madison wi: Newspaper advertising for open houses? to do or not to do? - 03/18/08 02:55 PM
After helping clients with their housing problems, and finding solutions for 15 years, I still come across questions for which I do not have an immediate answer.  
It is usually a question which gets me thinking and puts into question a piece of my practice.  Questions are something I like because they make sure I am doing the right thing for my clients.
One of these is  the question of advertising in the Newspaper.  Boy is it expensive?  And when I can spend the same online and get far better results, why would I do it.  Considering the facts, that 85% of buyers start … (16 comments)

madison wi: Rossi Reunion - 03/14/08 04:27 PM
This was the week of the Madison Blitz, Basically a one day convention run by the local MLS board, SCWMLS.   This is a pretty popular event.  I heard my favorite from old CRS days was to be keynote speaker.  Yes I first came across Jerry as a CRS instructor, (the best in my opinion and they made a mistake to lose him).
Guy with Jerri Rossy after the show
I thank Jerry for an excellent presentation "Shift Happens"  As always Jerry is a fun exciting and dynamic speaker.
A couple of ahahs,    
The difference between good and excellent is very little, yet, the difference … (3 comments)

madison wi: Don't "we" all over your clients - 03/07/08 02:24 PM
Yes, you brits will get this humor, as "wee" is as in urinate.
But what we really means is what we provide to our Sphere, our past clients, our networking buddies, in fact anyone who we want to cultivate for referrals. 
I get this tid bit from my good friend Matt Anderson, also of AR fame, an excellent coach on Referral Business. 
http://activerain.com/thereferralauthority.
I bet when most of us call we talk i, or we (our team, company etc) frankly, people don't like that.  They very much prefer to talk about them selves.  They will likely think more highly of you if you ask about … (0 comments)

madison wi: Novel search- by monthly payment? - 03/07/08 06:00 AM
Here in Madison Wisconsin, where the snow has been on the ground for an eternity, as has the mercury been hovering around Zero for what seems like years, though it is really only 3 months.  I keep telling my prospects that once Madisonians see the first blades of grass the market will open up and "you will want to have your home on the market then"
(PS ignore the date, i am sure the snow will be gone by then)
But in that time, our office has come up with a novel search, for consumers, which I,d like your response. 
Every web site … (1 comments)

madison wi: Google surprise! - 03/05/08 01:46 PM
I had a nice google surprise the other night. 
 I have been struggling with achieving a google ranking of any sort, since giving up my Z57 template site about 6 months ago. 
Even before then my page www.RealEstateGuy.net, was usually on page 2 or 3.
But I had a very pleasant surprise in a recent search of "Homes for sale in Madison Wisconsin"  I came up #5 in this highly competitive search phrase. 
To think I could be paying $200 a month for this ranking, or a pay per click for useless visits.
I have been using a Keller Williams Template and I was beginnning to … (17 comments)

madison wi: Responsible Computer Recycling, Madison Wi - 03/03/08 02:59 PM
I spent a short 30 minutes on Saturday, doing the "right thing" with my consumer electronics which had piled up in my basement over the years.  I have not wanted to dispose of, especially throw into the trash.
Then I learnt about FILE13.  And soon after paid a visit with a car load of old computers.  Recycling Computers
File13 is in Verona, just near Madison Wisconsin, They will arrange a pickup, but I am close enough and interested enough to take a field trip.
Like anything good, there is a cost, (about $25 for a full computer and printer) or it can be … (6 comments)

madison wi: Heritage Heights, Madison, Home sold - 02/28/08 01:59 PM
Real Estate Guy Team just sold another home in Heritage Heights, Madison Wi
Zip code 53714
We secured an offer on 606 Merryturn Rd. Madison Wi 53714
Yes it is a good sized home.  But we took the main picture from the back, where the decks look impressive and it looks a bit larger than the front.
  After a year on the market with Century 21 and as an unrepresented seller, the owners chose, Real Estate Guy Team at Keller Williams Realty Madison Crossroads,  Wi.  
We worked with them to optimize the appearance of the home. 
     and of course, we took the best photos and distributed … (1 comments)

madison wi: 4538 Sentinel Pass, Madison Wi 53711 - 02/20/08 07:23 PM
A great home in Fitchburg, Nr, Madison Wisconsin. Verona Schools
Great living spaces
 
Great starter home in Verona school district. Good sized bedrooms, gleaming wood floors.
 
