But why?

Because otherwise I’d be slowing down before I reached the runner…I’d have no momentum and no power to stop the person breaking through the line of scrimmage.

In a nutshell the running back would have the advantage and instead of delivering a blow I’d be on the receiving end of one. Which, for obvious reasons, is no fun at all. (In case you didn’t know…)

So instead my focus was on a point past the ball carrier and I did my darnedest to get there. True, I usually didn’t reach that imaginary spot — but it did help me win more battles than I lost. 

By focusing my efforts on running through the person, the tackle would usually take care of itself. Maybe I wasn’t able to wrap my arms all the way around. Or pull their legs up into my chest. But the other person knew what just happened…

My point is — if you only aim for the runner (or at just putting your home on the market)  then you won’t make the tackle (or the sale). But if you aim past the runner (at actually selling your home) you will.

Putting your home on the market isn’t the point. It’s only the beginning.

Instead you should focus on the end result — getting an accepted offer. It’s the follow through that will get you to that point.

For example, what will you do if you have no offers the first 3 weeks your home is listed?

What if comments from showings aren’t what you expected? Will you make changes?

How will you react if your agent brings up a price reduction? Or asks you to paint a bedroom?

To often we race to the starting line and completely neglect the actual point of the race — to actually finish.

What will you do so you can finish the race?

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I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my exercise program…or my lack of an exercise program. Unfortunately, I’m not getting any younger. Like the rest of you, I’ve tried. It doesn’t work for me either. Don’t get me wrong, I like exercise. Or maybe the thought of exercise.

Back in my twenties, I was a workout fiend. You’d find my brother, my neighbor and me pumping away in a home gym we put together. But then things change. I graduate from college and find a job in Mauston. With a new job and apartment living finding a place to workout and time, for that matter, becomes difficult.

Fast forward a few years and I purchase my first place. So I buy a couch, table and chairs and a squat rack and weights. That’s what the rest of you did when you bought your first home? Why do I only hear crickets?

Now I have everything I need to stay in shape, or to even change my shape a little. Nothin’ gonna stop me now…

The first summer goes pretty well. I found Crossfit the fall before and I’m going strong in the garage gym that spring and summer. I’m in the best shape of my life. Not quite as big, but my soon to be wife says that’s ok (something about not having a neck before). I’m more athletic than I’ve ever been. I’m doing things I couldn’t do before.

Now winter arrives. The garage gym isn’t as much fun anymore. For obvious reasons. Brrrr…

I slack…or maybe more accurately, stop working out. It’s too difficult to head into the freezing garage for a workout. It’s a whole lot easier to stay in the warm house and watch CSI: Las Vegas.

Oh, spring how I love thee… I’m ready. Ugh, but starting is so difficult. I really want to fast forward a month and start from there. But I can’t, so I procrastinate…

And procrastinate…

A little more procrastinating…

But why start now? It’s been sooooo long… I’m not happy with myself… so to punish myself, I still don’t workout… WHAT? Does that sound reasonable? Apparently it does because I never really get around to starting…

Have you lived through something similar? Don’t lie. If we truly want something, we’ll start. But it’s too easy to push it off. To say you’ll start next week or next month (my wife says this is what I’m doing right now…don’t tell her but she’s right)…

And time goes by. Maybe years. Now a decade or two…

This is where I bring my story back to your home… and I’m going to hit you in the face with a little fact:

Your home is EXACTLY like your exercise program.

At some point your home will be sold. Realistically you’ll be selling it in 5-10 years. If not then, it’s when your kids move out. Or when it becomes too difficult to manage all those stairs. Or when 3000 square feet is too much.

The question is, what condition do you want your home to be in when you want to sell?

Do you want it in peak physical condition so you can get top dollar?

Or in good shape, so a little work over the course of a couple months can get you top dollar?

Or average so it looks like every other home out there? The ‘someone will buy it at some point’ condition.

Or with the bulging waistline, high cholesterol, maybe a little adult onset diabetes… The ‘better days were decades ago’ condition.

