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Hey, I’m Jess (or Jessica, just please don’t call me Jessie), thanks for being here! I’m a Realtor, wife to my husband, Rob, mom to a baby girl, and dog mom to Reese the Wheaten Terrier. We call Ankeny home (and I have for most of my life!). I graduated from Ankeny High School, back when there was only one. I attended the University of Iowa (Go Hawks!) where I graduated with degrees in Accounting and Finance. After obtaining my CPA license, I spent a couple of years as an auditor at a public accounting firm in Des Moines before deciding to pursue a career helping people buy and sell (what is typically) their largest asset (their home)!
I love:
Real estate and all things home (obviously!)
Spending time with my family & friends
Trying new foods and drinks, especially if I'm enjoying them on a patio
Traveling, whether it's a long distance trip or a weekend road trip somewhere in the Midwest
Interior design and organization-- gathering ideas and then making them a reality in my own home or suggesting ideas to my clients
Modern Family, Schitt’s Creek, Live with Kelly and Ryan, and some terrible reality TV
My clients know me for my glass of wine with a friend approach – as in working with me feels a lot more like having a glass of wine with a friend than being sold to (I don’t like being sold to, so why would you?!). I walk first time home buyers through the ins and outs of the home buying process and help them make smart real estate decisions while also helping sellers by strategically marketing their homes so that the home sells quickly and they walk away with maximum proceeds.
I’m passionate about educating people about real estate and there is nothing I love more than the friendships that form over contracts and a glass of wine. I treat my clients like friends and want to create an experience that is fun and stress free!
Lastly, my goal is to continue working 100% by referral! In other words, I want to provide you with the best home buying/home selling experience and beyond, so that you will speak highly of me and recommend me to your friends and family!
Hope to chat with you soon!
Jess
Defy Mediocrity + Deliver Extraordinary Experiences
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“Jessica's professionalism and expertise truly set her apart. From guiding us through each step of the process all the way up until the sale of our home she exceeded all our expectations. Her friendly demeanor and dedication to her clients shine through in every interaction. My wife and I highly recommend Jessica at Century 21.”
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“As first-time homebuyers, we couldn’t have been happier with our experience. Jessica was incredibly professional and went above and beyond every step of the way, from searching for listings to navigating the most critical moments of the process. Just a couple of days before our deadline to finalize the offer—right after our home inspection—we discovered an issue with the floors. With it being Super Bowl weekend, finding someone to assess the problem on such short notice seemed nearly impossible. But Jessica made it happen. She brought in an expert that Sunday, allowing us to identify the issue and negotiate a better deal with the sellers. If you're looking for a dedicated, knowledgeable, and proactive agent who will always have your back, Jessica is the one to call!”
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“Jess found me a great new home and got my house sold within 48 hours even though it was right before the holidays & a tougher time to sell. Her knowledge of the Des Moines area, consideration of her clients' needs, and commitment to helping her clients find the right fit have made her the agent I recommend to everyone I know.”
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“Loved working with Jessica again! She really got exactly what I was looking for and helped me secure the exact home I wanted with her excellent nagotiating skills. Can't wait to work with Jessica again!”
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“Jessica was amazing to work with during and after the purchase of our new home. She has helped in finding people for some critical changes like electrical and plumbing. I could not be more thankful for her help.”
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“Jess Gilligan was instrumental in helping to sell my house. She helped to recommend the perfect pricepoint that was above what I expected but still led to a speedy sale. She was very professional and knowledgeable about the market and all of the steps leading up to the sale. This was my first time selling a house but Jess made it incredibly smooth and stress free!”
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“I am absolutely delighted with the service I received from Jess! I've worked with Jess on other deals and can vouch that she's incredibly professional, responsive, and truly attentive to any questions or concerns I've had. Jess took the time to listen to what I was looking for and helped me navigate the entire process with ease. I highly recommend Jessica to anyone looking to buy or sell. Thanks to her, I found my perfect home, and I couldn't be happier!”
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“If you're looking for a dedicated, knowledgeable, and hardworking realtor, Jessica Gilligan is the one you want! From the moment we started working together, Jessica made us feel confident and well cared for. She took the time to truly understand what we were looking for in a home and went above and beyond to help us find the perfect fit. Her professionalism, clear communication, and attention to detail made the entire process smooth and stress-free. Jessica’s expertise and guidance were invaluable, and her friendly, approachable nature made her a joy to work with. She was always available to answer our questions, provide updates, and ensure every detail was handled with care. We are thrilled with our new home and incredibly grateful for Jessica’s support throughout this journey. Without hesitation, we highly recommend Jessica Gilligan to anyone looking to buy or sell a home—you won’t find a better realtor!”
