Beyond_Brochure_112216_Cynthia_proof

your guide
to home buying
WITH TEAM CYNTHIA
Cynthia Howe Gajewski
cynthia@beyondpropertiesrealty.com
312-933-8440
Karen Baldwin
karen@beyondpropertiesrealty.com
708-288-1995
Debra Rachal
debra@beyondpropertiesrealty.com
708-965-0014
beyond properties
www.beyondpropertiesrealty.com
www.cynthiahowegajewski.com

YOUR BUYER’S AGENT TEAM
CYNTHIA HOWE GAJEWSKI (SHE/HER/HERS)
EACH CHANGE BRINGS OPPORTUNITY
A self-professed optimist, Cynthia thrives on the challenge of finding the best properties
for her clients. Her experience with home renovation and restoration makes her a valuable
resource. She is a woman with vision! Looking for a move-in ready home? An investment
property? A fixer-upper that you can work on and grow into? Cynthia will be your guide
and trusted advisor.
Cynthia is a creative personality with sharp business acumen. She ran a successful
business as a professional photographer for 20-plus years, working for clients such as the New York Times,
Chicago-area universities and hospitals, political consulting groups, health care corporations, national
magazines, and The National Association of Realtors (including Realtor Magazine). In 2006 Cynthia purchased,
renovated and sold a single-family home, further igniting her love of the real estate market. In 2011 she finally
took the plunge and got her Illinois Broker and Managing Broker’s license and chose Beyond Properties Realty
Group as her new business home. Beyond Properties mirrors Cynthia’s independent nature, belief in local
business and passion for social responsibility.
Cynthia has lived in Chicago since 1990, raised her family in Oak Park from 2001-2021 with her husband Joe,
and now lives in Forest Park where they have inherited a fabulous pollinator garden! As your Realtor and leader
of Team Cynthia, she will be your advisor and advocate, and negotiate strategically and smartly on your behalf.
Cynthia knows that working as a team produces the best results for her clients. She recruited Karen Baldwin
(a.k.a. the Duchess of Detail) in 2014 and welcomed Debra Rachal to the team in 2021.
M. KAREN BALDWIN (SHE/HER/HERS)
HOME IS WHERE YOUR STORY BEGINS
Our lives have cycles, just like seasons. I am here to help you through one of your biggest
transitions. As a life-long Oak Parker, I am passionate about Oak Park, and know the
surrounding areas inside out. And, with Oak Park as my home base, I support buyers
throughout the Chicagoland area, from the city and to the suburbs. I fully understand the
desire to find just the right fit in a home, and can help you see “beyond” the decorating,
to find the potential in your future space. Through patience, dedication and honesty, let
me help you handle all the details as you turn over your new leaf
DEBRA RACHAL (SHE/HER/HERS)
WHERE DREAMS COME HOME
I had the thought to become a real estate agent before I chose a career as an ultrasound
technician. My communication skills and ability to assess or anticipate needs made me
successful in that field. Listening and gathering information is the key to problem solving.
These skills have followed me to my current role at Beyond Properties Realty.
Each time I speak to a potential client, I make a connection. I listen, I ask questions, act
and follow up. My goal is to assist buyers in making wise informed choices leading to a
good real estate investment. I am always passionate and excited as I join a client for their
journey. I am happy to be on a team that works hard to ensure each client is educated and well cared for in this
process. Team Cynthia is a team dedicated to earning your confidence.
I look forward to going beyond your expectations with your real estate experience.
THE POWER OF THREE
WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED
If one of us has a commitment or is out with another client, a partner is there for you. Holidays, vacations,
meetings – you will not be stranded.

