ST. AUGUSTINE & ST. JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF REALTORS速
VOLUME 5, ISSUE 5
BO R
FO RWA RD
MAY 2012
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Officers & Directors
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Calendar
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REALTOR/Affiliate
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New Members
5
May Events
6-7
Builder Council News
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Go Green
9
Tech Tip
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Mediation Training
11
NAR Article
12
S.A.F.E Article
13
Make it, Bake it, Sew it, Grow it Auction Pictures
14-17
2012 Hurricane Season
18-19
Make it, Bake it, Sew it, Grow it Auction
19
Member Information
20
Member Benefits
21
Wally Conway
22
Monthly Statistics
23
June Preview Staff Contact Information
24
BOR PUBLIC WEBSITE: www.stjohnsrealtors.com
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2012 ST. AUGUSTINE & ST. JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF REALTORS® AND MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE, INC.BOARD OFFICERS & DIRECTORS BOARD OF REALTORS®
MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE, INC.
Roy Barnes Jr., PRESIDENT St. Augustine Realty (O) 824-3331 / (F) 825-2685/ (C ) 669-1430 rbarnes4@bellsouth.net
Dirk Schroeder , PRESIDENT Century 21- St. Augustine Properties (O) 797-6000 (F) 797-7963/ (C ) 540-2360 c21staug@aol.com
Andrew Birchall, PRESIDENT-ELECT St. Augustine Realty (O) 824-3331 / (F) 825-2685/ (C ) 392-3362 andrewbirchall@bellsouth.net
Katherine Delaney , PRESIDENT- ELECT Watson Realty (US1) (O) 797-8600/ (F) 797-8606/ (C ) 669-2115 Kdelaney13@bellsouth.net
Winston Burrell - SECRETARY Coldwell Banker Premier Properties (O) 471-4204 / (F) 471-4216 / (C ) 669-6585 winston.burrell@coldwellbanker.com
Robert West – SECRETARY Coldwell Banker Premier Properties (O) 471-4204 / (F) 471-4216 / (C ) rob@thepremierproperties.com
Gene Johnson – TREASURER Watson Realty (US1) O) 797-8600 (F) 797-8606 (C ) 710-1090 teamjohnson@watsonrealtycorp.com
Ian Edmonson, P.A. - TREASURER Edmonson & Associates Real Estate, Inc. (O) 827-0722 (F) 638-4746 (C) 315-0997 ian@edmonsonassoc.com
DIRECTORS
814-2006
DIRECTORS
Roberta Odom (1) Re/Max 100 Realty (O) 461-9500 (F) 461-9501 (C ) 466-0114 propertybyberta@aol.com
Ron Barry (1)
Edward Paucek (1) Moses Creek Realty (C ) 669-6422 blackstargroup@comcast.net
Paula Silberberg (1) Watson Realty (A1A) (O) 461-9066 (F) 461-9925 (C ) 687-8803 psilberberg@watsonrealtycorp.com
Bill Thew (1) Olde Carriage Realty (O) 824-4500 (F) 824-6866(C ) 347-6736 billthew@bellsouth.net Gayle Logan (2) Watson Realty (A1A) (O) 461-9066 (F) 461-9925 (C) 669-2778 gmlogan@aug.com Judi Schuyler (2) Coldwell Banker Premier Properties (O) 471-4204 (F) 471-4216 (C ) 669-0788 judiseven@bellsouth.net Sean Hess (2) St. Augustine Team Realty (O) 825-0099 (F) 513-9264 (C ) 386-8327 sean@seanhess.com Chuck Pacetti , PAST-PRESIDENT Homestar Pacetti Realty (O) 827-0600 / (F) 819-9907 / (C ) 669-5000 chuckpacetti@comcast.net Dirk Schroeder , Ex-Officio Century 21- St. Augustine Properties (O) 797-6000 (F) 797-7963/ (C ) 540-2360 c21staug@aol.com Victor J. Raymos, Ex-officio (O) 829-8738 (F) 823-9512 (C) 505-220-8683 ae@stjohnsrealtors.org
St. Augustine Team Realty (O) 825-0099 (F) 513-9264 (C ) 501-2424 realestatebyron@aol.com
Gail Jones (2) St. Augustine Realty (O) 824-3331 / (F) 825-2685/ (C ) 501-7444 gjones4@bellsouth.net
Ann King (2) Prudential Network Realty (O) 827-0722 (F) 638-4746 (C) 806-3865 ann.king@prunet.com Andrew Birchall, PAST PRESIDENT St. Augustine Realty (O) 824-3331 / (F) 825-2685/ (C ) 392-3362 andrewbirchall@bellsouth.net Roy Barnes Jr., Ex-Officio St. Augustine Realty (O) 824-3331 / (F) 825-2685/ (C ) 669-1430 rbarnes4@bellsouth.net Victor J. Raymos, Ex-officio (O) 829-8738 (F) 823-9512 (C) 505-2208683 ae@stjohnsrealtors.org
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VOLUME 5, ISSUE 5
MAY 2012
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
1st— RPAC Committee 12pm 2nd—Commercial Committee 8:30am Technology Committee 9:30am 4th—Code of Ethics 3CE 9am 7th—Education Committee 9am 8th— RPAC Committee 12pm 9th— Affiliate Committee 9am 11th—After the Contract 9am-4pm 15th—MLS Training 1pm 16th—Public Relations Committee 9:30am 17th—Listing Agreement 9am 18th—Finance 12pm 23rd—MLS Board Meeting 12pm 24th—Vacant Land 9am Board Meeting 12pm 25th—Board Orientation 9am 28th—CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY 29th—InnoVia 2 1:30pm 30th—Mobile Hookups User Group 9:30am 31st—iCE Webinar “Conflict Resolution for Realtors” 3CE 9am
Birthstone: Emerald Flower: Lily-of-the-Valley and Hawthorne Astrological Signs: Taurus: April 20 - May 20, Gemini: May 21 - June 20
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REALTOR® SPOTLIGHT – JEFF METCALF WATSON-US1 Jeff Metcalf has dreamt of a career in real estate for the last ten years. He finally made that dream a reality by attending the Watson School of Real Estate in August of 2011 and obtaining his Florida Real Estate License in October of the same year. He joined the Watson Realty Corp. family immediately after and is currently a Sales Associate under Dianne Pittman at the Watson Realty Corp. office located at 3505 U.S. 1 South in St. Augustine, FL. Jeff is very good at spreading the word about the history and natural beauty in this part of the state but he hasn't always been lucky enough to call Florida his home. He grew up in a small town just outside of Chicago, Illinois. After obtaining his pilot's license at Southern Illinois University's Flight School in Carbondale, Illinois he joined the United States Air Force and was relocated to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. When he got out of the Air Force, he decided to fulfill one of his lifelong dreams of living in Florida. He has now been a resident of this great state for over 6 years and he can honestly say he will never leave. The road he traveled on his way to his