 1/2 master bathroom. Enjoy one of 2 fireplaces, one in a newly finished lower level plus room for a 4th bed. Everything is clean, tidy and ready to move in.
  
Good sized kitchen and new patio to deck. Enjoy your privacy on the deck in your landscaped, fenced yard and oversized garage. Warranty included.
We have placed a Range Price of $179,900 to $194,900 Explanation
Check out our free mapping search function.   to find more homes for sale
Homes … (3 comments)

madison wi: Ahah's galore at Ramily Reunion - 02/18/08 04:49 AM
We are very fortunate at Keller Williams Realty to have a leader who was successful in a previous down market.  In that time, 21 years ago his small company in Austin Texas, went from #10 to #1, in just one year. 
 
We are also fortunate he has been proactive in his leadership.  He has been working overtime, and put large sums of his personal money into providing training to his agents to not only survive, but to succeed in this market.
 
 
Gary also spent more time that ever this year at family reunion, giving training.  This class was one on how to … (5 comments)

madison wi: Super snow day - 02/06/08 03:14 PM
We just got dumped on.  Yes a foot or so, with drifting so that we had snow 4ft deep outside our front door.
Some fun and slight inconvenience, so long as you don't have to go anywhere.
Lots of white stuff!!
What a winter.  I've just seen we are 2.5 inches away from an all time record winter snow season in Madison WI.  75 inches. (the record is 77.5).  and about double the average annual dusting.
We also had 19 days of at least 1 inch and 6 days of six plus inches.
 Excuse me, I must put another log on the fire and snuggle up … (7 comments)

madison wi: Craigs list fraud gets phones to ring, can we learn something? - 02/01/08 04:46 PM
Earlier in the week I received a call from someone about the house for rent at $800.  Then the phone continued ringing.  We found that someone had copied one of our listing and offered a super price for rent. See original story.
In the end I received 8 calls, by people who had found us by driving by or an address search on Craigs list. 
At least 3 of them could be buyers right now.  I showed the place to one who had called my lender for info, goten prequalified and asked to see it.  May get it sold.
There are a lot … (6 comments)

madison wi: Real Estate Statistics: Home Sale trends in Madison Wi - 01/30/08 02:55 PM

Listings: We can see there is more inventory  in late 2007 than 2005, yet not as much as 2006.
Sales activity: We were down in sales in the last 3 months of last year.
Price: Still increases...  This is difficult to understand, it certainly is not my experience!
Days on Market:  This is still a very reasonable time frame of 2.5 months!
Despite what the press dumps on us each and every day, our market is really not too bad.  I look forward to another record breaking year of helping buyers and sellers make their moves.
(3 comments)

madison wi: Madison Wisconsin, Green Realtor group makes progress - 01/11/08 03:49 PM
A while back I reported on our first meeting of the Madison, Wi, Green Realtors. see article
I am delighted to report that the group, with about 25 members, has influenced the local board of Realtors to add Green Features to their MLS search.
Not only a single feature, but a sub section where different fields can be added later. I believe that 3 fields will be created initially, Certified Green built, energy star appliances, and another green feature.
Secondly, we have been awarded an official committee for the board of Realtors.  This gives us the ability to promote green in the newsletter and … (0 comments)

madison wi: Is your team effective or dead end? - 01/11/08 03:21 PM
Yes, it is all the rage for Real Estate Agents to form a team.   I am one of those agents myself.
I have felt for a long time that my team is different, performs better than other teams, but it only recently hit me.  Actually, I have known all along, just not really thought it through.  Now in looking for a point of differentiation it has become clear why my team had such a good year last year.  
2 kinds of teams
For whatever reason, convenience, friendship, belief that they will do better, agents join into some kind of equal partnerships.  They call it … (3 comments)

