I think you would be hard pressed to find a more radical person when I was younger. Just your typical young man; bending strings on a Les Paul like there was no tomorrow, training and kick boxing (then it was called full-contact), and thinking that the bars were only going to be open a few good nights a year (although I surveyed them to make sure they were open the rest of the year). There was nothing mellow about me. Times have changed, although I still need a hair cut, but now I just enjoy a good parade. I do have a memory of something that I doubt will ever escape me; that is Green beer on St. Patrick'sDay. Years go by and I wonder what in the world possessed me to sit there and drink that much green beer. The holiday is festive, and I guess I could ask myself if they have greeen Dew... 03/11/2009

It wasn't to long ago that I thought I would step out of the box just a little bit further and ask for help from some megastars in the way they attract returns. It wasn't long and I became friends with both. They taught me an awful lot on attraction and how to get people to their web companies. Granted, I don't own media companies, Internet social networks,and others, but what I have learned from them really is no different than you and I having a cup of coffee across from each other. "Think like what you would want to attract". "Be yourself and have fun" It got to the point where we now could feed off each other. I am proud that they think of me the way they do, and they recently said I could use there testimonials because they said it was the truth. Gentleman, I thank you as always.Ma... 03/09/2009

I think it is great for anyone that is networking on Facebook that they can also design their business card and display their business on "Live listings" So I thought I would share.   Real Estate Agents You're Friends With | Real Estate Agents You Recommend | Real Estate Agents Friends Recommend View My Real Estate Agent CardEdit My Real Estate Agent CardInvite Friends Buyer's Guide       Seller's Guide       Compare Utilities Online View Facebook Profile Let Me Know If You're Interested In:Determining Value of My Home Finding Out What I Can Afford Viewing Listings Investing in Real Estate Renting a Home Discussing Selling Tom Braatz RE/MAX Realty Center Areas I Work: Waukesha and Milwaukee COUNTIES, AND ALL OF SOUTH EASTERN WISCONSIN Number: 262-377-1459 See Live Listings: http://www.t... 03/07/2009

In a day and time where technology is a premium and we have every tool imaginable to us at our fingertips we should be selective and use the tools that give us a return.ActiveRain  is a great tool for social interaction between Realtors and peers, networking and referral system, and for great SEO and public awareness. Integration into Facebook, and Twitter and more can just add to your social and business presence. I personal love my dog so much that I use him as a branding device and he doesn't mind; he gets all the attention and recognition he can handle. In fact, people are so infatuated with him he has his own fan club on Facebook. I write something about myself and not a beep, and I write something that Lars is doing and 3500 people have their choose to say to him what they want. O... 03/04/2009

Every Sunday my son tells me what he wants to bake and we roll up our sleeves and commence to bake. As with any business discussion I may have we try to find a common solution, compromise, or how we may be able to rectify the problem that has surfaced, or is about to. My son Spencer is a master at problem solving. It may be a major dilemma of what type of cookie, or pie, or cake for that matter, we want to bake. I will take a methodical approach to what may be more practical and why we would want to bake that. For example, I might say that we would want to bake a few dozen oatmeal cookies, and then next time we could bake something different. Here's where my son shines (and Lars is behind him for every approval and scrap that may find it's way to his negotiating palate. My son starts of... 02/28/2009

I remember sitting outside of David Hanson's office not too long ago and Dave making mention of what a wonderful son I had. A short time later I was over at Sally and David Hanson's home and it was a normal greeting from the princess sally.I walked in her home, and immediately she gives you that warm and genuine kiss and hug. Sally , for those who have not met her is a very attractive blonde haired woman with a magnificent smile. That day I was rewarded with another charming comment again about my son when Dave and Sally told me that they thought my son was one of the most polite young men they have ever met. They are so right, and I am so proud to hear comments like that. From there I started to reminence about when he was a baby As my son gets bigger everyday it becomes a paradox to m... 02/27/2009

Many brokers these days are saying how "hard" they have to work. These days? Doesn't it take sacrifices to get ahead and also at the same time a salesperson that works hard, but works smarter as well. Working  smarter? Being up on technology, ways of increasing efficiency, and many other avenues can make us stand out from the rest of the pool of brokers. Just think about the following for a bitL "When out running the Lion it is not so much necessary to be the fastest gazelle, but just  faster than the gazelle next to you." In a time where some are re-inventing the wheel, perhaps the approach is to step out of the box or package it came in, and really take a good look at the wheel. We recently had a buyer comment on receiving information from requesting information from me via Google an... 02/27/2009

