VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3
ST. AUGUSTINE & ST. JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF REALTORS®
B O R MARCH 2015
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Officers & Directors
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Board Calendar
3
Mediation Training 11CE
4
New Members
5
St Augustine March Events
6-7
Builder Council News
8
Go Green
9
Tech Tip
10 –11
1st Annual Golf Tournament 12-13 Have a Heart Auction Photos
14-19
Completing an Effective Sales Contract 4CE
20
NAR News
21
April Preview Staff Contact Information
22
FORWA R D BOR PUBLIC WEBSITE: http://staugustinestjohnsbor.com
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2015 ST. AUGUSTINE & ST. JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF REALTORS® AND MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE, INC.BOARD OFFICERS & DIRECTORS
BOARD OF REALTORS® Andrew Birchall‐PRESIDENT St. Augustine Realty (O) 824‐3331 (F) 825‐2685 (C ) 392‐3362 andrewbirchall@bellsouth.net Michael DeLorenzo, PRESIDENT‐ELECT Olde Carriage Realty (O) 824‐4500 (F) 824‐6866 (C ) 377‐5582 michael@oldecarriage.com Steve Gay (2) ‐ SECRETARY Coldwell Banker Premier Properties (O) 471‐5000 (F) 471‐4216 (C ) 471‐2279 steve@gatormortgage.net Winston Burrell – TREASURER St Augustine Team Realty (O) 825‐0099 (F) 513‐9264 (C ) 669‐6585 winston.burrell@gmail.com
MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE, INC. Katherine Delaney , PRESIDENT Watson Realty (US1) (O) 797‐8600 (F) 794‐7002 (C ) 669‐2115 Kdelaney13@bellsouth.net Ian Edmonson, P.A. , PRESIDENT‐ ELECT Edmonson & Associates Real Estate, Inc. (O) 827‐0722 (F) 638‐4746 (C) 315‐0997 ian@edmonsonassoc.com Daniel Lang ‐SECRETARY Sunshine Realty & Appraisal Services (O) 471‐9259 (F) 461‐3178 (C ) 501‐6867 langdan@hotmail.com Robert West ‐ TREASURER Coldwell Banker Premier Properties (O) 471‐5000 (F) 471‐4216 (C ) 814‐2006 rob@thepremierproperties.com
DIRECTORS Rick McChesney (2) Coldwell Banker Premier Properties (O) 471‐5000 (F) 471‐4216 (C ) 347‐4040 rick@thepremierproperties.com John Taylor (2) Awesome Real Estate, Inc. (O ) 429‐0600 (F) 429‐0601 (C ) 669‐7967 johntaylor@awesomerealestateinc.com Marie Mitchell (1) Century 21‐ St. Augustine Properties (O) 797‐6000 (F) 797‐7963 (C) 501‐1388 mmitchell1991@bellsouth.net Roberta Odom ‐ (2) Re/Max 100 Realty (O) 461‐9500 (F) 461‐9501 (C ) 466‐0114 propertybyberta@aol.com Jamie Jo Cribbs (1) Watson Realty (A1A) (O) 461‐9066 (F) 461‐9925 (C ) 335‐6101 jjcribbs@watsonrealtycorp.com Ryan Ford (2) Watson Realty (US1) (O) 797‐8600 (F) 794‐7002 (C ) 495‐4121 ryanford@watsonrealtycorp.com
Roy Barnes Jr., PAST‐PRESIDENT St. Augustine Realty (O) 824‐3331 (F) 825‐2685/ (C ) 669‐1430 rbarnes4@bellsouth.net Kathy Delaney , Ex‐Officio Watson Realty (US1) (O) 797‐8600 (F) 794‐7002 (C ) 669‐2115 Kdelaney13@bellsouth.net
Victor J. Raymos, Ex‐officio (O) 829‐8738 (F) 823‐9512 (C) 505‐220‐8683 ae@stjohnsrealtors.org
DIRECTORS
Charles “Sonny” Shanks (2) Southern Exposure Real Estate Services (O) 808‐1345 (F) 808‐1346 (C ) 808‐0270 cshanks@seresfl.com
Deborah Link (2) Deltona Realty (O) 940‐1551 (F) 940‐1561 ( C) 806‐5464 deb@deborahlink.com
Gail Jones (1) St. Augustine Realty (O) 824‐3331 (F) 825‐2685 (C ) 501‐7444 gjones4@bellsouth.net
Janet Masters (1) Matanzas Properties (O) 471‐3900 (F) 471‐1525 (C ) 669‐7236 janetmasters@matanzasproperties.com Ann King (1) Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Florida Network Realty
(O) 471‐6906 (F) 471‐6907 (C) 806‐3865 ann.king@bhhsfnr.com Dirk Schroeder, PAST PRESIDENT Century 21 St. Augustine Properties (O) 797‐6000 (F) 797‐7963 (C) 540‐2360 dirkschroeder@msn.com
Andrew Birchall‐Ex‐Officio St. Augustine Realty (O) 824‐3331 (F) 825‐2685 (C ) 392‐3362 andrewbirchall@bellsouth.net Victor J. Raymos, Ex‐officio
