ken tracy: MY TOUGHEST CLIENT. WORKING FOR MY WIFE... - 03/29/10 09:39 AM
As a real estate agent, it is always a challenge for me to "turn off" my work...
The phone rings at all hours, and each call might be my next big home sale.
At social gatherings, I am often asked questions like "How is the market?" and "How is business?". Heck, at most parties I go to there will be a client who is actively trying to buy or sell a home with me...
It is always challenging to shut down Realtor Ken.
And now, I am currently working with my toughtest client. My wife, Nicole...
Oh, she is not really that demanding. But … (15 comments)
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ken tracy: "HORRIBLE REALTOR". LAUGHING AT THE PAST... - 03/26/10 08:00 PM
It was two years ago this week. March 24, 2008.
"I AM A HORRIBLE REALTOR"
My first featured post here on Active Rain. It was a post that would change my life.
"Horrible Realtor" got me hooked on the potential of social media, blogging, and Active Rain...
It was a tongue and cheek post written by a new Realtor and father being crushed by the pressure of providing for his family as a real estate agent.
Without a steady paycheck...
It kind of makes me laugh now. I am a horrible realtor...
Probably not a great tag line for a real estate agent. Perhaps … (26 comments)
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ken tracy: "I will never ask you to buy a house..." - 02/11/10 11:07 PM
"I will never ask you to buy a house," I said to a young couple the other day. They were my new buyers looking for a condo in Lincoln Park, Chicago...
I received a confused stare followed by a look of calm understanding...
This is the reaction I get from most of my buyers.
I will never ask you to buy a house.
I won't.
I love saying that to my buyers. It puts them at ease...
My sales training came from some of the top salesman in the world. Stockbrokers...
We weren't the down on the floor waving your arm type. No. … (16 comments)
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ken tracy: 2010 is going to be an extraordinary year. Enjoy every moment of it. - 01/01/10 06:29 PM
Hello and Happy New Year.
I wanted to share this list posted by Bruce Brockmeier here on Active Rain.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Let's have an awesome 2010!
Ken
Via Bruce Brockmeier (Coached By Crouch) (Internet Marketing Consultant to REALTORS®):
This morning I received a powerful email from my friend, Jim Walberg. He compiled 39 helpful points, in 4 groups. Jim's positive message is a GREAT way to start 2010. I hope you enjoy his list as much as I did!
I especially appreciate #23. "Smile and laugh more often". :)
Which one of Jim' 39 points is your … (12 comments)
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ken tracy: FACEBOOK ADS. MY RESULTS AFTER ONE MONTH... - 11/06/09 09:43 PM
Back in early October, excited with wealth after a recent closing, I began an ad campain on my favorite social media site, Facebook...
I am running two ads.
One highlights my Facebook Business Page. (I am very proud of the rapid growth of this page. Thank you so much to my 250+ fans! I am excited about the potential of this site.)
The other spotlights "Ken's Featured Home". My listing of the month:
-2112 Seminary-One bedroom vintage in Lincoln Park...
I promised to post my results. After one month:
My featured home ad has been run 143,140 times. Exposure for my website. Exposure … (22 comments)
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ken tracy: DOW DOWN BIG...COULD WE BE GETTING CLOSER? - 10/06/08 02:24 PM
Many agents seem interested in the stock markets and it's day to day moves. I am a interested too.
After 15 years in the financial services industry, I just love watching the markets. Especially when they go up and down a lot. It makes it more fun. It also provides opportunity to make money.
The Dow is down about 700 points today. I sense nervousness in the streets and on the blogs.
This is what REALTORS need. We need the nervousness to move to panic.
I have lots of potential clients. Many have delayed decisions. Sitting on the proverbial fence.
I understand. Most sellers have not … (25 comments)
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ken tracy: KEN'S 6 MONTH BUSINESS PLAN - 09/06/08 03:31 PM
I wrote this business plan last week and posted it. I wanted to post it again this week, slightly updated. I have written lines through the neighborhoods that I have delivered my newsletter to.
I am on schedule with my deliveries. Currently out of ink. I need to purchase more ink for our color laser printer. The ink costs around $300. The ink should last for about 2000 copies.
So far, I have received exactly one call from a potential seller. It was a man that took my flyer from my hand as I delivered it to the Carrolwood neighborhood. We … (20 comments)
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ken tracy: REAL ESTATE MYTH #1: ONLY THE PERFECT HOMES ARE SELLING - 09/06/08 08:52 AM
It's just not true.
Somewhere along the line, probably about the time HGTV started becoming a huge hit (the bubble years) the business of real estate (It is a business. It is not a hobby. It is not even a job) started to go in the direction of the interior decorator.
I am sure the intent was to differentiate oneself from the multitude of other agents. Unfortunately, what we have today are a bunch of decorators selling houses.
I wonder why there are so many houses not selling?
"Hi Mr. Client. I am an interior designer. I will make your home look pretty. Only … (15 comments)
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ken tracy: "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 another Realtor," he said.
"Hey, I thank you for the call. I must say, I am a little disappointed, but good luck to you. If you do ever need anything or have a question, call me anytime," I responded before hanging up the phone.
A little disappointed. But no more.
We … (21 comments)
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ken tracy: 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 was 6 degrees. Brrrr.
I would begin knocking at 5 o'clock. I would knock till I spoke with 10 people at their doors. The reception was suprisingly positive. In the rare cases someone was mean, that was OK. It still counted towards my 10.
It would usually take 40 to … (35 comments)
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ken tracy: 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, the letter was vicious. It said a lot of bad things. Bad things about me.
