South West Wisconsin Real Estate

Real Estate in Wisconsin is great and we all know about places like Milwaukee and Madison, how about rural properties and recreational property? Well I found a hot spot that deserves your attention and a real estate company in Southwest Wisconsin that is above and beyond all others.

Jay Fraizer and Ed Kraisinger are two of the best realtors I have met. After 12 years in the trenches I have learned a thing or two about what to look for in a professional real estate operation and these guys have it in spades.

To make a long story short, check these guys out at http://www.myoakpro.com and you will be amazed at the level of service and the great array of listings these folks have.

Storm Damage - What do I need to do?

Do you have Hail or Wind Damage on your home from recent storms? If so you need an experienced insurance claims specialist to help you get the best repair possible for the amount of benefit you receive from the insurance claim.
A good example of this would be if you received hail damage, the first thing you need to do is to perform an inspection of the roof. Then once YOU know the condition of your roof, siding, or windows, you can then make an informed decision based on your potential contractor. Advanced Designs, in Madison, WI can help to give you a very clear picture of potential damage. Advanced Designs is very good as they actually don't attempt to pressure you into signing a contract. They have an agreement, don't get me wrong, Mike, Rudy(author of this blog), and Danny are all great project managers and Mike is the General Manager. They do the inspection with hopes to do the work.
The next thing that happens is that your insurance company will send the "adjuster" to your home to view the damage for themselves. The adjuster works for the insurance company so they are not bound to you in any way, they work for the insurance company. I will say that most adjusters that I have dealt with personally are fair about finding damage, others are not, if you have an expert on your side there while the adjuster is inspecting, they will show the adjusters things consistent with the damage they found.

Upon completion of the paperwork by the insurance company, its best to allow your contractor or your hail damage experts to measure your home and prepare a cost analysis, which is the proposal of the construction firm. If your working with a contractor, and you don't necessarily want them to work on your roof, tell them at this point so that they can help others more successfully. I stress allowing a contractor to put a sign in the yard at this point, as it can help keep solicitations to a minimum.

Once the paperwork is complete, you will be able to see the "SCOPE" or the damage report and payment agreement with the insurance company. This shows you what you are allowed to spend on what repairs or replacement. Typically a good contractor will make him self very useful at this point by presenting a proposal to you regarding their action plan. If they are not the same you need to make a decision on what exact repairs to make and how to proceed. A good contractor can also suggest what repairs to start on first and scheduling ability at this point, others may not, or may be behind schedule at other jobs.

Next post is Part II of "Storm Damage"

Remember good marketing and use MWM for all of your web marketing needs!

Wisconsin Real Estate

Honestly I don't know about Wisconsin Real Estate right now because I have not done any real estate work this year. I talk to many realtor's every week about their businesses and how much volume they are doing, some say they are doing OK, while others have simply fallen by the wayside. Its interesting but I can sum it up in one sentence...
***Those who use sound techniques and have learned the harness the Internet are in fact still busy. ***

Get that thru your head and your going to improve your business...period.

Getting your web presence on is as easy as optimizing your pages with productive keywords and building good content and links to that content. SEO in one sentence... Yeah I guess it is.
Till next time!!
Rudy

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http://www.propertyinwisconsin.com/blog1

Happy Memorial Day, and thank you for protecting us

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Fed says we are near the bottom

I read yesterday that the FED says we are almost at the bottom in terms of the real estate market. I don't see how that is possible with Foreclosures still on the rise and credit markets still locked up tight. We will not see the bottom however until we are well past it so I am suggesting that each person out there who is still practicing do it like there is no tomorrow. Castle Rock Lake area real estate will be a tough sell this year with values sliding almost 30% over the last 6-8 months. As soon as sellers figure out the best way to get this across to buyers they will be rewarded with a sale.
Pricing is still first and foremost the best way to sell real estate, expert agree across the board.
We are currently doing some marketing for a couple of rental properties at Waterstone, one of Castle Rock's best.


Search Performance

Wisconsin Dells Real Estate
Castle Rock Lake

Just when you think its safe!