(O) 829‐8738 (F) 823‐9512 (C) 505‐220‐8683 ae@stjohnsrealtors.org
1/16/2015
VOLUME 8, ISSUE
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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
2nd—Education Committee 9am, YPN 11am 4th—Realtor Days Bus Trip 6:30am 5th—RPAC Committee 12pm 6th—After the Contract 9am 11th-12th—Paragon Training 9am—5pm Commercial Committee 8:30am Technology Committee 9:30am 13th—Paragon Training 9am 17th— Finance Committee 12pm Paragon Training 1pm 18th-—MLS Board 12pm 19th—Association Board 12pm 20th—Board Orientation 9am 24th—Paragon Client Connect 1:30pm
March 2015 Birthstone: Aquamarine, Bloodstone Flower: Jonquil Astrological Signs: Pisces: February 19 - March 20, Aries: March 21 - April 19
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REALTOR® SPOTLIGHT–
AFFILIATE SPOTLIGHT–
"Success belongs to those who believe in the power of their ideas."
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FEBRUARY NEW MEMBERS Hugh Franklin NEW Join Date 02/05/15
Coldwell Banker Premier Properties (Primary BOR/Primary MLS)
Lisa Martineau Join Date 02/05/15
Endless Summer Realty (Primary BOR/Primary MLS)
Marcia Jacalone NEW Join Date 02/06/15
Watson Realty Corp (US1 South) (Primary BOR/Primary MLS)
Nancy Turbyfill Join Date 02/09/15
Bosshardt Realty (MLS ONLY)
Gene Anne McKay Join Date 02/09/15
Bosshardt Realty (MLS ONLY)
Christopher G. Roberts NEW Join Date 02/13/15
Watson Realty Corp(A1A) (Primary BOR/Primary MLS)
David Petkovsek Join Date 02/17/15
Realty Exchange (Secondary BOR/Secondary MLS)
Julie Sabine Join Date 02/17/15
Realty Exchange (Secondary BOR/Secondary MLS)
Laura Freeman Join Date 02/18/15
Re/Max Unlimited(Ponte Vedra) (Primary BOR/Primary MLS)
James E. Linkenauger Join Date 02/23/15 Kelly Seketa NEW Join Date 02/23/15 Aristeed Harrison NEW Join Date 02/23/15
First Coast Realty Associates (Secondary BOR/Secondary MLS) First Coast Realty Associates (Primary BOR/Primary MLS) Signature Realty & Management (Primary BOR/Primary MLS)
David Pilvinsky Join Date 02/23/15
Realty Exchange (MLS ONLY)
Leslie Riser Join Date 02/25/15
Coldwell Banker Vanguard (Secondary BOR/Secondary MLS)
Lana "Vonnie" Carlett NEW Join Date 02/25/15 Thomas James Franza Join Date 02/25/15
Berkshire Hathaway(112 Sea Grove) (Primary BOR/Primary MLS) Ancient City Real Estate (Primary BOR/Primary MLS)
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MARCH EVENTS IN ST. AUGUSTINE March 2015 Sunday
Monday
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The Wednesday
Wooden Boatbuilding At The Lighthouse
Fridays, Saturdays, Flagler College & Sundays Historic Tours Tour The Weapons DemonstraSt. Augustine Lighttions Tour The St. house Honoring Augustine Lighthouse The Legacy: A TribSpanish El Galeón ute To AfricanBack In St. Augustine Americans In Golf 30th Annual Humpback Whales
Wooden Boatbuilding At The Lighthouse Archaeological Dig At Ximenez-Fatio House Humpback Whales 3D At IMAX Focus : The IMAX Experience
The Original Cathedral Festival 3D At IMAX Lost “Ghostly Experience” Humpback Whales 3D Ships Tour At The St. Tours Of St. Augustine Augustine LightAt IMAX Focus : The IMAX Experience house Focus : Dark Of The Moon The IMAX Experience Tours At The Light-
house The Original “Ghostly Experience” Tours Of St. Augustine
Market
Flagler Col-
Flagler Beach Farmer's
Saturday 7 Friday And Saturday: Paranormal
