Jill Longest, Realtor

Jill Longest, Realtor What Matters To You, Matters To Me! My name is Jill Longest and I have proudly been a Realtor® with EXIT Realty Midwest since January of 2015. What stress?

I have been a Million Dollar Plus Producer since 2016 and was an EXIT Realty International Bronze Award recipient in 2022. I specialize in assisting home buyers and sellers in the Iowa Great Lakes corridor of Northwest Iowa, which includes Spirit Lake, Okoboji, Arnolds Park, Milford, Lake Park, Spencer, Estherville, and the surrounding areas. I grew up in Spencer, spent summers working and playing in Okoboji, and have lived in Spirit Lake since 2007, so I have a unique understanding of the Iowa Great Lakes corridor and the “magic” of Okoboji. I don’t consider myself a natural-born salesperson, which I feel is a good thing, because I don’t consider my job as a real estate agent as a “sales” position, but instead as a position of “service”. My main goal is to serve my clients through my knowledge and expertise as a local Realtor®. For me, I value relationships over transactions and strive to keep my clients’ goals top of mind in everything I do. My focus has always been on the needs of my clients and making sure I help them succeed in buying or selling a home versus just trying to make a sale. My motto is “What Matters To You, Matters To Me!” I live by that motto in all that I do because it’s a part of who I am. Client Testimonials:
“We cannot thank Jill Longest enough for all the hard work and dedication she put in to help us find the right house. Jill, your commitment to finding our lake cottage was unmatched. Then you throw in the fact we are 1,500 miles away, and you still made it all happen. Jill went above and beyond to show us the best houses through Face time, allowing my son to walk through with her and video for us and allowing my brother and sister-in-law to walk through homes with her. That my friend, is someone who loves her job and enjoys making people happy. It was a very smooth process. She helped us line up local banking and insurance, offered inspectors that were all exceptional people and she handled a lot of our appointments on her own. You will not find a better person that does what she does to make her clients happy. Thank you very much, Jill.” Bob and Sandy Z. "We recently relocated and it was quite a process, as we still lived in Colorado while trying to find a house in Iowa. Jill's service was AMAZING and she found us the perfect home. We worked together for a couple of months and she had her work cut out for her. She was so accommodating to our situation and we spent so much time together and, on the phone, everything ran so smoothly! She truly listened and had a great understanding of what we were looking for, even when we got sidetracked from our big picture. We are so excited to be in our forever home and so grateful to Jill for finding it for us! Jill became like family during this process and we are happy to call her a friend! Thank you for everything, Jill!" Matt and Pegi H. "Our experience with Jill Longest as our selling realtor was invaluable. She guided us through the process of selling our home, which was emotional for us, with patience, understanding, and true professionalism! She answered all questions and concerns promptly and showed sincere compassion when we struggled with our own insecurities. We couldn't have done this endeavor without you Jill!" With gratitude, Sandy and Todd C. Whether buying or selling, I will work hard on your behalf and keep your goals, interests, and objectives as my top priority. I’m committed to doing the legwork to gather the information you need to make the decisions that are right for you with confidence and peace of mind. Let me focus on the details of the real estate transaction, while you focus on preparing to move! I hope to have the privilege of working with you and adding you to my growing list of satisfied clients! My cell number is 712-330-7418 and my email address is [email protected]. I am a member of the Iowa Association of REALTORS®, the National Association of REALTORS®, as well as the Iowa Great Lakes Board of REALTORS® where I served as a Director on our local Board.

Sellers usually prepare a home for what buyers will see, but sound matters too. A loud bathroom fan, rattling vent, sque...
09/27/2026

Sellers usually prepare a home for what buyers will see, but sound matters too. A loud bathroom fan, rattling vent, squeaky door or constantly humming appliance can pull attention away from an otherwise polished space.

Before listing, I would walk through the home when it is quiet and listen.

Open and close interior doors. Run the exhaust fans. Turn the HVAC on. Listen near windows and exterior doors. Notice whether a small sound suggests a simple repair or whether it is something buyers should understand about the property.

The goal is not to create total silence. It is to remove preventable distractions and know what a buyer may notice during a showing.

Presentation is visual, but the experience of a home uses more than one sense.

Ceilings are easy to ignore until one changes the entire character of a room. Height, beams, coffers, tray details, skyl...
09/26/2026

Ceilings are easy to ignore until one changes the entire character of a room. Height, beams, coffers, tray details, skylights and even a simple change in material can influence how spacious, bright or finished a home feels.

For buyers, I would look up during a showing and notice more than style. Ceiling height can affect scale. Skylights can change natural light. Older stains or patchwork may deserve a closer look. Decorative beams may be structural or purely visual.

For homeowners thinking about design, the ceiling can also be an opportunity to add interest without filling the room with more furniture or decor.

