estate: PRICING
- 05/03/08 07:46 AM
PRICING IS THE NUMBER ONE FACTOR IN SELLING YOUR HOME. What about LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION? Well, unless we can move your house, its PRICING, PRICING, PRICING! Is your home on the market? Has it been for a LONG LONG TIME? Are you getting any showings? If you are getting showings, but no offer, then your home is overpriced. But what if you are not getting any showings? Then your home is really overpriced. When I list your home, I believe your home should get between 2 and 5 showings per month. We should also get a contract offer within 10 to 15 showings. If you don't, it is overpriced. It's really simple. You see, buyers
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estate: RIVER BEND LISLE: TOWNHOMES WITH STYLE
- 05/03/08 06:24 AM
River Bend, a lovely subdivision of higher end townhomes in Lisle, Illinois, has seen plenty of real estate activity over the last few weeks. These homes, typically priced from the high 200's to the mid 300's are located just an easy drive to downtown Naperville. There are currently 9 homes for sale in River Bend. Prices range from $285K for a 2 bedroom up to 346K for a lovely 3 bedroom. Two new homes came on the market this week. Ken www.kensfeaturedhomes.com
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estate: ANOTHER CUSTOMER SERVED
- 05/03/08 05:55 AM
So I just got back from Evanston. I had my first long distance showing. I recently wrote that I am easy, my statement that I was willing to show any home any time anywhere to almost any one. I just tested that theory today. I met a nice young couple, Ron and Rose, outside of the first home they had selected on the internet. The one bedroom condo was listed just below 200k. It was in Evanston, 42 fairly hard driving miles from my home in Naperville. I arrived about 15 minutes early, enough time to get a feel for my surroundings. I do not know
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estate: MY FIRST LONG DISTANCE SHOWING
- 05/02/08 03:54 PM
So I wrote the other day how I was easy. In it I wrote how I would show any home at any time to any one. Maybe I am crazy. We have our first test tomorrow. I will be showing a home in Evanston, Illinois. Two homes actually. We are meeting at 10 AM. What time do I need to leave? I will drive 42 miles each way. Mapquest says 1 hour and 2 minutes. I will show a woman who I have never met two condos that I have never seen. Mortgage preapproval? I honestly never asked. She seemed nice, so what the heck? My morning was free tomorrow anyway. Ken www.kensfeaturedhomes.com
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estate: LEHIGH STATION AURORA: THE MARKET IS WHITE HOT
- 05/02/08 12:37 PM
Ok. Maybe not white hot. But certainly better then it was just four days ago when I wrote the post Lehigh Station. What went wrong?. In that post I describe the troubles facing this new construction project on the border of Naperville in Aurora. Fairly nice townhomes priced in the mid 200k to mid 300k range. They were built at the wrong time. Anyway, since that time not one but two townhomes have come under contract. Congratulations to the sellers at 4158 Milford Lane, a two bedroom listed at $274,900. The market is looking up at Lehigh Station. Ken www.kensfeaturedhomes.com
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estate: Ahhh. That's better. I lost a subscriber.
- 05/02/08 06:16 AM
I feel my stress fade away. I just wrote a blog begging for support over advice. I just lost a subscriber over it. I may lose more. That's too bad. But I guess it's ok, too. You see, I am hoping my little "blog world" will be a world of support. A world where we pick each other up. A world where we listen and help. I found myself debating on my blog. Getting worked up. I want my blog to be fun. Different. I am exposing myself when I write. Often times very sensitive issues. I am vulnerable when I write. I hope you understand that. Ken www.kensfeaturedhomes.com
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estate: PLEASE NO MORE UNSOLICITED ADVICE. I AM BEGGING.
