Join your fellow REALTORS® and be a part of the Nationwide Open House April 28-29, 2012

Join state and local REALTOR^® associations across the country in hosting the nation’s largest open house campaign Saturday and Sunday, April 28-29, 2012

Have you registered your open house with REALTOR.com?

Have you picked up your balloons from Chrissy at SABOR?

For one weekend in April REALTORS^® will hold open houses in neighborhoods from coast to coast, bringing value to both buyers and sellers. The event also provides a tremendous opportunity to promote the benefits of home ownership and continue an open dialogue with consumers about the housing issues that matter most to them.

Promotional materials and resources are available for REALTORS^® and associations participating in REALTOR^® Nationwide Open House Weekend.  Visit www.realtor.org/topics/nationwideopenhouse.

For more information on how to get involved, contact Eric Berman with the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS^® at 781-839-5507 or eberman@marealtor.com.

NAR Adopts Broader Valuation Policy

NAR Adopts Broader Valuation Policy

6 Productivity Tips for New REALTORS®

6 Productivity Tips for New REALTORS®

Save the Date: Nationwide Open House is April 28-29, 2012!

Welcome to the Nationwide Open House (NOHW) 2012 page for GAR members! Please bookmark this page and re-visit it frequently to read updated news and to download tactics (flyers, etc.) as they are added. 

The Event

Nationwide Open House Weekend will be held April 28-29, 2012. To be successful, this event must be a partnership between GAR, local boards, our brokers and our individual members. Our goal is to invite the public to come out and take a look at their local housing market. They will be assured that they can visit the open houses with no pressure to purchase, and that the REALTOR® on duty will be happy to answer their questions about the home buying and selling process.
    At best, we hope this event leads to several closings around the state for our members. At the very least, we hope this will enable you to meet with individuals who come to view your listing so that they may be added to your contact database and potentially become future clients. Here is the role of GAR, the agent and the broker in this event:
   GAR will provide:
• Publicity via press releases, news media pitches, social media, etc.
• A Web site for consumers, http://www.openhousegeorgia.org/, that educates consumers on buying and selling a home and why they should use a REALTOR®, as well as include helpful links and information about NOHW.
• A limited amount of Realtor "R" balloons for each local board (balloons will be available at the local board after April 10)

Members are encouraged to:
• Identify 1-2 listings in which to hold an open house on either or both days of the event weekend.
• Promote NOHW through their contact database – Web site, newsletters, social networks, blogs, etc.
• If you regularly purchase ads in print or electronic media, mention your Open House weekend in the ads you run in the week prior to the event, complete with location details.

Brokers are encouraged to:
• Provide helium tanks so that their agents can inflate the blue REALTOR® balloons throughout Open House weekend.
• Review tips for holding a successful open house as well as safety tips during open houses with their agents during sales meetings.
• If your firm regularly purchases print or electronic media, mention your agents’ participation in the Statewide Open House event in the ads you run in the week prior to the event – provide addresses for each listing if space allows.

Nationwide Open House Images

Download the images below to use in your personal marketing materials.
NOHW Logo (with door)
NOHW logo (with door, no date)
NOHW logo (without door)
NOHW (without door, without date)

The REALTOR® Difference Flyers

Click on the links below to download and print the REALTOR^® Difference flyers, which will help you educate your prospects on the difference between a REALTOR® and a non-member licensee, and how it affects production and professionalism.

The REALTOR^® Difference: Best of the Best
ProductionAdvocacyProfessionalismScript: Promoting REALTORS^® to the Public

Code of Ethics Training

To check your education please go to http://www.grec.state.ga.us/ > Log in to online services

The current cycle for Code of Ethics training is Cycle Three (01/01/2009 – 12/31/2012) which means you would need to take the code of ethics training sometime in that four year period if you have then you are good if not you will need to take it before the end of this year.

Go Global and Don't Leave Home!

The National Association is now accepting recommendations for committee service in 2013!

Monday, March 12, 2012

The National Association is now accepting recommendations for committee service in 2013! 

Process for 2013 NAR Committee Recommendations

All committee recommendations must be submitted via the Online Committee Recommendation Database on REALTOR.org.  Deadline for submission is May 25, 2012.

Using the database, members can recommend themselves or other suitable candidates. We are encouraging members to seek recommendations from colleagues with whom they have worked closely, and in particular members of leadership at the national, state and local level.  

When submitting a recommendation you will be required to include relevant comments that highlight the candidate's skills and qualifications for consideration.  All comments are confidential, so feel free to be candid. 