Its been a while since I have seen such a perfect senario to coin the phrase "buyers are liars, sellers are worse.", Seller is an institution, buyer is a greedy developer. 3rd party neighbor is the party that lost said property to the bank....

Ok so you see the set up for disaster. I have to be very carefull as I don't want to discuss the terms of an offer to purchase but I feel that this transaction is one of the most scary of all situations for realtors.

MORE LATER... Stay tuned!

Catch By Fan~!!

Todays Featured Website: http://www.vickiscc.com

Castle Rock Lake

Well its almost spring time, yet the ice is still thick and people are definately getting spring fever. One of the things it seems people are doing is sort of pre-yard work. That says spring fever like nothing else. Hopefully with the economy the way it is there will be some activity real estate wise around the lake. This lake property thing is a little touchy because nobody wants to lose money in real estate, yet there will never be as much waterfront land as there is right now, its a reverse bell curve. I personally want to see as many people as possible buying real estate in that area and I really hope values can stay up but at this point that is a loosing proposition.
So what are people who need to sell to do? Price properly, and make your property the most attractive in the area and you WILL find a buyer...but when is anybody's guess.

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Castle Rock Lake Experience

Be part of the newest summer fun site on the web. www.castlerocklakehome.com is the place for you to get all your Wisconsin get away information.


CASTLE ROCK LAKE- This week we are waiting for spring!! Snow conditions are great as long as you are on the water, otherwise conditions are variable, with some rough patches.
Castle Rock Lake is one of the best all around lakes in our entire state, its got everything your wild side needs to relax and enjoy life. In fact just the other day I went to Castle Rock Lake with my cousin, who was racing a couple of sleds in the big radar run at the dirty turtle bar. There were more ice fisherman than I expected, perfect ice conditions really brings them in I guess. The temp was around 12* F with 30-40 mph winds and flakes of snow blowing sideways across the vast open of the lake. Courtney and I got to basically stand around and help TJ whenever possible. As cold as it was outside, the bar was toasty warm with a huge fire raging in the stone fireplace. They have a great menu at the dirty turtle with tons of options from 3 different types of wings to several burgers, chicken, whatever you want basically. A couple of brandy 7’s and we are back outside, the racing was very good, although somewhat slow. I heard this crackle and to my amazement it was a fully tweaked Yamaha turbo which was fully lowered with basically every speed option you could think of. When that thing took off it backfired when the nitrous kicked in, and was gone. 158mph is pretty fast, even in a car its wicked, but this thing was furious. I wondered if I would even enjoy something that wicked…and yes, I probably would be scared but what the hell, you only live once. TJ did quite well, with 4 classes, he got two 1st place, one 2nd, and never even ran in the last class. I think the top speed of his day was something like 80.6 in 1000’. The award section of the contest is always a little better when your bringing home the dope, but this one was a festival, everyone was having a great time. We ended up kicking our selves out after a while because we did have to drive back to Wisconsin Dells, the day was a huge success.

So the rest of the winter we will be praying for snow and hoping to get back up there, for any type of snowmobile event.The people that snowmobile are not unlike boaters in that its like a huge family. Even the grumpy people are friendly when there sleds are nearby. TJ made a point to mention that most snowmobilers are this way and cited a few occasions where fellow snow folk had saved him from some predicament or another. So I figure I will pay it forward by mentioning them here.

We are now setting up the Castle Rock Lake Experience web portal in hope that it will force us to be in the best place possible, near the lake. Summer will be here soon and our goal is to have people moderating the forum and blog so that content is in its purest form, so that being said if you have a desire to moderate a forum please contact us and we will get you squared away.
The biggest thing we need is people who have a genuine interest in boating, fishing, and just having a good time on the lake.

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The new real estate economy

The new real estate environment is quite unlike anything anyone has seen before. Granted election years are always a bit on the slow side but this year we had some extraordinary circumstances what exacerbated the situation and with a slowing economy, massive foreclosures, and banks not lending money, the market pretty much locked up completely. In fact the only people out looking at real estate right now are people who want to invest on the foreclosures that are selling for up to 50% under their true value.

