We had another flawless experience with Jim Flanders, this time while selling the same home he helped us buy 6 years ago. We have kept a great relationship with Jim through the years, and my husband has worked with him on buying and selling some of our investment property. So when it came time to sell our city home in Logan Square as we made the move to the suburbs, we knew Jim Flanders was the one to help us do this. We were building a new construction home in the burbs, so we had a lot of lead time in knowing that we needed to list the property. This was a tricky balance since we didn't want to list the home too quickly (and risk selling it and being homeless for many months until our new house was ready), but we didn't want to miss the peak market season during the summer months and wait until the fall or winter to list it. We also have 2 toddlers at home, so the idea of having to keep the house "showing ready" for an extended period of time was daunting. In a perfect world, we would be able to get under contract quickly with a buyer, but negotiate a later close date and get the best of both worlds. Jim helped us do a walkthrough of the house and pointed out the things he recommended we do to get the house in showing form (painting the walls, caulking some areas, clearing out toy congested areas) but only focused on what he felt would actually make a difference rather than asking us to invest a bunch of money in things that ultimately do not help sell quicker or at a higher price. Jim helped guide us in our timing, thanks to his knowledge and understanding of the market. We listed on a Wednesday in July, and decided to have an open house that very weekend. Jim came and managed the open house for us and the first couple to see the home made an offer that same day. They did not have a real estate agent, and Jim led all the conversations directly with the buyer and negotiated the terms and conditions for the contract. He was able to negotiate a 90 day closing, which gave us plenty of time to stay in our home and enjoy it before needing to vacate. The best quality about Jim Flanders is his easy going personality and honest approach. He always has your back and wants the best for you. But he is not pushy. He will not talk you into doing yourself a disservice just to get a quicker commission. He truly wants to advise you and guide you to get the best results possible and his patience is incredible. He will be there as many times as you need him for as long as you need him, to make sure everything goes smoothly. It was one thing for us to have the utmost trust in Jim, but the most impressive thing was how much the buyers also trusted Jim. They opted not to get their own real estate agent and were fine working directly through Jim (even though he was representing us, the sellers) because they also could feel that Jim had everybody's best interests at heart. This is where Jim Flanders really sets himself apart from other realtors I've worked with. He forms relationships, not just with his clients, but with the opposite clients as well. He took time to have many phone conversations with the buyers to put them at ease, talk through the inspection findings, and negotiate our terms. They trusted him so much that when it came time to close, they didn't even ask for a final walk through of the house before closing. We couldn't have asked for a smoother and less stressful process of selling our home. We got the price we wanted, the closing date we wanted, and all the negotiations and conversations were easy and friendly. read more

We cannot recommend Jim more highly. He is a consummate professional, honest, thoughtful and outrageously knowledgeable about the Chicago property market. We took the plunge this year and started the search for our first home. Jim was incredibly generous with his time working with us, and helped us figure out what we actually wanted and where we would be happy. In May, Jim showed us a home we fell in love with and he guided us through every step of the process, from winning the bid, inspections, closing and held our hands every step of the way. Knowledge and professionalism aside, Jim is just a legend and we just enjoyed hanging out with him and having the chats at showings. The second we get a sniff that any of our friends or people we meet are looking to buy, we instantly stop the conversation to tell them 'YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH JIM FLANDERS'. Thank you Jim. read more

My wife and I have used Jim to sell multiple properties and recommend him to anyone looking for a real estate broker in Chicago. We recently engaged Jim again to sell our property in the Ukrainian Village. He is super knowledgeable about the market and was able to secure us an offer above our asking price quickly. Jim assisted us through the entire process and made sure everything from the inspection up to the closing went smoothly. Jim's strategy and experience guaranteed we secured the best value for our home. The entire process was stress-free thanks to Jim's close involvement. We'll absolutely use Jim again to sell our investment property as well as when we decide to buy again. read more

