blog: LOWBALL OFFERS... - 03/17/09 09:51 PM
Can an offer be so low that it is offensive?
I received an offer on one of my listings last night. A real nice two bedroom condo near Naperville's train station and downtown.
The condo is beautiful. It shows great. We've only been on the market 19 days...
Anyway, we received the offer last night. They bid $200k. We are asking $325K...
I must say I was surprised. In my three years as an agent, I haven't had an offer near this low.
Does this seem odd?
It seems strange to me...
We will sell this home. But not for 62% of our asking price after only 19 days … (83 comments)
|
blog: SHOULD I DO IT??? SHOULD I MAKE A REAL ESTATE MOBILE? - 02/27/09 07:50 PM
Should I do it???
Should I make a Real Estate Mobile?
You know what I am talking about. One of those driving billboards...
Bordering on obnoxious...but not quite.
My Dad called me the other day. He owns a Sir Speedy Printing in Villa Park, Illinois. The store has a white mini-van that was no longer needed. He wanted to know if I could use it...
Hmmm.
What if I repaint this bad boy Keller Williams Red...
Put my logo on it...
My face...
My phone number...
My website...
Maybe even my blog???
It could be super cheesy...
… (31 comments)
|
blog: ONE YEAR OF BLOGGING...AND BEYOND. - 02/25/09 11:13 AM
On February 15th of 2008 I made a committment to writing my real estate blog.
I wrote the following post...
A New Commitment
Hello again. I have been abusing my blog. And by that, I mean abuse by neglect. I love the idea of this community, I just need to participate more. I will become more active on this blog!
I hope all is well,
Ken
That was my 5th post here on Active Rain. I took 8 months to write the first four. I have written more than 350 posts since...
What a crazy 12 months it has been.
So many highs … (15 comments)
|
blog: OPEN HOUSES - 02/08/09 02:20 PM
I think open houses are great. I feel the open house shows a Realtor is both active and energized.
I held one at my listing in south Naperville yesterday. It was a beautiful day. 57 degrees and sunny.
Despite the great weather, only two groups came through, yet I was happy.
At 4:00, when I picked up my signs, I snapped a few pictures:
Thousands of cars drove by these signs. Thousands of people saw my name and number...
They knew that I was working, that the real estate market hadn't stopped me...
When you keep working, good things happen.
Ken
A Realtor you can trust.
… (38 comments)
|
blog: I HAVE BECOME A NAPERVILLE "MOM"... - 02/05/09 08:12 PM
My wife Nicole went back to work last July. She is a pediatric dietician at Central DuPage Hospital.
While Nicole works, I watch our little girl Erin. It is working out quite well...
Despite some challenges, I am running a fairly active and growing real estate business.
Nicole's steady paychecks are nice too...
Recently, however, "fatherhood" has gone a little too far...
I think I have become a Naperville "mom".
Let me explain. Today went like this...
After driving my wife to work, my daughter and I go to the health club, Lifetime Fitness...
I drop Erin off at day care. It's awesome. They have a great staff and facility. It's … (17 comments)
|
blog: IT'S NOT THE LOCATION. IT'S THE PRICE. - 02/04/09 05:48 PM
I was speaking with a Realtor friend of mine today.
I had recently shown one of her listings on the eastern side of Aurora...
It was a real nice four bedroom. Showed great. Cool layout. Finished basement.
The home did back to a fairly busy street. There were trees and a berm in back, so you couldn't see it.
But you knew it was there...
My buyers liked the house, but ended up choosing another...
"It's that location!" my friend said. She was frustrated. I understand.
However, IT'S NOT THE LOCATION. IT'S THE PRICE.
After all, you can't move the house.
So lower … (20 comments)
|
blog: MY IMPROMPTU "OPEN HOUSE" - 02/01/09 09:11 AM
What the heck...
I have a listing on Alan Road in Naperville. It is a short sale. Late stages. We need an offer...
The bank has "removed" our lock box.
Apparently this is a common practice for lenders in the Chicago area. If a home is vacant and not paying the mortgage, they do not wait to foreclose.
They take control immediately and put on a new doorknob.