Market Fridays, Saturdays, Investigations At The Old Jail Flagler Archaeological Dig & Sundays Historic Weapons lege Tours Tour The Beach Farmer's Market Old City FarmAt Ximenez-Fatio House St. Augustine LightDemonstrations Flagler ers' Market Fridays, Saturdays, & Humpback Whales house Wooden College Tours Archaeologi- Sundays Historic Weapons DemonstraBoatbuilding At The 3D At IMAX Focus : cal Dig At Ximenez-Fatio tions 34th St Augustine Lions Seafood The IMAX Experience Lighthouse Curator's House Author Nancy Festival Searle's Sack Of St. Augustine Tour At The Lightner Sunset/Moonrise At Pellicer Dyer Book Signing Living History Day At Fort Matanzas St. Augustine LightMuseum Honoring Humpback Whales 3D At National Monument Archaeological Dig The Legacy: A Tribute house Boys Next IMAX Lost Ships Tour At To African-Americans In Door At Limelight TheaAuthor Nancy The St. Augustine Lighthouse At Ximenez-Fatio House Golf Archaeological tre The Original First Satur34th St Augustine Lions Pellicer Dyer Book Signing Dig At Ximenez-Fatio “Ghostly Experience” Author days At Fountain Of Youth Humpback Tours Of St. Augustine Seafood Festival House Humpback Nancy Pellicer Dyer Book Whales 3D At IMAX Saturdays Musket History, Mystery, Whales 3D At IMAX Signing At First Friday Art Firing Demonstrations At Fort Matanzas Mayhem & Murder Lost Ships Tour At The First Friday Art Walk National Monument Evening Historic Walk- Walk Through The St. Augustine Lighting Tour In St. Augustine Boys Next Keyhole Vilano Beach Sunset Celebrahouse Focus : The Door At Limelight Theatre IMAX Experience tion Boys Next Door At Limelight TheaDark Of The Moon Tours At tre Dark Of The Moon Tours At The The Lighthouse Keyhole Lighthouse EMMA Concert: Moscow After Dark History, MysCity Ballet – Don Quixote The Original tery, Mayhem & Murder Evening Historic Walking Tour “Ghostly Experience” Tours Of St. Augustine History, Mystery, Mayhem & Friday And Saturday: Paranormal Investigations At Murder Evening Historic Walking Tour The Old Jail Friday And Saturday: Paranormal Investigations At The Old Jail
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Friday And SaturTour The St. day: Paranormal Augustine LightInvestigations At The house Honoring Old Jail Fridays, The Legacy: A TribSaturdays, & Sundays ute To AfricanHistoric Weapons Americans In Golf
10 Flagler College Tours Wooden Boatbuilding At The
11 The Wednesday
12 Flagler College
Market Tour The St. Tours Wooden Augustine Lighthouse Boatbuilding At The
13 Flagler Beach Farmer's Market
14 Friday And Saturday: Paranormal
The Celtic Festival Investigations At The Old Jail
Flagler
Fridays, Saturdays, & Beach Farmer's Market The Celtic Lighthouse ArchaeoWooden Boatbuild- Lighthouse Archaeo- Sundays Historic Weapons Festival Old City Farmers' Market logical Dig At Ximenez- ing At The Lighthouse logical Dig At XimenezDemonstrations Plein Air Second Saturday Trail Hike At GTM FriFatio House Chappie Honoring The Leg- Fatio House Chappie Painting With Randy Pitts days, Saturdays, & Sundays Historic Demonstrations Chappie At IMAX acy: A Tribute To African At IMAX Humpback At IMAX Lost Ships Archaeological Dig At Ximenez Flagler College Tours Weapons Demonstrations Flagler Humpback -Americans In Golf Tour At The St. -Fatio House Boys Next Tour The St. Whales 3D At IMAX Whales 3D At IMAX College Tours Plein Air Painting With Archaeological Dig At Augustine Lighthouse Lost Ships Tour At The Augustine Lighthouse Door At Limelight Theatre Ximenez-Fatio House Randy Pitts Second Saturday Plant St. Augustine LightBoys Next Door At Dark Of The Moon Tours At 34th St Augustine Chappie At IMAX Sales At The Park St. Patrick's Day house The Original Limelight Theatre Lions Seafood Festival The Lighthouse Keyhole Humpback Whales 3D “Ghostly Experience” The Original “Ghostly Parade Archaeological Dig At XimenezHumpback Whales At IMAX History, MysExperience” Tours Of After Dark Tours Of St. Augustine Fatio House Lost Ships Tour At The St. tery, Mayhem & Murder 3D At IMAX Lost St. Augustine HisEvening Historic Walking Tour Augustine Lighthouse Ships Tour At The St. Saturdays Mustory, Mystery, Mayhem Augustine Lighthouse ket Firing Demonstrations At Fort MatanFriday And Saturday: & Murder Evening Boys Next Door At Historic Walking Tour Paranormal Investigations At zas National Monument Through The The Old Jail Limelight Theatre Keyhole The Downtown Bazaar Dark Of The Moon Boys Next Door At Limelight Theatre Tours At The LightDark Of The Moon Tours At The Lighthouse The Original house EMMA Concert: Tallahassee “Ghostly Experience” Tours Of St. Augustine