We used Alliance properties for over 4 years as a rental property manager. As first time renters, Jim Flanders was great about helping us find quality tenants and doing a thorough background check to make sure we would have any future issues. We had the same tenants all four years which I am sure had a lot to do with the ease of working with Jim from both our perspective and our renters. It was so nice to just see the rent money deposited and not have to worry about any of the day to day business. Once the renters moved out, we also used Jim as our real estate agent to sell our place. He had great suggestions for quick and effective improvements, he has contacts with reasonable and efficient handymen to get the work done in time. From the time the renters moved out, they were done with the work in a week, listed it the following week, got two offers within 48 hours and closed less than a month later. I could not have asked for a better experience with Alliance and he made a couple potentially very stressful situations extremely easy. Would (and have) highly recommend to any friends looking to rent or buy/sell. read more

Jim has been the go-to realtor for a decade and I couldn't be happier. He is personable, accommodating and very knowledgeable when it comes to real estate market. Most importantly, Jim is incredibly patient and will not rush into any transaction without due diligence. I highly highly recommend Jim as an agent. read more

Jim helped us 8 years ago to purchase our first home outside of the city and then just recently helped us sell that home and buy another. There was never a doubt that we would use him again. He is just a class act all the way... so professional, extremely knowledgeable and so trustworthy. We had some real difficulties on both sides of the deal that caused quite a bit of stress but Jim handled it like a pro and we knew he had our best interests at heart. He was always there to talk through the many questions and concerns that we had and after hanging up we always felt great about the direction we were going. In the end the deals went through but honestly, they would not have closed without Jim by our side to make things go so smoothly! read more

Can't thank enough to Jim Flanders for all his help and support when buying my apartment. As a foreigner, i don't know that well the real estate market and I'm not fond in all the details. Jim has been always available to help me at any time, answer all my questions and concerns and make my life really easy thru all the process, even in the "Covid situation" that is new to all of us. His professionalism and honesty on giving advice of what he thinks, as an expert, to be a good investment are things that I have valued the most on such an important commitment/ decision in my life. A house is not something you buy every day ( at least for some of us). I would not have a doubt in recommending Jim or work with him again in the future. It is not easy to find such a great professional, and so easy going at the same time. He has become a friend after this process.Thanks Jim! read more

Since we are new to the investment property game, Jim went above and beyond to help us think strategically about what type of purchase would make sense for our budget. It was so refreshing to work with someone who brought us ideas with good reasoning behind them (vs. searching endlessly through listings and then contacting an agent). Jim really knows the Chicago real estate scene and has deep experience that he was happy to share along the way. He also runs a tight ship so there were no details missed throughout the seamless closing process. We couldn't be happier that we worked with Jim! read more

Jim has helped myself and my family in many transactions as both seller and buyer. He makes sure we are always well informed, taken care of and entering into transactions that are best for what we wanted. He takes any stress of real estate out and makes the process enjoyable. 10/10 would recommend to anyone buying or selling. read more

Update: Jim Flanders responded to my review. Although it may be hard to believe from this, I am not the type of person to complain and have no personal vendetta against Jim or his company. I felt compelled to write an update after his response (which was very well-written) was so baseless and far from the truth that I thought he may have confused me with another tenant. Anyway, I will let Yelpers decide: Jim, I am surprised you responded to my review, given how difficult it was to get a response from you to fix major appliances such as the washer and microwave that were broken when we moved in. Referring to me as "disgruntled" and expressing this as a surprise to you is hardly believable, but I understand you have to try to maintain your Yelp credibility to people that may read this. I called and emailed you several times to express my frustrations and when I finally got a hold of you, you seemed very annoyed and bothered. On one of the calls, you even screamed "In what f'n world do you live in" when I was simply following up about some of the issues previously mentioned. I am a landlord myself and never in a million years would I ever think it was appropriate to swear at my tenants and address them as "tenants" instead of their names, as you did on several occasions. I can forward you copies of the emails if you would like to review them. There were several times I could not reach you for days including one time we never heard from you for over a month when the washer was leaking and we were trying to notify you so the unit's wood floors did not get damaged. I don't expect a management company to offer Ritz Carlton concierge service, but I do expect a returned phone call or email in a timely manner when 5 major appliances are broken and affecting my day to day life. Had you been more responsive and done things like not take 3 months to fix the washer and dryer that you knew (or should have known) were broken before we moved in, we probably would have renewed our lease. I hardly think that being responsible for losing tenants is doing any service to your clients. read more