Follow these steps to access the Committee Recommendation Database*:

1. Log-on to REALTOR.org
2. In the left-hand blue side bar click on "NAR Governance"
3. Beneath that, select "Committees"

4. In the center screen choose "Committee Recommendations for 2013 – Reference Page"

5. Select "Submit a Committee Recommendation"

The link below may also be used to access the recommendation database directly on REALTOR.org.

http://gms.realtor.org/comrecords.nsf/comselMbrhome?readform

Things to Consider when Submitting Recommendations

Each committee is different.  Some are large, others small.  Some meet off-cycle (not at the Midyear or Annual Meetings).  Some require specific background to be considered for appointment.  To determine which committee is right for you, please review the committee structure which lists each committee's purpose statement, composition (how many members), length of term you would be expected to serve, and specific qualifications for consideration.  Please keep in mind that if appointed to a committee you will be expected to attend all of its meetings and serve the full length of your term.  Furthermore, please keep in mind that forums are open to all members; so you need not recommend yourself for appointment to a forum unless you are seeking the position of chair or vice chair.

Individual committee structure* can be found by clicking “View Committee Information” on the committee recommendations homepage (link provided above).

*Note: This is the current (2012) committee structure.  The 2013 committee structure will be approved at the Midyear Meetings in May, 2012.

Have You Completed/Updated Your Expertise Profiles?

NAR's Expertise Profile Database was designed to provide all levels of the REALTOR® family (including the Local, State and National Associations) with key information about you and your professional experience. The information that you will provide in this profile will be used as a resource in a variety of ways, including identification of members with certain expertise to serve on committees, working groups, presidential advisory groups; also, to respond to surveys about association issues, products, services etc.  

Individuals interested in serving on NAR's committees are encouraged to create and/or update their expertise profiles.  However, you are not required. Please note:  Completing an expertise profile is NOT the same as submitting a recommendation for yourself!  If you wish to serve on a committee you still must submit a recommendation via the online Committee Recommendation Database on REALTOR.org.

Follow these steps to access the Expertise Profile page*:
1. Click “Enter Your Expertise Profile” on the committee recommendations homepage (http://gms.realtor.org/comrecords.nsf/comselMbrhome?readform)

Turn to REALTOR.org for the Latest Information

Use of electronic mail and the NAR Governance page on REALTOR.org will serve as the vehicles for promoting and publicizing information related to the Committee Recommendation/Selection process.  Therefore it is imperative that you adjust your email spam filter settings so that you receive important emails from NAR.

NAR Governance Webpage:

http://www.realtor.org/nar_governance/index.html

Committees Webpage*:

http://www.realtor.org/LeadGov.nsf/pages/CommitteesHomepage?OpenDocument

*Members need to have a REALTOR.org login and password to access these databases.  Contact Information Central at (800) 874-6500; InfoCentral@realtors.org for login and password assistance.

  

Please let me know if you have any questions or need assistance.

Thank you, 

Deb

Debra S. Junkin, RCE
Chief Executive Officer

Georgia Association of REALTORS®
The Voice of Real Estate™ in Georgia
3200 Presidential Drive
Atlanta, Georgia 30340-3981
678.597.4116 (Direct Line)
770.458.6992 (Fax)DJunkin@GaREALTOR.com

RALLY TO PROTECT THE AMERICAN DREAM

A Message from NAR President Moe Veissi

Our industry is facing a crucial moment. Never before in the history of our great nation have housing and real estate been forced to defend the benefits they provide our country. The very foundation of civilization is no stronger, nor more enduring than the integrity of the homes on which they rest.

We must have a sustainable, durable housing economy for generations to come. Congress and the President should see their job as bolstering the housing economy and strengthening our commitment to the country's health. If the housing market continues to falter, the economy cannot fully recover. Over the next 18 months Congress will begin reshaping the role of housing in achieving the dream of owning a home. That is what we are facing. REALTORS® have something to say about this. And this is our opportunity to ensure housing remains the fiber that binds together the fabric of America.

We are going to defend the American Dream from the doubters who say home ownership and real estate have run their course. That is why we are holding the Rally to Protect the American Dream on May 17th in Washington, D.C. I am asking you to be there and stand with your fellow REALTORS® from every corner of America -- from Alaska to Illinois to Texas to Guam.

We are going to show Congress that no one cares more about revitalizing real estate for future generations than REALTORS® do.

It is critical that you register to let us know you are attending the rally. We want to plan a great event and make sure wet have enough food, water, lunches, t-shirts and buses. If you would like to come, we will help you connect with transportation via your state or local association. Just complete our Rally Registration. If you request transportation, we will forward that request to your association to follow up with how they can help you get to Washington, D.C. Note that if you plan to stay longer than one day, NAR is not able to cover or reimburse for lodging expenses.  However, if your room is over $300/night, NAR will reimburse $100/night up to two nights ($200) to help defray housing costs to attend. Simply bring your hotel confirmation with your room rate and NRDS ID (members only) to the NAR Registration desk at the Marriott Wardman Park hotel, and NAR will initiate a refund. For housing requests, please visit our housing resources information page.

This is our time. This is our moment. We can't do it without you. Join us.

Moe Veissi
2012 NAR Presidenthttp://www.realtoractioncenter.com/realtor-rally/index.html