Spaces Real Estate, a full-service residential real estate brokerage, today announced the firm has merged with Evolve Real Estate, a full-service residential brokerage with a strong focus on residential leasing. Evolve co-founder Jonathan Sheil, who was one of the first six agents at Spaces prior to starting his own business, has rejoined the company as director of agent development, bringing with him a 15-person team of leasing agents who will work under the Spaces name.

“The merger with Evolve is a win-win for both companies,” said Bentley Phillips, founder of Spaces Real Estate. “We were in search of a new director of agent development and knew Jonathan would be a great asset, especially since we already had a relationship. The addition of Jonathan and his team allows us to increase headcount with experienced agents who share our knowledge of the Chicago market and commitment to client service.”

Sheil first started working for Spaces in 2013. He remained with the firm until 2017, when Sheil left to co-found Evolve Real Estate with Roger Daniel. During Evolve’s first 18 months of operation, the firm generated more than $1 million in gross commissions income as a result of nearly 700 leasing transactions.  

At Evolve, Sheil built his team from the ground up, identifying potential agents based on their success in other sales-related positions such as recruiters or food and beverage sales. Once on board, he established performance plans, provided classes and offered guest speakers to help educate new agents and set them up for success in real estate. At Spaces, he is developing a scalable version of this technique to further grow the business. 

“We are honored to become part of a widely respected company known for its longstanding relationships with renters, homebuyers and property owners,” said Sheil. “The decision to bring our companies together and integrate our hardworking, knowledgeable teams is one that will benefit both agents and the clients they serve.”

About Spaces Real Estate:
Spaces Real Estate is a full-service real estate brokerage specializing in residential leasing, with an emphasis on Chicago’s North Side and downtown neighborhoods. The company’s approach is both service-oriented and data-driven, powered by a team of experienced brokers whose hyperlocal, block-by-block expertise is supplemented by the firm’s industry-leading, proprietary technologies. In addition to providing apartment-finding services to renters, Spaces works with a variety of landlords, including private owners, institutional-level investors and veteran developers. Since opening in 2010, the firm has leased approximately 15,000 apartments. In 2016, Spaces introduced a new division, Elevated Spaces that focuses on the high-end downtown rental market. The company also includes a dedicated team of agents who provide brokerage services to buyers and sellers of residential properties throughout the city.

Jonathan Sheil has joined Spaces Real Estate as director of agent development as part of the firm’s merger with Evolve Real Estate.