 I am fortunate to have a son that likes to ride along with me and reminiscence of places we have been, and things we have done. he likes to remember washingtonisland and all the good times we would havbe there. We would get on the ferry, cross over to to Island, drop our stuff off at our lake home, and then from there Spencer, Lars, ans i would be off to the local albatross to get an ice cream cone. Spencer has such great memories of hanging out with his mom eating local treats, the welcome center, the museum, and even going over to see his little reindeer friend "Miss Donner" at the Ostrich farm    We would get up in the morning and go out salmon fishing in our boat. He really liked this because he would drive and it made him feel that he knew where the fish were. Besides, it's one th... 02/26/2009

Now you can have one of the best coaches that will turn you into the broker you always dreamed of being. The fact is, you always had it in you, it just had to be brought out into the light and let you discover the talent you always had inside of you. Let me show you what I have learned, teach you skills that would cost you tens of thousands of dollars to learn, and we will have fun at it while you also have a few closings a week. I have been coaching Realtors now for twenty three years, but effectively making an art out of it for the last 16 years or so. The amazing amount of trial and error, the mistakes that allowed me to refine myself, and the approach I take to helping people be the best they can makes me very proud. I can change your life, and i have changed many. They saw the way ... 02/24/2009

Today I attended a information meeting for local business owners on the new Pabst Farms shopping center.   Developers are looking at opening this mall in 2010.  From the Milwaukee BizJournal: The project would start on the southwest section of the parcel with what the developers call a community center featuring a combination of large and midsize stores and smaller shops. While he didn't name any retailers, city economic development director Bob Duffy had earlier shown a slide that identified Kohl's, Target, Michaels crafts, OfficeMax and Petco. Elias showed a similar Developers Diversified project that had tenants including Super Target, TJ Maxx, Hobby Lobby, Borders, World Market and DSW shoes. What do you think, do we need another mall in the area? What stores would you like to see? ... 02/24/2009

  So you're selling a house and you get a showing request - Yeah!  But wait, they want to come in an hour.  What? How can I get ready?  But that's when the kids get home...  Put all these worries aside!  Say yes!  Let me explain why. Given the current buyers market, you should do everything in your power to accommodate a showing request (we'll assume that the agent making that request has prequalified this buyer as one ready, willing and able to afford your home.)  You never know when this could be the Buyer for your home and many times a buyer who is turned down for a showing never reschedules.  Even if they do reschedule, the relationship has started off on the wrong foot, which could come into play later in the transaction. Often times transferees, who are some of the best ready, wi... 02/22/2009

Open HouseSundays 1:00 to 4:00 pm Stop in and see what everyone is talking about! This unique lake condo community reminiscent of a seaside village in Italy. Mediterranean features throughout! Model is priced at $499,900. What a winter bargain. Visit my youtube video to see the interiors - if you can't make it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCXF_343UK0 Rebecca SpragueShorewest Realtors - Lake Country Office1296 Summit Ave, Oconomowoc, WI 53066262-567-8351 or 262-782-4710 02/22/2009

I can only imagine how life would have been in the middle 1800s or around the turn of the century leading into the 1900s in Waukesha County. The Lake Country region of Waukesha County is full of beautiful mansions on the Lakes, and dotting the countrysides. On Oconomowoc Lake were the Armour mansion, the Valentine mansion, the Pabst  mansion, and from there we can go to Pine Lake  in Chenequa which is one of the wealthiest zip codes in the United States and see mansions that belonged to the Evinrude family (as in boats and marine), and even one of the largest printers in the World, and the owner of Quad/Graphics had his beautiful home on Pine Lake , not to mention very famous basketball, baseball, and other celebrities. Even Al Capone  had a large home on Okauchee Lake and when the Feds... 02/20/2009

