this disaster lender issue that kept me sane. You were very detailed and made sure we had everything done ready and correct the first time. You were also a big help when I needed additional info on the town of Algonquin and especially when we needed inspectors and mold remediation assistance.

Thanks for all your help!

Steve and Sarah Patton

Algonquin, IL

To Whom It May Concern:

The prospects of buying a first home can strike both excitement and apprehension into anyone who decides to take that first step. Couple the excitement and apprehension with a busy schedule and long hours at work and all of a sudden buying that first home seems more like a dream and less like reality. That is, unless you have an outstanding realtor, which I was fortunate enough to have in Deb Kukulski!

As a 2nd year teacher and coach, my schedule did not permit me to spend many hours pouring over real estate section and driving around town to see what was new on the market. Deb was able to utilize her expansive knowledge of technology to make my house hunt less time consuming and nearly effortless. In a market where timing is everything, Deb's bi-weekly emails with new listings within my price range proved timely and helpful in seeking out the best property for me. Deb was able to set up a web-page for me and emailed me every time new listings were added! It was truly convenient to, despite the fact of being out of town on occasion, have all the available properties with pictures on my personal website which Deb had designed. In fact I was out of town when the property I purchased came on the market! Without that beneficial webpage and Deb's effective use of technology, I may not have been living in the house I love!

Being a first-time home buyer also meant working with a smaller budget. When I first started off, Deb sat down with me and discussed the prices of the houses I could afford. As mortgage rates fell, she then took the time to explain to me how and why I could afford more expensive property. She knew my limits and was never afraid to tell me to "dream a little smaller" if I perhaps chose a house that in my excitement I thought I could afford, but in reality I couldn't. That type of honesty is not common in some realtors who instead try to look for the most expensive house so their commission is larger. All the while Deb's heart was in my best interest as a home-buyer, not in her bottom-line.

My excitement in actually buying a home turned into apprehension as it often times does with first time home buyers. Deb has a tremendous gift of patience while dealing with her clients. She was able to calmly answer all my questions through the offer and negotiation process. Her expertise proved invaluable when we hit a slight bump in the closing process. In the end, worked out smoothly for me, however I do not feel that would be the case if Deb had not patiently guided me through everything.

The confidence I have in Deb's outstanding ability to be a first-rate realtor has allowed me to highly recommended Deb to friends, family and even people I have just met! The valuable services and patience she has provided me along with her expertise of technology has made my dream of buying my first home a reality! Thank you Deb for doing such a spectacular job!!

Respectfully,

Jason R. J.

Cary, Illinois

I worked with Debra Kukulski in the purchase of my townhouse. Working with Deb was a real delight. Her knowledge of the area and of her job was commendable. She was able to answer any questions I had and was able to offer knowledgeable advice. Deb never once steered me in the wrong direction.

Deb never pushed or pressured any type of decision. She understood that an informed and correct decision takes time. She would touch base on a regular basis, but never made a pest out of herself. This was truly appreciated.

When I first embarked on my search for a townhouse, I dreaded the threat of constant phone calls and pressure to make a decision. This had been my past experience where Realtors were concerned. What a delightful surprise to find a Realtor such as Deb to work with. My purchase experience was truly enjoyable.

I would highly recommend Debra Kukulski to any of my family members or friends without any hesitation! I plan on selling my townhouse within the next year and purchasing a house. I will not think twice about using Deb again. She will be my first and only choice for a Realtor.

Regards - Mary C.

Cary, IL

Working with Deb was wonderful. Her professionalism and efficiency were truly unmatched. During our search for a home we struggled to define what we were looking for but Deb was able to help us define what we wanted and find it.

We would highly recommend anyone who is searching to buy a home to contact Deb.

Brad and Karen T.

Lake in the Hills, IL

Dear Deb,

I'd like to thank you for hanging in there with me for over a year as you sent the weekly emails of available townhouses. I kept hoping and praying that something in Barrington would turn up that I could afford and you found exactly what I was hoping for and got me to quickly look at it and the rest is history --- not to mention that you also took care of selling my old house for a better price than I ever thought I'd get. I especially appreciate your getting me in touch with Wendy Erickson, who got me an excellent interest rate at LaSalle Bank. Everything moved quickly and smoothly and I truly do thank you. Please give me a call some Saturday when you're in Barrington so I can show you how the townhouse has turned out -- I love it!!!

Sharon V.

Barrington Illinois

Deb,

Things are going great, thanks! Should be done and moved in by the end of September, hopefully! Keep your fingers crossed :o)

Deb, since I've been a repeat customer, speaks for itself. You've put up with me dragging you all over the place to find that "right" house(s), and always with a smile.