I know starting a program is difficult. I know that finding time can be difficult. I know that at times it’s going to cost more money than you may want to spend. I know that researching and finding the best program (updates) is better than blindly following anyone or thing and regretting it later.

But it’s important. Just like exercise can add years to your life, a proper program for your home can add thousands of dollars to your bottom line AND cause you significantly less stress as well.

And I know that you know that this is what the 10 years from now you really wants.

Now, I have to wrap this up and make a plan to hit the weights AND finish painting and installing the door trim I’ve been putting off.

What’s your plan?

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Now, they both were talking about what takes our attention. How WE reach others.

As a Realtor, I’m constantly with my phone. My phone rings frequently and at all hours. Emails arrive throughout the day and night. It can seem like I’m running in a circle or chasing my tail or slogging through mud…any way you slice it it can seem like I’m getting no where.

But as I picture myself chasing my tail my mind shifts from the ‘ME’ to the ‘YOU.’

I’ve been on a couple listing presentations this week and today I’m reflecting on what it is you, my client, needs and wants from the Realtor you task with selling your home. 

As a 30 something Realtor I’m fully versed in the ‘NEW’ part of selling real estate. I’m on Twitter. Wife and daughters bought me a Flip video camera for my birthday last month. So videos will be forthcoming shortly. I’ve had this blog for a couple years. I use this website when I work with owners who’s homes haven’t sold.

So I get NEW.

But you want ‘NOW.’ You want your home sold NOW. Not in a month, or six…

I have to ask myself ‘Why’ for each and everything I tell YOU when we meet that differentiates myself from the 45+ technologically illiterate Realtor down the street.

Here’s why I use:

A Single Property Website: the MLS offers only 504 characters for your home’s description. I can use an infinite amount for your home on the site I create. Plus, by purchasing a unique URL from GoDaddy I can make it easy for buyers to find it. See the latest and greatest listing for www.RapidsHome.com.

A Professional Photographer: I’m a Realtor. I sell homes. I’m a marketer. Wisconsin lets me dabble a little in legal contracts. But a photographer? No way. Every picture says a thousand words. Not when a Realtor is behind the lens… I shell the money out to get you the very best pictures possible. And the difference is amazing.

These are two (of what I feel are many) reasons why I’m different than your average agent.

Plus, First Weber offers many unique advantages than other brokerages here in the Wisconsin Rapids area. Want proof? See for yourself who sells the most real estate in Wisconsin Rapids.

All of which will help you get the ‘NOW’ that you’re looking for. 

Make sense?

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Teaming with thousands of cars–from the early 1900′s through the 1990′s this car show offers something for everyone.

Calling the festivities the “Midwest’s greatest old car show and swap meet” truly is an understatement and must be seen to be believed.

I haven’t been back for years, but my dad and at least one of his brothers head over there every year. Mom is always concerned with any “bright” ideas he may come back with… And the definition of “bright” obviously changes depending on if you talk to my dad or my mom…

The gates open each day at 6:00 am and you can peruse the grounds until 6:00 pm.

Tickets are $8 per day or $15 for the entire weekend. Bringing your children? Any child 10 or under gets in for free.

For more information please check out the Iola Car Show website.

Will you have to trust your GPS to get you there? The grounds address is 130 Jenson Drive, Iola WI 54945.

Planning for the future? The upcoming dates for future Iola Car Shows are:

• 2011: July 7-10
• 2012: July 12-15
• 2013: July 11-14
• 2014: July 10-13

And do you want more information? Click here to see the official Iola Car Show program. Better yet, head on over to the official website.

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How long it will take all properties currently on the market to sell.

For example the Wisconsin Rapids area has 397 properties currently for sale. Over the past year 481 homes have sold, which averages out to 40 sales per month. Dividing monthly sales by number of homes for sale gives you 9.9 months to absorb all the homes currently on the market. Make sense?

The absorption rate is a significant indicator of the health of a real estate market. The goal is to be around 6 months. A number less than 6 indicates that it’s a sellers market. Why? Because homes are moving at such a rapid pace sellers have the ability to be picky when choosing to accept an offer.