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“We loved working with Jessica on finding our first home. She and Shannon were very available and accessible throughout whenever we had questions. She was also incredibly helpful when we had requests for the seller. She guided us through that process, which was so nice to have. We would definitely reach out again if needed in the future.”
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“Jessica Gilliganwas patient and helpful while it took me over a year to find my new home. She answered all of quetions along the way. Once I found my house, Jessica made sure the closing process was quick and smooth! I would definitely recommend her realtor services.”
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“We had the pleasure of working with Jessica Gilligan for both buying and selling our home, and we couldn't be happier with the experience. She is incredibly knowledgeable about the local market, which made a huge difference in helping us find the right home and secure the best deal when selling. Her organization and attention to detail kept everything running smoothly. She was a joy to work with from start to finish, always available to answer our questions and guide us through every step. We would absolutely work with her again and highly recommend her to anyone looking to buy or sell!"”
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“Jessica was great and helped sell our house quickly for a price we were looking for! Would definitely recommend!!”
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“Jess really stepped up when we needed her and got the sale done. Her communication and professionalism were outstanding.”
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“Jessica Gilligan is fantastic to work with! She is punctual, communicates clearly, and has a ton of knowledge! From our very first meeting, it was clear that Jessica genuinely cares about her clients and their needs. She took the time to understand exactly what we were looking for in a home and worked diligently to find the perfect match. Her expertise helped us navigate the process with confidence, and her attention to detail ensured that nothing was overlooked. We are very happy with our purchase, and truly grateful for all the support Jessica provided! What truly sets Jessica apart is her dedication and support throughout the entire purchasing journey. She was always available to answer questions, provide updates, and offer valuable insights, making us feel at ease during what can often be a stressful experience. Without hesitation, we would work with her again and recommend her to family and friends.”
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“Jessica made buying our first home a smooth process. She communicates well, is honest, and is willing to go the extra mile to get all of our questions answered. We felt so much more confident during the buying process because of her guidance. We especially appreciated her suggestions during negotiations- she helped us secure a great deal on a great home. Thank you, Jessica!”
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“Jessica did a wonderful job and found us our dream house at a wonderful price”
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“It was an absolute pleasure to work with Jessica Gilligan. We often found ourselves saying, "What would we do without, Jess?" As first time homebuyers we were looking for someone with patience and the desire to help us learn the buying process. Jess was amazing at this. We first reached out over 2 years before we bought our house. She was willing to meet and just chat about the overall buying process all while knowing we weren't necessarily ready to buy. She kept in touch throughout the years to make sure we knew she was there if we needed anything. When we were ready to buy, she was there every the step of the way. It was a relief having someone so willing to answer questions on not just the buying process, but on being a a home owner in general. We truly felt like Jess was in our corner the whole time. We will be recommending all of our friends and family in the area to Jess!”
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“Jessica was so great to work with! As first time buyers, we had a lot of questions. She was always very helpful when we had questions and always responded to our calls/texts/emails in a timely manner. We loved that we never missed a new listing in the area we were looking at, as she sent out new listings each day. She helped us find the perfect home, in the perfect neighborhood at the perfect price. We highly recommend choosing Jessica as your realtor!”
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“Jessica did a wonderful job from start to finish. Our home search lasted 4 years and she was incredibly patient, understanding, and knowledgeable about every aspect of our search. She was eventually able to find our dream home and get our offer accepted before it even hit the market AND turn around and sell our home in 2 days. Jess helped us navigate a difficult lending experience with top notch professionalism and expertise. We couldn't have asked for a better experience!”
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“This is the second time I have worked with Jessica on purchasing a home. She is very knowledgeable about the local market and was great throughout the process.”
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“We relocated back to the metro after being away for 10 years. The quick move meant we had to temporarily rent while also figuring out where we wanted to live. Jessica was so helpful every step of the way - from getting us set up on searches to educating us on the different areas of the area (DSM has changed so much!) to touring, acting quick and negotiating. She is great at what she does -- plus kept us calm and realistic about the process. I am 110% sure our process ended up being as smooth as it was because of Jessica.”
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“Jess was such a pleasure to work with! She is very knowledgeable and understanding of your wants and needs. Always accessible and accommodating. She made the home buying process enjoyable!”
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“Jess was awesome to work with! She was extremely timely and knowledgeable when answering any questions we had. Also as a first time buyer she was very helpful on areas we had no experience on. Highly recommend!”
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“My Husband and I worked with Jess to buy our home a few years ago. When we decided to sell, there was no question about who we wanted to work with. Jess is very responsive, knowledgeable and just an overall positive, kind person. We would absolutely recommend her to family and friends.”
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“Jessica was great to work with! It was my first time selling a property and she was always available to jump on the line and brainstorm ideas!”