new hometown of St. Augustine took him to many places and allowed him to meet many amazing people. After seeing what forty of the fifty states have to offer, he's made his decision: "This is the place to call home." Jeff has been active in the Boy Scouts of America since 1998 and is currently a Unit Commissioner in charge of supervising 3 troops locally. He has also volunteered with the Civil Air Patrol by providing Emergency Locator Transmitter training to the cadets responsible for locating downed aircraft in the event of an emergency. During his downtime he enjoys flying recreationally, riding motorcycles, playing guitar & piano and exploring beachfront towns with his girlfriend, Ashleigh, and their rescued American Bulldog, Dexter. Jeff looks forward to a long successful career in real estate with Mr. Watson and his whole team behind him every step of the way. He can be reached by email at Jeff@Realty2Reality.com or by phone at (904)4950115.
AFFILIATE SPOTLIGHT– MICK DOLAN AMERICAN HOME WARRAN T Y
Jeff Metcalf "Making Realty a Reality"
Real success is finding your lifework in the work
that investment while you enjoy your home. While a home warranty cannot you love prevent systems and appliances from failing, it can save you money on costly covered repairs and replacements. If you would like to learn more, call Do you remember Cabbage Patch Kids, on your local representative, Magnum P.I. or when stamps were 20 cents? This would be around the year Mick Dolan, Mobile: 904-718-3685, Email mdolan@firstam.com. 1984. This is also the first year First Mick Dolan American Home Warranty came out Northeast Florida Area Mick is in his third year with First with their first product. This segment Manager American and would be happy to of First American, with experience Mobile Phone: dating back to 1889, has evolved into answer any of your questions and (904) 718-3685 place orders. Keep in mind existing the most financially stable home Email: homes, including rental properties, warranty in the industry. mdolan@firstam.com can add coverage any time as well. Why Buy a Home Warranty? A home warranty helps protect your The St Augustine and St Johns Board of Realtors has an incredible group of affiliates. For the month of May we are going to acknowledge the only home warranty member, First American Home Warranty – Mick Dolan.
VOLUME 5, ISSUE 5
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MARCH NEW MEMBERS TERESA R. RUEN
REMAX 100
Join Date 03/01/2012
(Primary BOR/Primary MLS)
RICHARD WHITE
EDMONSON REAL ESTATE & ASSOC.
Join Date 03/01/2012
(Primary BOR/Primary MLS)
MARYANN BAETZ
REMAX COAST 2 COAST
Join Date 03/05/2012
(Primary BOR/Primary MLS)
KAREN MORAN
ENDLESS SUMMER REALTY
Join Date 03/07/2012
(Primary BOR/Primary MLS)
MARGARET A. MILLER (MAGGIE)
FLORIDA HOMES REALTY & MORTGAGE
Join Date 03/12/2012
(Primary BOR/Primary MLS)
JEFF WILDERS
ACTION HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING
Join Date 03/14/2012
(Affiliate)
PATTI STOVER
ACTION HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING
Join Date 03/14/2012
(Affiliate)
ROBIN WILSON
ROBIN WILSON INSURANCE COMP
Join Date 03/20/2012
(Affiliate)
TAFIE LOMBARD
ROBIN WILSON INSURANCE COMP
Join Date 03/20/2012
(Affiliate)
ROBERT J. STEINER
EDMONSON & ASSOCIATES REAL EST
Join Date 03/21/2012
(Primary BOR/Primary MLS)
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JUNE EVENTS IN ST. AUGUSTINE Changing of the Guard: Saturday Night Nightly changing of the guard in St Augustine, a Spanish military tradition, will be re-enacted at 7pm each Saturday through Sept. 3 in front of the Government House in the Plaza de la Constitution. First Friday ArtWalk (Every Month 2012) - Self-guided walking tour of numerous art galleries 5p-9p (904) 829-0065 visit staugustinegalleries.com (Jun 2) Drake's Raid: Conducted by the Historic Florida Militia, the re-enactment provides an up-close look at what it was like for St. Augustine residents to defend their city against overwhelming odds. On June 2nd, 2012 in the 26th reenactment of Sir Francis Drake’s Raid on old San Agustín.. During the day (June 4th) a 16th century-style military encampment will be open to the public at the Fountain of Youth Park and will play host to drills, demonstrations and living history interpretation from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The reenactment of the sacking and burning of the town will commence Saturday evening at 7:00 PM in the old city, beginning at the Old City Gates and ending in the Plaza. This military display is intended to symbolically commemorate the temporary abandonment of the city of St. Augustine by Spanish colonial forces. After the town was looted and burned by Drake’s men, the Spanish returned to rebuild upon the same streets you walk on today! (Jun 2) The 14th annual Every Woman’s Arts & Crafts Summer festival will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the St. Johns County Ocean Pier Pavilion, 350 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach. A call for arts and crafts handmade by women of all ages is open. Go to www.everywomansart.com or call LaDonna Eastman, event organizer, at 669-2260. The event will feature paintings, ceramics, pottery, crochet, embroidery, candles, soaps, textiles, handbags, photography and more. The free event is open to the public, with limited parking available in the pier parking lot. (Jun 7) Concert in the Plaza: Weekly Concerts in the Downtown Plaza are free of charge and those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. Performing from 7-9 p.m. will be Bob & Joline’s Friends of Mine Band Info: (904)825-1004. Concert in the Plaza (Jun 8) ZZ Top; Gretchen Wilson and 3 Doors Down Perform at St. Augustine Amphitheatre June 8, 2012, 6:30p.m. Enjoy a lively performance by legendary rockers ZZ Top. Known for their trademark chest length beards, and sunglasses, and tunes like Cheap Sunglasses and Sharp Dressed Man, ZZ Top will be joined by 3 Doors Down and Grammy award winning country artist, Gretchen Wilson. The performance will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, located at 1640 A1A in St. Augustine. Tickets range from $49.50 to $124.50. (Jun 14-17) King Buster Classic: More than 400 boats participate in the premiere Southern Kingfish competition of the year. St. Augustine Municipal Marina, located at Avenida Menendez and the Bridge of Lions. Info: (904)280-4622. Kingbuster 400