Symphony Orchestra The Original “Ghostly Experience” Tours Of St. Augustine
History, Mystery, Mayhem &
Murder Evening Historic Walking Tour Friday And Saturday: Paranormal Investigations At The Old Jail
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Friday And Saturday: Paranormal Investigations At The Old
Flagler College Wooden BoatbuildThe Wednesday Wooden BoatFlagler Beach Farmer's ing At The Lighthouse building At The LightTours Tour The St. Market Flagler Market Fridays, SaturJail The Celtic Festival Augustine Lighthouse Archaeological Dig At house Archaeo- days, & Sundays Historic College Tours logical Dig At XiWeapons Demonstrations Fridays, Saturdays, & Honoring The Ximenez-Fatio House Tour The St. menez-Fatio House Sundays Historic Weap- Legacy: A Tribute To The Original “Ghostly Augustine Lighthouse Flagler College Tours African-Americans In Experience” Tours Of St. Boys Next Door At Archaeological Dig At Xions Demonstrations Wooden BoatAugustine Tour The St. Augustine Golf Lost Ships building At The Light- Limelight Theatre menez-Fatio House Lost Tour At The St. The Original “Ghostly Ships Tour At The St. Lighthouse Plein Air house Honoring Experience” Tours Of Painting With Randy Pitts Augustine Lighthouse The Legacy: A Tribute Augustine Lighthouse To African-Americans St. Augustine His- Boys Next Door At Limelight Music In The Gardenstory, Mystery, MayIn Golf ArchaeoTheatre Dark Of The Palm Coast Boys Next hem & Murder Evelogical Dig At XiMoon Tours At The LightDoor At Limelight Theatre ning Historic Walking menez-Fatio House house Keyhole After Dark Of The Moon Tour Lost Ships Tour At Tours At The Lighthouse Dark History, Mystery, The St. Augustine Mayhem & Murder Evening The Original “Ghostly Lighthouse Experience” Tours Of St. Historic Walking Tour FriAugustine day And Saturday: Paranormal Investigations At The Old Jail
21 Friday And Saturday: Paranormal Investigations At The Old Jail Market
Flagler Beach Farmer's
Third Saturday Photo Challenge
Guided Beach Exploration Market
Old City Farmers'
Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays
Historic Weapons Demonstrations 2nd Annual Commemoration Of The Founding Of Fort Mose
Living History Garden Walk-
Palm Coast
Third Saturday Nocatee
Farmer's Market
Archaeological Dig At
Ximenez-Fatio House Fountain Of Youth Tours
Third Saturdays At Tolomato Cemetery
Saturdays Musket Firing Demonstra-
tions At Fort Matanzas National Monument Through The Keyhole
3rd Annual Falcon
Regiment Sheepshead Derby Door At Limelight Theatre
Boys Next Dark Of The
Moon Tours At The Lighthouse The Original “Ghostly Experience” Tours Of St. Augustine History, Mystery, Mayhem & Murder Evening Historic Walking Tour Friday And Saturday: Paranormal Investigations At The Old Jail
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Friday And Saturday: Tour The St. Paranormal Investigations Augustine Lighthouse
24 Flagler College Tours Wooden Boatbuilding At The Lighthouse
25 The Wednesday Market Tour The St. Augustine Light-
26 Flagler College Tours Wooden Boatbuilding At The
27 Flagler Beach Farmer's Market Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays Historic Weapons Demonstrations
