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Weekly News Service
Providing the
Latest Association and Local Real Estate Information
The Weekly News
Service is an exclusive benefit available to members of the Suburban West
REALTORS Association. Featuring both Association news and local real estate
industry information, the Weekly News is a service meant to benefit all
members of the organization.
Professionalism
Tip: Give Careful Consideration Before Offering or Accepting Commission
Bonuses
 There appears to be renewed interest in
offering a bonus as a marketing strategy. Whether providing or accepting
these bonuses, there are legal and ethical issues to consider.
First, as with any offer of compensation made through the
multiple listing service, the offer is unconditional except in very
specific situations involving court orders or actions of a lender. (
See Trend Rules and Regulations) When making the offer of a bonus
the listing broker must be careful that any conditions of the offer are
clearly spelled out. One of the purposes of the MLS is to inform
co-operating brokers of the compensation they can expect when procuring a
buyer for the listing. Generally, simple failure or refusal of the seller
to pay the bonus to the listing broker - for reasons not very clearly
written and agreed upon in advance of showing - would not relieve the
listing broker from the obligation to pay the co-operating broker and could
result in arbitration between brokers.
Second, co-operating brokers should consider whether
acceptance of the bonus constitutes a conflict of interest with the client.
All licensees have the duty to "timely disclose to the consumer any
conflicts of interest". REALTORS have a further obligation to protect
and promote the interests of the client and to treat all parties honestly.
Whether or not acceptance of a bonus is a conflict of interest may be
determined by the perception of the consumer. While your efforts on behalf
of the consumer may not change based on a bonus, if the consumer perceives
the opposite you may find yourself on the wrong end of a complaint - a
complaint that could be more costly than the bonus.
Deadline for Supra
Keypad Payment is May 21
 If you are planning on continuing the lease
of your Supra ActiveKEY for 2008-2009, please note that the deadline for
payment is May 21. To avoid potential interruption of service, please be mindful
of the payment deadline. Supra mailed invoices to all Suburban West
REALTORS Association members in mid-April with two payment options
available; by mail or over the phone. If you are not in receipt of an
invoice, please call Supra at (877) 699-6787, option 2 in the automated
system.
For individuals seeking to discontinue their lease of the
electronic keypad, please return in person on or before May 21, 2008
the keypad and charger to the Association's office between 8 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday.
For tips on getting the most out of your keypad system,
including battery tips, please click
here.
Fresh Ideas for
Selling in a Tough Market
 This week in Washington DC, the National
Association of REALTORS is hosting its annual Mid- Year Meetings. This
event features great programs and sessions that are timely and useful to
most REALTORS, including this summary article of a presentation from
yesterday on Fresh
Ideas for Selling in a Tough Market.
For all the latest news from NAR's Mid-Year Meetings, please click
here.
"Real Estate
in the Current Economy- What's Hot, What's Not"
The Real Estate
Practices Committee of the Delaware County Bar Association (DCBA) is
hosting a timely breakfast panel presentation on Friday, May 30, 2008 at
the Little Inn, Media, Pa. Breakfast starts at 8:15 A.M. and the Panel
Presentation commence at 8:45 A.M. and will end at 10:45 A.M.
This presentation is designed to add practical knowledge and
insight on the subject of real estate investment and development in the
current economy. The Panel is comprised of significant players in various
areas of real estate as well as public officials who are closely involved
with development and re- development. Attendees will have ample opportunity
to ask questions and otherwise interact with these scheduled panelists;
Vincent Mancini, Esquire - Moderator, Tom O'Brien and John Pickett -
Chairman and Executive Director of the Delaware County Planning Commission
respectively, Kevin McLaughlin - the McKee Group, Jeff Cadorette - Media
Real Estate, Patrick McNulty - the Flynn Group, Peter Uhlman - the
Percheron Group, David Sciocchetti - Executive Director of the City of
Chester Redevelopment Authority, and Timothy Cole, Resource Capital LLC.
The Committee's breakfast seminars are generally attended by
Attorneys, Realtors, Bankers, Title Officers, Municipal Officials,
Engineers, Developers, Investors and others interested in real estate
matters. Breakfast is normally $14.00 per person. However, because of the
scope and general interest of this event, UNITED SAVINGS BANK has
generously agreed to sponsor the panel presentation. Breakfast is FREE to
the first 100 attendees that register for the seminar courtesy of United
Savings Bank. Attendees can register by contacting Debbie Scally (610) 566-
8064 or email debbie.scally@verizon.net
HBA to Offer
Website Optimization Course
 The Homebuilders Association of Chester and
Delaware Counties is offering a Website Optimization seminar on Wednesday,
May 21 from 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. at the Suburban West REALTORS
Association office in Malvern. This great event will feature Paula Rhoads
who will be discussing the following topics:
- Top 5 ways to raise your site in the search engines
- What a spider is and why it is important to your
website
- What's old, what's new and what's coming
To register for this seminar (through the HBA only), please
access, print and complete the form by clicking
here, or call the HBA at 610-692-7733.
Successful real
estate team is looking for a self motivated, highly organized individual
with strong computer and technical skills for a Personal Assistant
position. The candidate must be capable of managing multiple priorities and
also must posses strong customer relations. Some marketing knowledge/
background would be helpful. Responsibilities include computer work,
scheduling, order management and and phone calls. This part time position
is for 15- 20 hours per week. Please e- mail resume to griesserteam@griesserteam.com.
Real estate office in West Chester is seeking a part-time
receptionist. Candidates will need to perform various duties including
answering phones and assisting agents. This part time position will be from
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. on Sunday
for one or two weekends a month. Salary is negotiable. Interested
candidates may call Maureen at 610-696-1100 or fax their resume to
610-696-2449.
A year-long series
of brief recommendations to promote REALTOR safety in the office and out in
the field.
Take notes for
safety. Place one of your
business cards, with the date and time written on the back, in a kitchen
cabinet. Note on it if you were the first to arrive or if clients were
waiting.
Scholarships
Available for Designation Classes- The Pennsylvania REALTORS Education Foundation (PREF) has
announced that scholarships are available for designations and broker
courses. The Scholarship may be applied towards the cost for any
designation or broker course offered by a REALTOR Association or
Association school with reimbursement of lodging, travel expenses, as well
as the scholarship up to $500. The Scholarship money awarded must be used
within one calendar year of award date, and the application deadline is
July 31.
For more information on how to apply for a Scholarship, please
click
here.
Upcoming Events at
the Association:
- May 20- Agency;
Definitions, Distinctions & Disclosures at the Hilton Garden Inn,
Kennett Square, PA
- May 22-
Investing in Real Estate Using IRA and 401K Retirement Plans,
Malvern, PA
- May 22- Mortgages:
What You Need to Know, Malvern, PA
- May 23- Essentials
of Real Estate Auctions, Malvern, PA
- May 26- Office Closed for Memorial Day, Malvern, PA
- May 28- Ethical
Open Houses; Preventing Procuring Cauce Accidents, Malvern, PA
- May 29- Getting
to Yes, Malvern, PA
- May 29- Agreement
of Sale, Malvern, PA
- May 29- REALTOR/
Builder Happy Hour, Malvern, PA
- May 30- Delaware
County REALTOR/ Lawyer Meeting at the Little Inn, Media, PA
- May 31- Deadline to renew PA Real Estate Licenses
Important Phone
Numbers & Websites
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