David & Candy Goddard

The best advice is to be fully prepared before you start looking. Meet with a lender to get pre-approved, understand your budget, and know what your monthly payment will be. In today’s market, the best homes can sell quickly, so being ready gives you a significant advantage. Next, work with a knowledgeable local REALTOR® who understands the neighborhoods, pricing trends, and negotiation strategies. The right agent can help you identify good values, avoid costly mistakes, and move quickly when the right home becomes available. Finally, be flexible. It’s rare to find a home that checks every box, so focus on your priorities rather than perfection. A home can always be updated over time, but you can’t change its location. Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll make, so having experienced guidance throughout the process can make all the difference.

Preparation is everything. The homes that sell the fastest and for the most money are typically the ones that are priced correctly, professionally marketed, and presented in their best possible condition from day one. Start by making a great first impression. Declutter, deep clean, complete any minor repairs, and improve curb appeal. Buyers often decide how they feel about a home within minutes of arriving. Equally important is pricing. Overpricing a home can actually cost you money by reducing buyer interest and allowing the listing to become stale. A well-priced home attracts more showings, generates stronger interest, and can even lead to multiple offers. Finally, choose a REALTOR® who invests in professional photography, video, online marketing, and a comprehensive marketing strategy. The goal isn’t just to put your home on the market—it’s to expose it to the largest pool of qualified buyers and negotiate the strongest possible terms on your behalf.

We’ve had the privilege of helping hundreds of buyers and sellers with all types of real estate needs. Over the years, we’ve worked with first-time homebuyers, growing families, move-up buyers, downsizers, retirees, investors, relocation clients, estate sales, and homeowners selling luxury properties. Every client and every transaction is different. Some need extensive guidance throughout the process, while others are experienced buyers or sellers looking for expert market knowledge and strong negotiation skills. We tailor our approach to each client’s goals, timeline, and situation. Whether you’re buying your very first home, selling the home you’ve lived in for decades, relocating to or from the area, or building an investment portfolio, our goal is the same: to make the process as smooth, informed, and successful as possible while protecting your best interests every step of the way.

One transaction that really stands out involved a Bartlett, IL home that generated incredible interest. We helped our sellers prepare the home for the market with strategic pricing, amazing photography, and a comprehensive marketing campaign. The response exceeded expectations, with 55 showings in just three days, seven competing offers, and a final sales price approximately $30,000 over the asking price. While the outcome was exciting, what we’re most proud of is how smoothly the entire process went. We carefully reviewed every offer, negotiated the strongest combination of price and terms, coordinated inspections, worked closely with the attorneys and lender, and kept everyone informed through closing. Moments like these remind us that successful real estate isn’t just about selling a home—it’s about having a plan, executing it well, and helping our clients achieve the best possible result with the least amount of stress.

Before beginning our real estate careers, we both worked in Corporate America. Along the way, we purchased two homes through Jim Garry of Garry Real Estate. After getting to know us and seeing how we interacted with people, Jim was convinced we’d be successful in real estate. One day he called us with some unexpected news. He said, “Guess what? You’re both going to become REALTORS®. Don’t let me down—the class is already paid for, and you start on this date!” That conversation changed the course of our lives. We earned our real estate licenses in 2004 and spent the first few years building our business while continuing our corporate careers. As our client base grew, we realized that helping buyers and sellers wasn’t just something we enjoyed—it was what we truly wanted to do. In 2007, Dave made the leap and left Corporate America to become a full-time REALTOR®. Two years later, in 2009, Candy did the same. Since then, we’ve been dedicated full-time to helping buyers and sellers throughout Bartlett and the surrounding communities. Looking back, we’re incredibly grateful that Jim saw something in us that we hadn’t yet seen in ourselves. His confidence gave us the push we needed to begin a career that has allowed us to help hundreds of families buy and sell homes over the past two decades. Today, we still approach every client with the same commitment to honesty, communication, and exceptional service that has guided us since day one.

Absolutely. We believe education is an important part of providing exceptional service, and we’ve continued to invest in our professional development throughout our careers. Both of us are licensed REALTORS® and regularly complete continuing education to stay current on contracts, negotiations, marketing strategies, technology, and changing real estate laws. Candy has gone even further by earning her Illinois Managing Broker’s License and is also a Notary Public, allowing her to provide an even higher level of professional service to our clients. In addition, Candy has earned several nationally recognized real estate designations and certifications, including: * ABR® (Accredited Buyer’s Representative) – Advanced training in buyer representation. * AHWD® (At Home With Diversity) – Specialized training in serving clients from diverse backgrounds. * e-PRO® – Expertise in digital marketing, technology, and online real estate strategies. * SFR® (Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource) – Specialized knowledge in short sales and foreclosure transactions. * C2EX (Commitment to Excellence) – A National Association of REALTORS® endorsement recognizing professionalism, ethics, advocacy, and superior client service. Beyond formal education, our greatest asset is experience. Since earning our licenses in 2004, we’ve successfully guided hundreds of buyers and sellers through every type of real estate market. Every transaction has expanded our knowledge and strengthened our ability to anticipate challenges, negotiate effectively, and help our clients make informed decisions with confidence. Real estate is constantly evolving, and we’re committed to continuing our education so our clients always benefit from the latest market knowledge, technology, and industry best practices.