It only may take a few minutes but when one travels through Waukesha County they never are far from a Lake; in western Waukesha County this region has become to be known as a beautiful and wonderful area called Lake Country. These are comprised of the Town of Ottawa, North Lake , Oconomowoc, Hartland , Wales, Delafield , Chenequa, Stonebank, Merton,  Nashotah, Oconomowoc Lake, Pewaukee, Merton, Wales,  Okauchee, and more. Each one of these towns and villages are unique. If you are looking for a Lake Property why not contact a team that knows this area well, and would be honored to show you what Lake living is all about. It's almost Spring and soon the Lakes will be alive with lots of activity.Perhaps it's time you to enjoy a Lake Home.                                 See you at Closing!... 02/19/2009

As your Realtor we pride ourselves on what we do. We want to separate ourselves from others by how we stand out, put our heart and soul into our business, and truly do want to make a difference! No matter what career, sport, or for that matter just about anything you are trying to be the best at it really requires a passion for what you do, a conviction to make a difference, a absolute burning desire that is consumed by you, and allows you to focus on your goals at all times. There are times when it may seem that things are stacked against you, but with the right attitude, approach, game plan, and a desire to accomplish much, there truly is very little you cannot accomplish. We hear wonderful achievement stories every day by regular individuals in life that had a desire to accomplish wh... 02/17/2009

If you are even slightly interested in starting your Real Estate portfolio you should email or call us right away. We are seeing some amazing deals out there and the one who invests now has a great chance of watching their investment pay off for them well. Whether you want to start with a duplex, or you need to increase your portfolio with a couple hundred more units we have you covered. We travel all over the state of Wisconsin and we look forward to having the chance to be your Realtor. We even will teach you how to calculate your cash flow after taxes (CFAT) and how to prepare an anual property operating data sheet (APOD) BEFORE we even start to roll up our sleeves together, exercise our game plan, and get in the car!  See you at Closing! Tom Braatz  You Can Sign up For VIP BUYING at... 02/17/2009

It is days of thanks and compassion, such as Valentines Day, that I can take a moment out and say thank you to my wonderful friends, clients, and just about anyone i have ever had the luxury of coming into contact with. Times will vary, and times may bring there ups and downs, but the thought of a heartfelt smile looking back at me, and the support and care that I have received in my life can never go by, or taken for granted. As for my little mister moose Lars he would sum it it by just a big lick on my face, or anyone in his path. I want to thank those for always being there for me, for God getting me through some times, and for having the World's greatest son. For this I wish everyone a Happy Valentines Day! As a young man I realize that my success now, in the past, and in the future... 02/13/2009

It might just be a fluke, but my phone has been ringing like no tomorrow. The good news is often there are wonderful voices on the other end interesting in listing their home. Here is the hard part; so many homes we go to we have to walk away from because the expectation of what they either owe, or what they think it is worth is quite different from what the numbers depict in our market. Foe every 5 appointments we probably take about 1. If it were a number of years ago we would have taken them all, and they would have sold. The thought of listing a home and buying a flat of petunias to put around the sign pole does not appeal to me. Poor Glenn, I delegate a ton of work to him and it would seem that his fingers will fall off one day from sitting on a computer, or Iphone all day. We get ... 02/10/2009

Recently I overheard someone saying "I wish the day would be over and just end" Granted the days can have problems that we will always have to work through, but to have your life put on fast forward just does not make sense. I asked the broker "What would you benefit from by getting rid if the day?' You are not going to get the time back, and if you had problems today perhaps you need to readjust your attitude of how lucky we are to have the job we do. It's sad, it is pitifully sad when someone thinks that getting rid of the day is going to be a cure all. We have to manage our time wisely. I see people that don't even have a check list in the morning and they wonder why they are going in ten directions of non productivity loss. A sense of timing, a sense and goal of what we want to acco... 02/08/2009

When I take a walk in downtown Oconomowoc today I can hear the rain dripping off the canvass awnings in front of the stores. There is a certain syncopation taken place as if in music. You could near the street row in timing. Being a piano player, and a guitar player I was tying to determine if it was in the eight or the sixteenth meter, but all the street noise was trying to sound in as well. Happy people in shops, smiles as families are talking about their wonderful comradely between them all. IT was beautiful. I know it is a short amount of time before all the street poles have plant son them and all the magnificent hanging baskets. I do not think I have ever seen a City that is so decorated with flowers. It is positively breath taking. All the City gardens, and add to the fact that t... 02/07/2009