- 05/02/08 05:20 AM
I write lots of posts. This is post 146. I have written as many as 5 in a day. I don't know if the content is good. I hope it is. Either way, I know I love writing. So I write on. I write about lots of things. Family, Real Estate, Yoga, Golf, Coffee, Fishing. All sorts of things. Most of all, I write about the life of a young realtor fighting to succeed in a difficult real estate market. THIS IS MY BLOG. THIS IS MY STORY. I feel MANY realtors identify with my story. Many are struggling along with me. I hope my writing helps them. I think it might. Most
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estate: I "LOST" A LISTING TODAY
- 05/01/08 12:00 PM
I write that with a smile. I didn't really lose the listing. I just didn't get the listing. She never asked me. That's right. Asked me. I think people should. She was a nice lady in my old neighborhood, River Bend. She knows me. She knows I am a realtor. She knows nobody sells more homes in River Bend then I do. In the last year, 11 homes have been sold in River Bend. I sat at the closing table on 4 of them. She is in my database. I contact her from time to time. She may be reading this post... I helped her son get his kite out of a
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estate: LEHIGH STATION AURORA: Townhomes Looking Up?
- 05/01/08 08:38 AM
The other day I wrote a post titled Lehigh Station. What went wrong? This subdivision in Aurora had 16 homes for sale at a discount to new construction pricing. None were under contract. Well I am happy to report that 4154 Milford Lane just went under contract. This was an end unit listed at $279,900. Congratulations to the seller. Ken www.kensfeaturedhomes.com
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estate: "WELCOME TO THE PROSPECTING BUSINESS!"
- 05/01/08 04:43 AM
Gary Jacklin is a good man. He is the broker owner at my office RE/MAX Action. We have fought. Plenty of times. But he is still a good man. I have threatened to quit. He has threatened to fire me. When I first became a licensed real estate agent in October 2005, I interviewed at a local Coldwell Banker office. It was right across from my favorite Starbucks. Mmmm coffee. Great location. Busy parking lot. The broker at the Coldwell office had his back turned to me when I arrived for my appointment. He continued to "work" on his computer for at least 30 seconds while I stood there
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estate: I'M CHEAP. I'M GOOD. MY HOMES SELL. USE ME.
- 04/30/08 09:06 AM
That's right. I'M CHEAP. I'M GOOD. MY HOMES SELL. USE ME. I just wanted to get it out there one more time. I specialize in Naperville and Lisle but have worked all over Chicagoland. A quality product at a quality price. I would love any referrals, happily pay out a 35% referral fee to agents, and would treat your friends with care. I have references. 630-697-0536 RE/MAX Ken:) www.kensfeaturedhomes.com
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estate: SOUL SEARCHING
- 04/30/08 01:07 AM
It's 7:30 AM. April 30. Erin's birthday (she's two today, and very cute). Nicole and Erin are upstairs still sleeping. They both need it. We have had a whirlwind last few days. I guess our lives are always a whirlwind. We are going to the zoo for Erin's birthday. She should be getting old enough to enjoy it this year. Last year she was a little small. Anyway, catching up with some odds and ends while they sleep. Lots of soul searching the last few days. Do I need to do things differently? Short sales? Foreclosures? Working with banks. Maybe I should drive one of those foreclosure bus tours. I have
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estate: IS ANYONE ELSE EATING ICE CREAM??
- 04/28/08 02:43 PM
I came down to my computer to do some serious work. You know, searching the MLS, emailing clients, updating pictures. All of the mundane tasks we are required to do. But instead, I chose to read about what others were up to... But instead, I wondered, IS ANYONE ELSE EATING ICE CREAM? I mean, right now? This might be a better question left for American Dairy Society, but I was curious. I am not generally a big ice cream eater. My wife, Nickie is upstairs watching the Bachelor. She thinks it's a big one because they are down to three contestants. So here I sit, with my tub of
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estate: IS IT OUR JOB TO MOTIVATE?
