Melanie Everett’s Small Brokerage Joins Compass in Chicago

Compass added a major name to its roster of agents in Chicago.

Melanie Everett & Company, a residential brokerage founded in 2019, joined Compass as the Everett Group, according to a news release.

The eight-person team works primarily in Chicago and the western suburbs and ranks among the top 15 brokerages in the city by number of transactions year-to-date,according to its website. The team’s transaction volume in 2023 was $51 million, according to Chicago Magazine.

Founder Melanie Everett began her career at Coldwell Banker in 2014 before launching the firm five years later, according to LinkedIn. The group has closed nearly 1,000 deals totaling more than $350 million in sales, according to the website.

Everett reflected on launching the firm at age 25 and growing it alongside her family over the past seven years, in an Instagram post announcing the move.

She described the decision to join Compass as one sparked by burnout and a desire to refocus, allowing her to set aside broker-owner responsibilities to do more client representation and creative marketing, she said.

The move is the latest in a string of Compass wins in Chicago, where the firm acquired @properties Christie’s International Real Estate in December.

Compass has also chipped away at market share over the past few years by recruiting high-producing teams across the North Side and nearby suburbs. The brokerage, which went public in 2021, reported positive cash flow in recent quarters after cost-cutting efforts and has made clear it plans to keep investing in select urban markets.

Compass’ long-term profitability is debated, but its brand appeal is strong with agents looking to offload back-office overhead without necessarily giving up brand identity.

The brokerage is sharpening strategy for a post-commission-settlement landscape. Earlier this month, the firm announced it would no longer follow the National Association of Realtors’ Clear Cooperation Policy, which requires listings to be posted on the MLS within 24 hours of public marketing. Compass executives said the rule hampers agent flexibility and exposes brokerages to legal risk; critics have argued it protects transparency and prevents off-market deals from skewing competition.

— Judah Duke