Maximilian was recommended to us by our previous realtor who no longer is in the real estate business. I cannot say enough good things about Maximilian and Artizen Realty and would readily recommend him to others. He recently helped us sell our condo. It was not an easy place to sell- - both because of the type of condo it is and the location. We weren't even sure we would be able to sell it, but Maximilian got it done for us. We also live out of town, so we are not local sellers -which added an extra layer of complexity to the deal. Maximilian went the extra mile in helping us to prepare the property to go on the market. He helped us create a punch list of repairs that needed to be completed. When our cleaning company did a subpar job in doing final cleaning prior to listing, Maximilian literally went in to the condo himself and finished the cleaning to get it to the level that he wanted it to be for photographs and showings. He is very particular and wants to make sure things are done in the best possible way for his clients. My husband and I also really liked Maximilian's green approach to real estate. He really tries to minimize the paper. We were able to sign everything electronically and be set with the documentation- - again, as out of town sellers, this was really convenient. Maximilian's company also did a really nice job with the photography for our unit and the MLS listing looked very good. Maximilian is very strategic about open houses and knows how to handle them in the most efficient way to target getting the most traffic while our property was listed. When we received an offer on our condo, Maximilian handled the negotiation very well and really looked out for us. It was a challenging transaction at times, as many real estate deals are, and Maximilian knew how to protect us from what we really didn't need to know and really kept us in the loop when we did need to be engaged in the process. He was very rational about the process and helpful in considering options and thinking several steps ahead. Additionally, with his background as an inspector, he served as a good check and balance when we received the buyer's inspection report back. He helped us to identify what were legitimate requests and what were not. As I mentioned above, it was not an easy place to sell. Yet Maximilian got it done for us and made it a good experience for us. I hope we have the opportunity to work with Maximilian again in the future. read more

Maximilian was recommended to me by someone who has used his services many times past. I was a seller in the Gold Coast and lived in a building that has very slow turnover. It was my intention to make a cross-country move and sell my condo as soon as possible. I worried that a long market time and a low price would mean not being able to move on with my life. Maximilian's demeanor, bearing, strategies and performance helped me to sell my condo quickly and by quickly I mean the first person who saw the unit (plus it was a cash deal!). To start with, Maximilian pointed out exactly how we should have the home staged. There was about a month of work to do on my end but after that was done the home looked like it was ready to sell. The photography was done in-house with their professional studio/equipment and I was impressed that the turnaround time was about one day. We hit the market and there was little activity. Again, we listed high on purpose. We adjusted our strategy (and price) after 2 weeks and separated the parking from the price. That is when our buyer came in. Our deal came together but of course there were some snags. I needed to push the closing back a month and while it worried me that the buyer would kill the deal, Maximilian assured me that we could work with the buyer to come to a compromise. If Maximilian hadn't helped to bring (and keep) this deal together with this specific buyer, we would have likely been on the market for 6+ months and would have likely sold for a lot less. We have one chance to do things right the first time. If that kind of bearing is what you are looking for in a Realtor, seriously consider hiring Maximilian. Patricia R. read more

Maximilian Ortega and his team at Artizen (Stephanie Aparo) are the absolute tops. I have seem Maximilian be dead on with pricing a property out and knowing exactly where it should be priced. Maximilian owns his own brokerage and does real estate full time, so he knows his stuff top to bottom. Maximilian is also licensed as a home inspector, which gives him a substantial advantage over the competition and helps the entire transaction to run smoothly when you as a buyer (or seller) have insight as to what the issues will be to work through. Like any good leader, Maximilian has a top notch team including Stephanie Aparo. I have worked with Stephanie on a number of deals and Stephanie is determined to get the deal done right every time, whatever it takes. Both Maximilian and Stephanie are un-matched in their availability and responsiveness. When negotiations heat up, availability and experience are worth their weight in gold and Maximilian and Stephanie are always on top of their game. As an attorney, I have worked with a large number of real estate agents, and I have seen how a great agent gives you a substantial edge in knowing how to negotiate with the knowledge and research in the area to back it up. Maximilian and Stephanie are head and shoulders above the sea of agents out there. I know when Maximilian and Stephanie are on the transaction, the deal will be as smooth as it possibly can be. You only buy a place a few times in your life, and you want to do it right - you absolutely want the best on your team, and Artizen Realty is it. I don't hesitate to recommend Maximilian and Stephanie to my family and friends. read more

