We would like to welcome Jovany Mendoza and Vicky Eaton to our team here at Keller Williams Realty in Oak Park, IL.  We are glad to be in business with both agents.  Jovany, a resident of Berwyn, follows his cousin, Carlos Cubas here to the office to take advantage of some of our training programs to help him succeed in real estate.

Vicky, a resident of Forest Park, another neighboring community, transfers in from a small independent company and is looking forward to a little more training and support than in the past. 

Both are experienced agents and bring value to our team and we are glad to have them.  Looking forward to a GREAT rest of the year here in Oak Park!

Thanks,

John Youker

Everyone knows a GPS is a Global Positioning System, or a device that helps you navigate from point A to point B.  They can be very helpful in driving, hiking, or many other applications.  Do you know what a GPS for your business is?

Well, it is the same thing.  A tool that can help you navigate from point A to point B.  Do you have a GPS for your business?  IN business this acronym stands for Goals, Priorities, and Strategies.  First off, you must define your GOAL.  One goal, that is it.  Maybe it is an income goal, or a # of listings goal.  Once you have clearly established your goal, then you need 3 priorities for that goal.  What 3 things must I focus on to make that goal happen?  Once you have established those three things, it is time for implementation or ACTION.  Next you would take each priority and write 5 simple action steps that will turn those priorities into realities, thus helping you achieve your goal.

At Keller Williams Realty Professionals, this is exactly what we do.  I schedule an individual consultation with every agent who joins our office and we write, together, a GPS plan for their success.  Then we help them implement what they need to make that happen by custom designing a training schedule for them to engage in so they can reach their goals and become the agent they want to be.

If you are interested in writing a GPS for you to help you navigate the troubled waters of a shifted market, please call me at (718)725-9050 or email me at TL@kw418.com and we will make it happen.  All we need is 2 hours of your time to make it happen!  The desire to succeed must outweigh the fear of a new challenge!

I hope to hear from you soon

John Youker
Team Leader / CEO
Keller Williams Realty Professionals
Chicago - Oak Park

Well, this is a question I am faced with on a daily basis.  And, I am proud to say, YES, it does, however, it is totally dependent on the implementation of the agent.  When agents join Keller Williams Realty, at my office, the first thing I teach them is the six personal perspectives to help them get on the path to mastery.  Here they are:

1.  Commit to self-mastery

2.  Focus on the 20% that matters most

3.  Breaktrhrough the ceiling of Achievement

4.  Become a learning-based individual

5.  Remove your limiting beliefs

6.  Become accountable

Now, not all agents participate, but the agents who understand these principles and engage in the business using these six simple rules typically have an increase in production.  Take Loria Hamilton, who joined Keller Williams Realty Professionals in October '09.  Her production since joing KW has increased by 174%.  Yes, you read that right, 174%!  Now, imagine for a minute what you could do with almost DOUBLE your income? 

All of our training in the office is free and is readily available for any agent who is interested in taking their business to the next level.  We have just begun a series of classes titled Lead Generation 36:12:3, which helps the agent close 36 transactions over the next 12 months by focusing 3 hours per day on the 20% that matters most - Lead Generation.  If you are interested in this class or any other training, please feel free to call me at (708) 725-9050 or email me at TL@kw418.com, we would love to have you join in our learning experience.  For a copy of our current calendar of events, please click on Training Calendar above.

You have heard the old saying. "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink!"  Well, it is time for you to start drinking up!  Learn what it takes to be successful in this market, come to a class, join us for some incredible learning experiences, all taught by a Keller Williams University certified instructor.

For more information, please contact John Youker at (708) 725-9050 or email at TL@kw418.com.

Thanks,

John Youker
Team Leader / CEO
Keller Williams Realty Professionals
Chicago - Oak Park

Keller Williams Realty Professionals, in Oak Park, IL, has just moved to the #2 position for agent count in the entire Oak Park Board.  After increasing the size of the office by 63% since January 1st of this year, Keller Williams Realty Professionals is now on track to take over the #1 position by mid-summer.

