Michael has represented us a total of 3 times; twice as buyers and once as a seller and was referred to us by a family member. He worked with us as a first time buyer in 2011 and 5 years later as a first time seller. Michael had a very good understanding of our needs and he always had our best interest at heart. What we liked the most about Michael is that he was never pushing his own agenda or interest. He truly wanted to help us as a young couple starting out to buy/sell our first home. Michael provided a team of professional stagers as part of his listing services; this helped a tremendous amount to sell our home and receive nearly 97% of our listing price. I would recommend Michael to anyone without any hesitation!

Michael Cell was a strong advocate for us, and helped us navigate this deal every step of the way. There were a few delicate moments in our dealings with the Seller, and Michael's negotiating prowess was very important in establishing trust and ultimately getting the deal done. Thank you!

Michael was incredibly helpful through our home buying experience. He was patient and helped guide us as first time home buyers - giving us great referrals, checking in along the way to make sure all our questions were answered, and following up after we moved in to make sure everything went smoothly. He was fantastic and we look forward to referring friends and family his way!

Michael did an outstanding job with the purchase of our new home! We were coming from out of state, so he made sure to keep us posted on what was going on with the transition of our new home! Outstanding service! I would recommend him to anyone! Great job and thanks again Michael!

Michael could not have been a bigger help. This was our first home purchase and he made everything easier. He had great recommendations for other professionals needed in the home buying process. I will continue to recommend Michael to all of my friends and family looking to purchase a new home.

Michael couldn't have been better. As first time home buyers, we thought we'd be overwhelmed by the process but he took care of things before they even came up. Highly recommended.

Simply put, we love Michael Cell. Michael was our agent on the purchasing side as we moved from Western Suburbs back to the North Shore. He came recommended by our selling agent. While our sale went super fast and smoothly, our purchase was paved through hell; Michael was our saving grace. He is incredibly calm under pressure, never losing his professionalism, decorum, and sense of humor even in the most outrageous and maddening situations. All while providing straight-forward advice in a very calm and soothing tone of voice. He also knows the value of a dollar and possesses great negotiating skills. He comes to the table very well prepared and aware of the current market, we let him take the rains in negotiations and are very happy with the results.

Michael is very optimistic, he knew that we would find the right property for us even when we were completely freaking out. Our situation was unique – we had a long list of musts while attempting to downsize from a huge house with a large yard to something more manageable and maintenance-free. We also required a great school district and a convenient commute to the city. Michael made it all possible. We are extremely happy in our Deerfield townhome.

Michael also has a vast network of people – from inspectors to pediatricians, his list is thoroughly vetted and trusted. I regularly turn to him for a recommendation and will continue to do so. I now say that if Michael does not know something about the North Shore, it is not worth knowing. He continues to take care of his clients well past the deal, he checks up on our well-being regularly and even brought us breakfast one morning shortly after we moved because we were under construction and had no food. Not to mention that his branded packing tape is the best packing tape in business! Throughout our whole process, we kept saying that had we met Michael 12 years ago, we would have never left the North Shore. But we did make it back, and now are extremely happy. We feel like we're finally able to live our dream and Michael made it all possible. He is absolutely amazing.

Approximately one month ago we closed on the home we had been searching for for 4 years. I remember sending my husband a text with the link to our now home saying "I have a good feeling about this one!" It started with a phone call to a you. We did not have a real estate agent, yet you promptly returned our call and scheduled a viewing. I will share that, from the first time we met you, we said "what a good guy he is". You made it clear that you represented the sellers, and would not be a dual agent. However, you were honest, kind and gracious with your time. Since we were without an agent, you were willing to help us complete our offer, but were honest in your dealings, having us sign a disclosure ensuring we understood you represented the sellers.

I always think that when people treat each-other with respect and kindness, it makes everything easier. You were always very kind to us, explaining the process at each step and keeping us informed post offer. As a result, the process was smooth and painless. As the seller's representative, you were the face of the seller. You were ethical, kind and patient; I knew we were buying a home from kind people and it turned out they were.