I just want to honestly say that Maximilian Ortega from Artizen Realty is the best Realtor in Illinois. That simple. When I started looking for a home about 2 years ago I had no idea how it worked. The buying process, the looking process nothing I didn't know anything about buying a home. Then I found Max and lets just say he was someone that I always went to after that. He stuck by me for 2 long years and never gave up. We had many hard obstacles some that seemed almost impossible but he never gave up on me. He never said look for someone else or stopped looking. When I started looking for a home I desperately wanted to find the perfect condo. I didn't even keep count on how many condos I saw but either they were too expensive, too high on taxes, not my taste or what have you. Then we came across a program that not only helped me out financially but also gave me more than I could have asked for. I bought a new built home, extremely beautiful with more than enough space for just me, a huge yard and in a good neighborhood. I couldn't have done it without Max's help. Honestly he's the best at what he does. He will go through ever aspect in great detail. And if you don't understand it the first time he will go over it again in a different way to make you understand. I just don't have words to thank him for everything that he did for me over the course of 2 years. So if you're looking for someone to help you out with those hard making decisions when trying to look for a home Maximilian Ortega from Artizen Realty is simply the best read more

Max Ortega is absolutely amazing regarding his skills, professionalism, true passion for what he does and makes people happy by finding them their dream home. I had gone through 6 agents in a span of one month. No one cared, as it was all about commission. I called about a particular condo and ended up talking to Max. Right away I was impressed with his demeanor and knowledge in the market. I will admit that I was very particular in all of my needs and quite honestly didn't expect to find 100%- however Max found me 110% of what I wanted. I purchased in the West Loop and I owe it to Max. Unfortunately for him it will be the last purchase I make as I love my home so much that I never plan to move out!! Sunny West facing unit (I am obsessed with the sun- West exposure was very important!!) , great layout, balcony, parking and excellent closet space. I have recommended him to every one I know looking to purchase. Recently my sister bought a condo and Max was the man!! She is so very happy. He is on his game from finding a condo to the closing of the condo. He makes every client feel like priority and I appreciated all of his hard work and tenacity. Max is truly a gem in the Real Estate industry. I am very happy that I not only had the opportunity to experience such a stressful situation in the most peaceful and perfect way, but mostly he found me everything I ever wanted in a home. THANK YOU MAX!!! YOU ARE AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Muneera C. read more

My wife and have used a number of realty services over the country, none of which compare to the services we received from Artizen Realty and Maximillian Ortega. We first considered selling our home at the height of the recession. After much guidance and deliberation with Maximillian, we determined it was not the best time to sell. What I appreciated the most, was that Maximillian told us what we needed to hear, not what we wanted to hear. Though this experience, Artizen Realty gained (and kept) our trust, explicitly. The following several years, we used Artizen Realty as our property management company until the market turned around. Living out of state made me a bit nervous (to say the least), but Artizen Realty more than exceeded our expectations on the entire process and put our minds at ease. Two years ago we were able to place our home on the market. This is when we really saw the greatest benefit of going with Artizen Realty. Maximillian's professionalism, commitment, and tenacity was remarkable. Day or night he was there to answer any questions we had, or talk me off the edge. Even though this entire sale was conducted while we lived out of state, the communication and follow-through was amazing. Our condo sold within a week and for the highest value in our building in over four years. If we had the opportunity, we would work with Maximillian Ortega and Artizen Realty again in a heartbeat. read more