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JUNE EVENTS IN ST. AUGUSTINE (Jun 14) Concert in the Plaza: Weekly Concerts in the Downtown Plaza are free of charge and those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. Performing from 7-9 p.m. will be Big Pineapple. Info: (904)825-1004. Concert in the Plaza (June 17) Father's Day Weekend: Treat Dad to a Golf and Romantic B&B Getaway! (Jun 21) Concert in the Plaza: Weekly Concerts in the Downtown Plaza are free of charge and those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. Performing from 7-9 p.m. will be Mid-Life Crisis. Info: (904)825-1004. Concert in the Plaza (Jun 24) Marineland Kayaking Tours Have fun and learn about the coastal environment while paddling through the most unique setting for kayaking in Northeast Florida -- Marineland Dolphin Adventure. This kayak trip is perfectly timed with the tides to ensure hours of relaxing exploration making kayaking accessible for ages 6 and up! (Call for times.) This eco-educational experience is made possible through partnerships between Ripple Effect Ecotours, Marineland, and UF's Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience. Location: Marineland - Whitney Lab Docks Hours: Call to check for times based on tides. Admission: $55 per person includes free admission to the Marineland Dolphin Adventure. (Jun 25-26) Greek Landing Day Festival: Sponsored by St. Photios Nat'l. Greek Orthodox Shrine. Celebrate the arrival of the first colony of Greeks in N. America. (904)829-8205 Greek Landing Day Festival (Jun 28) Concert in the Plaza: Weekly Concerts in the Downtown Plaza are free of charge and those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. Performing from 7-9 p.m. will be Lightly Salted. Info: (904)825-1004. Concert in the Plaza (Jun 29) Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band Perform at St. Augustine Amphitheatre June 29, 2012, 7p.m. Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band will return to the stage at St. Augustine Amphitheatre. New to the All Starrs are Steve Lukather (Toto) and Gregg Rolie (Santana & Journey) who will join All Starr alumni Richard Page, Todd Rundgren, Mark Rivera, and Gregg Bissonette. The performance will include a jukebox worth of All Starr hits such as Rosanna, Broken Wings, Hello It’s Me, Black Magic Woman, v and from Starr’s just released 17th solo record, Ringo 2012 (Hip-O/Ume). The performance will start at 7p.m. Tickets are $29, $49, $64, $79 and $124. The St. Augustine Amphitheatre is located at 1640 A1A in St. Augustine.
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www.stjohnsbuilderscouncil.com
ST. JOHNS BUILDERS COUNCIL
2012 St. Johns Builders Council 4th Annual Fishing Tournament The St. Johns Builders Council held their 4th Annual Fishing Tournament benefiting Habitat for Humanity on April 14th at the Northeast Florida Marlin Association at Camachee Cove. 30 boats launched to compete for the heaviest Redfish, Trout and Flounder. SJBC would like to thank all the Captain’s, Anglers, Sponsors and volunteers that participated to make their fishing tournament a success. WINNING FISH – ANGLERS REDFISH $500 - 1ST Place - Allen Rash – Ferguson Enterprises $300 - 2nd Place - Doug Wenzel – Bonded Builders Home Warranty $200 - 3rd Place - Jeff Ferguson – Drees Homes TROUT $500 - 1st Place – Mike Jenkins – Jenkins Heating & Air Team 1 $300 - 2nd Place – Dustin Wickham – Jenkins Heating & Air Team 2 $200 - 3rd Place – David Higdon – David Higdon Concrete FLOUNDER $500 - 1st Place – David Liebowitz – Climate Masters Heating & Air
Ed & Ellie Paucek enjoying the weigh-in
$300 - 2nd Place – Dennis Ginder – Landon Homes $200 - 3rd Place – Ferguson Enterprises – Mandy Bouton TRIPLE CHALLENGE – BOAT ST
$1000 - 1 $600 - 2
nd
TOTAL HEAVIEST WEIGHT OF ALL 3 CATEGORIES
Place – Landon Homes – Captain Rob Bennett
Place – Panel-Tek – Captain Larry Miniard
Bringing in the fish
Preparing the smoked pork and ribs
Nice fish Jenkins Heating and Air
VOLUME 5, ISSUE 5
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GO GREEN SPRING TIPS HERE COMES THE SUN Repetition is the key to understanding - which is why we are reminding you to protect yourself from excessive exposure to the ultraviolet rays (UV) of the sun. Exposure to UV radiation has increased over the years due to the depletion of the ozone layer, a naturally-occurring gas that filters the sun's UV radiation. For some people, overexposure to UV rays can lead to skin cancer, cataracts and weakened immune systems. To protect against sun-related damage, follow these rules:
Making Fleas Flee & Ticks Take Off Every spring and summer, fleas and ticks cause misery to people and animals. On pets, they can spread disease and parasitic infections. Then, once they're bored with frolicking in fur, they may decide to feast on you! Ouch! How do you get rid of them - without harming your pet, your family or the planet? Here are some tips: Most commercial flea and tick sprays contain carbaryl, which works by attacking pests' nervous systems. But carbaryl also can harm developing fetuses in both animals and humans.
