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THE DANGERS OF DELIVERING NEWSLETTERS...HIGH MEADOW STYLE

Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Residential

October 17, 2008 06:16 AM

I was out again this morning. My partner (my daughter Erin) decided not to join me. She left me for another man (she decided to stay home and play with her cousin Ethan).

I had 100 more newsletters to deliver. This time my target was the subdivision of High Meadow, located in south Naperville.

This is one of my favorite neighborhoods here in Naperville. Great schools (they all are in Naperville). Nice homes. The grammar school located conveniently in the middle of the subdivision.

The homes are priced on the higher end of my target market. Most sales in High Meadow are from the low 400's to the low 500's.

Home in the High Meadow Subdivision, Naperville Illinois

Some people do some rather extravegant things to their homes. Tennis courts, basketball courts, fancy swimming pool/recreation areas...

High Meadow Swimming Pool

One of the nice things about delivering my newsletter at this time of the year are all the fancy decorations set up for Halloween. At one home, as I was hanging my newsletter, I nearly jumped out of my skin when a creepy voice started talking to me...

I felt rather foolish when I realized the voice was coming from a rather scary looking witch designed to frighten trick or treaters.

The one real danger came on my second to last home. I was relieved to be almost finished, so I probably had my guard down. As I walked up the walkway, I rounded a bush and found myself face to face with a snarling dog. Not huge. Maybe 50-60 pounds. What it lacked in stature, it made up in ferocity.

Fight or flight! My primal instincts kicked in. With adrenaline pumping, I retreated with the beast chomping at my heals.

"I didn't want to sell your home anyway," I yelled at the dog. I am sure that got him.:)

Needless to say, that home did not get my newsletter.

Poor folks. They didn't get the chance to meet one heck of a good agent.:)

Ken

A Realtor you can trust.

High Meadow newsletter, Naperville Illinois

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Jennifer Hillegas

Sign Your Deed Realty - Rome, GA

Every Seller Does It!

At least you are o.k. and the dog didn't bite you! I had to serve eviction notices the other day on a foreclosure I listed and a wasp stung me!!!! Sounds like you are havinf fun! Be persistent it will pay off!!!!

Oct 17, 2008 03:30 PM

Shirley Parks

Sands Realty 210-414-0966 - San Antonio, TX

Broker, 210-414-0966, San Antonio TX Real Estate

Ken, I have got to admire your for hand delivering your newsletters. I just stick a stamp on mine and put them in the mail.

Oct 17, 2008 04:21 PM

Harold "Hal" Place

A1 Connection Realty, Inc. - Sun City Center, FL

Morning Ken,

Your business partner has started her training session earlier then I would have anticipated. Conditioning is everything and she knows it. By the time she has her first bow you will be accustom to her staying behind with another male companion. Oh yeah, SURE! LOL

Man, you run faster then I don, I would have been blogging about how many stitches it took to close the wounds.

Oct 18, 2008 12:33 AM

Judy Greenberg

Compass - Long Grove, IL

Compass- Long Grove -Buffalo Grove

Ken, the newsletter idea is great... Do you ring the door, or just leave them somewhere.... Just curious of course. Glad you don't need stitches.

Oct 18, 2008 12:58 AM

Ken Tracy

Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL

Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Judy, Hal, Shirley, Exit, Steve, Deidre, Scott, and Steve. Thanks for reading.

I put them in plastic bags and hang them on the door knobs.

It takes about 1 hour to deliver 100. It would be easier to mail, but more expensive and less personal. You do learn the neighborhood (and it's dogs) when you deliver them yourself.

I like dogs to. This one didn't like me!:)

Thanks again for reading,

Ken

Oct 18, 2008 02:20 AM

Anonymous

Not Yet Licensed

I rounded a bush and found myself face to face with a snarling dog. Not huge. Maybe 50-60 pounds.

Hi Ken,

That's big enough to do some damage. Glad you escaped!

P.S. Hello from Wood Dale. What a beautiful fall day! We don't get to see colorful red and yellow leaves like this back home in Southern CA.

Oct 18, 2008 04:03 AM

#16

Ken Tracy

Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL

Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Bruce.

Wood Dale has lots of big pretty trees. Oak Meadow's golf course is there if you brought your clubs. Decent course. Reasonable. Used to be Elmhurst Country Club.

Enjoy your trip!

Ken

Oct 18, 2008 05:59 AM

Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty

Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS

601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Very entertaining and humorous, Ken. Thanks for posting about your newsletter distribution. Do you meet many homeowners on these outings?

Oct 18, 2008 08:25 AM

Margaret Oscilia

Creative Concepts-Home Staging and Contracting, Salem Oregon - Salem, OR

Home Stager, Salem Oregon

I admire your plan and that you are working your plan -- look forward to hearing if it brings you the results you are looking for!

Oct 19, 2008 08:04 AM

Ken Tracy

Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL

Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Margaret and Pat. Thanks for reading.

I meet some every time. I don't push much at all. Just trying to enjoy the walk.

Thanks again.

Ken

Oct 19, 2008 08:24 AM

Michelle Bowman

Keller Williams Flagship - Stevensville, MD

MD Realtor, GRI

Ken - Thanks for bringing a fear to the forefront! :) Seriously...glad to hear that you made it out safe. Did you ever try going back?

Oct 19, 2008 09:33 AM

Ken Tracy

Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL

Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Michelle. Nope. Skipped that house and hung the flyer on a home that is not on my route.

I will be hanging 300 more this week. Hopefully I can keep the adventures to a minimum.

Ken

Oct 19, 2008 11:20 AM

Anonymous

Not Yet Licensed

Oak Meadow's golf course is there if you brought your clubs.

Hi Ken,

No time for golf this trip. (I didn't get to see Wrigley Field, so I hope to return next year.) Wood Dale was spared, for about a year, from my golf swing! :) It seems like a nice little town, with tons of trees. One of my sons liked it so much that he's thinking about moving back there. I told him he better visit Chicago in the winter before he makes his final decision. He's a CA boy. We have thin blood.

Oct 20, 2008 10:19 AM

#23

Ken Tracy

Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL

Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Bruce. Chicago winter is over blown (pun intended).

Cold makes you tough.

Tell him you know a great Realtor!

Thanks for stopping by,

Ken

Oct 20, 2008 10:40 AM

Jean Groesbeck

Compass - Anacortes, WA

Broker, CRS, e-PRO, ABR, ASP, CNE, IMS

Try some dog treats! Dogs seem to know when you don't like them or are afraid.

Oct 27, 2008 08:32 AM

Lee Cunningham

Cunningham Team RE/MAX R.P. - Greenville, SC

Greenville SC Real Estate

Glad to hear you made it back in one piece!

Nov 04, 2008 12:14 AM

Ken Tracy

Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL

Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Jean and Lee. Thanks for reading.

I like dogs. Just not ones chomping at my heels.):

Thanks again,

Ken

Nov 04, 2008 12:19 AM

Chad Baird

Re/Max Spirit - Dayton, OH

Go back and tame that dog, you will have a friend for life HAHA!!!

Nov 04, 2008 01:34 AM

Ken Tracy

Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL

Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Chad. I am too wimpy. You can't win over every home!:)

Ken

Nov 04, 2008 04:40 AM

The Niche Agent

Your Niche Is Our Niche

Speaking of "Newsletters", check out the awesome interview I did with Linda Schneider of Fast Newsletters on The Niche Agent. We talk about the most important things you should know when creating a newsletter, the value it can bring and why they are a simple yet effective strategy to grow your business.

www.TheNicheAgent.com/episode20

May 28, 2014 10:45 AM