It's a cold, snowy day in Wisconsin and I look forward to a change in scenery one day like most do. The snow is beautiful but the icy roads, snow banks, and very cold temperatures lend for a lot of paperwork
and scheduling to be done in the beginning of the day. As I put the finishing touches on my goals for 2010 I look back at them and question myself if I can really attain such goals and are they realistic. Pretty monumental changes and adjustments are in order and the time is just ticking away until they happen. The curious notion I tend to look at is the fact that I have refined my business goals to really going back to the basics. It's not so much becoming that more viral connected or how to be in 8 places at once rather than 4, but simplicity is now key. My strength has always been in my phone and one on one. I am one of the regimented real estate agents in Waukesha County that prides himself on not only introducing himself to everyone but
more importantly the fact that I want people to remember
my name. My phone is key. It's not hard to burn up 5,000 minutes a month on a cell phone when it becomes your life line for business.
Recently someone asked me how my Internet campaigns were doing and I replied "Just fine" but I reminded them that nothing will ever replace the human element of knowledge, closing ability, and sales sense that gets buyers and sellers to a successful closing. When you maintain a schedule of calling past, present, as well as potential clients it's amazing how busy one can get, and keep 
busy as long as they prospect everyday. How will 2010 bring you change? Is this
the year that you buy that one of those homes for sale in Oconomowoc Wisconsin, or one of those homes for sale in Waukesha Wisconsin. Is this the year that you take advantage of the tax credit for first time home buyers, or tax credit for present home homeowners. Whatever change 2010 brings you I hope it is productive, meaningful, and prosperous. Change is good!
"Change your thoughts and you change your world." Norman Vincent Peale
Need more information? Don't hesitate to email me at tom@tombraatz.com or call me at 262-377-1459. On-line home value: Market Analysis Want to find that right home? Dream Home Finder
Have a productive day and we will see you at closing!
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their business. I would be pretty fair and correct in saying that you could get any Waukesha County real estate agent to tell you they can get the job done, but there are many factors that can help you make a better and more informed decision about selecting the agent that can get the property listed,
find you the right property, and get you to a successful closing with everything all addressed and followed in a correct manner. I have plenty of friends that own their own company and they do amazingly well.
more than pull other technology from the Internet. Why shouldn't they? I do the same as well, but for the sake of a company, Re/Max has many offices in Waukesha County that are physical offices that have people in them and working for the associates everyday. Re/Max also has over 150,000 associates in it's system and our office has profit sharing as well. Great support for associates but the public benefits from the tools that the associates have at their hands. Not only does the associate have their own Re/Max site with all the technology to get the job done, but the associates have other websites and more that can really add to the equation. Dave
Liniger, the founder of Re/Max is a great man as well; he owns his own charitable golf courses, and Re/Max is also the sponsor of The Childrens Miriacle Network which has been amazing help to many children. It doesn't matter to me what company you are with but I do applaud anyone that puts kids first, and helps them.
ultimately the consumer as well. I enjoy blogging but the benefits of blogging reach many different angles in social networking and blogging. I am able to be out in front of my listings, the public can reach me and see me in a more visible light, and they can also get to know the agent behind the articles and posts by following them. Hence, get an idea of what they are like. I also like the idea that I can network with other great sources such as 
exposure, more Google juice, and more applications to benefit my business and benefit my customers and clients. My website resources and avenues are crucial to my business. The days of spending thousands of dollars a month and getting less results by spending that kind of money are over. Now the trade off is time and effective using my skills to bring my business out in front for a fraction of what it used to cost.
Being connected is important in means of our Industry as well. When an agent needs an immediate endorsement from their title company, a copy of an inspection report emailed again, a city letter and planning decision sent to an attorney, a phase one study performed on a property, a underground storage tank removed, and so on, the agent that is connected and has a system built around them and talented people to help them with their business, is the agent that can pull in all the pieces and
connect the dots a lot faster. recently we needed an underground storage tank removed and it was in a very challenging location. In addition to the tank we suspected that the property may involve more than a phase one environmental study. because we have been using the same reliable people for many of projects for years and we knew we could count on them 
to step up to the plate and get the job done. Having attorneys that own title companies is a great help. A couple title companies we use have attorneys that own them and we have the luxury of bouncing off questions and scenarios to them that gets us a step ahead of the game.
Having great phone skills and talent is paramount. I have had the luxury of helping agents and brokers with their phone skills. It seems that even to this day that there are those that are afraid to pick up the phone and 
prospect. I ask them why is it that if a relative, friend, or spouse starts to bark at you, vent, or give you their two cents worth it falls on deaf ears and does not bother you, but a complete stranger on the other end of a phone is enough to shatter your day and frightens you.? It's because the agent needs to accept the rejection in a different means and realize the phone and it's applications can really be your best friend. Further, it's been proven that an agent that has an accountability partner or coach can become more focused and accomplish more. An agent has to overcome many obstacles and be able to work through much and realize some people can be different.
until he knows that his customer has all their questions
asked and that he has explained everything in detail. One that puts service and customer satisfaction ahead of closing on someone fast and putting the dollar first. One that makes their company look like a million dollars just by the salesman being themselves.
works for Sprint in Brookfield, Wisconsin. After having to ask my son Spencer for my phone back a million times and finally coming to the conclusion that if I did not get him his own cell phone fast he was going to keep on being persistent like a Waukesha County real estate agent hot on a great lead, it was off to the Sprint store in Brookfield.
his way into every ones heart. He knew exactly what we needed and what was more impressive was how Gary set out to save me money and how to save money in the future. I like that. So after some time and everyone was totally happy it was then that Gary asked if we would like to continue. Absolutely, and Gary, you are our pick of the week in excellence in sales. I would recommend anyone that wants outstanding service to go to the Sprint store located at 16075 W. Bluemound Rd., in Brookfield and ask for Gary Woodward. Call him at his office at 262-938-3100, or email him at 