Wear those shades. Sunglasses that provide 99100% of UVA and UVB protection greatly reduce sun exposure that can lead to cataracts and other eye damage. Be sure to check the label when buyFortunately, there are less-toxic alternatives. ing sunglasses to make sure they have proper UV For example, some pesticides contain pyrethrin, protection. a natural ingredient made from chrysantheLather on the sunscreen. Use a sunscreen with mums. It works just as well, though it still should Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15. Apply it be used with care. liberally to all exposed areas of your body, particuMany pesticides don't affect insects' eggs and larly your ears, face, back and neck. Reapply every larvae, which represent 95% of the flea popula2 hours when working, playing, or exercising outtion. That may require a kind of pesticide called doors; even waterproof sunscreen can come off a "growth regulator." They keep eggs from when you towel off sweat or water. becoming adults. Listen to the weather reports. The UV Index, developed by the National Weather Service and the EnviAnother way to keep fleas off pets is to add garronmental Protection Agency, provides a forecast lic and brewer's yeast to pets' meals, which of the expected risk of overexposure to the sun and makes pets taste bad to bugs. Many such prodindicates the degree of caution that you should ucts are sold in pet supply stores. But pets may take when working, playing or exercising outdoors. need to take these remedies for several weeks Weather predictions in print and broadcast media before they work. announce the UV Index daily. Don't overlook the basics. Keep your pet Stay clear of the midday sun as much as possiclean. Use a fine-toothed flea comb on your pet ble. The sun's UV rays are strongest between 10 to remove existing fleas. And don't forget to dust a.m. and 4 p.m. If you're spending the day at the and vacuum regularly. Fleas simply hate clean beach, take refuge under a beach umbrella during homes. those hours when the sun's rays are most intense. Dress Up. Wear light, long-sleeved shirts and ankle- (NOT SO FUN) FACT: For every flea found on your pet, there length pants if you're going to be out in the sun for may be as many as 100 more lurking nearby! long periods of time and you'd rather not wear sunscreen. A wide brimmed hat will shade your face, neck, ears and eyes.
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TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE “TECH TIP” RETARGET SITE VISITORS TO CONVERT LEADS You do a lot of work to drive traffic to your Web site. Blogging, social media, SEO, payper-click ads, postcard campaigns, drip messaging … all of that can be overwhelming, and some of those things can take up a fair amount of your time and money. The biggest problem with that investment is this: Many visitors who land on your site once via those methods never come back. Well, now there’s a way where you can follow up with your site visitors to remind them of your services, and even qualify those leads as you do so. The amazing thing is it’s very easy to do and costs far less than you think. How Retargeting Works Humans are creatures of habit. We seek information using certain guidelines or parameters. And, when there is something we’re interested in, we tend to notice things that relate to that item more readily. So, let’s say that you’re considering buying a house. You search for information on the Web using some term like “buying a home in ______” (fill in the blank with a geographic location). You get a list of real estate Web sites and will probably click on the first few before wondering what other resources you can find and try a different search, perhaps ending up on, say, Realtor.com. Now, consider this: You’re starting to search around the Web with that phrase when you suddenly see an online ad offering a custom luxury tour of a neighborhood you were just considering, or perhaps the ability to get greater details on a house you were interested in. Coincidence? Nope! Retargeting. Because of your cookies, search engines can track every single place you visit on the Internet. Google also has a vast network of advertisers, and they get paid only when someone clicks on one of those ads. So by combining these two pieces of information, Google has the ability to present specific ads to select people who have already shown an interest in that particular service or product, thus increasing the likelihood the audience will click through. You can leverage this for your site and business by developing targeted ads that present tempting offers to entice the lead to return and engage with you. Implementing a Retargeting Campaign Firstly, you need to understand there are two different ways you can garner an audience for retargeting. The strongest by far is building your own list. This happens over time as people visit your site and are naturally tracked by their cookies. In this situation, you already know not only that they’re generally interested in real estate but also that there are specific kinds of properties they want. The second way is to use a “preset audience,” which goes by established preferences based on browsing history — for example, Web users who like horses — in a certain geographic region, as well as an expressed an interest in real estate. This second method is not quite as accurate as the first, but it does allow you to get started right away. Next step is to develop your ads. You must have a variety of them, because if your audience sees the same thing getting shoved in their faces over and over again, they’re going to be more irritated than persuaded. A templated ad builder is available, or you can have a designer customize and upload them. By the way, ever notice that ads are different sizes at different places on some Web pages? One may be a banner across the page, another a little box in the corner, and so on. You’ll need to have your ads created in all these sizes, because Google will select ads that fit the available space. You can control all aspects of your ads including your budget, the number of impressions, the campaign’s termination point, and so on. You can set your ads to display according to certain keywords or even specific Web sites. You can even control what they see when they get to your site, which means you can motivate them immediately. For example, here is Progressive Insurance’s general site:
Obviously, you see navigation, multiple offers, and all kinds of additional information. Now, look at what we get after clicking on a retargeted ad:
No navigation, no offers. One purpose, and one purpose only: Follow the three easy steps. Note also that the box she is holding says “Auto” on it, because I searched using the keywords “car insurance.” I repeated this exercise using “house insurance,” and in the image she was holding two stacked boxes, you guessed it — one labeled “Homeowners” and the second “Auto.” So you can very simply drop your retargeted lead directly on the landing page for the offer you present. Don’t make them think about it! After launching, you will want the ads to run for a couple of months until you saturate your market, then swap them out. It can still be the same offer, mind you — just a different way of presenting it. For example, you may start out with an ad offering a “No Commitment CMA,” then go to “See Recent Sales in Your Neighborhood,” then swap to “Check Out Detailed Market Data.” Home Much Does Retargeting Cost? So, you can follow up with warm leads on a consistent basis over a long period of time with a single effort of setting up a couple of ads. This has got to be yet another major investment, right? Actually, it costs less than the standard PPC campaign. To determine the cost of an ad, you have to balance the per-click payment against its quality score. On the basic level, Google determines the quality score by the number of times a given ad is displayed (an impression) and the number of people who respond to it. If the ad has too low a quality score, Google will shut it down because the ad is not making money. On the other hand, if people are clicking through but still not engaging, it’s not worth any amount of money you’re paying, and you need to revise the ad. Now, let’s look at a return on investment. Studies show it takes an average of seven touches for someone to engage with a site. If you are paying $4 per click to get a visitor to your site using PPC ads, but only two out of 100 visitors actually engage with your site, that’s $392 lost. Now, if you can pay a fraction of that to retarget those other 98 visitors over a period of weeks or months, you vastly increase your exposure and the chances of those warm leads returning, thereby increasing your return on the initial investment. In the end, retargeting comes out looking better. Standard PPC is triggered by keyword searches, which give you a “best guess” but don’t necessarily identify any specific need. On the other hand, retargeting is based in the actual content the user elects to view, which is a far more accurate gauge. So Google charges less based on the likelihood being much higher of someone clicking on a retargeted ad versus a generalized PPC ad. Best Practices for Successful Retargeted Ads As always, there are a few guidelines you should follow when creating and launching your campaign: ▪ Make sure your ad shows on related sites. A guy shopping for lingerie for his wife on Victoria’s Secret’s site is not thinking about real estate. Don’t waste your time and money displaying your ad to him. Be sure your keywords are specific enough that only sites related to real estate are used. ▪ Don’t make it easy for your competition. Don’t show paid ads on your blog or site. You cannot control what ads Google shows on your site, and it would be mighty embarrassing to have a competitor stealing your leads. ▪ Follow good marketing practices. As always, your ads should focus on benefits first and foremost — have big headlines and a strong call to action. ▪ Give ’em what they want. Few things are more frustrating to a visitor than having to search for the promised information. If your ad offers a specific product or service, make sure the link takes them directly there, not to your home page. The whole point of this is to channel them into your “click funnel.” Although some companies have been using retargeting for quite some time, it is becoming more prevalent. When used strategically and judiciously, this long-term method of marketing to potential online clients has shown itself to have real potential. Go here to find out more about how to get started.
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NEWSLETTER TITLE
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VOLUME 5, ISSUE 5
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ANDREW WOOTEN S.A .F.E ARTICLE REALTOR速 Safety for 2012 For the remainder of this year (with the exception of extenuating circumstances) we will focus our newsletters on tips from our 2012 REALTOR速 Safety Guide. The 2012 REALTOR速 Safety Guide will be coming to you soon at no charge. We are currently in process of updating the information and format. This newsletter is going to focus on the state of our industry today. This information is not meant to scare you but to inform you so you can better prepare yourself and become more aware as you go about doing the everyday tasks of your job. Current REALTOR速 Crime Statistics There were eleven confirmed real estate murders in 2011. With attacks, rapes, murders and suicides, 2011 was the most violent year in the real estate industry. In 2011 The majority of attacks on real estate professionals occurred in the afternoons on Thursday or Friday. Nearly 30% of attack victims were men. Most attacks did not occur inside major metro areas. Guns were used roughly 50% of the time in attacks. Robbery was the intention going into the attack but frequently resulted in a shooting. Unfortunately, there is no face of a standard victim, no face of a standard attacker, and no common theme between many attacks. The only common threads between these attacks are (1) there is no common thread, everyone is equally vulnerable and (2) many lives have been altered as people have lost loved ones or have been attacked. Safety First Due to our frequent contact with unfamiliar people in private locations, real estate professionals face more on-the-job risks than many other business professionals. One way to avoid a potential attack before it happens is to trust your instincts. Your intuition, combined with your common sense, can help get you out of trouble. For example, you are working an open house and a person enters.
We are all busy and preoccupied with work, family and friends. But don't let our "busyness" keep us from staying safe. By following some simple techniques and taking time to stop and look around, we can drastically decrease the chances of becoming victims. For more tips, tools and information, please visit the resource page on our website, www.justbesafe.com.