One thing that we as agents have going for us at this point is extremely low mortgage interest rates approaching 4%, which means many people who are still in their jobs and still have equity in their homes or are first time buyers will have the best opportunity to own a home in decades, or ever for that matter.

What will people do? Will people be able to sell homes to move into bigger ones? Will people just refinance into low rates and try to recoup some of the equity they once had? Mortgage modification will also be available via the T.A.R.P. program as well.

I believe that people with jobs will begin to spend again, those without will have to wait until the economy comes back which means that we will have a mediocre year at best in Wisconsin real estate with solid communities like Watertown, Oconomowoc, Jefferson, and Waterloo will fair better than those areas without industry and commercial entities which provide solid, stable, and secure incomes for potential buyers of homes.

I feel like the long term holds great opportunities for things like solar energy, geothermal heating and cooling, and wind energy, as well as clean coal and nuclear energy.


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Maybe its Land

Wisconsin Land

It could be what is hot for the next couple of years. I mean if the economy doesn't go back to the way it was, which I think we all know it won't.

Just think prices on vacant land have not dropped that much, why? Because at the end of the day no matter how bad it gets you will always have something real in land. Something that only the government can take away from you. You can hold it, or sell it at will. Its value is exaserbated when you grow crops or develop the property with a home, or commercial use.

In Wisconsin Dells its pretty rural so finding land for hunting is fairly easy, and most of it tends to be at least partially wooded. Ranging from 2000 up to about 8000 per acre land can be very safe to buy and an investment in your lifestyle versus your bank account.

Looking to buy some land? Here are some websites and links to get you going!!

Wisconsin Dells Real Estate

Rudy McCormick - RE/MAX Preferred

Baraboo Real Estate

Portage Real Estate

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Wisconsin Dells Party

Well it's here again and is getting quite well known as one of the best events in Wisconsin Dells. Wha-zo-wa its called and it includes live music,food, and a large parade. This year the RE/MAX Balloon will also be making a flyover which Wisconsin Dells agent Rudy McCormick will attend, shooting photos and enjoying the scene.
Watch for pictures on this blog and visit our homepage at www.madisonpreferred.com

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Internet Marketing for Realtors

Lake Delton Mid Summer Update

Well it looks like the folks at the D.O.T. have an idea of what they would like to do to fix the lake. That is great!

This summer started off on a good note and even though the lake is gone, some people still brave high gas prices, and increasing worrys about job loss and other factors to show up here at one of the state's best playgrounds. Traffic downtown has been a bit sluggish, but still weekends seem busy.

People all around the area can benifit from all the media attention the area has been getting, however, even the local economic indicators are showing signs of turmoil.

Wisconsin Dells Real Estate sales have been quite slow this year, which I am sure is not unlike other area's of the country. Castle Rock Lake Real Estate has seen a downturn as well.

"I think folks are really just waiting out the storm and waiting for lower gas prices to help spur the economy", said Mike Polubinsky from Rivers Edge Resort.

Rudy McCormick, owner and writer of the Wisconsin Dells Blog, and McCormick Web Marketing, has started a new internet marketing business in hopes to help some of the local business people increase some of their online return on investmant.

Wisconsin Real Estate
Wisconsin Dells Real Estate
Racine Real Estate
Internet Marketing for realtors

Lake Delton Moving Forward Despite Incredable Disaster

Lake Delton will surely never be the same.

Joseph Leute/Contributed
By Trevor Kupfer, Dells Events



State and local officials are already planning rebuilding efforts — and are confident that it will qualify for federal disaster aid — after intense rainfall emptied Lake Delton into the Wisconsin River Monday morning, taking five buildings with it despite efforts to advert the disaster.

Around 4 a.m. Monday morning, hundreds of volunteers — including village officials and workers from both boat companies, Tommy Bartlett's and Noah's Ark — gathered at Lake Delton Dam to create a barrier of sandbags.

"From 3 o'clock to 7 o'clock the water continued to go up," Trustee Tom Diehl said. "There was no way to stop it."

During this time, officials realized water from the lake was moving over the roadway on Highway A.