The growth has been phenomenal!  I came up here at the end of '08 to see what I could do with this office; can we turn this into a high producing Keller Williams office was the question and my focus was on growing the business of the agents inside the office, create a true culture of productivity, and then attract good agents - not only from Oak Park, but from Chicago and the surrounding areas as well.  Our goal has always been growth, however a lot needed to happen on the inside before we could truly deliver the KW value proposition to the agents who joined us.  I knew I had my work cut out for me, so I just put my head down, listened to my business coach, and worked at it - everyday - making things happen, one by one.

Being a Keller Williams Realty owner of a highly successful office in Dayton, OH, I knew exactly what we needed to do each step of the way to get to the top.  I started with the inside - building a training program and creating a productive environment for the agents to work in.   Next came our ALC, or Agent Leadership Committee - a committee of agents selected from the top 20% of the producers from the office to help run the office, making each Keller Williams office truly run by the agents.  We have a committed group of agents on the ALC in our office, constantly making it a better place to work.

After that, we moved the office, purchasing a building on North Ave. to strategically position us on the border of Oak Park and Chicago to be able to pull in agents from both boards, and that is exactly what we have done.  Moving here in October of '09, creating a system and setting the agents up for success, we started the recruiting push in November, and by Christmas the agents started coming on board.  We have brought in 20 high producing individuals in the last 5 months, and will see at least 80 more join by the end of the year.  Our goal, by Christmas is to be at 100 producing agents in the office.  Most agents join us for our training and coaching programs that we have here in the office.  Being a certified KWU instructor, I have been teaching a lot and inviting agents from all over the area to come in and take in our training.  From there, most agents simply ask us how to be a part of our office stating that their brokers are simply not providing the necessary information to succeed at the highest level in this shifted market.

June is a HUGE training month for our office, bringing in three nationally known trainers from around the country to help our agents with the fundamental element of our business - Lead Generation.  If you are an agent looking to succeed at the highest level, I welcome you to come in and check out our taining programs, which are offered for free, and see the difference for yourself.  I can be reached at JYouker@kw.com or by calling me in the office at 708-725-9055.

To see a copy of our June Calendar, please click here:  JUNE TRAINING CALENDAR

Today, more than 77,000 agents nationwide, banned together to "Give Where You Live" and give back the the communities that support them throughout the year.  Chicago was no different - In the Oak Park area, just west of the city, our office of just under 50 people decided to do a food drive to support the Oak Park Food Pantry which support over 20 local communities in Chicago and the surrounding areas.  We passed out fliers throughout the community and had several homeowners call us for pick-ups, other Real Estate Companies participated as well - with Weichert Realty really pitching in and donating a HUGE box of food for us to bring along with ours.  This was not a day of competition between firms, it was a day of working together, hand in hand with our peers to support those in need throughout our area.  We delivered the food at the end of the day and brought several boxes and carloads of food to the Pantry. 

This was one of the best days we have had in the office this year.  Coming from contribution to help those in need is one of the best feelings that anyone could ever have - it sure made me feel good, and I am glad I did it!

We will be doing more community service projects like this in the future, for sure!

Our office is growing and expanding and in this challenging market full of opportunity, we are finding the need to change the way we do business.  Therefore, we are looking for some top quality agents who want to find all the financial success they want or need in 2010.

We are looking for the following:

1.  Listing specialists

2.  Listing Managers

3.  Showing Assistants

4.  Buyer Specialists

5.  Rainmaker Lead Generators

6.  Short Sale Specialists

7.  REO agents / brokers

8.  Commercial agents (all disciplines of commercial real estate)

9.  Property managers

If you are looking for solutions on how to overcome market adversities, built in training and support (for free), and continuous cash flow coming your way on a monthly basis and you are willing to work in the Western Suburban part of Chicago, our office is located in the 6500 block of W. North Ave, between Oak Park and Narragansett Avenues.

Please call me, John Youker at 708-725-9050 or email me at JYouker@kw.com to schedule a confidential interview to discuss opportunities we have immediately available in our ever changing and growing office.

J.D. Power and Associates names company highest in customer satisfaction
for second year in a row

AUSTIN, TEXAS (September 2, 2009) -According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Home Buyer/Seller StudySM, Keller Williams Realty, Inc., the third largest real estate company in North America, received the highest overall satisfaction ratings from home buyers among the largest full-service real estate firms for the second year in a row. The company also ranked second-highest among home sellers in the study.