At The Old Jail Fridays, Honoring The Saturdays, & Sundays Legacy: A Tribute To Archaeological Dig At house Wooden Lighthouse ArHistoric Weapons Demon- African-Americans In Boatbuilding At The chaeological Dig At Archaeological Dig At Ximenez-Fatio House Golf strations Flagler ColXimenez-Fatio House Lost Ships Tour At The Lighthouse HonorXimenez-Fatio House lege Tours Tour The St. St. Augustine Lighthouse ing The Legacy: A Lost Ships Tour At Boys Next Door At Limelight Tribute To AfricanThe St. Augustine Augustine Lighthouse The Original “Ghostly Theatre Dark Of The Lost Ships Tour At The St. Experience” Tours Of St. Americans In Golf Lighthouse Boys Moon Tours At The LightArchaeological Dig At Next Door At LimeAugustine Augustine Lighthouse house Keyhole After Ximenez-Fatio House light Theatre St. Augustine Record Fair The Dark History, Mystery, Original “Ghostly (Vinyl Records) Boys Mayhem & Murder Evening Experience” Tours Of Next Door At Limelight Historic Walking Tour FriSt. Augustine HisTheatre EMMA Conday And Saturday: Paranortory, Mystery, Maycert: Stanislav Khristenko, mal Investigations At The hem & Murder EvePianist Dark Of The ning Historic Walking Old Jail Moon Tours At The Light-
Tour
house The Original “Ghostly Experience” Tours Of St. Augustine
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Flagler College Wooden Boatbuilding At The Lighthouse Tours Tour The St. At The Old Jail Fridays, Augustine Lighthouse Archaeological Dig At Saturdays, & Sundays Honoring The Ximenez-Fatio House Historic Weapons DemonLegacy: A Tribute To The Original “Ghostly strations Tour The St. African-Americans In Experience” Tours Of St. Augustine Augustine Lighthouse Golf Lost Ships light Theatre Dark Of The Moon Tours At The Lighthouse The Original “Ghostly Experience” Tours Of St. Augustine
Friday And Saturday: Paranormal Investigations At The Old Jail Market
Flagler Beach Farmer's
4th Saturday-Family Seining At The
GTM Research Reserve Market
Old City Farmers'
Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays
Historic Weapons Demonstrations College Tours
Flagler
Archaeological Dig At Xi-
menez-Fatio House
Lost Ships Tour At The
St. Augustine Lighthouse Saturdays Musket Firing Demonstrations At Fort Matanzas National Monument
Through The Keyhole
Uptown Saturday Night
Boys Next Door At
Limelight Theatre
Dark Of The Moon Tours
At The Lighthouse
The Original “Ghostly
Experience” Tours Of St. Augustine History, Mystery, Mayhem & Murder Evening Historic Walking Tour Friday And Saturday: Paranormal Investigations At The Old Jail
Friday And Saturday: Paranormal Investigations
Boys Next Door At Lime-
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Tour At The St. Augustine Lighthouse
April 2015
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ST. JOHNS BUILDERS COUNCIL
www.stjohnsbuilderscouncil.com
7th Annual Fishing Tournament Northeast Florida Marlin Assoc. Camachee Cove Family of Anglers are invited to join in on the excitement as Captains bring their “catch” to the dock in hopes of having the winning fish!
Awards
Music by “The Coconuts”
F ISH C ATEGORIES ( ANGLER COMPETITION) Redfish, Sea Trout & Flounder
Dinner at 6:00pm
$750 Each 1st Place
Winners announced
$300 Each 2nd Place
Prizes
$200 Each 3rd Place
TRIPLE CHALLENGE
( BOAT COMPETITION) HEAVIEST TOTAL WEIGHT OF ONE OF EACH FISH IN ABOVE CATEGORIES WINS 1st Place - $1,250 2nd Place - $600
Raffle for a Yeti 65 cooler Benefiting Every Child Has the Right to an Education
3rd Place - $400 ALL AWARDS ARE BASED ON ENTRIES AND SPONSORSHIP PARTICIPATION
ASSIST helps the “homeless” children continue their education.
YOUTH DIVISION (under 15) – opportunities to win prizes (If captain is under 18, Parent must sign release/waiver)
Schedule of Events CAPTAINS MEETING AT KINGFISH GRILL CAMACHEE COVE FRIDAY, APRIL 24TH, 2015
6-8 P.M.
