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Monthly Archives: February 2010

Private Documents – Flexmls Feature Friday

Feb 19, 2010 by Phil Sexton

Today’s mission: Explain how to share listing documents with ARMLS members and NOT the public.  It’s simple to do and simple to do wrong.

First thing first, you need to become familiar with the Documents feature in flexmls.  I’m pretty confident most of you know about this since there are around 9,000 listings with Documents attached to them. Most of the docs are intended for the public; floor plans, feature sheets, etc.

Some of the documents however are not public.  I’ve mainly seen bank addenda and offer instructions set as private.

To accomplish this, all you really need to know is that you need the drop down menu next to “Description”.

Once you’ve picked the file you want to upload and selected “Private REALTOR Docn” you’re good to go.  Don’t change the description. If you change the description it changes the document to be public.

Quick and dirty F-cubed today.  Thanks for reading!

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Entering Your Short Sale Continuing Education Credits

Feb 17, 2010 by Phil Sexton

You know the new Short Sale Sellers Advisory that was recently released by AAR and ADRE?  Did you check out page 3 where it says:

Contact a qualified real estate professional
Interview several real estate professionals and ask about their experience in short sales, the number of short sale transactions that they have handled, and their education and training in short sales.

• Review the real estate professional’s background and continuing education on the ADRE website at: http://services.AZRE.gov/publicdatabase

Since the SS Sellers Advisory prompts people to check out agents’ CE credits at the Departments’ website, real estate broker Jim Sexton encourages agents to add all their continuing education classes, not just the minimum CE credits needed to stay licensed. After the broker meeting at the Arrowhead office, REALTOR® Deidre St. Romain sent us this…

Please tell agents that if they want to enter all those courses they took to show that they are “Short Sale Savvy” they need to do so BEFORE the end of their renewal period……I took classes in October that I did not enter at that time because I did not need the hours for my CE. Now it is too late. Since our discussion on the importance of this because of the new SS Advisory please let people know that they should enter these right away.

Too late for me now….

Thanks for the heads-up Deidre.

Here’s the link needed to enter your CE credits on the Departments’ website. (It’s also included on the real estate toolbar.)

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Best of NAR MP3′s: How to Survive any Market

Feb 15, 2010 by Marge Lindsay

“How To Survive In Any Market” is one of the programs that was recorded at the NAR Convention in San Diego this past November. This particular program was presented by our own Russell Shaw. He was asked to talk about the shifts in our industry and how sales associates might prepare themselves for such shifts. He was well received and did an incredible job.

At the end of Russell’s presentation one gentleman told NAR’s staff that this presentation alone was worth his time and expenses for traveling to California. Wow! This would mean even more to people here in Arizona because most of what he said and shared is Arizona specific.

A major point was that we have to be good in lead generation. He said shifts happen slowly, but we think it was immediate because we didn’t recognize the signs and we weren’t prepared for what happened.

He shares statistics on how many seller’s interview more than one REALTOR® before listing their home. How do we know if we are in a Balanced Market versus a Buyer’s Market or a Seller’s Market? He also emphatically states that the price a home will sell for is based on supply and demand.

Be sure to hear this MP3. This will tell you why so many people across the country love to hear from Russ and his message. He will share information like this with us anytime and all of the time. I hope you enjoy the session as much as I did.

Marge Lindsay

John Hall & Associates agents can listen to it here.

Other agents can purchase it here.

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Listing Flyers – Flexmls Feature Friday

Feb 12, 2010 by Phil Sexton

Another awareness day here at F³.  I know there are a plethora of tools out there on the “internets” that help you build flyers to showcase the homes you have listed for sale.  But did you know you have listing flyers in flexmls?  Here’s why they are cool and how to find them.

It’s really handy to have flyers within the flexmls system because they auto-populate the details from the listing.  No need to type the address, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, price, etc.  Simply click one of the templates and BAM! the flyer is generated for you.

If you’re not happy with the default templates you can change them.  From Preferences -> My Reports, you can edit or build your own flyer templates.  (Although in my opinion, this editor is one of the weaknesses of flexmls – it’s hard to use.) Hopefully you’ll find one of the 5 default templates will fit your needs.  Here’s a less than 3 minute video showing the how, what, where stuff.  Beware: it’s our Valentine’s Day edition of flexmls feature friday.

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Home Buyer Tax Credit: Are you talking about it?

Feb 11, 2010 by John Hall & Associates

Last October most people thought the first time home buyers’ tax credit was over and done with, the deadline of November 30, 2009 looked impossible for most people to close escrow within the time frame necessary to claim their tax credit of up to $8,000. Don’t let this happen twice!

Thanks to the National Association of REALTORS’® call to action and the overwhelming response of its members, we got an extension and expansion of this valuable program.  Its new expanded version not only extends the first time home buyer tax credit but now opens the program up to property owners that have owned their home for at least five (5) years.

