MARLINK

TO: Association Member Offices/Brokers/AA's/Agents/Affiliates

FROM: Executive Office, phone 249-6213, fax 240-8593

email:  TORI:  mar@gwe.net 

email:  LISA:  ajbutler@gwe.net

snail mail:  125 Merchant Drive, Montrose, CO 81401

DATE:  August 25, 2008                   SUBJECT: WEEKLY NEWS

 

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE TO ALL MEMBERS IN YOUR OFFICE

 

HELPFUL LINKS FOR YOU:

            MAR Website             Paragon 4        Realtor.org (NAR Home Page)          CAR Home Page

Click on these and save to your favorites!

Do you have Adobe Acrobat Reader?  The most current version?  For a free download click on the link: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

 

MLS TOUR MEETING

Last week’s attendance:  36!

Congratulations to the winner of the Education Gift Certificate:   Paula Marlatt!

Congratulations to the winner of the 2009 Day Planner:  Aimee English-Gonzalez!

 

ANNUAL MAR ELECTION –VOTING DEADLINE THIS THURSDAY!

The Montrose Association of REALTORS® 2008 Annual Election of Directors and Chair-Elect is now underway.  We have two available Director positions and Chair-Elect which the members of MAR will be electing this year.  Click here for a copy of the 2008 Ballot. 

Ballots are due at the MAR Office via fax, email, snail mail or personal delivery by Thursday morning, August 28, at 8:00 a.m.  The anonymous ballots will be counted by the election task force that morning and the results will be announced before the tour begins.  We encourage all members to vote!

 

AN ISLAND GET AWAY …

Tickets to the Annual MAR Banquet are just $30.00!  Don’t miss your chance to win FREE GAS!  The Grant Committee will be selling tickets at the door for a drawing to win free gas cards!  Choice of Prime Rib or Parmesan Encrusted Chicken with all the fixin’s to go with! Dance the night away with the Anders Brothers!  Get your tickets now – space is limited!  Purchase your tickets today at the MAR Office.

 

MAR OFFICE CLOSED

The MAR Executive Office will be closed in honor of the Labor Day Holiday, next Monday, September 1, 2008.  We wish everyone a happy and safe holiday weekend!

 

GRI/RRS CLASS COMING IN SEPTEMBER

Register today for the Listing Contracts class being offered in Delta on Thursday, September 11, 8am-3pm.  This class will include 6 hours of CE credit, GRI credit and RRS credit.  The RRS (Risk Reduction Specialist) is the designation exclusively for members of MAR and you can obtain this designation with only a total of 8 classes!  Contact the MAR office if you have any questions. 

 

DID YOU KNOW?

Some offices in larger areas are manning floor time 24/7 – virtually.
These offices have a feature on their websites which offers the customer who is looking at properties the opportunity to find out more information via an instant message chat. (Instant messaging is like emailing back and forth but it is real time and live.)  If a customer clicks on the “get more info” button about a property, the site offers them the option to have someone email them the info OR the option to have a live, IM chat with an agent right now.  Since people from all over the world search these sites, the 24/7 availability of the IM chat gives the floor agent the opportunity to capture the lead immediately.  Can your website have this feature?

 

MEMBERSHIP UPDATES

Welcome to Lucia Lebon who is now a full MAR/MLS member with Arrowhead Ranch Real Estate.

The MAR Office will update this information each week, once we have the necessary paperwork.

 

NAR LEADERSHIP SUMMIT – ECONOMIC FORECAST

Don Bailey & Tori Chriestenson attended the NAR Leadership Summit last week.  There were several speakers and presentations and Tori Chriestenson will write a complete report on for distribution in next week’s MARLink.  For now, we want to share some of Lawrence Yun’s presentation – he is the Chief Economist for NAR.  Mr. Yun stated that sales are beginning to improve slightly because prices are more affordable than they have been.  With the buyers coming back into the market place and purchasing, this brings inventory levels back down and prices begin to stabilize, as they should.  Bottom line, Mr. Yun says that the data he has shows that there will be a rebound in 2009 – it is yet to be seen if it will be a sharp or a modest rebound.  Look for a full report of the meetings next week.