If you are someone who has a very busy work schedule/ not a lot of personal free time, the idea of listing and selling your home from across the country is something you can barely wrap your arms around. Working with Jim was one of the least stressful and smoothest transactions regarding real estate I've ever experienced. I trusted Jim fully (referred to me by a loved one) and I'm so grateful I decided to work with him over the dozens of agents I could have picked from. He handles everything start to finish and I genuinely felt he always had my best interest at heart. He's also very established in his industry and knows all the players well. Although we did receive multiple offers above asking (some all cash), Jim was able to help me get the buyers I really wanted to hand over the keys to. That was really important to me and he made it happen. Couldn't recommend working with Jim more. read more

We've worked with Jim on multiple occasions, and have never been disappointed. Jim knows a great deal about real estate, construction, materials, etc., and really guided us through the process each time, which made us comfortable, and the entire process less stressful. He also sold our home in 4 days during the month of November, which was unbelievable. We'd highly recommend Jim to anyone interested in buying or selling. read more

I highly recommend Alliance Properties for anyone looking for help with real estate sales, purchases, and property management. I've used Alliance Properties for all three of the above categories and find them able to produce superior results and service. My first interaction with Alliance was after using another agency for several months with no luck selling a condominium. Alliance was able to find a buyer in less than 3 months and I received daily status reports via email and telephone during this time. Since then I've used Alliance for purchasing a home and for finding renters for my rental property. I always feel like a million dollar client even if my transactions do not always produce significant commissions. The company also makes a conscious effort to build strong relationships with reliable attorneys, home inspectors and contractors and I've benefited from these relationships on a number of occasions. read more

Cannot say enough great things about our experience with Jim as a realtor! Jim was recommended to a close friend, and as such I got a chance to meet him while accompanying my friend on a condo hunting mission. I found him down to earth, not at all pushy, and very knowledgeable. It should be no surprise then that 8 months later when my husband and I started our journey looking for our first home, I reached out to him right away for help. He listened to our needs, was honest, forthcoming, and accommodating. He talked us through every detail of this very foreign process. Answered texts and emails very promptly, even if after hours. 3 months later, having just closed on a great property, I couldn't be more pleased with our experience. I absolutely recommend Jim for all your realty needs! read more

I was very lucky to be referred to Jim and Alliance Properties. Bottom line, I own a condo, I don't want anything to do with other than to collect the rent money. I handed them the keys and I haven't seen the place ever since. They have a great infrastructure in place that none of us novice condo owners have. Each month, i get my rental income and statements noting any adjustments made (tub caulking etc.) and that's about it. I receive my rent auto-payed and I don't have to deal with the headaches of ownership including renter calls, complaints, contracts etc. read more

Jim Flanders is very friendly, professional, and easy to work with. I was looking for an apartment to rent at the time, and he always went out of his way to return calls and emails to me promptly. When I wanted to see a property on a Sunday morning, he sent another one of his coworkers who was also very knowledgeable and professional in his place when Jim couldn't actually make it himself. He's also very patient and understanding to work with you no matter how picky you are about the condo or apartment that you're looking for. When it comes time to buy, I'm definitely going back to Alliance Properties! read more

Jim Flanders is punctual, professional and easy to work with. He was able to help me even after my situation changed and Alliance Properties will be where I go when I am ready to buy. He provided insight when I asked and let me make my own decisions when I didn't. Nothing worse then an agent who thinks they know the best for you, even when you say otherwise. I would, and have suggested him to anyone else who needs a quality agent that knows the local market. read more

We worked with Jim as our realtor. We looked at many, many houses over four months and submitted multiple offers, circling around figuring out what we wanted and whether they were the right deal for us. Jim never pushy and a helpful sounding board as we tried to figure out what we really wanted in the end. As first time home-buyers, we couldn't have asked for more. We also really valued that he helped point out both the good and the bad with each house--every house has issues and we really just wanted to know what we would be up against. Highly recommended! read more