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“Jessica was so wonderful to work with! She is reliable, thorough and so knowledgeable. We had all the confidence that Jess knew exactly what we were looking for and did not feel any pressure to look at homes and/or offer on homes that we weren’t 100% on. This was the second time we’ve used Jess as our realtor in the last 5 years, but she still took the time to explain all the processes and answer any question we had. She also was able to put together the best offer that landed us the home of our dreams up against a very competitive competing offer. We can’t thank Jess enough for all she’s done for our family and we couldn’t recommend her enough!!”
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“Jess is absolutely amazing to work with. She has now helped us purchase 2 homes and sell a house and I would not use any other realtor. She is highly knowledgeable, detailed, trustworthy and just such a kind and caring person. Highly recommend choosing Jess as your realtor!”
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“Jess was wonderful to work with and we would absolutely refer any of our friends and family to her. She went over and above for us while selling our home.”
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“This was our second time working with Jess, and things could not have gone any better. With our family growing, we knew who to turn to when looking for a larger home. We are so thankful to have had Jess in our corner. Selling our first home came with some unexpected challenges, but Jess guided us every step of the way. Purchasing the new home was also a stress-free process. As our offer on the new home was accepted prior to selling our old home, Jess ensured both transactions were in-sync, and a bridge loan, etc. was not required. If you are needing to buy/sell your home, look no further. Jess Gilligan is the right choice!”
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“This was our second time working with Jess, and things could not have gone any better. With our family growing, we knew who to turn to when looking for a larger home. We are so thankful to have had Jess in our corner. Selling our first home came with some unexpected challenges, but Jess guided us every step of the way. Purchasing the new home was also a stress-free process. As our offer on the new home was accepted prior to selling our old home, Jess ensured both transactions were in-sync, and a bridge loan, etc. was not required. If you are needing to buy/sell your home, look no further. Jess Gilligan is the right choice!”
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“This was our second time working with Jess and she made the selling and buying experience as smooth as possible. This was our first time selling a home as well and we leaned on her a lot with the few bumps in the road that occurred. We definitely would not have gotten it done without her, she went above and beyond. Purchasing our new home was a breeze as well. She was familiar with the builder and was extremely helpful through the inspection process, making sure everything was move in ready. We would recommend her to anyone.”
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“Would gladly use Jessica Gilligan as a realtor again! She was extremally professional, transparent, and helpful throughout the whole sales process.”
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“Jess is the best in the business!! As a first time home buyer, Jess made me feel so comfortable every step of the way, and she made sure everything went smoothly from the first day I met with her to closing day! She truly made the whole process a breeze for me. I couldn’t imagine doing this process without her. I would recommend her to anyone and everyone!”
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“I can't put into words how incredible it was to work with Jessica. It was crucial that I work with someone who not only will guide me in a great direction based on my needs, but will teach me and help me understand each step in the process to be an informed and confident buyer. She was so personable and genuine in ALL interactions and helped me build trust so quickly. I'll work with Jessica forever if I can!”
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“Had worked with Jessica in the past as have a couple of family members. Liked working with her before and didn't consider working with anyone else when we decided to sell this property.”
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“Without a doubt Jess is an absolute must for all things real estate! Jess was so incredibly patient with us throughout the entire buying process. We started passively looking for a new home and provided her with very vague wants/needs Despite that, she was incredibly responsive whenever we came up with a house we wanted to see. She would provide listings for us to review, but she never pushed us into attending a showing if we weren't interested. She also never criticized us for having sporadic likes and dislikes. After a few months of not finding what we were looking for, Jess helped us meet with a few builders. She was so knowledgeable about the entire building process, not only advising us in on what to expect, but also in pushing the builders to give us concrete answers and realistic plans. After exploring the building option, we switched back to looking for an already built house. Jess found off-market showings for us and encouraged us to look at houses we didn’t originally consider. She was never pushy or aggressive about us making an offer, but instead she genuinely wanted to ensure we knew about all of the available options. She was a fantastic sounding board when we needed it and always encouraged us to take the time we needed when considering any potential house. Once we finally found a house for us, Jess made the entire purchasing process so incredibly easy. She guided us through the purchase agreement, the inspection process, and flawlessly got us to closing. She gave us the advice we needed whenever we asked. She kept us informed at every step of the way. She went above and beyond to ensure the whole transaction went smoothly. If you want an agent who is patient, knowledgeable, responsive, and an advocate for you, Jess is the one!”
