New marketing tools and enhanced cooperation between Chicago offices reinforce Baird & Warner’s position as a transparent, independent powerhouse alternative to Wall Street-run brokerage firms
Baird & Warner, Chicagoland’s largest independent real estate brokerage, announced the launch of the City Collective, a new collaborative initiative to unite its 800 Chicago-based brokers with cutting-edge technology and innovative AI tools designed to help the firm lead the city market in transparent real estate transactions.
The announcement was made Thursday evening, Oct. 23, during an event that marked the largest gathering of top-producing city agents from Baird & Warner and those who joined through the Dream Town merger earlier this year. The gathering focused specifically on the city market and highlighted the company’s combined strength, reflecting a shared commitment to building a more connected and competitive urban presence.
“Baird & Warner’s legacy and reach in the suburban market has always been revered, so now that we have almost doubled our agent base in the city – resulting in an increase in experience, idea generation and best practices – we’ve never been in a better position to further expand the company’s footprint and influence in the Chicago market,” said David Bailey, senior vice president and general sales manager at Baird & Warner. “This is a real game-changing moment for our agents. It’s about learning from one another, uniting our Chicago offices and embracing new tools, marketing capabilities and renewed energy.”
Since merging with Dream Town in June, Baird & Warner has become the No. 2 brokerage in Chicagoland by units sold and No. 3 by dollar volume. North of Diversey Avenue, Baird & Warner’s combined individual offices’ production now ranks No. 1 in sales in both volume and units.
For consumers and agents, Bailey noted a key differentiator and advantage with Baird & Warner is its support of NAR’s Clear Cooperation Policy. Unlike its competitors, which have embraced private listing networks and exclusion, Baird & Warner has remained steadfast in its commitment to transparency, with its listings reaching the widest market possible.
“We’ve always believed that more exposure for a listing leads to more showings, more offers and ultimately a higher price,” Bailey said. “As agents, our fiduciary responsibility is to our clients. Sellers deserve maximum exposure for their properties, and buyers deserve to see everything that’s available on the market. We’re in a moment when our largest competitor, Compass, is consolidating through aggressive acquisitions – not to better serve consumers or its brokers, but in service of its quarterly earnings calls.”
To further strengthen inter-office cooperation across Chicagoland, Baird & Warner is rolling out new lines of communication and listing tools across all offices. The brokerage will also be introducing a series of internal communications tools, marketing initiatives and tech tools with innovative AI solutions. The City Collective will also provide updates on local regulations, neighborhood trends and opportunities for collaboration among agents working across Chicago’s diverse communities. Additionally, the Collective will introduce standing citywide meetings across its Chicago offices and an awards program to recognize achievement among local agents.
“With all these positive changes underway, I’ve never felt more excited about the future for our agents,” Bailey said. “Baird & Warner is the clear independent alternative to Wall Street-run brokerages, where our clients come first. That’s what makes the City Collective so compelling: it’s the combination of our people, local expertise, technology, company culture and a commitment to market transparency and to doing the right thing for consumers and agents. It sets Baird & Warner apart in a sea of corporate sameness.”
About Baird & Warner Real Estate, Inc.:
Established in 1855, family-owned Baird & Warner is Chicagoland’s largest independent real estate services company. The Baird & Warner brand has been synonymous with making real estate easier through experience, innovation and integrity for more than 170 years. Steve Baird, the firm’s fifth-generation owner, has been consistently recognized among the industry’s most influential leaders. Baird & Warner is a 10-time Chicago Tribune Top Workplace award winner, and with more than 3,000 broker associates in 32 offices and comprehensive mortgage, title, insurance and relocation services, it ranks among the nation’s top real estate firms. Learn more at BairdWarner.com.
David Bailey, senior vice president and general sales manager at Baird & Warner, announces the launch of the City Collective, a new initiative uniting the firm’s 800 Chicago-based brokers as the independent alternative to Wall Street-run brokerages. (Credit: Baird & Warner)