Jim was referred by a good friend and I can't say enough good things about the job he's done managing our condo in Chicago. As out-of-town landlords, we now have peace of mind knowing that someone we trust and count is managing our property. Here are few reasons why Jim rocks and we're so grateful for his help: 1. Procured tenants - Jim had our place rented in one week at the price we hoped for. He's friendly and outgoing, so he's a natural at showing apartments and answering tenant's questions or concerns. He's also very good with the minutia of contracts, credit checks and all that stuff I hated dealing with. 2. Rent collection & deposit - Done like clockwork and sent directly to my bank account online along with statements emailed each month tracking expenses, receipts, etc. Taxes should be a breeze. 3. Oversees repairs - We've had some unexpected repairs and Jim has been all over it. He's very responsive and has a solid network of resources for anything we've needed. Cleaning, repairs, new appliances. You name it. 4. Communication - Jim respects our time, so he only contacts us when he has to, keeping us up-to-date with anything important. His calls and emails are friendly and to the point. Even if he's delivering bad news about something breaking, he manages to soften the blow. 5. Coordinates with my building management - Jim takes care of everything, which sometimes includes communicating with my building management to get things done. You get the idea. He's an all-around great guy and a total pro. You will not regret hiring him. Steve read more

I was terrified when I began the process of looking for a house in Chicago. Jim Flanders made the whole process easier for one simple reason - he knows what he's doing! He knows the market and the neighborhoods and was always quick to respond and get us into the houses we wanted to see. The house he helped us to find was only on the market one day before we scooped it up. He stays on top of things so that his clients don't miss opportunities. I've also referred Jim to other people who are equally happy with his work. I highly recommend Alliance Properties and specifically, Jim Flanders. read more

I cannot say enough good things about Jim and working with him to purchase our first home! Jim was very helpful and went above and beyond for us. He was extremely knowledgeable of the Chicago area and the real estate business! Jim was so kind and patient with us. His opinions were welcomed and valued throughout the entire process!! I felt extremely comfortable every step of the way and trusting Jim would ensure that we end up with exactly what we were looking for! I highly recommend Jim to anyone looking to buy in Chicago whether it's your first home or a new investment property. Jim will be right with you every step of the way and you will not be disappointed! read more

Jim is a master of his craft. His knowledge and experience was evident throughout every step of our real estate transaction. He knew exactly the kind of buyers to bring to the investment property I was selling, and made the entire transaction painless. He is the perfect kind of agent for real estate investors and I recommend him HIGHLY! Thank you Jim! read more

I recently and happily moved from Pittsburgh to Chicago. Alliance Properties helped me find my dream apartment and made this transition easier in many many ways. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone who is new or old to the city! RM read more

Jim Flanders is my current property owner, and my roommate and I have both been so pleased with Alliance Properties. Jim is the most attentive property owner I've come in contact with. Whenever there is an issue, he will immediately help out. He goes above and beyond for his tenants, and he takes such good care of his properties. He puts a great deal of effort into the business and does an exceptional job. My rooommate and I have been lucky enough to live on the same property as Jim and we have gotten to know him and his family. Not only have they been incredibly welcoming to us, but they have made us feel very safe and secure since we've moved here. I remember I spoke with the tenants before us, and they said something that I stand by. They told me, "Jim treats you like family." I have been very pleased with Jim Flanders and Alliance Properties and I highly recommend it! read more

Jim Flanders at Alliance Properities is not your typical realtor. He is a true professional that always keeps his word. My wife and I were comfortable with him immediately and felt that Jim genuinely looked out for our best interest every step of the way. He listened and incorporated all of the key details in marketing our home. Jim is extremely thorough and pays attention to detail in all aspects of the process: from preparing the house for the first showing, to the MLS listing and internet marketing, to the contract negotiation, to the inspection and closing. I can't stress enough how critical these details are especially in today's real estate market. We have tremendous trust and respect for Jim Flanders and Alliance Properties, and highly recommend him. read more

I recommend using Alliance Properties to help purchase a home. Jim helped us purchase our first home and was very patient. He patiently accompanied my wife and I while we looked at a ton of places. He is very objective and will offer pros & and cons as you look at different places. Equally as important, he has a great team to back him and work with you through the closing process. He has great references for mortgage brokers, home inspectors and closing attorneys. If you already have your own, he'll easily work with them too. I definitely plan on using Alliance Properties if it ever comes time to sell or rent my place. read more