You're professional, yet seem like an old friend. Even well after closing, you've taken the time to call me to make sure all is good and I thank you for that. Should I ever need your services in the future or should family or friends ever need a Realtor, you're first on my list!!

Thanks for all your help and support and look forward to future possibilities.

Barb W.

Algonquin, IL

Working with Deb Kukulski was a fantastic experience, she never tired of my endless questions & pickiness in finding the perfect home. Debbie was patient, and tried to understand exactly what I was looking for in a home, she didn't bother me with houses that weren't what I was looking for. Debbie wasn't just looking to make a sale, she was helpful in every way and did all she could to find me & my family the perfect home. Debbie became a welcome part of my family. She was always there to answer any questions, and her service didn't end with the sale, she got involved after the sale when there was a problem that didn't have anything to do with her or Re/Max. She is a wonderful agent and I would recommend her to anyone I know. I loved working with Debbie, not only do I have a home that I love, but a great friend that I made in the process."

Debbie L. ................Happy Home Owner

Lake Zurich, IL

Hi Deb! We just got back this week from a trip to Canada. Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving.

You did a great job as our real estate agent. You sent us email's with descriptions of each house, and while here you made sure we had plenty of houses to see in a short amount of time. You are very easy going and comfortable to be with. You helped us find the house most suited to our needs and we were able to stay within our budget!

Karl and Dee B.

Crystal Lake, IL

Debbie,

You did a wonderful job helping us find our home. You were very professional, but you were also like a friend. You were a very good listener and made us feel as though we were your only client. You returned phone calls in a timely matter. You explained everything to us that we were not understanding. Thank you for your hard work; we would recommend you to anyone!

Scott and Jennie M.

Crystal Lake, IL

Hi Deb,

Just wanted to let you know how nice it was to have you as my Realtor. I appreciate your professionalism, unbiased opinion and your willingness to keep showing homes even when you have a buyer (like myself) who is so particular about what they are looking for. You never complained about the number of homes I looked at and that I just would not pay more than I thought any home was worth. If in the future I am looking for another home to purchase you will be hearing from me I promise. Good luck with your future sales and I hope we will be able to work together again sometime.

Thanks Again,

Ed M.

Algonquin, IL

Debra,

I enjoyed working with you and I will gladly recommend your services. For me, the best part of working with you was receiving an e-mail every morning with all of the listings that fitted my criteria along with my own web page! This was awesome! Thanks again for all your help and the best of luck to you!

Keeley D.

Woodstock, IL

Hi Deb,

I would like to take a moment to thank you for making the purchase of my home a very enjoyable experience. I am so happy here I just love this place, it is the perfect get away after a long day at work. If you had not taken the time to find this place then show it to me I would not have even known about it. You are quite good at listening and learning about what a person wants then finding a home that is a match. When ever you are out this way just stop in and say hi.

Thanks again,

Julie R.

McHenry, IL

I told Deb that I was not that serious about looking for a home. I was not sure if I was ready to move out of Chicago and city life for tranquility and nice neighbors. She constantly took the time to make sure she called with listings as they came up, literally by the hour in 2 cases. She treated me and worked as if she was 110% sure I was buying a home. She definitely went above and beyond what I would have expected her to do knowing what she knew. Debs knowledge of the river homes surprised me.. she knew what the comps were from memory! She was very right in weighing the pros and cons of the two different homes I liked. She put me in the right house and neighborhood.

THANKS DEB!

Chris C.

Cary, IL

Deb, you were great to work with and I absolutely love my home!

Best of luck to you,

Catherine N.

McHenry, IL

Debra went out of her way to find us a house! My partner was bitten by a dog and put in the hospital while we were on our house-hunting trip. She took the paperwork to my partner in the hospital and she helped ME to find the perfect house for US! We really consider her a GREAT Realtor and also a good friend now!

Devin R. and Terri D.

Zion, IL

Debra,

In regards to the quality of your services I must be very honest and rate you a 10 out of 10.I felt like I was your only client. You always returned my calls within 1 hour. You always were so pleasant even though I really needed your guidance and handholding. I spent 40 plus hours on the Internet reviewing the web site and asking you lots of questions and you ALWAYS responded professionally. You felt out my needs both financially and personally and that takes a special person. You always made time to meet me wherever and whenever. I cannot say enough POSITIVE about you! Even my seller saw the differences between you and his broker and he openly told me that he would never use or refer his broker again ever. I would refer you to anyone I know because I believe in you and I really mean that. You are a wonderful person and a LEADER in your industry and a positive image for Re/Max.. All the best and may God bless you!

Ron & Dothee S.

Crystal Lake, IL

Hi Debra,

We are very pleased with our home, we also appreciate the way you helped us put a bid on the house it was the first time for both of us buying a house. You did such a great job we will probably never move. Best of luck to you and take care.

Yours truly,

Eva