It took us 4 years to find our home. We are thankful you were the agent. We also are thankful for Jim McConnell at First Advantage Mortgage in Northfield. You were what we called the dream team. I know you don't work with Jim regularly, but you both played a huge part in getting us into our now home.

One last note - I have never heard of a sellers agent presenting the buyers with a gift for their new home, but the hand painted portrait of our new home made me embarrassingly emotional at the closing- so very thoughtful - so very kind. It made the closing seem real and I knew our search was officially over. Keys and portrait in hand, we headed to our now home beaming.

So thankful that you were the listing agent. Your honestly, kindness and patient demeanor made it all fall together. Many thanks!

My husband and I can't recommend Michael enough! He is incredibly knowledgeable and data-driven in his practice. He made us feel like we were his only clients (though we know that's not true!) We are so grateful to have had Michael's guidance in selling our home and buying another one. Both buying and selling are stressful and sometimes emotional processes. Michael advised us every step of the way and never rushed us or made us feel pressured. He was objective and gave his opinion only when asked. He is a genuinely kind person who is enjoyable to be around, which is important as you end up spending a lot of time with your agent! Truly, we wouldn't work with anyone else!

For over a year I had the pleasure to work with Michael. His service, attentiveness, loyalty and personal dedication to helping me was outstanding. I was in an unfortunate position and needed to sell my home in this declining real estate market. Michael brought me multiple offers and guided me through the long process of a short sale. I would highly recommend and refer Michael to anyone needing a Realtor in the future.

"What stood out most for us about Michael was his dedication to us from beginning the house search until the morning we moved in. He promised us he would be by our side throughout the entire process and he was. When we had needs beyond his role, Michael pointed us in the right directions. He gave us stellar referrals for a mortgage broker, home inspector, attorney, and even a handyman when we needed one. these were people he know personally and professionally...He always put our needs first and behaved not just like an agent but oftentimes as a friend."

"Michael was an even better agent than I could have asked for if I had special ordered one. Buying a house can be a very scary process but teaming up with Michael allowed me to stay relaxed and know that everything would go smoothly...I did not feel rushed or pushed to buy a house as I might have felt with some agents...Ultimately he helped us find the perfect house for our needs. If words like respect, honor, trust, dedication, and friendship are important to you, then Michael is the agent you should work with."

"We very much appreciated your fine and calm work throughout the process of purchasing a new home in Northfield and then selling our old home in Wilmette. You were diligent in all aspects of your work, thoroughly knowledgeable of the market, and insightful in your analysis. your calm, unruffled demeanor was also important throughout the process and especially during negotiations. We were impressed with the marketing you used to sell our home in a difficult market and appreciated the moving supplies you provided when it was time to move. Please feel free to use us as a reference if anyone ever has a question about whether to use your services."

"We recently had the great pleasure of working with Michael Cell and we want to take this opportunity to express our complete satisfaction with Michael's professionalism and dedication to our search. We moved to Deerfield from Parmus, New Jersey...and we felt very fortunate to meet someone who has a clear vision of how to help people with the huge task of finding a new home. We are delighted to say that we have a wonderful new home in Deerfield and are extremely happy with the entire process we went through with Michael."

"When it came time to sell my father's home, where he had resided for 49 years and where we were raised, I hoped to find an individual who would represent our real estate needs and interests fairly, kindly and effectively. To say that you were that person is to understate your work with my family and me. It is a fitting end to our lives in that house that we met you and were able to conduct our business so well. For all that you did, as a top-flight broker and a great guy, we express our gratitude. May you continue to make clients as pleased and proud as we are!"

"Mary and I would like to thank you for all of your hard work and professionalism in helping us to sell our house and find a new home. We know that we were probably not the easiest clients to work with, but your patience and attention to detail made us feel very comfortable every step of the way. We know we will be very happy in the new house and the kids have adjusted very well. Should we need to make another move in the future, you will be our 1st call."