Anyway, I now have to attend all showings. Makes it very difficult.
This week, we have lowered our price to $274,900.
The house has lots of potential and is on a big lot … (30 comments)
|
blog: REALTORS, DO YOU WORK A SET SCHEDULE? - 01/28/09 03:40 PM
I read Clint Millers post the other day titled "5 Ways to Kill your Business in 2009!".
In his post, not working a set schedule was Clint's #2 way to kill your business.
Realtors, do you work a set schedule?
I don't. Not even close. Should I be worried?
I don't understand how a career in real estate could be a "set schedule" type of job.
I am not saying my way is the only way. There are different ways to skin a cat...
But my real estate happens at all hours. Certainly not 9-5...
Like I said, my way may not work for … (37 comments)
|
blog: THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY? STOP THE MADNESS! - 01/27/09 12:47 PM
I have heard the following phrase countless times: The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT!
Tell it to the river that carves the canyon...
To the wind that changes mountains...
Yet I continue to hear this "definition" almost daily.
Doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result?
This is the definition of determination. The definition of persistence.
Sometimes you have to fight through tough times.
Are you working hard? Do you take care of your clients?
Then keep doing what you are doing.
Persistence wears down resistance.
… (11 comments)
|
blog: INVESTING IN MY BUSINESS FOR 2009 - 01/19/09 08:37 AM
I was fortunate to have couple of closing at the end of December.
It not only assured my family a very Merry Christmas, it also allowed me to make some investments in my business:
1. Global Positioning system (GPS): Garmin Nuvi 260
I love it. It gives me so much confidence. There is enough anxiety involved in real estate. It is nice not worrying where I am going. Price $189.
2. Hard Drive: Maxtor
An insurance policy for my computer. I have so many files, pictures, contacts, etc. that I do not want to lose. Now I won't. Probably more space than I will ever use. Price $80.
… (32 comments)
|
blog: IT'S A STEADY SOURCE OF BUSINESS...GROWTHLEADER UPDATE - 01/15/09 05:38 PM
Do you ever have one of those blah days?
I was having one today when and an email I received made me smile.
From: Vision.
Subject: New prospect.
Congratulations! You just received the following new prospect:
Name: xxxxxx
Phone:
Website: servingnaperville.com
Action: Use the initial contact wizard.
Be sure to make personal contact and build the relationship.
Best success!
Vision Team
I love those emails!
It's a steady source of business.
New prospects are signing up on my website, www.SERVINGNAPERVILLE.COM.
Some are good. Some are not.
All are worthwhile...
My business just generated another new lead.
That makes me smile.
Ken
A Realtor you … (17 comments)
|
blog: DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS? - 01/13/09 07:27 PM
If you are a Realtor planning on showing a short sale listing, this is a bad sight.
It means you probably won't be showing that home today.
I came across this ugly sight not once but twice TODAY.
It is a door knob, smashed off it's door. The Sentrilock still desperately trying to do it's job...
Clasping on the doorknob.
Smashed off by a lender, taking control of the REO listing.
Nope, you won't be showing that home.
Unless you have the garage code.:)
Ken
A Realtor you can trust.
… (26 comments)
|
blog: THE BEST REAL ESTATE BLOGGER YOU HAVE NEVER HEARD OF... - 01/11/09 06:02 PM
His name is Andrew Olson.
He is probably the best real estate blogger you have never heard of.
I first read one of Andrew's posts back in October.
I had just joined Facebook, and was anxious to learn about social networking and Web 2.0.
The timing was perfect.
Andrew writes simple posts. Always very positive...
He writes about blogging, Facebook, and Twitter...how social networking can impact business...
I have enjoyed reading his posts and look forward to more in 2009.
Check out Andrew's Blog now.
Ken
A Realtor you can trust.
… (14 comments)
|
blog: TAKING PICTURES IN THE SNOW... - 01/11/09 03:04 PM
I was hoping for a cold and sunny day.
What I got was a snowstorm...
It was Saturday morning. I was taking pictures for my new listing, 1116 Longwood Drive, Lisle.
It was snowing heavily. The skies were dark.
