Some of Arizona’s most Successful Agents call John Hall & Associates home.
Monthly Archives: April 2011
Flexmls Auto-Emails and Portals (Schedule Update)
Thank you to all who voted for the in-house ARMLS training in May. It was a good race, but Flexmls Auto-Emails and Portals won!
The last couple of months we’ve been lucky enough to have ARMLS trainers come to our real estate offices. In March we started the in-house ARMLS training series with flexmls tips and tricks, then we learned about the Cromford Report in April. Even though ARMLS and I initially picked RPR for May’s classes, we realized letting you decide the topic was a much better idea. Turns out it was, based on the survey we emailed earlier this week you’d rather learn about flexmls auto-emails and portals than RPR. Here’s the schedule of classes:
Flexmls Auto-Emails and Portals
- May 5 – 10:00-12:00 – Tempe Real Estate Office
- May 12 – 10:00-12:00 – Glendale Real Estate Office
- May 19 – 10:00-12:00 – Scottsdale Real Estate Office
- May 26 – 10:00-12:00 – Phoenix Real Estate Office
We have updated the intranet calendar and will include the new topic in our weekly schedule emails. If you’d like to attend, please RSVP to psexton@johnhall.com and indicate which date you’ll be attending.
How you’re going to win an iPad 2
You know iPads are great tools for REALTORS®, but you’d like to win one rather than shell out 500 bucks. I get it. We like to have a little fun around here, so here’s your chance.
To Enter:
Complete these 2 steps:
1. Post a creative picture of your John Hall & Associates sign to the “Win an iPad” discussion on our Intranet. It can be your For Sale sign or your Open House sign. It must include the company logo and ideally your name – but your name is not a requirement. (Video: How to post a picture in a Discussion)
2. Like the John Hall & Associates facebook page.
The iPad 2 is great device for networking online. We encourage it.
To Win:
Submit the best picture! Once the contest closes in mid-May we’ll select the top 10 photos to be judged by a panel of non-John Hall folks. The winner walks with a lightly used and slightly dented iPad 1!! Wait a minute. The judges just informed me that’s incorrect. Hold on. (not my used one? oh we’re giving away the new one? are you sure? okay got it) Sorry about that… The John Hall agent that submits the best picture walks away with the brand new iPad 2!!! (insert teenage-girl-like screaming)
Contest Rules:
Maximum submissions = 3 photos.
Contest is open through May 15th.
We reserve the right to use all submissions on JohnHall.com and other marketing outlets. (Example: facebook, flickr, youtube, etc.)
Bonus:
All the entries will be featured in a photo gallery on the public REALTOR® page of JohnHall.com.
Quick Summary:
- Submit a fun photo of your John Hall sign to be showcased on the REALTOR® page of JohnHall.com.
- Like the John Hall & Associates facebook page.
- Best (most creative) photo will win an iPad 2.
- Submit photos through this intranet discussion.
Now get out there and dress up your sign, hold it in front of a cool Arizona landmark, or maybe rent a billboard! 
Since using an iPad in your real estate business is a techno savvy leg up on your competition, it just wouldn’t be right to give it to a REALTOR® at a different agency. We want JHA REALTORS® to stand out! (If you’re an agent with a different agency let’s first fix that, then you can enter this contest.)
A Little Love for Linkedin
Social networking or social media marketing remains a hot topic in the real estate industry. The belle of the ball is Facebook. It has over 600 million users world wide and experts believe 1 billion is right around the 
corner. Twitter, that whimsical little site with tweets, tweeps and twits is nearing 200 million users. The oldest of the big three networks is the least talked about. LinkedIn, launched in May of 2003, is experiencing a bit of a resurgence. It recently passed 100 million users, and is adding about 1 million users per week.
LinkedIn is a business-oriented social network. It is heavily used in job seeking and recruiting. Over the last few years, however, LinkedIn has developed into a more “social” site with status updates, applications, and integration with Twitter and Facebook. There are quite a few opportunities for real estate agents to utilize these new social tools to engage and expand their network.
If you have not looked into LinkedIn lately, why not stop by the Paradise Valley John Hall and Associates office on Friday May 6th at 11am. A LinkedIn Lunch and Learn will run from 11am to 1pm. As with all of the John Hall Friday Lunch and Learns, you are encouraged to bring you laptop and work along with the instructor. Some of the topics covered will be LinkedIn Profiles, Groups, Answers, and Applications. We will also look at some of the newest tools just added like Today and Skills.
If you do not have a LinkedIn account, got to LinkedIn.com and create your account. Complete as much of the profile as you can, and we will see you on Friday, May 6th.
Bill Risser is VP/Director, New Media and Education for Chicago Title. You can find him at CT-Gilbert.com and on Twitter at @billrisser, that is, when he’s not on a local golf course with his son, at the movies with his wife, or tending to one of his four fantasy leagues (NFL, MLB, PGA, and NASCAR).
Real Estate Teams: Fee Structures
After we posted some of the videos from the real estate team building seminar with Russell Shaw, the questions about team structure at our Arizona real estate agency started rolling in. That’s why Marge Lindsay put together this team structure guide to help answer your questions.
We have several “real estate teams” set up within John Hall & Associates. There are also many programs used by the various teams. This isn’t a one size fits all organization.
Several of the teams hired an administrative person who wasn’t licensed. Their objective was to have a person who could do the every day tasks and activities that do not require a license. As their business grew they would often get their administrative staff member licensed so he/she could do more for them. If your administrative person is unlicensed, there is no fee paid to John Hall & Associates. You pay their salary as agreed.
For a licensed assistant or administrative person, the fee to the company is $75 per month.
As the real estate team continued to grow they would hire a Buyer Agent and/or a Listing Agent. What the team leader has to decide is how the business is going to be handled. Some leaders have every contract and every listing in “their” name, though written by the team member. They have this person signed up under our Personal Assistant Program and they pay the $75 per month fee to John Hall & Associates. Other team leaders use the Mentor/Mentee agreement to allow each sub-agent the ability to run business through his/her own name.
How the team leader chooses to pay their team member from the compensation earned is the leader’s decision. John Hall & Associates does not dictate that in any manner. The only requirement Jim has (as our Designated Broker) is that the agreement is in writing and submitted to him for review and approval before implementation.
This is intended to give you an overview of what some of your options are. We encourage you to decide what will work best for you and we will work with you, as we can, to help you grow your business.
We even have an individual who has coached Team Leaders, for a fee, to help them get started. We will be more than happy to share that information with you if you feel it might be beneficial.
In House Cromford Report Class
Jim Sexton uses the Cromford Report every week at the John Hall & Associates broker meetings. Learn how you can find and share the relevant statistics with your clients to paint an accurate picture of the local real estate market.
ARMLS trainers in our house on Thursdays!
Come to the Scottsdale office on Thursday from 10-12 to learn more about the Cromford Report statistics and charts. If this Thursday doesn’t work, mark your calendars for next Thursday from 10-12 at the Paradise Valley branch.
Many thank yous to ARMLS for reaching out and making it easier for REALTORS® to attend their valuable training.
Charity Golf Event in Scottsdale
I hope you’re able to participate in our annual charity golf tournament in Scottsdale this year. The 2011 John Hall & Associates MDA Golf Classic is coming up quick.
Every year we raise money for the Arizona chapter of MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association). This year our goal is to raise $15,000 to add to the tournament’s lifetime donations of $850,000.
On Monday May 9th, please join us at Troon North Golf Club in north Scottsdale.
There are four ways to participate this year.
- Play golf – entry form
- Buy an opportunity ticket – prizes include a week vacation, Valley Ho package, 50′ flat screen TV, and more
- Sponsor the tournament – sponsor form
- Join us for lunch! – sign-up
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call Phil Sexton (602) 953-4043 or John Doyel (480) 948-0550.
The iPad 2 has arrived!
It is true, the iPad 2 that we won at AAR’s Winter Conference has arrived! Yes it’s the one that we are re-gifting in a contest of our own. The final details of the best re-gift contest ever are still being worked out, but 2 things are for sure.
- Contest details will be announced Friday,
- You have to be a REALTOR® with John Hall & Associates to win!
Stay tuned by subscribing to the blog articles.
If you currently have your license at a different real estate agency there is still time to switch. Check out the real estate careers section for the benefits of joining our local Arizona company.
zipForm Help: Clean-up the Dropdown Choices
I can admit it. I am frequently stumped by real estate agent’s technology questions. Sometimes I feel my job is to direct agents to the proper source, rather than being the source. Mike Tetreault (REALTOR® in Chandler, AZ) called me up the other day and asked about cleaning out the dropdown choices within zipForm 6. Stumped, I sent him up the ladder to AAR. They were able to help him right away and he even sent me the instructions to share with you.
Easy as that. Thanks for passing that along Mike!
REALTOR® Mobile Search Tool – Goomzee
REALTORS® now have access to a new mobile search tool powered by Goomzee. Last week at Technopalooza I got a chance to talk with the reps and they informed me that all ARMLS subscribers have been “turned on”. That means you now have free access to their mobile search tool.
Why would I use Goomzee?
One reason is that it works with phones that most REALTORS® use; Android, iPhone, and Blackberry. Another is that it automatically finds my GPS location and displays active listings within a quarter mile from where I’m standing. (GPS set-up instructions, page 2-3) Last but not least, the welcome screen couldn’t be simpler.
Goomzee vs other mobile search tools
REALTOR.com, Trulia, and Zillow all have apps that provide the public with tons of listing information. Why would a REALTOR® use goomzee instead of one of these? Simple. All these big dogs are focused on attracting the public; home buyers and home sellers. Goomzee is a free tool for agents. This means when you use your flexmls ID to access, you get access to REALTOR® only fields like Private Remarks and Showing Instructions.
How do I access Goomzee?
Bookmark armls.goomzee.com. Use your flexmls ID and password to login. The site is designed for your mobile phone, but you can check it out from your lap/desktop too. So far Goomzee has been met with welcome words from fellow users.
Check it out and let us know what you think!
Upcoming AZ Real Estate Contract Class
Ever since the Arizona real estate contract changes went into effect, Jim and I have been met with discomforting stories on our travels to weekly office meetings. These stories usually recall someone giving a bad explanation of the changes to the Arizona Association of REALTORS® Residential Purchase Contact. We can’t have this. Bad explanations must stop! To think people are out there badly explaining the contract changes that took AAR volunteers hours/days/weeks/months to get right. It’s an outrage!
BEFA Unite!
In response to this discomforting news, we at John Hall & Associates have organized a movement to stop bad explanations in their tracks. We’re calling us the Bad Explanation Fighters of Arizona – aka BEFA. This is your chance to join the cause.
Support Jim Sexton, the AZ Forms Revision Taskforce Chair, while he teaches a real estate contract revision class next week – April 18th. It’s promised to be packed full of good explanations, accurate explanations, and maybe even some humorous explanations.
Together we will fight, together we will win!
If you have been moved by this inspirational message and would like to attend this Arizona Real Estate Purchase Contract Revisions Class – here’s the flyer!
Bonus for scrolling: Know fellow members at first greeting with BEFA’s secret handshake.
Designated Broker Office
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