I invite you to visit REALTOR.org for a full explanation of this program together with free and low-cost pamphlets to order/download explaining how this works.  Bottom line for both tax credit groups is they must have a property under contract by April 30th, 2010 and close escrow by June 30th. Come on people – time’s a wastin’.  Let hit the road running and help clients take advantage of that credit.  Check out what’s going on right now to help you:

  • It’s Tax Time – You have an instant audience, consumers are looking at their tax bite and thinking they’d like to keep more of their money next year.  This is the way to do it and they get a house on top of it.  What a “win-win” for them and you!  Nothing makes people appreciate a tax break more than preparing their taxes.
  • The Market is GREAT for Buyers -  Prices are affordable and money is cheap.  Oh, by-the-way, the government is willing to give you up to $8,000 as an added incentive.
  • A Good Reason to Call -  I hear from real estate agents constantly who say they would call their past clients more often if they had something to talk about.  Well, you got your wish with the Tax Credit.  They may not be personally interested but they undoubtedly have family and friends who will be.  They can prospect for you – what a DEAL!
  • Open House Opportunities – Open houses have always been a great way to prospect but now they have an added sweetener.  Go door to door in the streets surrounding any open house you are holding.  Offer a “sneak peak” especially for neighbors and hand out the NAR brochure on the Tax Credit both to neighbors and at the open house.  It’s not only a great program but a real ice-breaker.

So here are four great reasons just in case you need motivating.  Now is the perfect time to get the word out.  No more excuses just a nifty way to increase your business.

For John Hall & Associates’ REALTORS® I’ve also included a few ice-breaker talking points along with one of the tax credit pamphlets on the company intranet.

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Get out your calendar: Upcoming real estate events…

Feb 10, 2010 by Phil Sexton

AAR Winter Conference – 2010

March 10,11,12
Prescott Resort  (Hotel link)
More info on aaronline.com

RE BarCamp – Phoenix

April 9, 2010
Scottsdale Stadium (Stadium Info Link)
More info on REBarcamp.com/Phoenix

ARMLS Technopalooza – 2010

April 22, 2010
Glendale Civic Center (Google Map Link)
More info on PDF Flyer

Charity Golf Classic for MDA

May 10, 2010
Troon North Golf Club (Golf Course Link)
More info on JohnHall.com

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Delivering Short Sale Seller Advisory? Try These “Talking Points”

Feb 9, 2010 by John Hall & Associates

The new “Short Sale Seller Advisory”, co-authored by the Arizona Association of REALTORS® and the Arizona Department of Real Estate, really manages to keep its finger on the pulse of the real estate industry in Arizona. Given the number of rumors and innuendo about short sales and their affect on consumers, it was definitely time to set the record straight.

This is NOT a “one-size-fits-all” approach to short sales, that would be impossible given the differences in consumers’ personal circumstances. What this advisory does is give the consumer a place to start so that they have access to a number of resources to help them make a personal decision that is right for them and their family.

So, given the importance of this document and the prevalence of short sales in our market area, how do you present it to your clients? Let’s discuss some “talking points” that you can adapt to help you deliver this valuable advisory:

“There is so much information out there that is incorrect, irrelevant and just plain wrong, that I wanted to give you this advisory just released by the Arizona Association of REALTORS® and the Arizona Department of Real Estate. I think with a little research through the website links it provides, you’ll be able to determine for yourself the affects of a short sale for your personal situation.

You can find the Advisory here (http://www.aaronline.com/documents/ssseller_advisory.pdf).”

“As you know I am NOT a lawyer or a CPA but it occurred to me that I can provide you with this advisory, just released by the Arizona Department of Real Estate and the Arizona Association of REALTORS®. While it may not answer all your questions, it is an excellent place to start researching your individual situation.

You can find the Advisory here (http://www.aaronline.com/documents/ssseller_advisory.pdf).”

“I was so thrilled to receive this advisory provided by the Arizona Department of Real Estate and by the Arizona Association of REALTORS® that I had to share it with you. Please take a few minutes to review this information to see what applies to your individual situation. It is a great tool in researching your family’s needs.

You can find the Advisory here (http://www.aaronline.com/documents/ssseller_advisory.pdf).”

“I am sure as soon as you mention ‘Short Sale’ to anyone there will be more advice than you can absorb. I finally received an advisory to help you research your individual circumstances. This document gives you a great place to research whatever your individual needs may be.

You can find the Advisory here (http://www.aaronline.com/documents/ssseller_advisory.pdf).”

We know you’d never want to “accidentally” practice law or give tax or legal advice. This advisory helps you avoid just that problem while providing your clients with a solid place to start in researching their own wants and needs. Now you don’t have to be afraid of giving misleading advice to the detriment of your clients. This advisory should be used in all short sales transactions for the benefit of the seller, your client.

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How do you type the ® used at the end of REALTOR®?

Feb 8, 2010 by Phil Sexton

Just in case you are tired of copying and pasting this symbol every time you need it…

On Windows:
Hold down the ALT key and type 0174 on the keypad

On Mac OS:
Hold down the Option key and press R

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Best of NAR MP3′s: Digitally Expose Yourself

Feb 8, 2010 by Diane Mork

I heard someone say the other day that we live in a very transparent society. That is so true. So much information is available on almost anything a person could want with merely a click or two using digital technology. It’s crucial as a real estate agent that we understand the significance of this.

Evo Terra’s session, “Digitally Expose Yourself” was a wake-up call for me. He explains where most people today are “NOT” getting information and where they are. He talks about email addresses and being socially connected. I found so much valuable information in this one that I hope you’ll listen to it. It could change the way you do your business and be the wake-up call you’ve needed too.

John Hall & Associates agents can listen to it here.

Other agents can purchase it here.

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NEW Dashboard! – Flexmls Feature Friday

Feb 5, 2010 by Phil Sexton

Have you seen the blinking Flexmls Update Notice on the dashboard this week?

It’s there informing us change is ahead.  Here’s a less than 5 minute video showing you the new dashboard that is scheduled to go live next week.  If you can’t tell by the video, I like.

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