The worst part about it was that it was written anonymously, with no return address. How do you defend yourself from a character attack written anonymously?
I was shocked and upset. I drove home wondering what I … (16 comments)
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ken tracy: MGD LIGHT - 05/02/08 08:03 PM
Ok. I know I shouldn't have Erin fetching me beer.
However, I was just delivered a cold can of MGD Light by the most beautiful waitress in the world.
My daughter Erin is two and one day. She is cute.
Anyway, she and I are playing in our basement. I was thirsty and thought she might be able to "help me out."
So she went on a beer run.
Thanks Erin.
Only 64 calories. Cold. Mmm good.
Ken
www.kensfeaturedhomes.com
… (7 comments)
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ken tracy: MY REALTOR SENDS ME A GIFT EVERY MONTH! - 04/23/08 08:28 AM
Huh...
The traffic on Interstate 294 was heavier than usual. I was driving my limo. I had a customer in back. He was talkative this morning.
"My realtor sends me a gift every month. She sent me a bottle of wine last month," he said.
The fuzz was still thick in my head. I had little sleep the night before.
"Oh. That's nice," I responded.
But I was curious. I wanted to know if this is what he wanted in a realtor. What he expected from a realtor.
Should I be doing this?
First of all, it is not going to happen. I can't afford to buy my daughter … (18 comments)
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ken tracy: BLOG SUBSCRIBER 42 - 04/22/08 08:57 PM
It's been a full three weeks. Three great weeks.
I made my pitiful rallying cry for more subscribers. It was March 31. I had gotten a taste of being popular. My post, I AM A HORRIBLE REALTOR, had just made it big time.
FEATURED STATUS ON ACTIVE RAIN.
Thank you Active Rain. Anyway...
I was suddenly popular. I had grown from about 3 subscribers to 17. All from 1 post.
At that time, Andrew Lenza climbed aboard with a rallying cry of
"Anyone with the stones to write this must have something equally character-building to share, so I'll roll the bones on you Ken. I just subscribed to … (8 comments)
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ken tracy: WHAT NIGHT IS IT???? - 04/22/08 08:16 PM
I have two jobs. One career. But two jobs.
One is a limo driver. I do it part time. Whenever my buddy Chris needs me, I drive for him. The money is pretty good. You can make between probably $10 and $50 per hour, depending on the job. It is a perfect part time job.
My other job. The professional real estate agent. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Panic at the thought. Constant anxiety. Will we ever sell a home??? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
But it is also my career. And when I look at it that way, the stress fades away. I don't know when my next closing is, but I … (6 comments)
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ken tracy: COMMISSION - 04/21/08 06:41 PM
Hmmm...
Where to start...
Perhaps at the beginning...
When I was first studying for my real estate exam, I wanted to own my own office. Be the broker owner.
TRACY REAL ESTATE, I would call it.
I had no idea what being a broker owner even was.
I didn't even know what being a real estate agent was.
But my goal was to do things better. Better than what? I didn't know, but better nevertheless.
This is still my goal. I try very hard to please my clients. My relationships with them have their ups and downs like any relationship. But they NEVER need to question my motivations.
I think … (12 comments)
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ken tracy: I LOVE OPEN HOUSES! - 04/19/08 09:52 PM
Let me tell you why:
1. If you are a seller, are you telling me you don't want your realtor having open houses? Of course you do. They bring exposure to your home. This is a good thing. Don't let anyone tell you it is not.
2. I put up as many personalized RE/MAX OPEN HOUSE signs as I own all over the neighborhood. They say Ken Tracy. They have my smiling face. They have my phone number. They bring exposure to me. This is a good thing. Don't let anyone tell you it is not.
3. I probably will get buyer and seller … (20 comments)
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ken tracy: MY WIFE WANTS ME TO GET A JOB - 04/18/08 08:12 AM
I feel the unending support of my wife is ending.
Nicole has been a stay at home mom since we had our little girl, Erin, almost two years ago.
We have had to make lots of sacrifices in the last two years. We are not living paycheck to paycheck, but dollar to dollar.
Things are tighter than tight right now. It wears on me too.
But what to do?
I had a part time job as a driver with a buddies limo company. His business has slowed a bit, and the work is not there right now.
A part time job won't help. We need real income to pay … (48 comments)
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ken tracy: THE FIRST SIP OF COFFEE - 04/18/08 06:21 AM
Ahhh...
OK. I have actually had about 4 sips. But they are all DELICIOUS!
Is anyone else out there?
It's just after 6:00 AM, Naperville time. My juices are flowing.
Why? Well there's lots to do, of course.
I have felt low the at times over the last week or so. But I am coming back.
The birds were chirping this morning. I love that sound.
Erin and Nicole are upstairs sleeping. I wish I could sleep like them...
But maybe not. I love this time by myself with my thoughts.
Is anyone else out there? I would love to hear about nice things. Real estate is cool. Other stuff … (10 comments)
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ken tracy: POSITIVE vs. NEGATIVE - 04/17/08 08:21 PM
Hmmm.
I just read a post complaining about complainers. He even said it was killing him.
Very interesting indeed.
This makes me think. Do we have to be positive? What do we mean when we say people are "negative"?
The way I look at it, there are two types of people. Energy suckers and Energy providers.
Energy providers people are attracted to. Not phony people with a plastic smile. They are wanted at social events and tend to be outgoing and popular.
Energy suckers. Well that's another story. Since I am an energy provider, I will not spend any energy discussing them.
But you know who you are.
I … (8 comments)
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