IT'S 7:00 PM. DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR CLIENTS ARE? - 07/31/08 06:28 PM
I do. At least one of them...
They are looking at a townhome in North Aurora. WITHOUT ME!!!
This is a client I met about a year back. I think I have been servicing the heck out of him.
Anyway, about 6 months back, he casually mentioned to me, "I had … (27 comments)
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THINK PROGRESS - 07/31/08 04:00 PM
Gary Keller writes in his book, "The Millionaire Real Estate Agent":
"The Millionaire Real Estate Agent does not see consequences in terms of positives or negatives. If something has an outcome, whether it has a positive or negative result, they call it progress. Because they Think Progress, they know that failures … (6 comments)
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AS IF BY MAGIC, THE LAWN MOWER STARTED - 07/31/08 02:13 PM
Yesterday, I wrote that my schedule had been disrupted by a non starting lawn mower.
At the time, it seemed a crisis to me because mowing the lawn was on my to do list. I don't like to mess with my to do list.
Well today I went out and, as if … (8 comments)
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APPROACHING 40 - 07/30/08 04:09 PM
Some may know that I am approaching one of lifes big milestones in the next couple of weeks.
40. 40 years old. Sounds fairly mature. Very serious.
But I still feel like a kid.
Sure, a kid with lots of pressures. Lots of responsibilities. Lots of things to do.
But still … (16 comments)
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MY PLANS WERE DERAILED...BY A LAWNMOWER??? - 07/30/08 03:28 PM
Yes that's right. A lawnmower. A faulty lawnmower, actually.
I had three family goals for the day.
1. Take care of my daughter, Erin.2. Go to YMCA with Erin to workout.3. Mow the lawn.
Nicole would be having a long day today. She had a client (Nutrition for your Kids) she … (19 comments)
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THE FORECLOSURE MARKET IS HEATING UP - 07/29/08 08:37 PM
I have noticed recently that the foreclosure market is starting to heat up.
The banks are starting to price their homes properly and they are selling.
In the last week alone, two new foreclosures were taken off the market by bargain hunters in subdivisions I watch closely.
One was in River Bend, … (12 comments)
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WHEATLAND SOUTH*MODESTLY PRICED*HUGE LOTS*GIANT TREES*SOUTH NAPERVILLE - 07/29/08 07:18 PM
Those looking for more of a "country" feel in Naperville Illinois need to check out the subdivision of Wheatland South.
Conveniently located at the corner of 103rd and Book Road, Wheatland South has homes very reasonably priced starting in the low 300k's.
If you like big yards, big trees, low property taxes? Top … (2 comments)
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WHILE OIL CONTINUES TO FALL, THE STOCK MARKET HAS GIVEN BACK MOST OF THE RALLY - 07/28/08 01:35 PM
Last week I wrote about the rally we have seen in the stock market. At the time, oil had dropped $18 to $129 per barrel, and the Dow 30 was up 600 points in just 4 days.
I felt at the time that the stock market was up in a relief … (9 comments)
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STUNG BY A BEE! - 07/25/08 01:55 PM
Ouch.
When was the last time you were stung by a bee??
I took one about 45 minutes ago. On the inside of my right wrist.
I can't really blame the bee.
I am at Bear Lake, Michigan. Nickie and Erin are taking a nap.
I am having a campfire. One … (20 comments)
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MY LITTLE FAMILY, 4TH OF JULY - 07/23/08 10:07 PM
Here is an overdue picture of Nicole, Erin (the short one) and myself enjoying the 4th of July. We were at Nicole's families vacation home on Bear Lake in Michigan (between Kalkaska and Grayling). Anyway, we had a great time.We will actually be going up there tomorrow for the weekend. Nicole's … (11 comments)
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WHO WILL BE ABLE TO BUY A HOUSE? - 07/22/08 03:37 PM
What will the mortgage business be like in the future??
Who will be able to buy a house?
With many would be homebuyers falling behind on various payments, credit ratings across the country will be falling.
So who will be able to buy?
As the world digests the mortgage issues we are … (12 comments)
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AS OIL CONTINUES TO FALL, THE DOW CONTINUES TO RISE - 07/22/08 03:15 PM
The market has continued to reverse a longer term trend of oil rising and stocks falling.