 "We couldn't be prouder. This is an achievement our associates have truly earned. It is the face-to-face interaction and the relationships they build daily that has impacted this study and elevated Keller Williams Realty to another level in customer service," said Mark Willis, CEO of Keller Williams Realty. "Knowing that this study was conducted during the toughest times the market has seen shows that spirit and dedication can make an impact."

The study was produced by J.D. Power and Associates to measure home buyers' and sellers' customer satisfaction. The results of the home-buying experience were determined by three factors including the agent, office and the package of additional services.

 "I am absolutely beaming with pride that our agents have been honored in such a fantastic way," said Mary Tennant, president and COO of Keller Williams Realty. "We are lucky to be in business with such incredible business people, who have shown incredible resolve over the past two years. If there was a time to build their business, it is now."

###

About Keller Williams Realty Inc.:

Founded in 1983, Keller Williams Realty Inc. is the third-largest real estate franchise operation in the United States, with 679 offices and 73,000 associates in the United States and Canada. The company, which began franchising in 1990, has an agent-centric culture that emphasizes access to leading-edge education and promotes an economic model that rewards associates as stakeholders and partners. The company also provides specialized agents in luxury homes and commercial real estate properties. For more information, or to search for homes for sale visit Keller Williams Realty online at (www.kw.com).

AUSTIN, TEXAS (December 21, 2009) - Keller Williams Realty joined the ranks of the top franchises in the world last week, when the company was ranked as the No. 1 real estate franchise on the 31^st Annual Franchise 500 list by Entrepreneur magazine. During the same week, the company was also voted the Most Recognizable Brand of Real Estate Franchises for 2009 in an industry-wide survey for the Swanepoel TRENDS Report.

"The Swanepoel TRENDS Report is a respected source for the real estate industry and beyond, as is Entrepreneur magazine, and we are excited to see our agents honored in this way for all of their hard work," said Mark Willis, CEO, Keller Williams Realty. "We certainly wouldn't have been included on either list without the dedication and resolve of our agents."

According to the ranking in Entrepreneur magazine, the most important criteria to determine the top franchises included financial strength and stability, as well as growth rate and size of the franchise system. The magazine also looked at the number of years the company has been in business and the length of time it's been franchising, in addition to start-up costs and financial data. Additionally, Keller Williams Realty made an impressive showing on the overall list, placing higher than any other real estate franchise.

The Swanepoel TRENDS Report is published by Stefan Swanepoel, a real estate industry speaker and insider. The survey was crafted to determine the Most Recognizable Brand for Real Estate Franchises for his report out in February 2010. The survey included votes cast by 11,000 plus real estate agents, who cast 390,000 votes to select the top 10.

Earlier in the year,Keller Williams Realty also received the highest overall satisfaction ratings from home buyers among the largest full-service real estate firms from J.D. Power and Associates for the second year in a row.

"We are extremely proud that our associates and company are being recognized for our strength and stability during this time in our industry," said Mary Tennant, president and COO, Keller Williams Realty. "We attribute our success to being in business with phenomenal people and to our core business models, which have allowed our franchises to thrive during any market."

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About Keller Williams Realty Inc.: Founded in 1983, Keller Williams Realty Inc. is the third-largest real estate franchise operation in the United States, with 679 offices and 73,000 associates in the United States and Canada. The company, which began franchising in 1990, has an agent-centric culture that emphasizes access to leading-edge education and promotes an economic model that rewards associates as stakeholders and partners. For more information on how you can change your business and your life, visit Keller Williams Realty Professionals online at (www.TheOakParkShift.com).  

We are building a commercial division within our Chicago / Oak Park based Keller Williams office that will have better training and support, better commission splits (100%) available, and better back-end systems than ANY other commercial brokerage in the area.  You have to ask yourself "Why did the president of the CCIM join Keller Williams Commercial?"  Because he saw the value in the system, support, model, training, and everything else that goes along with Keller Williams Realty.  Here is what our commercial division will have:

• Better compensation plan (100% available)
• Better business model from which to start building your business
• Separate branding from the residential side
• Training that is comparable to the CCIM curriculum
• A company culutre that is raising the bar everyday
• A wealth building, passive income stream, that will help you plan for your future - after real estate

At KW Commercial, we believe that you are only as good as the people you are in business with. That's why we make it a priority to be in business with the best.

