The Beacon News profiled our agency on December 3, 2006.  Here is a copy of the article. If you would like to read the complete text in larger print, scroll past the picture.

By Jim Edwards, special to the Beacon News

In January of next year (2007) Edward Kettley, Sr., owner of Kettley Realtors, starts off a year-long celebration of his long time commitment as a realtor in the Fox Valley area. He has planned parties and other events for the 250 associates now working at the firm's 15 offices.

Kettley started out with one location on Galena Boulevard in Aurora and now covers the Fox Valley and beyond with a blanket of offices in Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, Sugar Grove, Oswego, Yorkville, Sandwich, Hinkley, Bolingbrook, Plano, Somonauk, Aurora and Elburn.

His sales have increased dramatically over the years. In 1982, Kettley sold about $1.2 million dollars worth of real estate and by 2005 had gone beyond an astounding $394 million dollars! It is now one of the top 500 real estate companies in all of the United States. But despite the increased "footprint" in buying and selling, Kettley has never faltered from or changed his mission statement.

"We are here to provide excellence in real estate services and other financial services for our market place," said Kettley. "Our market area has expanded but we offer the same great services we started out offering in 1982, and have added to our list of services."

What he "believes in" as a Realtor spells out why his business has grown by leaps and bounds in only a quarter century.

"I believe that integrity and attitude are what it's all about. If you and I work together and trust each other, we will soon come to a successful business transaction. We always try to keep our customers happy. If they are not happy, we are not happy either.

Typically, when you do business with Kettley Realtors or even are one of the firm's employees, you're in for a long term relationship.

"We are like the little pink drummer bunny (EverReady Battery's symbol). We just keep on going, and going and going!"

The bulk of Kettley Realtor's sales, 85 percent in fact, has to do with residential sales. The remaining 15 percent represents commercial and land sales.

Ed Kettley, Sr. believes that one of the things that has grown his business is the manner that he actively seeks to have as many listings as possible and with this in hand, saturate the public with newspaper, radio, TV and Internet advertisements. "Our Web site at kettleyhomes.com has over 70,000 listings and we are members of the giant Multiple Listing Service of North Illinois, which has over 30,000 cooperating agents. Kettley Realtors can through our membership in World/RELO, move you across states or even countries!"

"We have local offices, which I visit in the morning to keep in contact with what is going on in each area. We have to do this to really know the dynamics of each of our diverse market areas," Kettley added.

Kettley Realtors has a healthy respect for the past and likes to list and sell old historic homes. His main office at 504 W. Galena Blvd, Aurora, is a gorgeous old red brick mansion. And he loves old Buicks!

To keep the public well aware of his presence in the marketplace, he drives in local parades a 1940 Buick Special, 1967 London Cab, and a 1952 Buick.

This is but one of the many clever marketing ideas Kettley has come up woth over the years. He was one of the first merchants in the area to sponsor his own sports teams, The Kettley Raiders Softball Team and the Kettley Realtors Soccer Team.

Kettley knows that one of the many ways to keep his customers loyal is to offer such treats as free pizza nights, and an annual free day at Elfstrom Stadium, home of the Cougars Park, in Geneva. The firm a year ago started mass distribution of its own real estate booklet and also advertises in many other such booklets in the area.

"TV has been doing a pretty good job these days of educating people about how to sell their homes. We also have been doing a lot in the way of showing our clients how to realistically 'price their home' and most importantly 'stage their home' to appeal to the widest possible audience.

Kettley did note that "sometimes these home improvement shows go too far and end up misinforming their audience."

Kettley Realtors also knows how to pick worthwhile charities to champion such as Habitat for Humanity. It and its associates are members of many local boards and Chambers of Commerce, which keep Kettley Realtors deeply rooted in its service area.

Back to News