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MAKE IT, BAKE IT, SEW IT, GROW IT AUCTION
VOLUME 5, ISSUE 5
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MAKE IT, BAKE IT, SEW IT, GROW IT AUCTION
Left: Maria Gelinas introduces RMG Mortgage‌ Rod Gelinas, Owner Bernardo Rojas & Casey Marshall
Right::
Roy O. Barnes Jr. Board President presents John Bailey with the Realtor Emeritus Award
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MAKE IT, BAKE IT, SEW IT, GROW IT AUCTION
The Pledge of Allegiance
Recognizing Committee Members
Victor J. Raymos— AE/CEO
Roy O. Barnes Jr. Board President
Linda McNett & Joan Scop selling Board cookbooks
Diane Vespucci lending a helping hand.
Terry Pacetti– Auctioneer Extraordinaire
Victor J. Raymos addressing the Members
VOLUME 5, ISSUE 5
Page 17
MAKE IT, BAKE IT, SEW IT, GROW IT AUCTION
Sara Gross Florida Realtors-Public Policy & Victor J. Raymos, AE/CEO
Gayle Logan, Roberta Odom & Carol Tunis
Tracy Glochau
Janine Rinderknecht & Dave Hall
Standing: Deborah Link, Seymoine Schmidt & Bill Crosby Seated: Rob West & Ted Smith
Judi Schuyler & Marjorie Taylor
Suzie Adams, Teresa Mercurio, Colleen Ihrig & Diane Vespucci
BOR FORWARD
Page 18
201 2 H URRICAN SEA SON BE PR EPARED IN A DVA NCE Before a Hurricane Is Out There Create a written emergency preparedness and action plan for your family and business. Visit your insurance agent now. Review insurance coverage for your home and business, and the contents. Determine your flood insurance eligibility - homeowners insurance typically does not cover flood damage. Buy plywood or shutters for protecting windows. Trim trees to lessen flying debris. Find out if you live in a hurricane evacuation zone by contacting your local emergency management office. Make an evacuation plan if you live in an area vulnerable to storm surge or fresh water flooding, if you live in a mobile home, or if you live in a high-rise building. Identify the evacuation route you will use if told to evacuate. Determine the nearest substantial, low-rise building outside of flood zones to which you can evacuate ”“ an official public shelter, a hotel, or a friend’s or relative’s home. Find out if where you’re going will accept any pets. Agree upon two places family members can meet if separated: one outside your home for an emergency while there, and one out of the neighborhood if you cannot return home. Test emergency equipment such as generators and flashlights. Decide where you will store your boat during a tropical storm or hurricane, and factor into your action plan the time to move it to storage. Assemble a hurricane survival kit. Obtain emergency supplies now to be self-sufficient during the storm and its potentially lengthy aftermath. If you wait until a hurricane is on your doorstep to buy these items, they will be in very short supply or even completely unavailable.
Hurricane Survival Kit Essential Items During a hurricane, and possibly for days or even weeks afterward, electricity and other utilities might not be available. Debris and/or water might block the roads, preventing vehicles from getting in our out of your neighborhood. Help might not reach you for days after the hurricane, so you’ll need to be completely self-sufficient during that period. Here are some of the most critical supplies to have on hand, well before a hurricane threatens:
At least a 3-day and preferably a 7-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day) Non-perishable food Formula, diapers, and other baby supplies Manual can opener First aid kit Prescription and non-prescription medicines Toiletries Cell phones and battery-powered cell phone chargers Battery-powered radios and flashlights Plenty of batteries Extra cash Blankets, sleeping bags, books, and games (especially if evacuating)
BOR FORWARD
Page 19
Take Action When a Hurricane Threatens Depending on your location, you could be told to evacuate before a warning or even a watch is issued by the National Hurricane Center. Notify someone unaffected by the storm about your whereabouts.
No later than when a watch is issued:
Fill vehicles with gas. Get extra cash. Fill prescriptions. For mobile homes, secure tie-downs and prepare to evacuate when ordered. Bring in loose objects from outside. Prepare to secure all windows with shutters or plywood.
No later than when a warning is issued: Secure all windows with shutters or plywood. Place valuables and important papers in a waterproof container and store on highest floor of home.
If you are told to evacuate: Follow all instructions from local officials, and leave immediately when told to do so. Bring emergency supplies listed above. Bring copies of important papers such as insurance policies and list and photos of your home’s contents. Bring blankets, sleeping bags, books, and games. Unplug appliances, turn off electricity and main water valve. Lock windows and doors of your home. Go!
If you are not told to evacuate: Stay at home! Leave the roads available for those who must evacuate. Clean bathtub with bleach, fill with water for washing and flushing (not drinking). Set fridge to maximum cold and keep closed. Turn off utilities if told to do so by local officials.
During a Hurricane Go to an interior room on the lowest level of the structure in which you’re taking shelter. Stay away from windows and doors, even though they’re covered with shutters or plywood. During extremely strong winds, lie under something sturdy such as a stairwell or large piece of furniture. Do not go outside, not even during passage of the eye. If the eye passes directly over you, the winds could become very weak, but only for a very short period. It will not be long before hurricane-force wind resume, blowing from the opposite direction as before the eye arrived.
After a Hurricane Help might not come for up to a few days, and power could be out for days or even weeks. Avoid driving on roads covered by water and/or debris. It is often difficult to determine the depth of water covering a road. Turn around, don’t drown. Avoid downed power lines. Stay away from objects that are touching a downed power line, such as a fence or tree. Do not touch anything electrical if you are wet. Stay out of water that could be touching anything electrical, such as in a basement with electrical appliances, or in flooded areas outside where there could be downed power lines. Only use a generator in an outdoor, wellventilated area, and closely follow manufacturer’s instructions. Many people have died in the aftermath of a hurricane from inhalation of poorly ventilated carbon monoxide from a generator. Use flashlights instead of candles for light. Candles pose a serious fire hazard.
