remax: A KELLER WILLIAMS BOOK, A RE/MAX HAT
- 06/24/08 12:51 PM
I was just relaxing on my in-laws back deck.
It is a beautiful evening in Naperville. Perfect early summer. Not too warm. The sun is just starting to set.
I was reading a book. A book written by Gary Keller. Founder of Keller Williams Realty. Big time Realtor. Good book.
Yet I am wearing my old RE/MAX hat.
And these are still my choices. I think I have made a decision. I was ready to sign on today. Scheduling conflict.
The other just called and made their offer a bit more attractive/negotiable.
This leaves me yet up in the air.
But … (17 comments)
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remax: WHY BE OFFENDED BY FEE/MAX??
- 06/21/08 06:11 AM
I wrote a post yesterday titled "WHY IT IS A GREAT TIME TO GET "IN" TO REAL ESTATE". I thought it was a fairly positive post about the market and our profession. In it I not so subtly referred to RE/MAX as FEE/MAX.
The "FEE/MAX" reference offended a local RE/MAX agent. Most of the things I write seem to offend her but she still reads on. I don't understand this. But i digress...
Now I have heard "FEE/MAX" from many agents here on the Rain and elsewhere. I think it is actually quite funny and fairly descriptive.
Let me make this clear. … (19 comments)
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remax: THE PERFECT TIME TO GET "IN" TO REAL ESTATE
- 06/20/08 07:58 AM
I write a lot about my life. I have struggles. Financial struggles. But, I want to make it clear that this is...
THE PERFECT TIME TO GET "IN" TO REAL ESTATE
It is.
I don't care if you live in Las Vegas, Chicago, Miami, New York, Austin, Atlanta, or my little hometown of Naperville Illinois.
It is the perfect time to get "in" to real estate.
I talk to lots of people. I am very open. Almost 100% of people I speak with think the real estate market is going to get worse.
Maybe it will if you are talking pricing … (18 comments)
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remax: RE/MAX vs. KELLER WILLIAMS
- 06/20/08 04:16 AM
So it looks like this is my decision.
RE/MAX vs. KELLER WILLIAMS
After a somewhat in debth search for my next office, these are the two the seem to match my needs the most.
They are very similar from a business standpoint.
Both give the agents lots of independence. Both have a very high payout schedule for the agent.
RE/MAX has a much bigger name. A cool contact management system. Very business like. Cool client searches. Email with face and contact info. Familiar. I already own the signs. Great office. A big monthly bill. Pressure to perform.
Keller Williams is growing. No pressure. Friendly, warm feeling. Less … (25 comments)
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remax: TOUCH OF IRONY
- 06/02/08 04:42 AM
So I stopped by my old office yesterday to clean out my mailbox. If you are one of my usual readers, then you know that I was just fired. Anyway...
In my mailbox there was a large white envelope. I opened it up and found a nice trophy along with a congratulatory card.
I had just won an award!! And I had just been fired!!!
How weird is that??
Apparently, RE/MAX gives out trophies to anyone who does more than $50,000 commission in a given year. It is called their EXECUTIVE CLUB.
My name was on the trophy, and below it was written...
… (21 comments)
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remax: TRACY REAL ESTATE? DOES IT HAVE A RING TO IT?
- 04/10/08 01:42 AM
First of all, I would like to say that I love RE/MAX. It is the only place that I have worked in my 2 and 1/2 years in the business, I like my broker, I like my office, and I like many agents I work with. That being said...
Would Tracy Real Estate (or whatever name I choose) work as well?
I sit here on a Thursday morning. I am debating going to work out with my family or going to our monthly office meeting. I must say, running on a treadmill for a half hour sounds more pleasurable than sitting through another … (13 comments)
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remax: A lovely morning!
- 04/06/08 04:36 AM
My wife, daughter and I just got back from a beautiful walk around the neighborhood. Spring is such a nice time. After feeling cooped up for the last several months, it feels wonderful having the windows open.
My little girl is playing with a ball on our front stoop. She couldn't walk last fall, so I think she is enjoying her new indepence.:)
I ran into one of my neighbors on our walk. He is buying our next door neighbors home (a private transaction=no pay for Ken)and will be moving in on Wednesday. I am helping him move...
I am a pretty quality mover. … (9 comments)
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remax: STARBUCKS!
- 04/04/08 07:01 AM
Ahh. I sit. Computer on. Earl grey tea. What a great afternoon drink. Caffeine, but somehow healthier than coffee, don't you think?
I am at Starbucks. Why? If you know me...
Starbucks is my home away from home. It's my office away from home. It's my office away from my office. It's a great place.
Sure, it may be trendy, yuppie, overpriced or whatever. But it's still a great place.
If you are reading this, sitting at your office, I encourage you to pack your computer and head on down to Starbucks.
I meet people for a living. People are comfortable at Starbucks. They are generally … (12 comments)
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remax: "THE NICKIE INDICATOR"
- 04/02/08 05:04 AM
I think it happened today. There are subtle clues. You really have to be watching close to even notice. But it happened today...
The real estate season for the Chicago area began today!
Sure, the economists and "experts" will tell you that the real estate market kicks off after the Superbowl, but...
Does a hangover and indigestion from all of the Super Bowl parties really get you in "the mood" to by a house? Even if it is raining, snowing, cold and dark outside. I don't think so.
What really gets people buying homes is nice weather. Nice weather a few days in a row and … (2 comments)
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remax: I AM NOT AS YOUNG AS I USED TO BE!!!