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“We didn’t hesitate for a second when asking Jess to list our house! From the first walk through to handing over our keys, Jess made the process effortless on our end. She was always making sure we knew what to expect and quickly answering any questions. It was clear that Jess did her homework well before she came to our house for an initial walk through. She knew the neighborhood, the comparable homes for sale, and the pros and cons of our house. She gave insightful advice and recommended a price point that we were very happy with. Not only that, but she knew our goal was to sell quickly, and she honored that goal throughout the entire listing and negotiating process. Jess's savvy pricing and marketing efforts provided maximum exposure for our listing. It was no doubt the reason we were able to accept a list offer within 48 hours. When an inspection hiccup came up, Jess handled it professionally and with confidence, ultimately smoothing over the situation with no adverse effects to us. She was there for every step of the process, by offering help for inspection items, providing vendor recommendations, arranging paperwork, and all the behind the scenes items we didn’t even know about! We couldn’t recommend her more for a smooth and rewarding transaction!”
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“Jess helped us buy our first home and it was the perfect experience. We could think of no one better to help us graduate into our next home. She was able to talk us through every step in a way that it eased every worry. She was as determined for us to find the perfect home and sell our first home to the right buyers as we were. We knew we were in good hands! I'll work with no one else if possible, Jess definitely has won clients for life in our family”
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“Jessica Gilligan went above and beyond to help us with our sale both while we were traveling extensively before listing and after leaving town before closing. Jessica's communication and attention to detail is superb, and her communications with prospective buyers agents was seemed outstanding. We highly recommend her.”
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“Jessica Gilligan has been our go-to realtor for a couple of years. She has always been very professional and prompt. The houses we have entrusted her with have varied - from a primary residence to multi-unit investments, to flips, she has not let us down yet! We couldn't be happier with our experience and will be calling her for any future needs. Jess is someone you can trust and goes the extra mile to ensure a positive experience for everyone involved.”
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“Jess was amazing to work with! Incredibly informed and always prompt in communication. Went above and beyond to make sure we found the perfect home for us. Being out of town we needed bigger plan and more advice. Jess kept everything on track, was pro-active and knowledgeable. We would recommend Jess to anyone in search. Truly one of the best in the business!”
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“Jess made buying and selling a home a very smooth process. We appreciated her deep knowledge of the real estate industry and greater Des Moines marketplace. Her detailed and transparent communication helped ease our minds. She was very focused on ensuring we got max value for our home. Additionally, we valued Jess' vast network of top-notch professionals to help all the home buying/selling needs. We would highly recommend Jess to anyone buying or selling a home!”
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“We truly couldn't think of enough great things to say about how our experience was with Jess. She was there for us every step along our journey and helped ensure that we were set up for success. Whether it was the actual home search, or her help and knowledge of the loan process, she helped stream line our experience as much as possible. We felt confident that we were in good hands at all times with her.”
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“Jessica was very on top of everything necessary for a quick, easy sale. Nonetheless, she still was sure to check in to guarantee that everything was being handle properly and to my liking. She was great to work with and made my first home sale as simple as could be!”
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“Jessica Gilligan was a fantastic broker! Jessica was always professional and courteous. She kept us informed of the process and every step of the way thru the process. We had and excepted an offer within 24 hours. She was very willing to meet with us on our schedule and made everything happen right on time. Jessica made the whole process so easy. She was always prepared and answered our questions very timely. The proceeds check was personally delivered right after closing. It was a pleasure working with Jessica and would highly recommend her to my friends.”
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“Jess was great to work with and made the home buying process easy for us, especially as out of state buyers. She was always flexible and able to accommodate our limited availability. Jess became our go-to resource for any questions and was always quick to respond. Throughout the process we appreciated that she gave her professional advice while also keeping our personal priorities in mind. We would absolutely recommend Jess to any friends or family looking to buy or sell!”
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“Jessica was top notch with how she handled the search of homes for me. I was able to reach out to communicate with her frequently and she always replied back to me in a timely manner. Jessica was always able to find appropriate time for me to look at homes of my interest and she did great with information and feedback on the questions I had. I would recommend Jessica to anyone and I was very pleased with how the whole process went and how she handled it! If I am ever in need of another home I will definitely be giving her a call!”
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“With a limited timeline and having to sell and buy a home in this unpredictable market, Jessica helped alleviate the stressors by taking on all of the work and explained the entire process as we went along, which made for a smooth and confident experience!”
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“Jess is great to work with she understood what we desired most about a house and the timeline we were working towards. She has a strong knowledge on the Ankeny market that helped us feel very comfortable in the buying process. Without a doubt we'll use Jess for future buying/selling needs.”
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“Jessica Gilligan Helped us at every turn. Any questions we had she new the answers in real time. I will tell any one that Jess is the go to person when looking for real estate, house or a condo. Can not do any better Jess. We like her!!! Thank you Jess!!”
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© 2022 CENTURY 21 LLC. & Signature resources inc.
Signature Resources, Inc. fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each office is independently owned and operated. All agents are licensed to sell real estate in the state of Iowa. 1620 SW Magazine Rd, Ankeny, IA 50023
