On To Berlin!!!!!!!!!!

My fearless leader (my broker) is always quoting parts of the movie "Patton" and letting me know "anything is possible". So I have spent the weekend working on my business plan for 2007 and new resolutions. I've used the same plan for several years. Here are a few items I plan to focus on this year.

1. Look eagerly ahead to 2007. Plan to eliminate everything that didn't work and try something new.

2. Improve on my business plan and stick with it. Check it monthly. I am putting it in my daytimer this year. Seeing it daily will help me stay the course.

3. Walk away from over priced listings. Over the years, I have never given up trying to sell an over priced home. Educated clients that really want their home to sell, adjust the price themselves.

4. Upgrade my team's technology. I'm thinking of laptops or notebooks. Most of them already have Treo's, electronic tape measurers, etc.

5. Focus on Sellers. Sellers want the most for their $$$$$$! The lastest technology, .com addresses, virtual tours and most of all communication from the realtor. I added a new website this year: www.kayvankampen.com. Tracking my leads this year, the internet has brought more buyers, than the newspaper or magazines.

6. Encourage and mentor my team to improve their own education, by obtaining additional designations.

7. Create an office with a "positive attitude". Save energy and eliminate the negative vibrations that will spread faster than the plague.

8. Donate time to local organizations. Besides contributing to the Children's Miracle Network, we are members of a motorcycle club that is involved in fund raisers for the less fortunate.

9. Improve on my own education. I'm starting the new year, attending new agent classes to improve myself (it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks). In this ever-changing world of Real Estate, keeping up with the new technology, rules and regulations is always a challenge.

10. Last but not least, it would not be a good year, if I didn't read and participate in Active Rain, buy all the blogging books that I can, and look forward to the new website, Localism.com.

The internet has become a vital part of every Realtor's business. I've made a large part of my plans for 2007 based on activities on the internet. Have you made plans and set your goals?

Beautiful Log Home In Christian County!!!
Now you don't have to dream about owning a fabulous log home - it's right here!! Located minutes south of Springfield Missouri, on beautiful open and wooded acreage, semi-secluded, with an open floor plan. A virtual tour is available for viewing at www.kayvankampen.com.

Custom built with 4500 Sq Ft m/l with a fantastic great room, boxcar ceiling, solid oak floors, knotty pine cabinets, amazing catwalk, antique door knobs, 6 panel knotty pine doors, 2 x 12 rafters, 2 x 6 walls, 3 sources of heat, 30 x 40 detached garage with concrete floor. Priced with 5 or 15 acres.

Bare Feet Wiggling in the grass (or snow), and over a half acre for your children to roam on this pleasant, wooded site. Besides the large family room, there is a large bedroom that could be a family room for a rainy-day playroom. Incidentally, the house has 3BR, 2 baths, a double garage, and a lot more for optimum family living. Located in Nixa, Missouri, it's updated and ready for new owners!

Springfield Mo. Real Estate - I Love Old Buildings!
Don’t you wish you could have watched some of the old buildings in Springfield being constructed. Imagine how difficult it was without all the conventional means we have now! Here is one of our greatest sites – Springfield City Hall. Take and tour and enjoy!

Rustic Retreat on 52 Acres!


A Rustic Lane
leads to this very private place with peaceful woods and a cedar home set in a sun-streaked glen. This beautiful acreage site is home to a host of friendly forest creatures. The 1,568 square foot, 3BR home has 2 baths sheathed in tile, a bright open concept plan with high ceilings and walls of glass that make nature your decorator, large double garage, and the most modern amenities and conveniences. If ever there was a "MUST SEE".

To see details of this beautiful property visit: Jonesville Road.

View the virtual tour.

The home can be purchased with 5 Acres or 10 Acres. Located in Christian County, Missouri, south of Springfield and north of Branson, Missouri.

Common Closing Costs in Springfield Missouri?

Read a great article from Neal Pender that made me compare closing fees to his in North Carolina.

Every state, county and city has different closing costs that apply for buyers and sellers. In Springfield Missouri, for the seller, some will be fixed expenses while others depend on the selling price. Below, is a summary of the sellers most common closing fees.

Closing Fee: In our market, typically the seller chooses where they close, usually with a local title company. The title search fee ranges from $150 to $200 depends on the type of closing. If there is a 1031 Tax Exchange, the closing fee might be higher.

Repair Items: Contracts used by the local Springfield Missouri MLS, allow the buyer to conduct any inspections they choose at their own expense. The items found which are in need of immediate repair will typically be requested to be negotiated between buyer and seller. If wood destroying insects are found (especially termites), a treatment will be expected at the seller's expense. The cost of termite treatment depends on the amount of damage and repair required.

Home Warranty: Home warranty's can be offered by the seller when the home is marketed. If a warranty is not offered by a seller, the buyer can purchase one at closing. These range from $414 to $500 and cover certain items for your buyers during their first year of ownership.