I highly recommend Maximillian Ortega and Artizen Realty. I used his services when I had to sell my mother's condo after she passed away last year. Using Maximillian Ortega as my realtor was the best decision I made. It was an estate sale and it was important to be sold as soon as possible. The condo was in Aurora and I was quite concerned because other properties there were selling very slowly. I live about an hour away from Aurora which was also a concern for me. Maximillian guided me through the entire process and made a stressful time much easier for me. Right from the beginning, he told me what was important to do to make the condo more attractive to sell. He had contractor references available so that we could get all necessary work done to get the most out of the sale. Maximillian was very professional, honest, and dependable. What meant a great deal to me was that he was always available to answer any questions I had. As a result, the condo sold in two days which was amazing considering some of the same condos had been on the market for at least a year. We also sold at a price that was much more than I had expected compared to the other condos. If I am ever in the position of buying or selling again, I won't hesitate to contact Artizen and Maximillian Ortega. read more

I just purchased a condo with Max, and he was recommended to me by two other friends, which speaks to his reputation. Max was never pushy, but very good about sending us exactly what we were looking for. A lot of other agents either don't fight enough for you or try to get you to buy things outside of your criteria, not a problem at all with Max. He also has a lot of experience and a wide network in Chicago and was able to find many good deals for us and get us into the bidding process. Besides his knowledge and experience, one of his best assets is by far his knowledge of construction. He is a certified inspector, and just generally knows things. That means that when we were looking at places, he was able to tell us if something was solid or a potential concern. This come up so often when you look at things where you're not sure if it's shoddy or not, or if you miss crucial serials, which is why we found it so valuable that he was able to provide that perspective. Including me, that's three people in my friend circle that Max has now helped purchase a place, all with very satisfactory results, and I will definitely be recommending him to other people looking to buy. read more

Maximilian Ortega and Artizen Realty is the number one recommendation on my list. We just sold a property that was part of an estate so he had to work with numerous family members. He kept us all up to date at every step. Not only does he have great insights as to what buyers will look for but he is also right on in his assessment of what improvements are worth attending too. This house was poorly kept up and had to be sold as is. After our family emptied the contents, Maximilian walked us through the basic steps needed to highlight the home's potential and make it inviting for the seller to occupy immediately. His knowledge as a house inspector prevents any big inspection surprises later on in the process. He found tradesmen that did excellent work refinishing the wood floors and painting the entire place. Their bids were well under any we could find. The photography he provides focuses on the best room views with great lighting and angles. Best of all, his strategy got us a cash bid slightly over the asking price after just a little over a week on the market. He is with the seller from start to finish and I would recommend Maximilian in a heart beat. read more

Maximilian is the ONLY agent I would use for real estate. He was my buyers agent about 5 years ago when I sold my condo in the Gold Coast area. For some reason, my then realtor abandoned me. He didn't return calls, emails or texts. I was at a loss and didn't know when closing was and I didn't know what was going on with my buyer and her loan. I had no choice but to call Max since he was my buyers agent. He was nice enough to give me all the information. He also called me a few times before closing to make sure everything was OK on my end and if I needed any help with anything. My closing went very smooth and everything was done professionally all thanks to Max. MY AGENT NEVER SHOWED!! Still don't know what happened to him. He is also a home inspector, so if you're buying, he will point out things that you need to be made aware of. Most agents would never do that as they just want their commission. Max goes above and beyond if you're a buying or selling. He's very honest and very professional. He knows what he's doing and as he gets to know you, he knows exactly what you're looking for. I highly recommend him. read more

Where else can you find and EXCELLENT real estate agent AND licensed home inspector that runs an ALL paperless environmentally friendly business? NOWHERE that's where. Just one of the many reasons why I have continued to hire and work with Maximilian exclusively since my introduction into the realm of real estate. Being a first time buyer with an eye towards investment real estate Maximilian has always been extremely patient, understanding, and straightforward taking me to over 35+ properties before finding the exact property that will meet my criteria. He stepped me through the whole buying process from A-Z always being detailed in every step. Fast forward a couple years later I was ready from my next home. No doubt, I called Maximilian. This time it only took me 74 showing to find the exact property I was looking for. Even after 74 showing Maximilian stayed true, straightforward and honest. He never gave up and we were able to lock in exactly what I was looking for. If you're a first time home buyer or avid investor use Maximilian, he's the real deal. read more