HOME BUYING TIMELINE SNAPSHOT
1
PRE-SEARCH APPOINTMENT
Share your goals and needs.
2
FINANCING PRE-APPROVAL
Partner with a proven lender. Obtain a Pre-Approval to present with your future offer.
3
IDENTIFY PROPERTIES
Set up your search and view daily. Start marking properties by interest level.
4
ACTIVE SHOWINGS
View properties. Identify likes & dislikes. Get serious, get excited!
5
THIS IS IT! MAKE AN OFFER
Review CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) prepared by Team Cynthia as a guide to offer price.
Meet with your Team and write an offer, review and sign disclosures.
6
OFFER & NEGOTIATION
Experience the strategic negotiation with Team Cynthia working on your behalf.
7
UNDER CONTRACT!
Hire attorney to review contract and work your way towards closing, Apply for your loan.
8
INSPECTIONS
Have a home inspection and learn about your future home (during first 5 days under contract).
Identify any repairs you’d like seller to address; communicate with attorney.
9
FINANCING
Stay on track to close on time. Promptly provide all documents requested by lender.
10
FINAL WALK-THRU BEFORE CLOSING
Double-check that all is as expected, any repairs completed. Day prior or day of closing.
11
CLOSING!
Meet at the title company with attorney to execute all paperwork - then celebrate!

WHAT SETS BEYOND PROPERTIES APART?
Beyond Properties Realty Group is one of the few woman-owned, independent real estate
companies left in the area. Beyond Properties is small but mighty, and has assembled a team of the
best and brightest real estate professionals in the Chicago area.
You can be sure that we are not only on top of the current market strategies, but also embrace the
latest technologies and strategies to better serve our clients. Best of all, we provide a level of trust,
honesty and integrity that is second-to-none. The list of accomplishments for Beyond Properties
agents run deep, but those achievements pale in comparison to the satisfaction we get from helping
you sell your home and move onward and upward to reach your goals.
“We contracted with Cynthia for both the sale of our
condo unit in the city and our purchase of a singlefamily
home in the western suburbs. Each of these
transactions were journeys with twists and turns along
the way. We could not have been more delighted to
have had Cynthia to guide us along these journeys. Her
competence and confidence were evident throughout
the process, and she kept us encouraged, even when
things got tough.
Cynthia’s competence was important to us, but perhaps
even more important to us was her ability to read us.
She provided us with space when we needed space,
a push when we needed a push, or an answer that
made sense when we did not understand something.
She made us feel comfortable and always seemed to
anticipate how we would respond to news and changes.
Cynthia developed her relationship with us to the
point that we will always consider her to be a friend,
while at the same time being nothing less than 100% a
professional and a leader in her field.”
— Jim Ransel & Hilary Quinn
“It was a real pleasure doing business with Karen. She
took us to every property we requested to see and
devoted a lot of time out of her day to drive us all over
the place. She was super easy to stay in touch with
and was immensely helpful both during and after the
whole process. Once we closed, she continued to stay
in touch and helped answer our many important and
difficult questions. It was most fortunate that we got
paired off together and I would highly recommend her
to everybody.”
— Thomas Lyman
Cynthia and Karen worked as a seamless team to help
us buy our new home. They worked with our schedules;
someone was always available at a moment’s notice.
Cynthia kept us all calm and patiently answered all
our questions in detail so we knew exactly what was
happening. They have assembled a professional team of
experts to help you with the home buying process. We
were very pleased with Team Cynthia.
— Jessica Filbey
“Cynthia is so kind and pleasant to be around and,
obviously, has great experience. She did her research
and really helped us talk through our decision. In
hindsight, one of the reasons Cynthia was such a
good fit for us is because of her ability to give you her
professional opinion in a subtle way that helps a buyer
feel comfortable in the decision-making process. I
immediately got a sense that she really cared that we
found exactly what we were looking for in a home. I
distinctly remember walking into what is now our home
and turning to her and saying “this is the best we’ve
seen” and she just nodded and said “yes.” Cynthia
confirmed what I felt and knew it was the right house
for us, too.”
— Mayra Bacik
Karen was extremely helpful! Always available, always
asked the right questions, never too pushy! I would
recommend Karen to anyone who is interested in
purchasing a home! My experience with her was
wonderful!
— Jelena Simunovic
beyond properties
109 N. Marion St., Oak Park, IL 60301 · (708) 386-1366
www.beyondpropertiesrealty.com