 

YOU NEED ETHICS & LEGAL LIABILITY BEFORE 12/31/08

As a member of MAR, the bylaws require continuing ethics and legal liability training.  Do you need to take any of the classes we have coming up? Failure to meet this requirement can result in suspension of membership, including MLS access.  Check the links below to see if you are on the lists:

4 Hour NAR Ethics

Legal Liability Training

Contact the MAR Office if you would like to register for one of our upcoming classes.  You can also take the class online if you prefer.  Please fax a copy of your completion certificate to the MAR office if you do. Thank you.

 

PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA

Click here for the agenda for the upcoming meeting on 8/27/08.

 

LAST CREC CLASS IN MONTROSE FOR 2008

The last opportunity to take the Mandatory CREC Update course in Montrose is September 9, 2008, 8am-noon.  This class already has over 30 students – space is limited to 50.  Registration is on a first come, first served basis.  Following are the other opportunities to take this course in the classroom:

Wednesday, November 5, 8am-12pm – RIDGWAY

Wednesday, November 5, 1pm-5pm – RIDGWAY

Tuesday, December 9, 8am-12pm – DELTA

Click here to register online or contact the MAR office.  You can also take this course online if you like.

 

GETTING IT SOLD

This brochure is an informative resource to help consumers prepare their home for sale with tips on curb appeal, staging, showing, and updating a home for selling success. Getting It Sold - Your Resource for Staging Curb Appeal and Selling Success!  Order this valuable tool today available online at the NAR Store – it’s our recommended product of the week.  Remember, you receive a 10% DISCOUNT on purchases from their online store. 

After you have selected your items, make sure that you use our promotional code for your 10% DISCOUNT!  The promotional code is:  MAR9.

 

ABR DESIGNATION COURSE IN PUEBLO

Pueblo Association of REALTORS® will be offering the ABR Designation Course this year and we will not have available to you in Montrose.  Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR) class in October.  Click here for information on the class and how to register.

 

CITY QUADRANTS MAP

Click here to see the City Quadrant Map.  You can also find the map in Paragon, under MLS Documents, “Areas and Maps” section.

 

PSF CONTRIBUTIONS

Thanks to Ginny Blaylock with Coldwell Banker Bailey & Co. who is our 2008 Political Survival Fund Task Force Chair.  Click here to learn more about PSF and why it is your “Best Investment in Real Estate!”  Please contact Ginny Blaylock at 249-2449 if you would like to contribute to PSF.

 

INVOICES EMAILED

Click here to read the notice which was mailed (snail mail) to all members last year, October, 2007 along with an explanation of the current billing structure.  If you prefer to have a fax copy of your invoice, please complete the required form as indicated and forward back to the MAR office.  Thank you.

 

THURSDAY MORNING TREATS LIST

Click here to see the dates and who is bringing treats for Thursday morning meetings throughout this year.

 

GRANT FUND APPLICATION ONLINE

We have posted the MAR Community Grant Fund Application online at our website.  Click here for a copy.  Please keep the Grant Fund in mind if you know of someone in our communities who has a need.

 

FREE DISPUTE RESOLUTION SERVICE TO MAR MEMBERS & PUBLIC

Montrose Association of REALTORS® has implemented an “Ombudsman” Service which is a confidential, free dispute resolution service.  This service can be REALTOR® to REALTOR® or Public to REALTOR®.  Click here for a description of the service and procedures.  This confidential, free program is a pre-cursor to the Grievance Complaint and in no way prevents a complainant from filing a formal Grievance Complaint.  For additional information, please feel free to contact Tori Chriestenson in the MAR Office.

 

FILING A GRIEVANCE COMPLAINT WITH THE ASSOCIATION

One of the many benefits you have as a member of the Association of REALTORS® is access to the Professional Standards procedures and the ability to file a confidential complaint.  The public has access to this benefit as well.  We have the necessary information posted on our website for you and/or the public.  If it is felt that a member has violated the Code of Ethics, then a complaint could be filed.  Click here for an explanation of the process. You can also find the necessary complaint form at our website as well.  As noted, this information is included on the MAR website, on the main page, buttons to the right side of the page.

