Ken Tracy Realtor Naperville Illinois Real Estate

It's not like I have been on vacation...

On the contrary. I have had several buyer appointments, a listing appointment (which I did get), and two closings in the last two weeks.

Oddly busy, especially for late December.

All that activity is only a byproduct of what I really do for a living...

MARKETING.

And I was back marketing this morning delivering 165 newsletters to Carrolwood in Naperville and 140 newsletters to River Bend in Lisle.

It was 23 degrees today and overcast. Nice weather for my deliveries, although I was a bit under dressed.

My hands were pretty cold!

Although I was dragging a bit from one too many holiday parties, it felt good to be pounding the pavement.

These two neighborhoods have been getting my newsletter for over a year, so the neighbors are familiar with me.

The effects of marketing are cumulative. Not much response from this sort of "farming" right away, but over time, you become the "neighborhood expert".

I am "the expert" in both River Bend and Carrolwood.

There are many neighbors wanting to sell. The real estate market scared them off last year. That fear delays the moving decision, but only for so long, and then...

A rush of real estate activity.

I am marketing in front of that activity.

So I deliver my newsletters.

Ken

A Realtor you can trust.

Do I intentionally choose the cold days to deliver my newsletters?

The thermometer never peeked above 16 degrees this week as I was making my deliveries.

And it wasn't the cold, but the ice that presented a hazard.

Last weekend the temps were in the 50s. Lots of rain. Sunday night, as the temps plunged into the teens, a layer of ice was created over Chicagoland.

Tuesday was the real scary day.

Several times I was forced to walk like baby horse taking his first steps...

Twice I fell flat on my back.

Panic really kicks in as one is about to fall on a sidewalk.

Please don't get hurt!

Fortunately, no major injuries.

280 more newsletters delivered.

I am almost there...

Ken

A Realtor you can trust.

The thermometer read 16 degrees as I pulled up in my Jeep Liberty to Lakewood Crossing, a subdivision of moderately priced homes in Naperville Illinois.

Overcast. Occasional flurries. Cold.

There was snow on the ground. Not deep. Just enough to make walking treachorous...

I had 365 of my newsletters stuffed inside of my Keller Williams bag.

It would be a long day.

Why do I do it?

I must say the thought has crossed my mind several times. Especially this week.

Maybe I could wait until it gets warmer?

I don't do much business in Lakewood Crossing anyway...

What a silly business plan!

These were my thoughts as I looked at the weather reports. The only day that was available on my schedule was Friday, the coldest day of the week...

I dressed in several layers. Two coats. Sweatshirt. Turtle neck. T-shirt. Sweat pants under my jeans.

I was ready.

But it would be a long day indeed...

Ken

A Realtor you can trust.

They were a nice young couple. I picked them up at the train station on Rte. 59 in Aurora...

It was Friday morning. The weather was cold, but the sun was shining bright. A great day to show homes.

We would be seeing several homes priced in the low to mid 200's. They were in from Virginia, and considering moving to Chicago.

They would be needing a home near the train line for the commute to Chicago.

The search was fairly challenging. We would only have two to three hours. The couple did not know the area at all.

We started in Lehigh Station. It is located on the edge of Aurora, right next to Naperville. The townhomes are nice, but have been a tough sell for the builder who started the project during the market boom.

But they are nice, a short drive to downtown Naperville and priced roughly 20-25% below the original builder prices. Fairly spacious...

Anyway, I showed them the builders model. It was loaded. A real fun show, with huge windows and still fully decorated. It was priced at $279K. High end of our range. Doable. But certainly a stretch.

We then moved our search to Lakewood Crossing. Naperville. Good location.

I showed them one of the best deals in Naperville. Further from the train. But still real nice. Corner lot. Not for those that must have their privacy. But very nice layout. Single family. Open kitchen. 3 bed, 2 and 1/2 bath. Unfinished basement. Priced at $275k.

Could probably be picked up at a nice price...

Buyers loved it. But probably too far from the train...

We drove through Maplebrook, and then Springhill.

Neither were quite right...

They really liked River Bend. Located in Lisle, the townhomes are a short drive to downtown Naperville. Very nice.

I showed them a nice end unit. Big windows. Basic. But very clean and nice. They were asking $285.

I think that is the home these buyers would pick.

But there still are plenty of hurdles to clear before this couple would become clients.

They appreciated my time, and liked my tour, but...

They have not even been offered the job yet. At the earliest, they would be moving in April.

Patience is key.

Ken

A Realtor you can trust.

I recently made a new contact with a mortgage broker at Chase Bank here in Naperville. New contacts are always good.

He was having his first child this November. He was excited.

He had called me from one of my newsletters. I had been marketing his neighborhood. Anyway...

He was excited to hook up with a Realtor. He wanted us to host "open houses" together at his branch.

Sounded cool for me. Me in a branch on Saturday morning serving donuts and coffee? The Realtor of choice? Endorsed by the bank?

Sounds perfect.

Yesterday I found out my mortgage broker had been laid off...

Cold. Windy. Overcast. Occasional snow flurries.

Those were the conditions I faced today delivering Ken's Springhill View.

I set a personal record. 365 copies hung on every door in Springhill, a subdivision of modestly priced homes located just a mile and a half from downtown Naperville.

I enjoyed delivering today. I have been busy with work as well as chasing Erin around, so I need to set larger blocks of time for the newsletter.

I felt excited. Business seems to be improving...

I felt proud. I was working. Three solid (and cold) hours spreading my brand. That's quality marketing time.

That feels real good.

I am still on my plan.

My seller for my new listing on Alan Road just called. We spoke for about 5 minutes about the decline in the stock market and the economy.

At the end of the call we decided to lower the asking price from $319,900 to $299,900.

That is very exciting to me. At this price point, it will be compared to homes in the $250,000 to $300,000 range. That is a great comparison for our home...

It is on 2/3 of an acre in South Naperville. Great layout. Needs about $50,000 of love to be a gorgeous home.

Ken

A Realtor you can trust.