Coal City-area REALTOR® Cindy Klein made her television debut on Dec. 7 in an episode of HGTV’s My Lottery Dream Home.

Season 5, episode 13 is titled, “Four-Million-Dollar Smile.”

“I enjoyed the experience more than I can express,” said Klein, of Lori Bonarek Realty in Coal City. “The producers were amazing. They were very professional but also very down to earth. They wanted it to be a fun experience for us. Their communication was great. They kept me very informed.”

The process began in late August, when Klein received a message from a show producer. A state lottery winner from Kankakee had identified one of her listings as a potential home, and the producers needed a real estate professional to appear in an episode. After several conversations, the HGTV crew visited the Kankakee listing and the Bonarek Realty office for two days of recording in mid-September.

Klein was familiar with the show and said that spending the first day with the cast and crew put her at ease for her own on-camera time.

Klein and Bromstad keep the mood light.

“Host David Bromstad and I had a crazy fun connection, like we were old friends,” she said. “He assured me it was going to be fun and easy. He told me to just keep looking at him, and he was going to keep looking at me, and we were just going to chat. And that’s exactly what happened. We probably talked for 15-20 minutes, and when they announced we were done, I realized for the first time that the producer was sitting on the floor right next to me! It was fun and relaxed and just totally awesome!”

Bonarek said she enjoyed the experience as well. “They were all very down to earth. I knew that however the episode turned out, it would be great for Cindy and the office as well. It was awesome publicity and Cindy is a great representative for our company.

“I’m extremely proud of Cindy! Having HGTV in our small town and in my office was such an honor,” Bonarek said.

What’s happened since

In the days that followed the episode’s release, Klein says she received positive feedback from family, friends and colleagues. “It’s a little too soon to tell if it has had an effect on the business but I’ve definitely been stopped and approached by folks who saw the program. I have had folks ask to take their picture with me, and a lot of friends and acquaintances jokingly ask for my autograph which has just added some unexpected fun to my life!

“Do I believe it will have an impact? Absolutely! Our office has such a positive influence and impact on our community and hopefully this opportunity and exposure only solidified that. We have beyond amazing leadership and teamwork in our office. Let’s face it … we work in a very competitive field where jealousy is not uncommon. But I never experienced one ounce of that behavior at all! I can tell you that the support, the generosity, and the authentic ‘way to go’ attitude was displayed throughout this whole experience and continues today.”

Klein’s episode is scheduled to run again: 9 p.m. Dec. 31; 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1; and 1 p.m. Jan. 26.

(l to r) Bromstad, Klein, Bonarek and Jen Phillips.