Darrell and Jill Scott, the husband-and-wife duo behind the top-producing real estate team The Scott Group at Compass, are more than mere brokers trying to build a business: they are devoted parents, community members, and team leaders, committed to raising a family while creating a supportive, family-like environment for their clients, team members, and everyone looking for a place to call home. 

 

While real estate and family go hand-in-hand for Darrell and Jill today, it was once a point of contention for the young couple. When they first started dating in 2013, Darrell was already working in real estate as a leasing agent. Darrell, who had earned his master’s in architecture then obtained his real estate license in 2010, was accustomed to the industry’s demand of working 24/7. Understandably, Jill wasn’t too happy with him working every night and through every weekend. All their fights revolved around Darrell’s busy work schedule. 

 

Then, one weekend in 2014, Darrell found himself overbooked with rental clients and suggested that Jill obtain her 120-day leasing permit so she could help cover for him. Jill not only picked up the extra clients but closed them in one day. Finding a new passion, she quit her marketing day job and officially joined Darrell shortly afterward. 

 

“We’ve rarely argued about working nights and weekends since then,” Darrell quips.

 

When Darrell and Jill started their business, they had to navigate the daunting task of building it from the ground up. Although both are originally from the small town of Noblesville, Indiana, their paths never converged until after college, when they had each moved to Chicago. Starting their careers as REALTORS® in a new city, they faced the challenge of establishing themselves without the support of local connections or family networks.

 

Fortunately, Jill is a social butterfly by nature, and as the two got more involved in the community and established relationships, the business followed. In fact, Jill’s motto is “the more people you talk to, the more money you’ll make.” Along with real estate, they both have a passion for creating a safe environment for disadvantaged kids and have been volunteering with the Off The Street Club in Chicago since 2015. They even plan to adopt in the near future, which will complete their family of six. 

 

Jill and Darrell have been knee-deep in kids and real estate since 2019, when they had their first child, Declan, and also joined Compass with the intention of converting their business from rentals to sales. The growth of The Scott Group has coincided with the growth of their family: having their second child, Drake, in 2020, and their third child, Delanie, in 2022. 

 

Growing a business with three kids under the age of three has been, as Jill puts it, “chaos.” But she wouldn’t have it any other way. “No day is the same as a REALTOR® or as a mother. I don’t have a strict schedule for my kids; we all fly by the seat of our pants and that’s what works best for us. It makes my kids adaptable,” she explains.

 

The secret to the Scotts’ success is found within the seamless integration of real estate into their everyday lives. They cultivate a company culture that values family and friendship. They also promote a work environment that aligns with personal passions: they empower their team to build their business through pursuits they genuinely love, whether that’s coaching softball, or participating in a bowling team or book club—all things team members actively engage in.

 

Jill shares her thoughts on playing to strengths: “With social media, we’re constantly seeing what everyone around us is doing. And in the past, we’d quickly try to replicate other agents’ strategies, but then we realized our strengths aren’t necessarily the same as [those of] other agents. We’re all wildly different, and that’s okay. You can’t make your weaknesses your strengths. So, our focus is on being authentic,” she says.

 

Darrell and Jill bring completely different strengths to their business. Darrell is very detail-oriented and data-driven, and he focuses on the design and systems of homes, while Jill excels in relationship building. Their skills complement each other, which makes it easier for them to overcome challenges and deliver an exceptional experience for their clients.

 

“We’re different, but our focus is the same: delivering a luxury real estate experience to clients at any price point. Plus, we both know the rental market and rental buildings better than most agents, having built our business on converting renters into buyers.”

 

Jill and Darrell are also quick to credit their team for their success. The Scott Group consists of seven agents—Travis Smith, Matt Murphy, Vanessa Kanavos, Dhwani Patel, and Cody Horvat—all brokers and seasoned agents with real estate portfolios of their own, though all were renters when they started. Darrell and Jill have most enjoyed seeing the growth of their team both inside and outside of work. 

 

“We always wanted a small but mighty team that’s so strong, no one can tell who runs it, and that’s what we’ve built,” Jill affirms. “Success is enjoyable when it’s shared—it’s living a balanced life with our family while being financially stable and enjoying our success with our kids, all while setting the example of hard work for them and our team.”

 

Balancing three young kids and a business keeps Darrell and Jill very busy. When they can get away, they enjoy traveling and spending time at their lake house on Lake Wawasee in Indiana, where they can boat, waterski, tube, and wakeboard. They also enjoy everything Chicago has to offer for their kids and their date nights together. 

 

As Darrell and Jill continue to grow their thriving business and their family, one thing is certain, they will continue to live life to its absolute fullest.