 

ONLINE EDUCATION

Here is the link to visit our online education partner:  http://www.vaned.com/partner/montrose/

You can take the CREC Update course, law classes, ethics classes, GRI and MRE classes plus much more!

 

CREC COMPLAINTS

If you or your customers would like to make a complaint to the Colorado Real Estate Commission (CREC) you can do so by visiting the following link:  http://www.dora.state.co.us/real-estate/Complaints/Complaints.htm#br

Or you can call the Commission directly at 303-894-2166.

 

EDUCATION SCHEDULE:

 

SEPTEMBER

 

MONTROSE

 

CREC Update Course

            TUESDAY, September 9, 2008, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

            4 Hours CE, Required by the Real Estate Commission for all licensees

            $40.00 for members, check payable to MAR, Steve Stazel, Instructor

            Location:  MAR Office, Click here to register online or contact MAR.

 

NAR Ethics

            TUESDAY, September 9, 2008, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

            4 Hours CE, Required for all MAR members every 4 years

            $40.00 for members, check payable to CAR, Steve Stazel, Instructor

            Location:  MAR Office, Click here to register online or contact MAR.

 

Ethics & Professional Practices

            WEDNESDAY, September 10, 2008, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

            6 Hours CE, GRI, Required for all NEW MAR members within 1 year

            $80.00 for members, check payable to CAR, Steve Stazel, Instructor

            Location:  MAR Office, Click here to register online or contact MAR.

 

DELTA 874-4727

 

Listing Contracts

            THURSDAY, September 11, 2008, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

            6 Hours CE, RRS/GRI

            $80.00 for members, check payable to CAR, Steve Stazel, Instructor

            Location:  MAR Office, Click here to register online or contact MAR.

 

OCTOBER

 

MONTROSE

 

New Member Orientation

            WEDNESDAY, October 29, 2008, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

            No CE credit, Required for all new members within 8 months

            Free for members, MAR Instructors

            Location:  MAR Office, Please RSVP to the MAR Office

 

CREN Paragon 4 Classes – free for MAR Members!

            Beginning –October 29, 2008, 11:00 a.m. (New Member Orientation)

            Searches – October 30, 2008, 3:00 p.m.

            Contact Manager – November 6, 2008, 3:00 p.m.

            CMA –November 13, 2008, 3:00 p.m.

 

NOVEMBER

 

MONTROSE

 

Agency & Disclosure

            TUESDAY, November 4, 2008, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

            6 Hours CE, GRI/RRS – meets MAR’s legal liability training requirement

            $80.00 for members, check payable to CAR, Janene Bettin, Instructor

            Location:  MAR Office, Click here to register online or contact MAR.

 

CREC Update Course

            WEDNESDAY, November 5, 2008, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

            4 Hours CE, Required by the Real Estate Commission for all licensees

            $40.00 for members, check payable to MAR, Janene Bettin, Instructor

            Location:  RIDGWAY COMMUNITY CENTER, Click here to register online or contact MAR.

 

CREC Update Course

            WEDNESDAY, November 5, 2008, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

            4 Hours CE, Required by the Real Estate Commission for all licensees

            $40.00 for members, check payable to MAR, Janene Bettin, Instructor

            Location:  RIDGWAY COMMUNITY CENTER, Click here to register online or contact MAR.

 

DECEMBER

 

DELTA 874-4727

 

CREC Update Course

            TUESDAY, December 9, 2008, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

            4 Hours CE, Required by the Real Estate Commission for all licensees

            $40.00 for members, John Wendt, Instructor

            Location: Delta, contact Terrie at Delta County BOR to register.

 

Anti-Trust / Fair Housing

            TUESDAY, December 9, 2008, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

            4 Hours CE, meets law requirement and carries RRS credit for MAR members

            $40.00 for members, John Wendt, Instructor

            Location: Delta, contact Terrie at Delta County BOR to register.

 

 

COMPLETE 2008 SCHEDULE

Click here for the education schedule for the 2008 year. 

 

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