- 04/28/08 12:50 PM
I think not. It does not matter buyer or seller. I do not think it is our job to motivate. I think if a person really wants to buy or sell a home, I should not have to be chasing them down. After all... They need to show me they really want it. Because if they don't, we are just spinning our wheels. Testing the market. Kicking the tires. Just getting to know each other. And that's ok. But it is not a buy or sell today. So I feel when it comes to dealing with buyers and sellers, less is more. Give them space. They will appreciate you
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estate: I NEED SELLERS!
- 04/28/08 10:55 AM
My boss always likes to say the market is the market. There are no such things as good and bad markets. They are all just markets. I understand what he means. He is saying that there is always a buyer for every home. The home just needs to be priced correctly. And that's one of the real estate agents primary jobs, proper pricing. There is a buyer for every home. The home just needs to be priced right. I am asked all the time "How's the market?". I am sure every realtor is. The market is fine. You can find a great home at a great price. I
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estate: LEHIGH STATION. WHAT WENT WRONG?
- 04/28/08 05:50 AM
My wife and I rented a home in a subdivision named Lehigh Station last year. Lehigh is in Aurora, right on the border with Naperville. The subdivision was brand new, built behind a Meijer and near a shopping mall. It was probably only 50% built when I moved in. Originally priced between $300-$350K, the homes were attractive on the outside. Brick, with many windows. Inside, the models were all very similar. But they were decorated beautifully. Stainless, granite. And they all had that new house smell. But I was a renter. And I wasn't the only one. Many of the homes were vacant. The subdivision
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estate: HOME VALUES. SHOULD WE BE AT 2002 PRICES?
- 04/27/08 01:52 PM
I was showing townhomes this morning. My old neighborhood. River Bend. I met my clients at the usual spot. Starbucks. I enjoy meeting clients at Starbucks. It seems to put them at ease. Happy. Who doesn't like a free cup of coffee? I feel it is a good $5 investment. I was showing a young couple. It was my first time out with them. I never expect first timer outers to buy. I feel they need to see a few homes first. Get comfortable with the process. Get comfortable with me. The home we were seeing is listed at $309,900. It was the model home of the unit I
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estate: DO REAL ESTATE AGENTS NEED SPECIFIC SCHEDULES?
- 04/26/08 03:16 AM
Do real estate agents need specific schedules? I mean the 9 to 7 Monday thru Thursday and all day Saturday type schedules. You know, schedules. They have not worked for me. Before I was a real estate agent, I worked at a Bank One in Lemont Illinois. That job almost killed me. I have never been so unhappy in my life. Slow work enviroment. Scheduled schedule. HELP!!! This is one of the reasons I love real estate. It interests people 24 hours per day. My clients are usually people.:) So I need to be ready to talk real estate anytime, anywhere. That's OK. I love talking
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estate: HE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE MARKET AND...
- 04/25/08 11:51 PM
Huh... Am I dreaming. No. I am driving my limo. I am headed east on Interstate 90 headed towards downtown Chicago. My passenger is a talkative lady. A tennis player. She has been chatting on her cell phone since I picked her up. Several different callers. All seem to want to hear about her day. To me, it sounded like "Blah, blah, blah". Like when Charlie Brown gets scolded by his parents. It makes it easier on the chaueffer when passengers are on the phone. Saves us small talk and the uncomfortable silence. Anyway... I was driving along with my passenger when I heard: "He took advantage of the
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estate: WHEN I GET OUT OF THE DARK PLACE, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO STAND ME!
- 04/25/08 04:34 AM
This is a warning to my readers. When I get out of my Dark Place, you will not be able to stand me. Really, ask my friends. (yes, I actually have some) I right this post, because Ron Tarvin recently encouraged me "to get out of the Dark Place". I think Ron thinks I need an attitude adjustment. Maybe I do. But like I said, you won't like me anymore. When my ego goes unchecked, I can be somewhat obnoxious. Are you sure you want me that way? I am going to be glowing, walking on air. Sure, I will be happy and helpful. But isn't "Whoa is me" Ken
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