Although it wasn't what I planned on, it was fun taking pictures in the snow...
Ken
A Realtor you can trust.
-I thought it was neat how the snowflakes came out. They look like stars.
-The sidewalks and steps had yet to be shoveled. I was wearing clogs. Not very smart.
-The courtyard looks neat in the snow. It was pretty … (26 comments)
|
blog: THINKING ABOUT BUYING A HOME? GET STARTED EARLY. - 01/06/09 07:15 PM
I have been showing a nice young couple homes the last few weeks.
As many of my buyers do, they did a bulk of their searching online, selected their favorites, and then called me with a list of homes they wanted to see.
All of their favorites ended up being short sales.
Why?
Because short sales HAVE to be priced more aggressively to get an offer.
They do.
Why would any serious buyer deal with the additional hassle of buying a short sale except to save money?
That being said, their is money to be saved buying short sales.
But be prepared...
Normally, a … (21 comments)
|
blog: THE LEADS ARE BACK...MY GROWTHLEADER UPDATE... - 01/03/09 07:45 PM
I haven't written anything about Growthleader in a while.
Honestly, I didn't have a whole lot to say...
The number of leads I was receiving from my new website, www.servingnaperville.com, had cooled off dramatically right after Thanksgiving...
But in the last week or so, they have started up again.
Strange.
One week, I get maybe two leads...
The next week, I get two leads every day.
I don't think Growthleader is changing the marketing for my website?
Are you, Growthleader?
But the number of leads I am getting varies tremendously, week to week.
I think the changes reflect overall market interest...
Some … (22 comments)
|
blog: JANUARY 2nd, TIME TO GET BACK TO WORK...DELIVERING KEN'S CARROLWOOD AND RIVER BEND VIEW! - 01/02/09 02:21 PM
It's not like I have been on vacation...
On the contrary. I have had several buyer appointments, a listing appointment (which I did get), and two closings in the last two weeks.
Oddly busy, especially for late December.
All that activity is only a byproduct of what I really do for a living...
MARKETING.
And I was back marketing this morning delivering 165 newsletters to Carrolwood in Naperville and 140 newsletters to River Bend in Lisle.
It was 23 degrees today and overcast. Nice weather for my deliveries, although I was a bit under dressed.
My hands were pretty cold!
Although I was … (21 comments)
|
blog: TWO CLOSINGS IN TWO DAYS? - 12/25/08 05:32 PM
I had a closing on Monday, December 22...
And a closing on Tuesday, December 23.
Two closings in two days? Two homes sold?
Two paychecks for Ken???
Holy poop.
Feels good. Very good.
Ken
A Realtor you can trust.
… (48 comments)
|
blog: I AM EXCITED ABOUT 2009. I HOPE YOU ARE TOO... - 12/19/08 07:34 PM
I AM EXCITED ABOUT 2009. I HOPE YOU ARE TOO...
People do need to move after all...
They do. They always will.
They can put off moves. Delay decisions...
But eventually, life catches up.
And people move.
I am starting to get busy.
I have been showing homes.
People are calling me. People are emailing...
New people.
I have been marketing hard. Ridiculously hard.
It seems to be working...
So I am extremely confident.
I guess that's why I have been hesitant to post...
I am excited about 2009.
I hope you are too...
Ken
A Realtor you can trust.
… (37 comments)
|
blog: I FELL NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE...DELIVERING KEN'S WHEATLAND SOUTH, CRESTVIEW KNOLLS, AND HIGH MEADOW VIEW. - 12/17/08 10:09 PM
Do I intentionally choose the cold days to deliver my newsletters?
The thermometer never peeked above 16 degrees this week as I was making my deliveries.
And it wasn't the cold, but the ice that presented a hazard.
Last weekend the temps were in the 50s. Lots of rain. Sunday night, as the temps plunged into the teens, a layer of ice was created over Chicagoland.
Tuesday was the real scary day.
Several times I was forced to walk like baby horse taking his first steps...
Twice I fell flat on my back.
Panic really kicks in as one is about to fall on a sidewalk.
Please … (31 comments)
|
;)
;)
;)