madison wi: 214 Walter St. Madison Wi 53714. Pending 12-10 - 11/16/07 01:56 PM
Madison Wi,  Schenk Neighborhood, a few blocks to the school.  We have had good activity in the first week on market.  for this extremely cute cape cod is just a block from Olbrich Park, Lake Monona and the Monona bike path.  The bike path will take you both to the Madison capital, university and town center, while the other to Monona and the popular round lake circuit.  The home is also close to Woodmans, the east Madison bus transit point, main roads.     Yes this home has been totally fixed up, from the brand new kitchen, complete with new appliances, cabinets,  ceramic … (4 comments)

madison wi: Listings, Leads and Leverage - 11/09/07 01:23 PM
We at Keller Williams talk about the 3 L's being the core of Real Estate practice.  These are the things of a healthy practice.
I have documented my business progress this year. for example this piece on my assistant
But I have found another way to create leverage to get more listings.  Over the last couple of years, I have found that I am ok at cold calling FSBOs and expireds, but ok does not get many results.  I would spend 1-2 hours a week calling in the evenings, when I really want to be with my family.
I have just found a talent who … (5 comments)

madison wi: Happy Halloween, from a British convert - 10/31/07 04:02 PM
Well this has been fun.  As Christopher is growing, we are getting into all these funny traditions, like carving pumpkins and dragging your kids around to ask for candy, which would then make them sick or hyper, or both. 
What a strange tradition? I always thought, ever since I arrived on these shores some 15 years ago.  Well, you could say that this year I have learnt it is not quite like that. 
So we carved pumpkins and we got dressed up. we were actually able to get Christopher into a costume with the threat of no costume, no trick or treat.  do you … (8 comments)

madison wi: CRS Class a wonderful refresher - 10/21/07 03:40 PM
I spent 2 days this week at a CRS event sponsored by the Wisconsin Chapter of CRS and Wisconsin Realtors Association.  The Class, Script doctor and Ninja 11 with Mike Selvaggio. 
First treat is that Mike will be the National President in 2008.  So we were honored to have him in Neenah Wisconsin.
I have not been to a CRS class for several years, our company training is extremely good. To be honest, one of the reasons I went this time was as the President of the Wisconsin Chapter, I wanted to support one of our events. 
Well I was in for … (1 comments)

madison wi: Saving for Retirement through Real Estate - 10/21/07 02:59 PM
Many of us have the same issue, that is to save for a college fund.  What is the deal?  save $300 a month for 15 years and you have $3,600 per year.  or  54,000 plus returns on investment.  Say $80,000,
I use a citi card with upromise which pays me $1 for every $100 spent into an account which I invest for a college fund.  www.upromise.com if you are interested.  max of $300 a year.  so this is not going to do anything but pay for books.  But is doesn't cost a penny, and you can have grand parents with a credit … (0 comments)

madison wi: Buying up- why now is the time to buy a larger home. - 10/17/07 03:08 PM
Real Estate, in Madison Wisconsin, like any place else.  There is a time to buy and a time to sell.  In general I would prefer not to be a seller at this time if I had a choice. 
There is a gaping exception.   When one is "moving up"  or buying a larger house than one currently lives.  It can be done very reasonably, even when a smaller home needs to be sold.
           Why is this?  
Well say one lives in a home that was $200,000 last year, and you would buy a home at $300,000, that is a 100,000 cost to buy up. 
But the market … (3 comments)

 
Real Estate Guy in Madison, Wisconsin, Real Estate Guy (Powered by: Real Broker LLC)

Real Estate Guy in Madison, Wisconsin

Real Estate Guy

Madison, WI

More about me…

Powered by: Real Broker LLC

Address: 115 Harmony Drive, Verona, WI, 53593

Mobile: (608) 513-1123

Our business is based on long term relationships based in trust. We people make great Real Estate decisions and hence we improve lives thru real estate.


Listings

Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog