Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

I just wanted to let you all know how to subscribe to the WCR Blog, if you have not already done so because you could not figure it out.

This came for our WCR State President, Kaeti Bancroft.

—– AAR was notified this morning of an incident at an open house over the weekend.  A female REALTOR® was hosting an open house in Tuscany on Saturday when a very tall, heavy set, well groomed male with a foreign accent and large scar on the right side of his forehead entered the home.  According to the REALTOR®, he started making derogatory comments to her, became very aggressive and approached her with some unusual mannerisms.  Fortunately, some other guests arrived and he left immediately.
AAR encourages you to follow the tips below to maintain your safety at open houses.

Carol Reed
Chief Executive Officer
Aurora Association of REALTORS®

10 Tips for Holding a Safe Open House

Open houses can be a great sales tool-but hosting one also exposes you to numerous unfamiliar people for the first time. Take these steps to stay safe:

1. If possible, always try to have at least one other person working with you at the open house.

2. Check your cell phone’s strength and signal prior to the open house. Have emergency numbers programmed on speed dial.

3. Upon entering a house for the first time, check all rooms and determine several “escape” routes. Make sure all deadbolt locks are unlocked to facilitate a faster escape.

4. Make sure that if you were to escape by the back door, you could escape from the backyard. Frequently, high fences surround yards that contain swimming pools or hot tubs.

5. Have all open house visitors sign in. Ask for full name, address, phone number and e-mail.

6. When showing the house, always walk behind the prospect. Direct them; don’t lead them. Say, for example, “The kitchen is on your left,” and gesture for them to go ahead of you.

7. Avoid attics, basements, and getting trapped in small rooms.

8. Notify someone in your office, your answering service, a friend or a relative that you will be calling in every hour on the hour. And if you don’t call, they are to call you.

9. Inform a neighbor that you will be showing the house and ask if he or she would keep an eye and ear open for anything out of the ordinary.

10. Don’t assume that everyone has left the premises at the end of an open house. Check all of the rooms and the backyard prior to locking the doors. Be prepared to defend yourself, if necessary.

(Sources: Washington Real Estate Safety Council; City of Mesa, Arizona; Nevada County Board of REALTORS®; Georgia Real Estate Commission)

Title: SAFETY PRESENTED BY ANDREW WOOTEN
Location: SMDRA
Link out: Click here
Description: What is the most dangerous part of your day? Learn how to protect yourself, your clients and your listings. Two sessions. Great information to pass along to your clients, co-workers and family.
Date: 2010-08-18

Title: Professional Standards: Keeping Your Promise
Location: WEBINAR
Link out: Click here
Description: Join Robert Morris, international speaker and trainer, as he addresses the principles of professional standards and ethics in today’s real estate market.
Start Time: 2:30pm MT
Date: 2010-06-24

What would it feel like, taste like, smell like? I was excited to experience all the sights and sounds of our Nation’s Capital, because I had been asked to represent the Mile High Chapter at the Women’s Council of Realtors® Mid Year Conference. Yes, I was going to Washington DC with the Big Kids.

I am the Newsletter Editor, not a Board Member, so I had the simple assignment to observe and record. I received the scholarship that is awarded to a member, like me, to offer a perspective on what this organization is about at the national level. I cannot imagine how anyone could grasp the scope of WCR without this opportunity.

Chapter President, Kaeti Bancroft, State President, Kim McKinley, along with members of the Pikes Pike Chapter and I dedicated five days to governance and educational meetings. Our team performed efficiently while taking advantage of the wealth of information and networking. We programmed time to include lunch hour power discussions and late night brainstorming sessions.

First stop was to mark our territory on Capitol Hill in briefings with our Colorado legislators; Michael Bennet, Mark Udall, John Salazar, Mike Coffman, Doug Lamborn, and Betsy Markey. These representatives offered up their views of the real estate industry and how recent lawmaking would affect the future of our economy. All voices were in agreement that Realtors® are the backbone of our country’s financial future.

The National Association of Realtors® was concluding their meetings as we were coming into town, but we caught the Colorado Caucus presentation. I had a surreal reaction to seeing our CAR leadership in action outside of the familiar local state environment. They are doing their work away, while we are at home.

Their discussions ranged from political lobbying on realtor specific issues to the plea for contributions to support the effort. Kay Watson, NAR Director, offered her allegiance to Mile High WCR during introductions. We are represented and respected as participants among the leaders of our industry. I understand now how we do have a voice and that voice effects how we can protect our business.

The next two days were scheduled with back-to-back Learning Labs along with Governing Board meetings. I was privileged to attend the education sessions with other professionals from all over the country. The material was similar to what we are exposed to locally, but the comments and insight were national. Here was a chance to hear what was happening in Nevada, Montana, Maine or Florida from real practitioners, not from spin doctors.

Celebrations were also on the agenda. The Gala Event on Friday was to honor the work and accomplishments within the local chapters. My conclusion is that Realtors® are a competitive bunch. Awards and accolades drive us to achieve. Kaeti accepted our well-deserved Gold Level (1st place) recognition for Mile High Chapter excellence.

This whirlwind weekend left me lingering in my new found sense of power and responsibility. It takes time and commitment to be a part of something BIGGER than me. I am sad that I cannot be complacent, allowing someone else to do my work for me. What do we bring to our party?

THE ANSWER …
My work is our work as a collective group. Real Estate embodies an odd combination of philosophies that I watched manifest in action while in Washington. We are competitive, as noted, but cooperative in the nature of how we do our business. No solo performance possible, only team effort is effective! WCR is the team where the best and brightest stars come to play.

I have had seven days now to process my initial reaction to the “long weekend” conference. I am proud to have participated in that game. It wasn’t all pretty! I discovered that it takes conditioning and commitment to the goal. But I was on the field, with the women and men who are nurturing and protecting the business of Real Estate.

WCR is a professional force that can influence the momentum of the economy. We are teachers, mentors, leaders, and mothers. How painful to bear the social weight, but we picked our poison when we signed our license to do business! I intend this summary to be a rallying cry for the national and local message to embrace this charge. Be active, be involved, be a contribution somehow, someway that lets the world know who you are and what you want!

Start your ball rolling by attending the June 8th Business Resource Luncheon. Check in with the Mile High Chapter website for information and registration, http://milehighwcr.org/ and please spend some time at http://www.wcr.org/ to appreciate all that WCR is creating for us. Experience the Power that comes from Knowledge and the Knowledge that comes from Experience.

Thanks to the Board for sponsoring my vision quest to WCR in Washington. May I inspire fellow and prospective members to ask “What have you been Missing?”. Do you know? I didn’t, I do now!

Title: New Member Orientation
Location: The Meridian Building at The Landmark
Link out: Click here
Description: New Member Orientation
Please RSVP by noon on Tuesday, May 4, directly to diane@dianeortiz.com or via phone at 303-587-0312.
Start Time: 10:00 am
Date: 2010-05-05
End Time: 11:30 am

Title: National Conference and Expo
Location: New Orleans, LA
Link out: Click here
Description: This event is will be held in conjunction with NAR’s REALTORS® Conference & Expo, November 5-8, 2010, in New Orleans, LA.
Women’s Council of REALTORS® conferences are packed with top-notch education for real estate professionals, as well as opportunities to network for referrals with agents from across the country.
Start Date: 2010-11-03
End Date: 2010-11-07

Title: National WCR Mid Year Meetings
Location: Washington DC
Link out: Click here
Description: Women’s Council’s national events feature education sessions delivered by the top thought leaders in real estate, as well as powerful networking with real estate professionals from across the country. This event is held in conjunction with NAR’s Midyear Legislative Meetings.
Start Date: 2010-05-13
End Date: 2010-05-16

Title: 2010 Summit: The New Rules of Real Estate
Location: Chicago, IL
Link out: Click here
Start Date: 2010-03-19
End Date: 2010-03-21

Title: Leadership Skills Training
Location: Chicago, IL
Link out: Click here
Start Time: 8:00
Date: 2010-03-19
End Time: 17:00