For whatever reason, oil prices took it on the chin again today, down more than $3.50/barrel. That makes a price drop of $18 or 14% in the last four days. Prices at the pump should … (4 comments)
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"WE LOVE YOU KEN. WE WOULD NEVER USE ANOTHER REALTOR." - 07/21/08 03:10 PM
Funny story. True story.
It was last February. One of my listings in River Bend had just come under contract.
The next day, I hung my SOLD panel beneath my FOR SALE sign.
The only better advertisement for a Realtor than a FOR SALE sign is one with SOLD underneath it!
As … (7 comments)
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"MY WIFE AND I DECIDED TO GO IN ANOTHER DIRECTION" - 07/21/08 02:16 PM
One of my prospective sellers called me this morning. We had met on Saturday. He has a nice home in my farm area, River Bend.
"Ken, I appreciate your time on Saturday, but my wife and I decided to go in another direction with selling our house. We decided to use … (21 comments)
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TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT YOU DO. - 07/21/08 11:55 AM
Probably one of the keys to happiness. You need to take pride in what you do. Do it well.
I doesn't matter if you are an attorney, a doctor, a Realtor, a plumber or a garbage man. Take pride in what you do. Do it well.
It's funny. I used to … (4 comments)
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MR. MOM - 07/21/08 10:47 AM
So it has begun. My second week as Mr. Mom!
Week one went well. It was exhausting.
Gentlemen, thank your ladies that stay at home with the kids. Try holding a conversation with a chatty two year old all day.
Nap time can't come soon enough. Anyway...
The week did go well.
… (9 comments)
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BACK FROM BUTLER NATIONAL. MY SCORECARD. - 07/18/08 06:50 PM
It was a hot day out there at Butler National in Oak Brook Illinois. Hot and humid.
We didn't complain. The caddies were the ones carrying the bags.
I played fairly well. For me at least. My short game was poor. My longest putt made was 4 feet.
RUSTY!
I guess … (7 comments)
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BUTLER NATIONAL GOLF COURSE - 07/18/08 09:54 AM
The name of the course alone gives me chills.
I will be playing this course this afternoon with friends.
A private all mens club, Butler hosted the Western Open here in the western suburbs of Chicago for many years. Due to their less than politcally correct membership, the Western Open has … (9 comments)
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HOLY POOP! THE DOW WAS UP 483 POINTS IN TWO DAYS - 07/17/08 09:18 PM
Does anyone care anymore?
I was involved in financial sales from 1989-2002. Crazy years to be a stock broker, no doubt. I have seen some wild things.
I still love the markets. Supply and demand. Prices go up. Prices go down. Just like real estate. Love it.
Anyway, I have CNBC … (5 comments)
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I AM NO SALESMAN... - 07/17/08 08:22 PM
Ok. We all know it. I am not a salesman. But...
I think if a buyer gets spooked easily, they shouldn't be buying.
I just read a post of Valerie Osterhoudt. She was concerned that a home inspector was spooking her would be buyers.
My comment was:
Hi Valerie. I think if a … (9 comments)
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SO HOW DO I LIKE KELLER WILLIAMS SO FAR?? - 07/17/08 04:32 PM
I am asked this question all the time. It is good people care.
My answer is usually this:
I like it a lot. The different systems are challenging. I am learning lots of new software. That usually takes time for me.
But I have liked it a lot.
I am … (15 comments)
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SUCCESSFUL FARMING! - 07/17/08 03:55 PM
Last Friday, I wrote about my ongoing effort to farm one of my favorite neighborhoods, River Bend.
A "farm" area to me is a neighborhood I work. In River Bend, for instance, I hang my newsletter on door knobs once a season. I put current market data for the neighborhood. People like that … (8 comments)
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WHAT'S MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT NAPERVILLE? - 07/15/08 01:04 PM
This was a question asked of my by one of my readers this morning?
My city of Naperville (sounds a little possessive, doesn't it) has just been Rated the Number 3 City to live in by Money magazine. This ranking is nothing new for Naperville. It has become commonplace the last … (8 comments)
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NAPERVILLE NO. 3 ON "BEST PLACES TO LIVE" LIST - 07/15/08 09:41 AM
For the fifth time in six years, Money magazine ranked west suburban Naperville as one of the best places in the country to live.