Obviously over 6 months means that we’re in a buyers market. With homes moving slower buyers are better able to draw a line in the sand in regards to a final purchase price.

Following are the absorption rates for all of our surrounding areas:

• Wisconsin Rapids: 9.9 months
• Stevens Point: 9.2 months
• Marshfield: 11.5 months
• Wausau: 13.2 months

Individual communities within these areas can have significantly differing absorption rates. For example a few reasons can be the local school district (or individual school), the proximity to large employer, or even how close a community/subdivision is to various amenities.

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The last thing area buyers and sellers needed was a ‘slight’ delay. Any delay could have resulted in not being able to close before the June 30 deadline. Numerous title companies and lawyers were booked solid on Wednesday, June 30. Often for weeks…

But after separating the tax extension from other parts of the bill (like railway spending) the bill picked up steam and Congress nearly unanimously passed the bill.

Next the Senate passed the bill after, once again, separating it from another larger bill.

But, here’s what’s important to you:

You OFFICIALLY have until September 30, 2010 to close on the sale or purchase of your home.

Almost 200,000 homeowners can take a huge sigh of relief knowing that closing on their home just became a lot easier.

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The average rate for a fixed 30-year mortgage shrunk to 4.69% last week.

If you have the Big 3:

1. Job Security
2. High Credit Score and
3. Cash

You can qualify and secure a loan that will save you thousands of dollars over the entire term of the loan.

Did you know that a 1% decrease in a mortgage rate can increase your purchase power by 10%? So for a loan of $100,000 you can increase your purchase price by $10,000…for a $200,000 loan you can increase your maximum price by $20,000…all for the same monthly payment as your neighbor with the less expensive home than yours.

Along with a lower interest rate remember that home prices have been stagnent the past few years too. Leaving you with the ability to purchase a “better” home for the same amount of money as you would have in 2007.

Starting the buying process is as easy as contacting your favorite Wisconsin Rapids Realtor and meeting with a lender to get pre-approved and lock in this especially low interest rate.

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That’s always a very popular question. It goes without saying that you want your home sold in the quickest amount of time for the highest price possible…

Right?

But can anyone or any brokerage deliver the goods? Are all Wisconsin Rapids Realtors created equal?

Can you expect the same results from First Weber, Century 21, Coldwell Banker, NorthCentral or Newlun Realty?

Wisconsin Rapids says NO.

See the results from 2009.

As you’d expect, 2010 is shaping up the same as well.

If results are not important to you, call anyone. If you want the best, call the best.

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This will be especially good news  if you’re navigating the often frustrating waters of a short sale… 

The deadline will be extended from June 30, 2010 to September 30, 2010.

Real estate activity in April was significantly higher than a normal April, heck, even a normal July. As the dust settles and all closings take place we’ll be able to see the net effect in the overall market.

As we wait, here’s a current snapshot of activity between 2009-2010:

• Number of closings from May 1, 2010 – June 16, 2010: 85
• Number of closings from May 1, 2009 – June 16, 2009: 58

After a little math that equates to a 47% increase!

Hopefully this extension will allow a few of you sleep a little easier.

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Many will use this Memorial Holiday weekend to spend time with family away from ‘everyday’ life. Away from the J.O.B.*, away from friends and as far away as possible from stress.

This is a chance to reconnect. To recharge. To rivive.

For many of us this weekend signifies the transition from Spring to Summer and the new season brings a new emphasis…a new beginning.

Before, or after (as long as it’s before Tuesday) you relax on the beach, or the deck, or the golf course read Seth Godin’s plan for getting off to a great start in Summer 2010. It’s less than 100 words…So it’ll take 15 seconds. But it’ll stick with you for much, much longer.

If you enjoyed Seth’s perspective on things you’ll also enjoy Chris Johnson talking, or I guess writing, about INTENSITY. It’s a very good read, a little longer, but worth it.

Also, are you on Twitter? I would suggest you follow Chris. Very meaningful and entertaining tweets. I’m on Twitter too, if you like that sort of thing.

*What does J.O.B. stand for? Just Over Broke…

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