The floor plan tells you where the room begins. The ceiling can change how the entire room is experienced.

A home inspection can feel overwhelming because every house comes with a list. I would not read that list as a simple pa...
09/25/2026

A home inspection can feel overwhelming because every house comes with a list. I would not read that list as a simple pass or fail. I would use it to understand condition, priorities and future responsibility.

Start by separating findings into categories:

• Safety or major system concerns
• Items that may need attention soon
• Routine maintenance
• Cosmetic preferences

Then look at the whole picture. The age of the home, the condition of major systems, available documentation and your own comfort with future projects all matter.

One long report does not automatically mean a bad house, and a short report does not remove the need for careful review.

I can help buyers turn inspection information into better questions and a clearer next step.

Buyers often form an impression of a home before they can explain exactly why they feel it. The entry feels calm. The ro...
09/24/2026

Buyers often form an impression of a home before they can explain exactly why they feel it. The entry feels calm. The rooms make sense. The light is good. Nothing immediately creates a question mark.

That first reaction is emotional, but sellers can prepare for it in very practical ways.

• Make the entrance feel clear and cared for
• Let natural light do as much work as possible
• Keep furniture from blocking the flow of a room
• Fix visible maintenance items that create doubt
• Give each space an obvious purpose

I do not think preparation is about making a home look perfect. It is about reducing distractions so buyers can focus on the home itself.

A strong first impression gives the rest of the showing a better chance.

09/23/2026

A home is not only about how it looks on a perfect day. I also like to think about how it handles the less convenient moments, such as a power interruption, heavy rain, a plumbing leak or a sudden temperature change.

Resilient features can look different depending on the home and location, but the questions are useful almost anywhere. Does the property manage water well? Are important systems protected? Is there a backup plan for key functions? Can small problems be detected before they become larger ones?

These details are not always the reason someone falls in love with a home, but they can have a big impact on ownership.

I would rather ask the practical questions before closing than discover the answers during the first unexpected problem.

It is easy to look at two homes with similar size and assume they should be evaluated the same way. Real estate rarely w...
09/22/2026

It is easy to look at two homes with similar size and assume they should be evaluated the same way. Real estate rarely works that neatly.

Condition, lot placement, updates, street position, natural light, parking, layout and even how the home has been maintained can create meaningful differences between properties that look similar on paper.

That is why I do not like relying on one detail in isolation when helping a buyer or seller think through the market. The better question is how the whole property compares.

A useful comparison should explain the differences, not hide them.

Whether you are preparing an offer or getting ready to list, context helps turn a group of similar homes into a more realistic picture of where your property fits.

Lighting can change the way a room feels without changing the room itself. A space that looks flat or harsh under one ov...
09/21/2026

Lighting can change the way a room feels without changing the room itself. A space that looks flat or harsh under one overhead fixture can feel completely different when the lighting is layered.

I like to think about three levels:

• General light for the whole room
• Task light where you read, cook or work
• Accent light that adds warmth and depth

For sellers, balanced lighting can help rooms photograph and show more naturally. For buyers, it is worth noticing whether a dark room truly lacks light or simply needs a better lighting plan.

Before replacing finishes or furniture, look at the bulbs, fixtures and placement of light sources. Sometimes the fastest design improvement is the one you switch on.

A polished showing can make it easy to focus on finishes first. I would still slow down long enough to understand the hi...
09/20/2026

A polished showing can make it easy to focus on finishes first. I would still slow down long enough to understand the history and condition of the home.

The seller disclosure can provide useful context about known repairs, water issues, structural concerns or other property conditions, depending on the rules in that state. It is information to review carefully, not a replacement for an independent inspection.

If something in the paperwork feels vague, I would ask questions early and request supporting information when it is available. Repair receipts, permits, warranties and specialist reports can help build a clearer picture.

The goal is not to find a perfect house. It is to understand the house you are actually buying before making a major decision.

Check out the new Homestead Tax Credit updates for Iowa homeowners!
09/19/2026

Check out the new Homestead Tax Credit updates for Iowa homeowners!

Some of the most useful parts of a home are not the headline rooms. They are the spaces that make movement from one area...
09/19/2026

Some of the most useful parts of a home are not the headline rooms. They are the spaces that make movement from one area to another feel natural.

A well placed mudroom can keep everyday clutter away from the main living area. A covered entry can make arrivals easier. A breezeway, vestibule or small landing can create separation without wasting space. Even a thoughtfully designed hallway can improve privacy and circulation.

I think these transitional spaces deserve more attention because they quietly shape how a home functions from morning to night.

When touring, do not only count bedrooms and bathrooms. Notice how you enter, where you drop things, how people move through the home and whether the in between spaces actually help.

Address

1306 18th Street, Suite C
Spirit Lake, IA
51360

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