From the August issue of the magazine, Money credited Naperville's popular downtown, fantastic public schools and proximity to Chicago when it ranked the suburb third out of 100 American cities.
… (3 comments)
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"DON'T EVEN BOTHER" - 07/13/08 01:24 PM
People are funny. They are all different.
There are happy people and sad people.
Cheerful people and grumpy people.
I noticed this as I was hanging my newsletter this morning in one of my farm areas, Carrolwood in Naperville Illinois.
It was a beautiful day. Sunday morning. People walking their dogs … (17 comments)
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A BEAUTIFUL MORNING FOR FARMING - 07/13/08 01:02 PM
It was gorgeous out this morning. A little breezy for my tastes, but no humidity and temperatures in the upper 70's here in Naperville, Illinois.
It was a beautiful morning for more farming.
We were back at it again this morning. Nickie and I pulled into Carrolwood subdivision just after 10:30 … (7 comments)
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KEN'S CARROLWOOD NEWSLETTER, NAPERVILLE ILLINOIS - 07/13/08 12:30 PM
… (2 comments)
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DOOR KNOCKING - 07/12/08 01:28 PM
Alright. I admit it. It has been quite a while since I have door knocked. But I did it for about three months in February, March, and April of last year.
There was a riduculous cold spell last February. Temps were under 20 degrees for two weeks straight. My coldest evening … (21 comments)
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MY RESPONSE TO THE ANONYMOUS JELLYFISH - 07/11/08 06:26 PM
I tried to turn the other cheek...
When my boss handed me the letter, I was shocked. We were in his office. I never like being in a bosses office. I feel like I am twelve years old, sitting in the principals office. Nothing good can come from being there.
Anyway, … (16 comments)
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FARMING FEELS OH SO GOOD - 07/11/08 03:26 PM
I use door hangers when I farm a neighborhood. I farmed again this morning. Actually, Nickie and I did.
She had the morning off.
Anyway, in my last post, Kens River Bend Newsletter, Lisle Illinois, I posted an image of the door hanger I used in my oldest farm area, River Bend.
Nice … (10 comments)
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KEN'S RIVER BEND NEWSLETTER, LISLE ILLINOIS - 07/11/08 01:20 PM
… (8 comments)
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COFFEE BREAK - 07/10/08 07:00 AM
It's 6:51 AM. Why is the coffee taking so long??
Today should be a good day. A new day.
My wife is going in to her new job today. She will be taking over the position as pediatric dietitcian at Central DuPage Hospital.
It's a great job. Good pay. Great benefits.
… (15 comments)
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WHY ARE SOME PEOPLE MEAN? - 07/09/08 07:21 PM
Just curious. Was it nature or nurture?
I wrote a post today about a letter written by an apparently disturbed reader titled, My boss received an anonymous letter. The letter had no return address. I am fairly confident I know who wrote the letter. It is someone I have never spoken with and … (13 comments)
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MY BOSS RECEIVED AN ANONYMOUS LETTER TODAY!!! - 07/09/08 03:44 PM
The letter was written by a "fan" here on Active Rain. Someone that apparently gets very upset at my blog. Someone at least slightly disturbed.
She may have worked for my old company, but certainly not my old office. She has never met me, I am sure of that.
Since the author obviously put … (29 comments)
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IT TAKES AWHILE TO CHANGE - 07/08/08 04:40 PM
At least for me it does.
I mean change offices. Real estate offices.
I was an agent at one office for almost three years. It was where I got started. It was a large part of my real estate identity.
Probably too much.
So it was time for a change.
But … (13 comments)
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ARE YOU MAKING CHANGES BECAUSE OF GAS PRICES? - 07/01/08 05:04 PM
I paid $4.25 for a gallon of gas today. That is a new record for me. Just the cheap stuff, too. So I was wondering,...
Are you making any changes because of the high gas prices?
I know I am.
Specifically, we will be driving my sister-in-law's Honda Accord to vacation … (18 comments)
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MORNING CUP OF COFFEE - 07/01/08 07:28 AM
Ahhh. Just starting my second cup of coffee.
My original plan was to start blogging on my first cup. I was sidetracked.
Moving is no fun. Whether you are moving homes or places of employment. There are lots of headaches involved.
And I have moved homes and employment.
So I have … (11 comments)
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