As a company, Keller Williams Realty and KW Commercial are committed to delivering the most competitive compensation model in the industry along with the very best education, training and technology.

From office properties to land brokerage, if you are looking to enhance your career in the commercial realm, KW Commercial can take your career to new heights.

Also, we are building a new MEGA COMMERCIAL TEAM at Keller Williams Realty Professionals in Oak Park.  We are putting together a Lackman Commercial Group in our office.  We are looking for commercial agents in Chicagoland with or without commercial sales/leasing experience. We offer:

• Intensive, interactive training and support
• Referrals and marketing programs.
• Back end support including former lawyers, accountants, architects, engineers and business leaders interested in building on those skills to become top commercial agents.

Click here to watch a video about the Lackman Commercial Group

If you have an interest in finding out more about our Commercial Division or joining the Lackman Commercial Group to help take your business to the next level, please contact us here

I found this and wanted to re-post it here for you all to see.  Some great words of advice from the president of KW Commercial:

The commercial real estate market has changed - and is changing. Although many believe the market still hasn't hit bottom, one thing is certain, commercial real estate brokers need new skills in order to thrive in the face of current market realities. Beyond the tried and true relationship strategy, I believe commercial real estate brokers need to focus primarily on honing their business development skills.

Just because the commercial real estate market is shifting doesn't mean brokers should shift into panic mode. As Gary has shown us in SHIFT: How Top Real Estate Agents Tackle Tough Times, there are always opportunities in the midst of challenging environments. So, if you maintain a business development mindset and keep your foot on the accelerator, you are more likely to discover and leverage those opportunities to your advantage.

Before you can hone your business development skills you need to understand what business development is - and what it isn't. Business development is not merely sales role, it combines sales, marketing, strategic analysis and negotiations to accomplish one goal...building new relationships with potential clients.

With an ever-shifting market, you need to begin to think creatively about the opportunities that lie before you and how you might approach them. Here are a few steps to get you started:

• Identify local market opportunities: Stop and ask yourself, "What are the opportunities in my local commercial real estate market?" If your local market is like most, things are pretty quiet right now. Capital is sitting on the sidelines waiting for the right timing to invest. Therefore, investment sales are soft and will remain soft into 2010. Few are placing bets until unemployment stops rising because much of commercial real estate velocity relies on job growth. Many distressed property owners are holding on tight. It is imperative for you to know your market! That's why you should focus on landlord leasing and management, tenant representation and SBA/user transactions, as well as building relationships with key banks.

• Realize new and emerging trends: Foreign investors are entering the U.S. market to play against a weak dollar, and bank foreclosures on commercial properties are setting the stage for fire sales. Real Estate Investment Trusts are going to make their moves at the right time. And with market lease rates so low, tenant representation brokers are staying busy helping negotiate blend and extend deals or upgrades from Class B to Class A properties. Think creatively about the trends you are seeing. Find a new angle and execute your strategy.

• Prepare for 2010: For some, the New Year will mean a shift into tenant representation. For others, it may mean working with banks on REOs or commercial property management. For still others, that may mean aggressively marketing to foreign investors or private equity firms with massive hedge funds of cash waiting for the bottom. As you identify new and emerging market opportunities, SHIFT your business practice to prepare for the coming commercial trends.

You might also want to look at ramping up your training and coaching if you haven't, and join networking groups or form strategic alliances. Whatever it takes, once you've identified a valid business opportunity, begin taking steps toward developing that business. Although cost cutting is wise and relationship-building is a must, business development is a key skill that will pay off in the up and down cycles of commercial real estate. And, right now has never been a better time to hone these business development skills.

For anyone interested in Business Development of their own agent business, commercial or residential in the Chicago, NW side, and near Western Suburbs, please call or email John Youker today to schedule you FREE and private business consultation.  John will sit doen with you, describe the four business models and how and why they are or at least should be important for you to understand.  You will leave with plan for 2010 to implement. 

My contact into is JYouker@kw.com or 708-725-9050.  Thanks!

Re-BLOG from:

http://blog.kw.com/2009/12/01/business-development-the-hottest-cre-skill-for-2010/