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Page 20
EDUCATION COMMITTEE NEWS The Education Committee is happy to welcome Tanya Liebal to the group! The annual Make it, Bake it, Sew it, Grow it event was a great success. A special recognition is needed for RMG mortgage for their assistance. Maria Gelinas and her group were absolutely marvelous. Thanks for the delicious food and for all of your help this year! Also, special thank you goes out to Terry Pacetti for donating his time as our skilled auctioneer. Thank you for all those who attended or donated items. Cookbooks and food discount cards are still available for sale at the board or through any Education Committee member. As a reminder, all proceeds will benefit our community’s children through scholarships. The month of May proves to be another great month for education opportunities. Take a look at our list to see which classes to attend: 5/4 Code of Ethics (3CE) at 9AM 5/11 After the Contract at 9AM-4PM 5/15 MLS training at 1PM-3PM 5/17 Listing Agreement at 9AM 5/24 Vacant Land Contract at 9AM-12AM 5/25 Board Orientation at 9AM (required for all new members) 5/29 Intermediate Innovia at 1:30PM-3:30PM 5/30 Mobile Hookups User’s Group 9:30AM-10:30AM 5/31 Conflict Resolution for Realtors (3CE) at 1PM Our next Education Committee will be on June 4th at 9AM. All are welcomed to attend. For those who are not yet members please come and be our guest! Thank you for all of the participation from our current members. We are a success because of your direct actions! If you have any suggestions or ideas for new classes that you think would be beneficial to our members please feel free to contact Ron Barry at 904-501-2424.
ANNUAL SUPRA KEY INVOICES WILL BE SENT TO EACH DR (BROKER)ON JUNE 1ST. PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR BROKER TO SEE WHAT YOU OWE. REALTOR® MEMBER SUPRA KEYCARD PAYMENTS ARE DUE I N T H E B O A R D O F F I C E N O L A T E R T H A N J U L Y 2 ND. I F P A Y M E N T I S N O T R E C E I V E D B Y J U L Y 2 ND Y O U R K E Y SERVICE WILL BE MADE INACTIVE. TO REACTIVATE WILL REQUIRE PAYMENT OF A $50 LATE FEE AND THE ANNUAL PAYMENT. Drop off your payment at the Board office or you can pay over the phone, call 904-829-8738
VOLUME 5, ISSUE 5
MEMBER BENEFITS
Page 21
BOR FORWARD
Page 22
Wally’s Kilowatt Crackdown! by Wally Conway, Host of The Home and Garden Show, Saturdays 7 to 9 AM on WOKV AM690 and 106.5 FM, and President of HomePro Inspections 904-268-8211 WOKV AM690 and 106.5
There’s an old adage that states “You cannot manage what you do not measure”! When it comes to lowering your electric bill, measuring your electric consumption is a fantastic way to reduce your electric expense, even without the expense of fancy home improvement. Now, you might make the argument that your electric consumption is already being measured at the meter. While that’s true, you don’t see that consumption until your bill arrives a month or more AFTER the consumption has already happened. Too late to manage that bill, all you can try to manage is how to pay the bill! But before you can easily manage your consumption, you must have an easy way to measure your consumption! And you must be able to see it happen as it happens. You could stand and stare at your electric meter while a friend or family meter switched items in your home off and on. But, truth be told, even an energy efficiency nut like me will not work THAT hard. No, what I wanted was something simple that would make it a game to save energy and money. My first attempt was with a “Kill-A-Watt-EZ”. This gadget plugs directly into your wall outlet, and then you plug the device to be measured into the Kill-A-Watt-EZ. After the device being measured has been in use for a few hours, the Kill-A-Watt-EZ calculates the cost to run your device on a per hour, day, week, month and annual basis. Kind of fun, and a great way to begin understanding what it really costs to operate each item in your home. Using the Kill-A-Watt-EZ I discovered that television consumed $52.16 of electric per year, and that my coffee maker was costing me $2.57 each year. I’ve now measured most every piece of equipment in my home as well as my office. You can purchase your own Kill-A-Watt-EZ for about $30 from many big box stores. I ultimately found it was taking a lot of time to get a reading from the Kill-A-Watt-EZ plugged into each piece of equipment in my home and office, so I began the search for an easier way to continually monitor my consumption. That’s when I found The OWL! The OWL is a wireless monitor that shows how much electricity you are using at any given instant (installs into your electrical panel). As each item in your home switches on, you can in-
stantly see the cost to operate that device. The OWL also gives you cost and consumption by day, as well as weekly, monthly and annual costs. This thing is fast and fun! And it makes it easy to choose how best to save based on your exact consumption habits. When I brought the OWL into my office, it was met with mixed reactions. For sure, my staff is accustomed to my frugal consumption habits, but now with the OWL, they were able to see instantly the cost of every action! And the real savings of simply turning off what was not in use. The most profound discovery was Amie in my front office discovering that the small space heater she was using under her desk to warm her feet, was consuming and costing as much as the heat pump that heats the whole office! She has seen the ill of her ways and abandoned the under desk space heater. No doubt the computer that was also under the desk is also grateful at the removal of the space heater! There really is a positive return when you increase your insulation, upgrade your heat pump, or install a solar water heater - you bet there is! The OWL will never make your home more efficient. BUT, it will make YOU more efficient! And when you do make energy related upgrades in your home, you will reap even greater rewards with the help of your own efficient behaviors. Want to easily and instantly manage your energy consumption? It all starts with measurement! (NOTE: I've become so impressed with the OWL that HomePro now offers it for sale, and we'll install it for free during an energy audit. Call to book your energy audit today! 904-268-8211) HomePro Inspections is your best source for agent liability reduction and client peace of mind! Your client’s one stop for: Environmental Testing (mold, radon, water, lead paint, meth lab); Wind Mitigation Evaluations, Chinese Drywall Assessments, Insurance Inspections, Energy Audits, Home Inspections, Termite Reports, Construction Consultations, Infrared Moisture Instruction Investigations, and More! 904-268-8211 GoHomePro.com
HomePro Inspections is your go-to source for agent liability reduction and customer peace of mind! Infrared technology separates the professionals from the pretenders in the home inspection industry, and only HomePro utilizes infrared technology on every exclusive 5 Star Inspection™ Package. Call for your 5 Star Inspection today – 904-268-8211. Have Wally Conway speak at your office or for your favorite group! Wally is a speaker, writer, FREC instructor, host of HGTV’s “House Detective”, host of DIY Network’s “Finders Fixers”, and host of The Home and Garden radio show on WOKV AM 690 and 106.5 FM. And don’t forget to pick up Wally’s book, “Secrets of the Happy Home Inspector”, available at GoHomePro.com or Amazon.com. Book Wally for your next speaking event today!