Jim has been our broker twice now since we moved here a few years ago and he is awesome. I was moving to Chicago from out of state and we were lucky enough to meet Jim. He helped us find properties in our price range that met all of our needs and introduced us to some great neighborhoods in the process. When it was time for us to find our second place, we called him right away and he quickly turned around a set of listings that were just right. In no time at all, we signed for our new place and were ready to go! What I like about him is on-target service that is always professional and always friendly. He's helpful at giving practical advice and has a good gut instinct that is important for us since we dont really have a lot of experience in the industry. My husband and I have recommended him to several friends of ours now and I look forward to working with him again. read more

We had an absolutely wonderful experience Jim, we are glad to have found him and would absolutely recommend Jim to anybody! We were first-time homebuyers, and Jim was very patient and invaluable through the entire process, helping us understand and learn every step of the way. Being new, we didn't always know what to look for or ask about, but Jim was helpful to talk through all our questions. There were also so many things we wouldn't have even known to think about or ask about, so it was great for us to have his experience on our side. Jim was never in a rush, he was always happy to take additional time and do whatever he could to finally find the right place for us. He took lots of time to get to know us personally so that he could really help find something that fit what we wanted. Jim was very friendly, personable, and was very accessible, returning calls and messages on nights and weekends and never made us feel like a bother. Even after the sale was finalized, Jim still went above and beyond to help us with details prior to move-in. He really is all about doing everything he can to make his clients happy - he even remembered things we had mentioned we wanted to buy after we moved in, and called us when he saw that store was having s sale. We have been living in our new home for almost 6 months now and still can't be happier about where we are. Buying a home can be a stressful and difficult process, but Jim was a huge help to make it so much easier. We would absolutely recommend Jim to anybody who is looking and thank him so much for helping us find a wonderful first home! read more

We worked with Jim of Alliance Properties in finding our dream 2 flat. Summer of 2014 was truly a seller's market. It was a challenging time for us as buyers. Thanks to Jim's great instincts, detailed attention to the market and thorough knowledge of the city, we were able to land exactly where we wanted to be within our price range. In addition, Jim proved to be a true buyer's advocate during closing when we run into a small glitch. We did not sign papers until all was ironed out. We do not know how we would have approached this stressful situation if it were not for Jim. I would work with Jim again and, I would certainly recommend his services to friends and family. Jim was always timely, professional, pleasant, easy to communicate with and attentive to our needs. Most importantly, he was an email/phone call away. Available for questions/concerns. Thank you for all you have done for us. read more

I provided a review back in 2012 for Alliance Properties and Jim Flanders when he found us our condo here in Chicago. It was a great experience. Now we have decided to move out of state and we did not hesitate for one second in giving our listing to Jim. We knew he would do a great job and, as usual, he did not disappoint. The whole process of listing with Alliance was seamless. The pictures taken of our unit prior to listing were fantastic, as was his photographer. We put our condo on the market at a higher price than we thought but Jim had a great plan and within days we had three offers on our condo, two of them for asking or above. We closed with the buyers last week and the process was extremely smooth. When looking for a realtor, don't be afraid to move away from the large companies. Jim and Alliance Properties will have your best interest in mind as a buyer or a seller. And since Jim has represented my wife and I on both sides, I can type that with confidence. I highly recommend Jim. If we ever move back to Chicago, hopefully Jim will still be a realtor around here because he will be the first guy I call. I recommend Alliance Properties and Jim Flanders with complete confidence. read more

Jim managed my Chicago condo for me when I decided to move out of state. He made everything so easy for me. He found me a renter and managed any headaches that came up along the way. When I was ready to sell my condo he worked with me over a period of a couple of years trying to find the right time to put it on the market. This year he helped me sell it within a short window of time which kept me from having it on the market empty with no renter. He's very honest about the true market value of your home so you can price it to sell quickly. Once we had a buyer he helped me through the offer process advising along the way and made everything up to closing easy for me to handle from a state away all while in my last weeks of pregnancy. I highly recommend Jim and Alliance Properties. read more

Couldn't be happier with our experience with Jim. We found him friendly, knowledgeable, principled, and helpful, to say the least. Being out of state owners selling our unit, he made the process easy for us -- not one trip needed back to Chicago. We entered the market late one season and he put forth a lot of effort to find a buyer, then when the season died off, he guided us to find a renter until the next peak season. Early in the next season we got our buyer! He counseled us every step of the way, constantly staying on top of area comps and making sure we were informed of the competition and managing our expectations. He never pressured us to lower the price, even when we knew we were likely a little high -- he educated us and then respected our decisions, but always worked hard. He was always on top of communications and very thorough, even reminding us of nuances, such as to cancel insurance after we sold. Highly recommend him for your buying or selling needs! read more