It is common to find a realtor or anyone providing a service like Maximilian. I have known him since 2010 and continue to think of him first everything that has to do with selling, renting, buying, and managing properties in the Chicago area. The following 4 traits set Maximilian apart from the others in his business 1) Superior knowledge of the real estate market in Chicago from research and his own properties 2) Use of the most modern technology and skilled photography to market a property 3) His consistent ability to follow-up in a timely manner with answers to questions, advice, or requests. 4) Understanding of buyers/sellers unique situations. I will continue to use Artizen Realty when it is time for me to sell my condos and buy in Chicago. You will not be disappointed using Artizen to buy, sell, or rent a property in the Chicago area. read more

Maxmillian Ortega, Artizen Realty, is amongst the best professional in real estate in the state. I own a rental property in Chicago and Max has served as the listing agent for vacancies over the past six years. My tenants have consistently been great and have exceeded expectations. Recently, my mother in law had to be moved into an assisted living facility. Max was the first person who came to mind to handle the estate and home sale. He truly cared about helping us through this difficult time. His professional knowledge and advice was key in liquidating belongings and moms home sold in one week. I continue to work with Max and always look forward to our interface in getting the task at hand accomplished. Max rocks! Joe read more

My wife and I wholeheartedly recommend Maximilian and Artizen Realty services. We were beyond impressed with Maximilian's dedication, frankness, competence, flexibility, availability, and salesmanship--he got our unit sold when we were unsure it would ever sell. He made sure that concept were explained, he didn't shy away from giving his advice, and he made sure that no sales opportunity was missed. What we greatly appreciated was that Max had a bigger picture approach--he thinks not just about the next step, but about many steps ahead. Artizen should be on the mind of anyone looking to make a real estate deal, truly. They set a high standard of excellence. read more

David Enabulele Maximilian or Max, as I often was calling him, is an all-star real estate agent. He helped me to get my multi-unit building. It was very difficult to secure a house, and he stood by me and went above and beyond call of duty to help me. He don't just show you the house, he also tells you if the house is good or bad because is also a house inspector. He also advise you to to whether the house will quality or not for FHA financing. Max was pivotal during my contract negotiations and during the processing of my mortgage. He is always on time and reliable, and any persons that deals with him will have a good testimony to tell of his expertise. read more

My husband and I were not sure if we were ready to sell our condo and were looking for a low-pressure realtor. We reached out to Maximillian on the recommendation of a neighbor and could not have been more pleased. He was on time, professional, and very straightforward. He gave us an incredibly thorough report about where our place is in the market and never tried to push us into something we weren't ready for. Even though we ended up not selling for the time being, Maximillian was incredibly helpful, and we will be using his services when we do decide to sell. read more

Maximilian Ortega is the consummate professional. He made the purchase of our condo timely, efficient, and painless. He answered all of our questions and concerns. We know we made the right decision because of who Max is as a realtor and a person. He continues to keep us informed regarding market trends so we can plan for our future. Rest assured that when the time comes to sell our condo he will be the first and only person we call. Michael and Linda O read more

Maximilian is an incredibly reliable, informed and thorough realtor. We have used his services with multiple home sales and rental where each time he comes through in so many more ways than the average realtor. His attention to detail and figuring out the best ways to approach difference circumstances has continued to amaze me. I completely trust that he has our best interest and is not trying to turn a quick flip. Highly recommended!!! read more

Maximillian is excellent! I recently worked with him to rent an apartment. He was super helpful and communicative throughout the entire process. He is very thoughtful and organized with the necessary documents that were needed for this rental. This experience was smooth and quick. He does great work and he is overall a great person. I would love to have more realtors like him! read more