VOLUME 5, ISSUE 5
Page 23
APRIL STATISTICS St Aug & St. Johns Monthly Statistics Report 04/01/2012-04/30/2012 Compiled on May 2nd Apr-12
4/1-30/2011 - 4/130/2012
Apr-11
YTD 2012
YTD 2011
YTD
2011-12
Residential New Listings
316
349
-9.45%
1,444
1,398
3.29%
Sold Listings
233
226
3.09%
795
759
4.74%
$50,538,873.00
$44,232,786.00
14.25%
$149,456,038.00
$145,344,050.00
2.82%
$216,905.03
$195,720.29
10.82%
$187,995.02
$191,494.14
-1.82%
157
150
5.08%
167
155
7.78%
New Listings
63
76
-17.10%
286
304
-5.92%
Sold Listings
20
22
-9.09%
83
66
25.75%
$1,893,050.00
$1,800,525.00
5.13%
$6,817,550.00
$6,076,307.00
12.19%
$94,652.50
$81,842.05
15.65%
$82,139.16
$92,065.26
-10.78%
376
239
57.77%
320
200
59.63%
New Listings
6
11
-45.45%
46
51
-9.80%
Sold Listings
2
4
-50%
8
13
-38.46%
Vol. Sold Listings
$400,000.00
$1,457,500.00
-72.55%
$2,080,550.00
$3,940,686.00
-47.20%
Avg. Sell Price
$200,000.00
$364,375.00
-45.11%
$260,068.75
$303,129.69
-14.20%
375
277
35.62%
308
192
60.41%
New Listings
6
12
-50%
15
31
-51.61%
Sold Listings
1
6
-83.33%
9
12
-25%
Vol. Sold Listings
$250,000.00
$1,549,000.00
-83.86%
$1,423,900.00
$2,557,000.00
-44.31%
Avg. Sell Price
$250,000.00
$258,166.67
-3.16%
$158,211.11
$213,083.33
-25.75%
454
245
85.05%
284
183
54.92%
New Listings
392
448
-12.50%
1,792
1,784
0.45%
Sold Listings
256
258
0.77%
895
850
5.29%
$53,081,923.00
$49,039,811.00
8.24%
$159,778,038.00
$157,918,043.00
1.17%
$207,351.26
$190,076.79
9.08%
$178,522.95
$185,785.93
-3.90%
177
162
9.79%
183
159
15.17%
Vol. Sold Listings Avg. Sell Price Avg. Day on Market
Lots and Land
Vol. Sold Listings Avg. Sell Price Avg. Day on Market
Commercial/Industrial
Avg. Day on Market
Multi-Family
Avg. Day on Market
Total
Vol. Sold Listings Avg. Sell Price Avg. Day on Market
Search Criteria Date Start:
4/1/2012 Date End: ALL INFORMATION DEEMED CORRECT BUT NOT GUARENTEED
4/30/2012
JUNE 2012 PREVIEW
Page 24
4th
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
9:00AM
RPAC COMMITTEE
12:00PM
COMMERCIAL COMMITTEE
8:30AM
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
9:30AM
8th
FR/BAR-1 3CE
9:00AM
13th
AFFILIATE COMMITTEE
9:00AM
13-14th
MEDIATION TRAINING 11CE
8:30-4:30PM
St. Augustine, FL. 32084
15th
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP PANCAKE BREAKFAST
8:30AM
Phone: 904-829-8738
19th
FINANCE COMMITTEE
12:00PM
MLS TRAINING
1:00PM
PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE
9:30AM
MLS BOARD MEETING
12:00PM
21st
BOARD MEETING
12:00PM
26th
REALIST TRAINING
1:30PM
29th
DISTRICT 1 CONFERENCE
8:30AM4:00PM
6th
ST. AUGUSTINE & ST. JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF REALTORS®
1789 Lakeside Avenue
Fax: 904-823-9512 20th
CONTACT INFORMATION B O A R D
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
Board Office Staff Victor J. Raymos, RCE ae@stjohnsrealtors.org Association Executive Professional Standards Sharon Lainhart member@stjohnsrealtors.org Membership and Finance
Lise Hays education@stjohnsrealtors.org MLS/Education /SUPRA/ Newsletter/Website/ Membership Linda McNett staff@stjohnsrealtors.org Membership/Website/SUPRA /Committee Support/Education
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