"The dam was holding up fine and then the area near County Highway A breached," said village engineer John Langhans, one of the volunteers. "And once that started, there was nothing that would have stopped it."

As the 700 million gallons of water continued to flow, it increasingly eroded Anchor Bay, eventually taking three homes into the river and splitting two others in half. The breach was estimated at 400 feet wide with water more than 12 feet deep.

It also uprooted several trees and utility lines, which led to an hour-long gas leak and a broken sewer pipe temporarily flowed directly into the river. There were no injuries from the event, as officials evacuated residents early that morning.

Just after the roadway breached, the village board held an emergency meeting to establish a response. The first priority was to immediately concentrate their efforts around Pump Station 1, where significant erosion on both sides created an island and threatened its operation.

The police, meanwhile, needed to launch their rescue boat as people continued to fish on the lake at 11 a.m. By 2 p.m. the lake was almost entirely empty, and the department's boat is now stuck in the middle of the lake.

In order to start the rebuilding procedure, Police Chief Tom Dorner and Clerk-Treasurer Kay Mackesey drafted a disaster declaration letter, while other village officials worked on a damage assessment.

"It's more than just the repair costs," attorney Richard Cross said. "There's also the damages to property owners and businesses, so we're easily looking at seven figures if not eight."

The damage assessment will expedite the federal decision of whether or not to declare Lake Delton a disaster area, said Tim Stieve, administrator of Emergency Management, Buildings and Safety for Sauk County.

"It's not a really quick process, but from what I know so far ... I'd be surprised if we weren't federally declared a disaster area," he added.

A disaster area is dictated by the President of the United States and Federal Emergency Management Agency. If labeled as such, Lake Delton stands to receive a significant amount of aid, including a pay program that has the federal government picking up 75 percent or more of the costs, leaving the state, county and village to divide up 25 percent of the rebuilding bills.

"FEMA has been very good with us the last couple of years. So we're hoping we'll get a response from them very quickly," said Gov. Jim Doyle, who arrived by helicopter Monday afternoon along with Rep. Doc Hines, Sen. Luther Olsen and Brigadier General Don Dunbar of the National Guard.

During the emergency meeting of the village board, Langhans contacted Rep. Doc Hines about receiving state aid. After the meeting Diehl contacted Gov. Doyle. Both of the officials arrived on the scene, along with two National Guard helicopters, to an audience comprised of dozens of media outlets and hundreds of onlookers.

If the federal government does not recognize Lake Delton as a disaster area, it could still stand to receive financial assistance from the State Disaster Fund. But that scenario is not likely, Doyle said.

"What our fund does is try to pick up what the federal doesn't, but I don't think there's any question that all of the counties that I designated will be declared a disaster," he said referring to the 29 counties including Adams, Columbia, Sauk, Juneau and Marquette. "If they aren't, I don't know what qualifies."

While flooding in Waukesha and other cities in southeastern Wisconsin effected more people and structures, Doyle said Lake Delton tops the list in terms of physical damage.

"There's no doubt ... that this was the most dramatic," he said. "I don't think there's anything that compares to this in terms of the sheer force of what the water did."

Langhans told village officials that they'd likely begin working on a temporary structure, like a dam, to close off the 300-foot gap and begin refilling the lake as early as Tuesday.

"The big concern held by everybody here is, when this drains the lake, will we be able to get the water levels back up and, if so, how fast?" he said.

Though officials could not estimate how long the lake will be gone, Assistant Zoning Administrator Jess Eastman said it certainly won't be several years.

"I heard some reports that said it wouldn't be back for two years," he said. "Don't they realize that this community's livelihood is the lake?"

The Department of Natural Resources would need to approve the structure, which Langhans said would likely need a culvert in case it happens again. Langhans added that Gasser Construction may haul in stone to begin a temporary road as well.

Though some reports alleged that Mirror Lake Dam broke, it continued to hold up throughout the event with a significant amount of water flowing over it. Because the dam will control the flow into what's left of Lake Delton, Mirror Lake will not empty.

The board gave Langhans "carte blanche" to continue repairs and preventative measures, with the understanding that the officials meet every morning this week for updates.


