August 5, 2005

NEW INFORMATION

• 5K Run For Home Right Around the Corner-- The Eagleview Corporate Center will be a buzz on Saturday morning, August 13 th as the 3 rd Annual 5K Run For Home winds its way past the office buildings, town center and neighborhood of the development in Uwchlan Township.  Nearly 200 runners are expected to participate in this event in which all proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity of Chester County.

The Hankin Group has been quite generous in allowing the race to occur at the Eagleview complex each year.  The Hankin Group is also a major contributor to the race, along with other significant contributions from Main Line Today, USI Colburn Insurance Services, Eagleview Properties, Prudential Fox & Roach, RE/MAX Professional Realty, Keller Williams, Long & Foster, and Century 21 Alliance.  Other sponsors include Admiral Search & Abstract Corp, Brickside Grille, Chase Home Finance, Commerce Bank, Daily Local News, First Financial Bank, Helpful Home Inspectors, Iron Workers Bank, Kelly Caters, Mercedes-Benz of West Chester, Reliable Home Inspection, We Care Chiropractic, Wily Lexus, Minuteman Press of Broomall, American Solutions for Business, Real Estate Book, My Gym, Giant Supermarket, Isaac’s Restaurant & Deli, Dairy Queen, Chick-Fil-A, Red Robin Restaurant, and Victory Brewing Co.

There are many ways that you, as a member, can be involved in this event: PARTICIPATE (for registration brochure CLICK HERE), VOLUNTEER, or become a SPONSOR (for sponsorship info CLICK HERE).  For additional information, please contact Mary Lim at 610-560-4800 or via email mlim@suburbanwestrealtors.com.  

• Rail Line For Phoenixville?— Senators Rick Santorum and Arlen Specter announced a Senate panel's approval of $2 million in federal funding for the Schuylkill Valley Metro. The funds were approved Monday by the Senate Appropriations Committee. From here it will go to the House of Representatives for approval, then to a conference committee report before heading to Washington. U. S. Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-6th) has also been a huge proponent of the Metro, which was proposed in 1994, and has stepped up to the plate to attempt to reduce the price tag for the project to make federal funding more feasible.

The Schuylkill Valley Metro is a 62-mile rail line which would link Reading with Philadelphia, with local stops including Pottstown and Phoenixville. SEPTA's original plan, which was projected to cost as much as $2.5 billion, was rejected by the Federal Transportation Administration, for being too expensive. In response, Gerlach created a task force chaired by Secretary of Transportation Allen Biehler, to study the Metro project and come up with viable alternatives. He also added a stipulation to the Federal Highway Bill authorizing the FTA to begin design and construction of the project. (Source: The Phoenix; 07/29/05) 

• Professionalism Pointer – Take Care to Protect the Interests of the Public You Serve— When marketing or promoting your business to the public be sure to follow the conventions outlined in the Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act. The advertising policies were designed to keep the consumer properly informed. Simply stated, RELRA requires all firms and licensees to advertise themselves only under the name designated on their license. Nicknames for individuals are permitted ONLY if they are registered with the real estate commission.

Additionally an advertisement by a salesperson or associate broker must include the name and telephone number of their employing broker. The items may be of equal size. YOUR name and phone number cannot have greater prominence than that or your employing broker or firm. The telephone number of the employing broker is defined as the number given by directory assistance for the employing broker. An advertisement is defined as any material used to promote you and your business to the public. This includes, but is not limited to business cards, signs, letterhead, newspaper promotions, billboards etc.

Please consider this a friendly reminder from your Association. Failure to follow RELRA can result in fines from the Real Estate Commission. Repeated violations could result in more severe action against your license. 

• Cash and Carry Sale — The Suburban West REALTORS Association is offering a number of items for sale to interested members. A complete list of available items for sale is below. Please note that this is a Cash & Carry sale and that only cash and checks will be accepted. Also that you must take possession of the item that day. If you have any questions, please call 610-560-4800 or email Vinnie Pagnini at vpagnini@suburbanwestrealtors.com.

For sale: 3’ X 6’ metal framed table with veneer table top ($20); 32 gray stackable plastic chairs on wheeled cart ($150 for whole lot); Executive chair with black frame and dark fabric seat and back ($20); Clear plastic wall rack ($5); Movie projector screen ($10); 2 Portable table top wood podiums ($10 each); 2 Overhead projectors ($10 each); 2 White metal wall-mounted TV holders ($5 each); American Flag on poll ($5); 4 Teal and chrome cushioned panels for booth presentation ($10 each).

• Save The Date! --Brokers-Owners/Managers Invitational— On Friday, September 9, the Suburban West REALTORS Association will be sponsoring a Broker-Owner/Manager Invitational. This invitational will feature roundtable discussions, networking opportunities and speaker PAR Legal Counsel Jim Goldsmith, Esq. Jim will present on RESPA, Risk Management Issues and more! The event will be held at the Concord Country Club in Concordville, PA from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Brokers-Owners and Managers are encouraged to contact Andrea Bonacquisti Vaughn at avaughni@suburbanwestrealtors.com or call 610-560-4800 for more information or to register.

REMINDERS

• Revised Agreement of Sale to be Available In September— The Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS has reported that it plans to release the newly revised Agreement of Sale in mid-September. As soon as the form is released, the forms will be available for purchase from the Suburban West REALTORS Association. Note that use of the revised form is not mandatory; however, many of the revisions are designed to reduce a REALTORS exposure to risk. Educational opportunities are available to help you become acquainted with the revised form, including telephone seminars through PAR and a FREE onsite seminar at the Suburban West REALTORS Association on Tuesday, October 19 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Click here to register. Once logged in click on events calendar. As always, please feel free to call the Suburban West REALTORS Association office, 610-560-4800 if you have questions.
   
• Small Business Health Fairness Act Passes U.S. House of Representatives— On Tuesday, July 26, the United States House of Representatives passed one of the National Association of REALTORS top legislative priorities, the Small Business Health Fairness Act. As previously reported, this legislation will allow small businesses and self-employed workers to band together through a trade or professional association (like NAR) to negotiate lower health insurance costs for participants, similar to the rules already in place for federally regulated large corporate and union plans. The next obstacle is receiving approval through the Senate. Please consider signing up for the NAR Action Center and communicate with Senators Specter and Santorum regarding this crucial issue. For more information on the Small Business Health Fairness Act, please click here or call the REALTORS Legislative Alliance at 610-981-9000.
  
• Employment Notice— Dynamic REALTOR in fast paced realty office in Chadds Ford, PA looking for part-time personal assistant with strong computer skills to handle data entry, word processing, contact management and general office skills.  Salary negotiable.  Call 610-299-0911.

OTHER IMPORTANT NUMBERS:

• Suburban West REALTORS Association TECH HOTLINE:
  800-704-7240 (email: techhotline@att.net)
  (8:30 am to 8 pm, Monday to Friday)
  
• PAR Legal Hot Line: 800-727-5345
  (9 a.m. to 10 am & 1 pm to 3 pm, Monday to Friday)
  
• Suburban West REALTORS Association:
  http://www.suburbanwestrealtors.com
  
• SUPRA Support: 877-699-6787 (8 am to 10 pm, Everyday)