Captain’s can launch their boat from anywhere but fish to be weighed in must be brought to the NEFMA clubhouse by boat.
abandoned buildings, etc.
Entry Fee: $250 per boat For more information please contact Leona Brown at SJBC sjbcouncil2@aol.com.
WEIGH-IN (AWARDS AND DINNER TO FOLLOW AT NORTHEAST FLORIDA MARLIN’S CLUBHOUSE AT CAMACHEE COVE)
APRIL 25TH, 2015
St. Johns County has over 800 homeless children in their school system who have been abandoned, living in foster care, cars, parks, public spaces,
2-5 P.M.
To download boat registration form Visit www.stjohnsbuilderscouncil.com
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Green Your Spring Cleaning "Green Tips " are simple steps you can take today to green your clothing, your home, your transportation and more! We encourage you to choose one step to get started and return for additional tips over time. Buy green cleaners at your local natural foods store or via mail order or the Internet. Make your own cleaners. To avoid toxic chemicals, consider making your own cleaners. Household items like baking soda, lemon juice, vinegar, and club soda, can be combined to clean everything from carpets to toilet bowls. Use old clothing and sheets for dusting and cleaning rags, rather than paper towels. Install a clothesline in your backyard or basement, and let your clothes dry naturally. Avoid cleaners that contain phosphates as a water softener. Phosphates appear in a number of cleaners such as some dishwashing liquids and promote rapid algae growth which pollutes the water supply. If you use mothballs, consider replacing them with a more natural alternative. Try cheesecloth-wrapped cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, or whole cloves. Eliminate the need for chemical fabric softeners by adding ¼ cup of vinegar to your washing machine’s rinse cycle. Let your houseplants do the cleaning! Some houseplants—such as Boston ferns, English ivy, rubber plants, and peace lilies—can help clean your indoor air by absorbing toxic chemicals.
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“TECH TIP” 6 SIMPLE STEPS TO SKYROCKET YOUR WEBSITE
It used to be that the “calling card” we left behind in any social situation was exactly that: a piece of paper. Most of the time, this generic card was stuffed in some pocket, never to be looked at again. Today, we’ve moved past the business card and put our calling cards online. But just because real estate professionals have gone digital doesn’t mean they’re making the right impression. First, let’s think about how you connect with the people you meet. Do you tell them to visit your website? Search for your name online? Connect with you on Facebook? If you’ve tried any of these methods, you know the odds of follow-through are slim. And even if they do end up on your site or profile, will they be inspired by what they see, or excited to learn more? Your website is your best opportunity to quickly make a lasting impression online, provided that you follow a few simple steps.
1. Build a Better Real Estate Website Cost and technical expertise are no longer reasonable excuses for a poor web presence. It’s never been easier or more affordable to plan, design, and create a real estate website. Service providers like Placester, Squarespace, and Wix have made it possible to launch a beautiful website in less than an hour, even with limited web experience. Simply select a template and design theme, then integrate your IDX listings, images, copy, and social media accounts. Once your basic framework is set up, you can easily customize your site according to your target demographic, geographic focus, property type specialty, and more.
2. Own It How many times have you visited an awful website and come away with negative thoughts about the person or business? Like the clothes you wear and the “clean” car you tour clients in, your website is an extension of your overall brand presentation. It’s a window for showcasing your marketing skills and making a connection with your target audience. By creating an engaging website that promotes your skill set and unique characteristics as a real estate professional, you can establish credibility with potential buyers and sellers before you ever speak to them.
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3. Don’t Just Show Your Listings; Tie Them Up With a Bow Of course, many real estate websites are about showcasing one of your greatest assets: listings. Yet many agents don’t use listings to their full potential. Instead of simply making listings available to browse on your website, try building content around them. Pre-launch a property with its own landing page. Showcase sold listings in your monthly e-mail newsletter. Use your blog to highlight the best listings your community has to offer. Give your visitors more than just a search page, and you’ll make a lasting impression.
4. Give Away Your Secrets We all rely on the web to help us make our buying decisions. In fact, today 70 to 90 percent of the buyer’s journey is complete prior to contacting a vendor. Nevertheless, you can still influence consumers early on by offering them a way to answer their own questions online — and your real estate website is the perfect venue. As a local agent, you’re an expert in the processes and challenges of buying and selling a home and the ins and outs of the communities you serve. Your website is the ideal platform for sharing the “special sauce” that makes you worth working with.
