Andreas Holder

As an advisor with Engel & Völkers Chicago, Andreas’s life and career experiences align perfectly.

His role as an advisor is exactly that – sharing knowledge gained through experience and advising clients on the best course of action. Together with his wife and business partner, Marisela, they are here for their clients well before they need a real estate agent and long after their transaction is completed. Service means being a resource to guide their clients during all phases of home ownership.

As a native of Switzerland and as a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designee, Andreas is part of a vast network of international real estate agents. And his affiliation with Engel & Völkers, the premier international brokerage, allows him to more effectively serve his clients from near and far especially if they, like himself, speak French or German. His career began in the hotel industry. Arriving in New York City as a graduate of The International Hotel Management School in Lausanne, Switzerland, he became general manager of a four-star boutique hotel after only 5 years. From there, he joined the Peninsula Hotel Group where he worked as a resident manager in Manhattan and then relocated to Chicago to the open company’s new hotel. When he was later asked to relocate to Asia for the next hotel opening, he declined because he had fallen in love with Chicago!

The one challenge with the hotel industry was that as soon as he got to know the guests, they checked out. He thought there must be a field where he could build a more personal relationship with the customers he loves to serve. Condominium building management was the answer. Plus, there was a real need to bring 5-star hotel service standards to condominium communities in Chicago.

As a property manager, Andreas was privileged to manage and train the staff of many of Chicago’s luxury condominium buildings, including several new construction towers. It was wonderful to see the buyers’ joy and excitement as they moved into their new homes. In addition to providing excellent service to the residents, he became an expert in the Chicago condominium market, especially high-end buildings in the Gold Coast, Magnificent Mile, Streeterville, River North, and Lincoln Park. He loves to share this knowledge with his clients who are looking to buy or sell in this market today.

A deep-rooted commitment to exceeding customer expectations was the key to Andreas’s success in hospitality and property management and is my highest priority today as he advises his clients in all aspects of residential sales. Whether you are buying or selling a home, your satisfaction is all that matters, and your compliments are the greatest reward of all.

One of the customs Andreas imported from Switzerland is a perfect match for his other passion - baking. Giving a new homeowner a loaf of bread and a sack of salt is a tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages. Bread signifies prosperity and fortune in the new home and salt means flavor and spice in daily life. That’s why, after every closing, you can smell freshly baked bread coming out of his kitchen.