I’m Viv Bintoh, a real estate broker with Baird & Warner. I combine a background in financial services, personal experience of international relocation, and an eye for interiors and staging with a thoughtful, practical approach to helping you buy, sell, or invest. I help you understand the costs, weigh your options, and build a plan that fits your goals.

I serve Vernon Hills, Libertyville, Gurnee, Grayslake, Mundelein, Lincolnshire, Lake Forest, Wadsworth, and surrounding Lake County communities, as well as the greater Chicagoland area. 

Before entering real estate, I built my career in financial services, working in risk management and investment compliance. That background taught me to ask careful questions, examine the details, and consider the consequences before recommending a course of action. For you, that means an agent who helps you understand pricing, evaluate tradeoffs, and recognize potential concerns before you commit.

My understanding of relocation is personal. I know what it’s like to start over somewhere new. When I moved from the United Kingdom to Vernon Hills in 2012, I had to learn how things worked here and find a community where my family could feel at home. That experience shapes how I help clients who are relocating. I explain the homebuying process and help them find an area that fits their everyday needs, because finding a home is only part of the story. Getting familiar with the area, planning the commute, and finding the services and amenities they need all help them settle in and feel at home.

Your next move comes with questions about cost, timing, and whether you’re making the right decision. I help you work through those questions and build a plan around your goals.

• Buy with a clearer understanding of value and cost. I help you compare homes, assess pricing, and consider expenses beyond the mortgage, including property taxes and HOA fees. From your first search through offers, inspections, and closing, I explain your options and help you evaluate the tradeoffs.

• Sell with a practical preparation and a pricing strategy. I work with you to decide which improvements are worth making and how to present and market your home. My interest in interiors and staging helps highlight its strengths, while market analysis guides our pricing and positioning against competing listings. When offers arrive, I help you look beyond the headline price to evaluate financing, contingencies, timing, and estimated net proceeds.

• Relocate with a more focused search. Having moved from the UK to Vernon Hills myself, I understand the questions and uncertainty that come with settling somewhere new. I help you compare communities around your budget, commute, housing needs, and amenities. Together, we consider whether renting first or buying immediately better fits your circumstances and organize your search around your moving timeline. For moves beyond Illinois, I can connect you with real estate professionals through Baird & Warner’s referral network.

• Evaluate an investment beyond its asking price. I help you compare estimated rental income with ownership expenses, including taxes, HOA fees, maintenance, and allowances for vacancy. We identify rental restrictions and other questions requiring verification so you can assess the opportunity with a fuller picture.

• Plan a move up, a downsize, or a rental. I help you weigh space, upkeep, monthly costs, and timing. Whether you’re coordinating a sale and purchase or finding a rental while preparing to buy, we build a plan around the transition you need to make.

You can expect clear explanations, honest feedback, and attention to the details that affect your decision. My role is to help you understand your options and move forward with a plan you can feel confident about.

Why choose me?

• • I ask the questions that matter. My risk management and investment compliance background taught me to check details and question assumptions. I help you understand costs and terms, and flag what needs further investigation.

  • I understand the personal side of moving. Having relocated internationally, I know that a move can bring excitement and uncertainty. I listen to your concerns and help you work through the decisions at your pace.

  • I consider how a home looks and works. My interest in interiors and staging helps you see a property’s possibilities when buying and highlights its strengths when selling.

  • I’m approachable, professional, and honest. You can ask questions without feeling awkward or pressured. I explain my recommendations, give thoughtful feedback, and take your concerns seriously.

Contact me today, and let’s talk about your next move. Whether you’re ready to get started or still exploring your options, I’d be happy to help. I would like to hear about your goals and what feels uncertain, and we’ll build a practical plan together.