5. Focus on Local Search More than ever, your ranking in Google search results depends on location-specific keywords and signals. To optimize your website for local search, start by setting up profiles with your physical address (also called citations) on all the major local search websites and directories: Google+ Local, Bing, Yahoo Local, Yelp, and the major real estate portals. Connect these profiles to the customer reviews your past clients have left you, then link everything to your personal real estate website so prospects and clients can find you.
6. Invest in Mobile If you have a smartphone, you know first hand that the mobile web is increasingly the norm. What you might not know is that local searches performed on mobile devices generate 47 percent more same-day store visits than their desktop counterparts. According to one comScore report, 79 percent of mobile phone owners use their devices to conduct local searches, while 78 percent of all local searches turn into offline purchases. This is great news for locally focused real estate professionals. To take advantage these numbers, you need to build a website that mobile users can not only find but also use. You can start by making sure your website is responsive and works on all devices, from smartphones and “phablets” to tablets and laptop computers. Not long ago, creating a real estate website was a complicated, expensive, and frustrating experience. Today, the best vendors are making things simpler by breaking down the technical barriers, enabling any real estate professional to quickly build a great website. The flip side, of course, is that there’s no longer any excuse for not having an effective website. So don’t wait: Start building and marketing your online brand
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NEWSLETTER TITLE
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HAVE A HEART AUCTION
Auction Committee: from left Carol Alford Ron Barry, Joan Scop, Alison Barlow, Diane Vespucci, Penny James, Beth Ruggeri, Ted Smith, Maria Gelinas, Russell Benes & Elizabeth Michaels
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Russell Benes selling 50/50 tickets
Auction committee getting ready to start the auction
Right: Russell Benes & Maia Gelinas
Ron Barry, Steve Gay, Verna Bacon & Victor J Raymos
Bill Thew, Penny James & Tom Clarke
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HAVE A HEART AUCTION
Victor J Raymos & Steve Gay
Marlene Lagasse makes a bid
Auctioneer- Diane Vespucci and Beth Ruggeri as Vanna White
Bill Thew won the bid
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Ted Smith & Diane Vespucci
Cory Billingsley & Rob West
Pat Kane, Don Pires & Jay Kane
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Berta Odom, Victor J Raymos & Don Pires
He & Michael Delorenzo
George & Shirley Spohrer
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HAVE A HEART AUCTION
Sonny Shanks, Marlene Lagasse & Deb Link
Melissa Wissel, Beth Ruggeri & Tamara Martin
Tony Bosco, Tanya Liebal, Diane Leonardi & Ron Barry
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NAR’S SECOND CENTURY VENTURES SELECTS PRO.COM AS FIRST MEMBER OF 2015 REACH® ACCELERATOR CLASS REach® launches companies into trillion dollar industries; provides access to thousands of potential customers CHICAGO (March 17, 2015) – The National Association of Realtors®’ strategic investment arm, Second Century Ventures, has selected Pro.com as the first company accepted into the 2015 class of REach®, its growth technology accelerator program. Pro.com is a new home services marketplace that enables real estate agents to help home owners successfully price out home projects by matching them with a certified “Pro” in their area to get the job done. The REach® program provides a catalyst for innovative technology companies, such as Pro.com, to launch into trillion-dollar industries including real estate, insurance, mortgage and financial services. It differs from other accelerator programs in that participants are more established than the average start-up. Led by founder and CEO Matt Williams and his team of former Amazon executives, Pro.com has already helped over 100,000 customers with home projects, spanning 25 percent of U.S. zip codes across the country, representing a total value of $250 million in home services. Williams is an experienced entrepreneur, most recently spending time as Entrepreneur in Residence at Andreessen Horowitz. Prior to that, Williams led the complete overhaul of social news aggregator Digg as its CEO. He sold his first startup, Livebid, to Amazon and later spent over a decade at the company leading various e-commerce divisions. Pro.com has raised a total of $17.5 million from investors including Maveron, Madrona Venture Group, Redpoint Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz. “Real Estate agents and homeowners alike use Pro.com to price home projects and quickly find the best pro to get the job done,” said Williams. “It’s an honor to be accepted into this year’s REach® accelerator program – the knowledge, resources and support will be invaluable to us as we grow.” This year marks the third class of the REach® program, which annually offers six to 10 organizations the opportunity to connect with NAR’s 1 million members, including some of the most highly regarded executives, digital entrepreneurs and practitioners in the industry. “Pro.com is ideally poised to take full advantage of the REach® program, as they and all participants will benefit significantly from access to real estate leaders - from education to mentorship to market exposure,” said NAR President Chris Polychron, executive broker with 1st Choice Realty in Hot Springs, Ark. “While Pro.com is applicable to so many individuals, it hits on a sweet spot in the real estate space, as in this day and age, Realtors® are going well beyond the transaction and often times act as an advisor to homebuyers and sellers, who turn to Realtors® when making improvements to their homes.” REach® has a very successful track record – past participants have on average doubled their customer bases during the program and have gone on to raise more than $34 million in financing. Participants have been funded by well-known venture funds including SoftBank Capital, Intel Capital, Javelin and 500 Startups. Graduates of the program include Updater, BombBomb, SmartZip, WeVideo and SendHub (also a Y-Combinator graduate). The accelerator will continue to accept applications on its web site through March 19, 2015. REach® seeks primarily SaaS-based companies with applicability in real estate, financial services, banking, home services and/or insurance markets. Learn more at www.narreach.com.