Title Search: The seller is required to do a title search to insure the title is free of any unforeseen liens. The cost of this usually ranges from $150 to $300.

Mortgage Payoff: Mortgages, home equity lines of credit or second mortgages with be required to be paid off at closing.

Miscellaneous: There are some smaller amounts that you'll be expected to pay as well. Overnight delivery fee for sending in the final payoff to your lender, current year's real estate taxes, well and septic preparation, home owner's association in your community, These amounts will be pro-rated to the day of closing.

Real Estate Commission: The commission is negotiated when the home is marketed. Commission is usually based on the selling price and paid by the seller.

Whether the agent is charging you very little for a small list of services or providing a full service experience to increase your odds of selling, the best practice is to find a local expert with great references and experience who you can trust to employ the right strategies that will sell your home for the most money in the shortest time frame with the least hassle.

If you are interested in selling your home, visit: www.kayvankampen.com

Preparing For a Quick Sale!

In today's market, if you want to sell your home fast, there are a few very important things you can do.

Improve the home before it goes on the market. Make sure the buyer gets a great first impression the minute he drives up to the home. Visit other homes in the neighborhood and compare them to the type of home that you own. Stage the home so the buyers are impressed the minute they walk into the front door.

Be the best home for the least amount of money. If you have a great home, make sure it's priced to sell competatively with newer homes. You'll usually have extra's that newer homes are missing in the same price range. Moving the home faster will also save additional house payments and possibly allow you to take advantage of the lower prices to purchase your new home.

Market incentivies to the buyer right up front. This will let the buyers know you really want to sell and are willing to negotiate a little.

Offer bonuses or higher commissions. Agents are always looking for ways to increase their income. Offering a higher selling percent than the competitor will spark a realtor's interest. Bonuses are better than paying a higher commission. Usually the realtor does not have to share a bonus with their broker - they split the commission.

Communicate with your realtor to see what kind of activity is occuring on your home. Today's market is hard to predict. Communicating with your realtor will give you and your realtor a better understanding of your urgency to sell.

To search for Springfield Missouri Real Estate, visit: www.kayvankampen.com.

View of Ozark Mountains!!
On A Clear Day You Can See Forever! You could travel the world and find little to compare with the peace and tranquility of this lovely spot. A sturdy all brick 4BR, 2 1/2 bath ranch set amidst 5 acres. With unsurpassed hillside views and a home anyone would be proud to call their own, it's the perfect blend of privacy and convenience. Located minutes of south Springfield Missouri. Best of all it's brand new, priced at only $299,900. To preview this and other homes go to: www.kayvankampen.com or see this home directly at: 188SettingSun.com.

I Quit Real Estate!


I'm sure everyone at one time or another has quit real estate. I decided to quit this year. Calculating what I would do with the rest of my life, I started reading about everything real estate related. I read “I Quit Real Estate” by Floyd Wickman. I read Your Management Sucks” by Mark Stevens. Every article I read made it sound like the authors were speaking directly to me. Then I found Active Rain.

The truth is that I have worked for almost 20 years selling Springfield Missouri Real Estate, and building a great real estate business to find out I can't quit. I forgot one thing: I Love my job!! Building a great team, I assumed they would be as passionate about selling real estate as I am. I also forgot, as individuals, no one has the same goal..... Imagine that!

I also realized my philosophy about real estate remains the same as it did the day I started.
1. Make money.
2. Service the client to the best of my ability.
3. Maintain a good reputation.
4. Earn repeat business.

Active Rain has changed my real estate career and helped me realize how fortunate I have been to be a realtor.

So, as of the first of the year, I'm changing my team's policy. My new requirements for joining my team: New team members will not be allowed to have a family life - it interferes with selling real estate. Only positive thoughts will be allowed. They will work 48 hours a day. There will be no days off. When they aren’t showing or listing property, they will be following up with clients, knocking on doors, working the website, and all the extra's to make my clients happy.

Does anyone know where I can purchase realtor robots?

I Have The Best Builder - An Ex-Realtor!


Working several years with an ex-realtor that started building homes and wanted me to list his houses. I was a little taken back, when I met with him, to realize that he had watched my advertising and knew my listing strategy. Knowing the market, I was able to preview his homes and tell him how to price his homes.

This year, I currently have two homes on the market, in Nixa, Mo. one I just received an offer on this last week. My assistant could not get him on the phone, so she went to his house and rang the door bell. First thing she heard was the baby start to cry.

The builder's wife answered the door, looking a little upset because she had woke the baby. My assistant told her she had a full price offer, close in 3 weeks. The builders wife's grabbed her and danced her around. She said, I don't care if you did wake the baby....we have an offer!

In today's market, we have to educate all the sellers. I am blessed to have a builder that understands how the market fluctuates and continues to have faith in me, even when the market slows.