James Flanders is a great agent to work with whether you are looking to buy, sell, or both. James is very familiar with the various Chicagoland neighborhoods and has helped us understand the pros and cons of each property and location. James has always been honest and upfront with us and trusting your real estate agent is key! James has helped me sell an investment property, is currently helping me find my next home, and is also helping find our next investment property. James has a lot of patience, is very experienced / knowledgeable, and is a very fair and understanding individual. James also has an extensive network of resources he has used before to help us prepare our property for sale and get our new property ready for us to move in. I rarely give anyone 5 stars, but James has definitely earned it! read more

I can't thank Jim Flanders enough for all the assistance he provided when it came to selling my condo in Chicago. I had moved across country for a new job opportunity and needed to sell my condo remotely. Jim was instrumental in managing all the prep-work needed to get my unit sale ready. He helped to coordinate access for my painters and also provided contact for a photographer to help take more professional style photos to use for the listing. I was not thrilled about listing a condo for sale in the city of Chicago in January (because who really goes winter condo shopping), but Jim was able to make it happen with the closing being completed in March!!! And were'e not done ... as the paperwork was being completed for the closing I received word that a blockage had occurred in water lines in my tier and both my unit and the unit below experienced flood damage. Jim was able to provide me with a quick assessment of what needed to be done to manage this issue as well as it's affect on the proceedings for the closing. Amendments were made and everything was still wrapped up in time to meet our closing date. I never would have imagined selling a condo from across the country would have been so smooth. I can't recommend Jim and his team enough to handle all of your property needs. read more

I worked with Jim again in 2014 to sell my condo and buy a single family home. As expected Jim gave a 5-Star service in both Selling my property and finding the right place to move. My sell was really smooth and i don't even recall me doing any ground work for it and Jim handled the whole process. He helped me find a new place and again saved me lot of time by doing his research based on my needs and showing only the places that would suit us. Thanks you Jim and Keep up the good service. read more

Had a great experience working with Jim Flanders! He's a savvy business man who knows the Chicago market inside and out. He won't let you buy something that's not right for you, and he'll steer you to the property that best fits your needs. Since I live out of state, I was nervous about finding a place and sealing the deal, but Jim was a great liaison for me. He went and previewed the condo the week before we came in town. He essentially talked the agent into holding the property for us, as he knew we were serious. Because of this, we were able to secure a deal on a very competitively priced property. Jim owns his own business and takes extreme pride in his work. I can't imagine doing my real estate business with anyone else in the city of Chicago. read more

Jim & Alliance Properties managed the building where I rented. They were great! If I needed painting or any repairs done, they would take care of the issue immediately. They are on top of annual upkeep for heating/AC units & furnace cleanings. I locked myself out of our apartment during a massive snow storm & Jim drove with his daughter to our place, and let us in. He was there within 30 minutes. Unbelievable! Jim is extremely professional & thorough. If my wife & I weren't moving out of state, we never would have left. Thanks Jim! We will keep in touch. read more

Alliance is wonderful! They are professional and always great with communication. They have managed our property for 2 years now and we have the best service we could ask for - detailed reports, quick response and proactive thinking. read more

Jim Flanders is extremely professional, knowledgeable, and attentive. He worked with me through the process of buying a multi-unit property. This was my first ever real estate purchase, and Jim was exceptionally patient and consultative. First, he sent me listings, tweaking the criteria numerous times per my requests. Next, he arranged showings, and went with me to view dozens of properties. We put several offers out, and he was diligent about following up on every one. He then expertly navigated me through a 6-month short sale, negotiating the final deal. Finally, he walked me through the closing process. Post-close, after he received his commission (which he discounts compared to other brokers), he still advised me on the rehab and leasing process. Did I mention he responds to emails instantly? I could not imagine better client service. read more

Jim has managed a condo of mine for a few years with no complaints. He makes everything very easy and gets high marks from my tenants. Jim recently helped me find a home and did an amazing job finding exactly what I wanted. Never was pushy, never clogged my inbox with properties. Top notch, highly recommended. read more