- 04/02/08 03:42 AM
Ughh. How did we do it in college? Sure the University of Illinois is an institution of higher learning, but night after night we sure killed a lot of brain cells...
For those that read my post from yesteday, "The Skinny Fat Man", you know that I have been trying to work out more. If yesterdays post was the thrill of victory...
Todays should be titled the agony of defeat. Or "the feet" in my case. Painful blisters on my feet. Ouch. Very sore legs. Aching knees. Sore all over. Could this be from my four and a half mile run yesterday. Or, does … (8 comments)
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remax: THANK YOU SUBSCRIBERS
- 03/31/08 12:49 PM
Hello subscribers. Thank you.
I started writing actively on this site on February 15th. Since then, I have taken on 16 subscribers (17 if you count me:)). I don't even really know what it means to be a "subscriber". But I know it means a lot to me when you subscribe to my blog.
I don't know why you would subscribe to my ramblings.
I have long needed a place to dump my thoughts. I started writing when I started this career, two and a half years ago. First I was writing on Microsoft Word. Got bored with that. Then started writing in a journal. … (10 comments)
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remax: What is your real estate "uniform"?
- 03/29/08 09:48 AM
Just curious. Do you have a "uniform"?
Personally, as an agent, I feel most comfortable in khakis/cords and a golf shirt/mock turtleneck. I also have a cool RE/MAX windbreaker type sweatshirt for cooler weather. I never wear a name tag anymore.
Most of my business comes in every day living. I don't really "go" to work anymore. I am always meeting people, whether it be at the gym, Starbucks, a party or wherever. In that sense most of my "work" is in clothing that is situationally appropriate.
My boss and I used to argue about this. I went along with him for a … (6 comments)
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remax: I AM A HORRIBLE REALTOR!!
- 03/24/08 12:55 PM
My name is Ken Tracy. I am a real estate agent with RE/MAX Action. And I am a horrible realtor.
The story begins with the day I passed my licensing exam in October 2005. I was as bright eyed and bushy tailed as they come. I was going to knock the cover off the ball.
I had just read the book, "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Success as a Real Estate Agent" written by Marilyn Sullivan. A very good book by the way.
I signed on with RE/MAX. Nobody sells more homes than RE/MAX, right? Somebody should have explained how expensive it can be to pay … (142 comments)
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remax: One thing I have learned
- 03/09/08 06:54 AM
In two and a half years in real estate, I have learned something important for sales and life.
It takes time. Life is about learning, not being the smartest. If you are always improving, even just a little bit, you will be a huge success.
One of my early mentors, Sue Daley of RE/MAX Action told me early on that I would learn something new about this crazy business every day. And I have.
Our sales might not be at the level we want, but as long as we are improving every day our business is growing and our sales will follow!
What is improving? -Meeting someone … (5 comments)
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remax: LOW REAL ESTATE COMMISSION IN NAPERVILLE/CHICAGOLAND
- 03/06/08 04:24 AM
We all know the real estate market has been challenging the last couple of years. I know many people are concerned about selling their homes.
In this time of "slow" sales, most realtors are raising their rates to make up for their lower sales. I think differently.
In an effort to boost business, I am offering a discounted commission of 4% to my sellers who also purchase a home through me.
I am honest, hard working and fair. If you are considering a move, call me at 630-697-0536, and we will get you into a new home!
I hope to talk to you soon,
Ken
WWW.KENSFEATUREDHOMES.COM
… (0 comments)
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remax: Do you like my bald head??
- 03/01/08 06:45 AM
No seriously. Do you? I was originally just thinking it would be a funny title, but...
Just a little back ground. Yes, I do shave it myself. Gillette Mach III Turbo. Takes less than 5 minutes. In the shower. I do it about twice a week.
I started losing it in my twenties. Boy, that was tough for me. I used to have blond hair. Thinning hair is difficult for a young single guy. I used to be a stock broker. Probably too much stress...
The funny thing is I don't know if I would take it back if I could. I … (9 comments)
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remax: How much should we be paid for selling a home?
- 02/28/08 07:46 AM
Just a thought as I was reading another post. How much should we be paid when we are a selling agent?? I understand that we need to make a living, but does that mean we need to make $12,500 to list and sell a 500k home at 2.5%? I am not sure.
In my brief career, I have always been coached to charge the most commission that I can. That doesn't make sense to me. Lets just say we charged a little less, would that not encourage sellers to be a bit more flexible? I think it might.
What if on that same … (4 comments)
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remax: Keeping an EYE on points!
- 02/25/08 07:20 AM
OK. I know. The point of blogging is learning and building relationships. To share common experiences.
If this is true, how come I can't stop staring at my points!! The reason I bring this up now is that I have just moved into the top 10 in Naperville Illinois. Yeah! WOOPIE!!! Take a bow. Yeeee Haaaaaaaaaah.
Ok. I promise. I will do my best to build relationships, learn and share common experiences.
But I still love my points.
Ken
… (7 comments)
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remax: Keeping Busy
- 02/25/08 06:02 AM
Hello World! I have been productive today. I feel that is one of the biggest challenges facing realtors, especially newer ones. I consider myself a hard worker. Nothing is tougher on me then when I feel unproductive. I love mowing the lawn. You can see the work you have done immediately. Same with snow shovelling. Not always so with real estate...
So what have I been doing? I drove the limo last night until 1:30 AM. I took a gentleman to the airport this morning as well. After that, I came home, coffee and breakfast with my wife and little girl, worked … (4 comments)
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I was just relaxing on my in-laws back deck. 
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