About Second Century Ventures Second Century Ventures (SCV) is an early-stage technology fund, backed by the National Association of Realtors®, that leverages the association’s 1 million members and an unparalleled network of executives within real estate and adjacent industries. SCV systematically launches its portfolio companies into the world’s largest industries including real estate, financial services, banking, home services, and insurance. SCV seeks to define and deliver the future of the world’s largest industries by being a catalyst for new technologies, new opportunities, and new talent. About National Association of Realtors® The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. About Pro.com Pro.com is a nationwide marketplace for pricing home projects and finding a pro. Through its large database of home services and its Pro matching algorithms, anyone can immediately get instant price estimates, find trusted professionals and schedule appointments. Pro.com customers have access to vetted home service professionals in their marketplace. Customers are matched to the most trusted and experienced local professionals that best fits their needs and budget. Based in Seattle, Pro.com was founded by Matt Williams and his team of former Amazon executives and has raised $17.5M in Series A and seed funding from Maveron, Madrona Venture Group, Andreessen Horowitz, Redpoint, Two Sigma Ventures, Bezos Expeditions, and Sherpa Ventures. For more information, please visit: www.pro.com.
APRIL 2015
Page 22 ST. AUGUSTINE & ST. JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF REALTORS®
1789 Lakeside Avenue St. Augustine, FL. 32084 Phone: 904-829-8738 Fax: 904-823-9512
B O A R D
1st
VACANT LAND
9:00AM
2nd
COMPLETING AN EFFECTIVE SALES CONTRACT 4CE
9AM-1PM
RPAC COMMITTEE
12:00PM
3rd
CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF GOOD FRIDAY
6th
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
9:00AM
YPN
11:00AM
8th
PARAGON CMA WORKSHOP
10:00AM
12th
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
9:00AM
COMMERCIAL COMMITTEE
9:00AM
14th
FINANCE COMMITTEE
12:00PM
15th
MLS BOARD
12:00PM
16th
ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETING
12:00PM
17th
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
9:00AM
21st
MANDATORY PARAGON TRAINING
1:00PM
24th
CODE OF ETHICS 3CE
9:00AM
24th
REALIST TRAINING
1:30PM
W E B S I T E :
S T J O H N S R E A L T O R S . C O M
CONTACT INFORMATION
Board Office Staff Victor J. Raymos, RCE ae@stjohnsrealtors.org Association Executive Professional Standards Sharon Lainhart member@stjohnsrealtors.org Membership and Finance Lise Cauley education@stjohnsrealtors.org MLS/SUPRA/Newsletter/Website Erin Hughes staff@stjohnsrealtors.org Membership/Education /Committee Support Just like the Board of REALTORS® is your Board, this is YOUR newsletter! We can’t do this without you!
IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION
FloridaRealtors– www.floridarealtors.org Tech Hotline— 407-587-1450 Legal Hotline— 407-438-1409 FR Event Registration— 800-669-4327 FR Orlando—407-438-1400 FR Tallahassee—850-224-1400 RPAC—850-224-1400 support@floridarealtors.org
National Association of REALTORS— www.realtor.org 1-800-874-6500 NAR Member Benefits Program— 800-NAR-5233 www.REALTOR.org/RealtorBenefits
REALTOR.COM— 800-878-4166 INNOVIA (MLS) Support— 800-334-0831 FORMSimplicity— 407-587-1450 SUPRA Support—877-699-6787