Wisconsin Real Estate
Wisconsin Dells Real Estate
Racine, Kenosha Real Estate

Listings and Storm Damage

Steps to take to alleviate water damage.
Article Submitted by Rudy McCormick- RE/MAX Preferred based on writing by author and writer Phoebe Chongchua.



When you first spot a water problem, Colombo says act quickly. Surprisingly many homeowners delay taking action and later create more expenses and necessary clean up.

“The critical thing when that happens is to quickly follow our procedures to remove the water and get the structure drying quickly to evaporate that moisture out of all those porous materials so that they dry back to the normal levels and don’t develop a mold problem,” says Colombo.

The first step is to get the water up. Next, Colombo says you need to get ventilation into the house. Experts may need to pull up carpet or wood floors and the walls may need to be physically opened or cut into so that the wet insulation that’s inside them can begin to dry.

Colombo says once everything is set up for the drying process to begin, an anti-microbial spray should be applied to sanitize the area. This is especially important if the water damage is from an unclean water source such as a sewer drain back-up.

Fans and de-humidifers should then be strategically placed in the area to help expedite the drying phase. “The drying phase with the equipment usually takes between three to five days,”

Delaying can be costly and risky for your health.

“Depending on the environmental conditions, mold can develop in as little as 24 to 48 hours after a water damage event,” says Colombo. It varies depending on a lot of circumstances, but mold can develop fairly quickly so a lot of times we will go through the house to investigate some sort of water spot that showed up on the ceiling and we come to find out that it’s been leaking for quite a long time and the inside of that ceiling is now all moldy,” says Colombo.

The bottom line is don’t delay. “As soon as you see something wrong, get it taken care of,” says Colombo. He adds, “Don’t put it off. Those types of things don’t go away and they don’t get better by themselves.”

Be involved in the claim process.

Be sure to speak with your insurance company to see what if any amount of the damage is covered. Colombo recommends that you be in constant contact with your claim’s adjuster and insurance agent. “Be very involved in the claim process,” says Colombo. He adds that, in order to get what you are owed for the claim, “You need to have a good company helping you that is experienced in the insurance business.”
If you have roof damage in the area Advanced Designs can help.

Wisconsin Real Estate
Dells Real Estate
Racine Real Estate

Dells Graduation

The Wisconsin Dells High School Class of 2008 reflected on their time in the Dells schools at graduation Thursday.

The ceremony that took place at the Crystal Grand Theatre in Lake Delton was attended by family of some 140 students who comprised the graduating class.

The valedictorian and salutatorian delivered a joint speech. After setting forth a few rules to live by, including things like loving, laughing, crying, staying true to yourself, working hard and not worrying about the things in life one cannot control, the valedictorian, Kristen Pacl, and salutatorian, Lindsey Gantz, proclaimed liberation for their graduating class.

"You're free. Free to live. Free to be you,"

"Free to do what we want," came an exclamation from one of the graduates seated in the front of the auditorium.

Class President Alyssa Swatek gave a speech as well. "We're a very opinionated and stubborn group. If we're told to do something, chances are we wouldn't. And if we're told not to do something, the chances of us doing it are pretty good," she said.

Swatek reminisced about the sometimes rebellious behavior of her graduating class and how they were too chatty in the lunch room, launched too many snowballs at one another and hurled the playground tire swing over the bar despite there being fellow students seated on it.

Wisconsin Dells High School math teacher Todd Braun delivered the graduation address, totaling figures pertaining to their educational experience since kindergarten. He said they would have spent 18,000 hours in school, played through 1,500 recesses, taken over 500 exams and gone to the Tommy Bartlett Water Show five times but graduate from high school only once.

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Wisconsin Real Estate

Welcome to RE/MAX Preferred and our new Blog. During the next few days and weeks, we will be putting some great content on our Blog and allowing you to comment on it.
Please visit our website http://www.madisonpreferred.com/ for full real estate information from the illinois border to Wisconsin Dells.

Did you know that our site is the only one that allows you to search by school?
Now you know why we had over 32,000 requests for pages last week alone.

We look forward to serving your online real estate needs!