Announcements

Have you received your new CBR Membership Roster?

As a benefit of membership, each member of the Columbus Board of REALTORS® receives a copy of the CBR Membership Roster annually. The new rosters, hot off the presses, were mailed directly to your preferred mailing address in mid August. If you haven't received a roster, please call Lenora Moore at (614) 475-4000 x253.

Deadline is November 2 for Million Dollar Club Award

If you are planning to apply for the CBR $1, $5, $10 or $25 Million Dollar Club award, the deadline of November 2 is fast approaching. The sales award year is November 1, 2004 through October 31, 2005.

The Rules & Regulations were reformatted and revised for 2005. You can find them on CBR's web site ColumbusRealtors.com. Mouse over `Services', click on `Awards', then `Million Dollar Sales Club'.

Remember, in order to qualify, you must have fulfilled the service requirement which includes serving on a CBR committee (and meeting its attendance requirement) or serving as an officer in an area association.

When submitting your application...

Closings PRIOR to Sept. 1, 2000 . . . 1) HUD/closing statement with applicant's signature, date, address, price and commission highlighted, 2) Listing contract (worksheet & contract) [if taking credit for the listing] 3) Purchase agreement [if taking credit for the sale]
Closings AFTER Sept. 1, 2000 . . . 1) Sales Certification Form - signed by you and the Settlement Agent (in lieu of purchase contract or listing contract), 2) MLS Agent Full Report (with "SOLD" status) with name of applicant, date, address, and sold price highlighted.

It makes no difference if the listing agent(s) and selling agent(s) use the same form! You can use separate forms if you wish! Rules and application forms are available at the CBR office and under `Services - Awards Programs' on the CBR website at www.ColumbusRealtors.com.

Buyer representation form revised

In August, CBR approved revisions to the "Exclusive Buyer Representation Agreement". Although most of the changes were house keeping in nature, those of you who use this form will be interested in the following modifications:

Changed name of form to "Exclusive Right to Represent Buyer/Tenant"
Removed references to `agent' (as this contract is between the broker and client)
Simplified compensation clause
Clarified explanation of agency disclosure and company policy
Added revisions to `inspection and/or tests' clause which provides protection to the Broker

The revised form (3 pages _ one front & back + one front only ) will be incorporated into the PCF online forms system and for sale in the CBR Member Service Center in early September.

Advertise your New Listings

A new button "Submit to Real Estate Weekly" appeared in May on the `Save' screen when adding a new listing to the CBR Tempo^TM MLS. This new feature allows you to advertise your new listing on the `New Listings' pages of CBR's Real Estate Weekly homes publication. Cost is $75 for two issues and $125 for four issues. (The Real Estate Weekly is published every two weeks.)

Note: Clicking on this button will not automatically bill you or obligate you to advertise your listing. MLS info auto populates the screen, except for the photo which you will need to upload. You will need to add your headline and copy as well as select how many issues you want to advertise in (2 or 4). You will also need to supply credit card information. So, go ahead - click on "Submit to Real Estate Weekly" and check it out!

For sale signs and political yard signs do not make good neighbors

Although this year's upcoming elections are not nearly as controversial as last year's presidential election, sellers may still feel compelled to place political signs in their yards. Here's what Barb Schwarz, president of Stagedhomes.com and the 250-member International Association of Home-Staging Professionals, has to say.

"Buyers are discerning, discriminating, and can be picky. Houses often appeal on an emotional level and the presence of an offending political sign could subconsciously color the prospective buyer's perception of the house. If someone feels strongly about one candidate and drives up and sees a sign for the other candidate, they might say I wouldn't go into thathouse for all the tea in China."

ICE - In Case of Emergency

A campaign encouraging people to enter an emergency contact number in their mobile phone's memory under the heading ICE (In Case of Emergency), is a relatively new idea coming out of the UK that is just now starting to be discussed within the emergency services community here in the U.S. Originally established as a nationwide campaign in the UK, ICE allows paramedics or police to be able to contact a designated relative / next-of-kin in an emergency situation.

The idea is the brainchild of East Anglican Ambulance Service paramedic Bob Brotchie and was launched in May this year. Bob, 41, who has been a paramedic for 13 years, said: "I was reflecting on some of the calls I've attended at the roadside where I had to look through the mobile phone contacts struggling for information on a shocked or injured person. Almost everyone carries a mobile phone now, and with ICE we'd know immediately who to contact and what number to ring. The person may even know of their medical history."

Although not officially in use by U.S. emergency services, by adopting the ICE advice, your mobile may help the rescue services quickly contact a friend or relative - which could be vital in a life or death situation. It only takes a few seconds to do, and it could easily help save your life.

BIA Fall CondoQuest 2005 - October 1 - 9

Find a "homestyle for your lifestyle" during this popular scattered site tour inside and outside the beltway. More than 30 carefree/maintenance-free lifestyle home products will be on tour, showcasing new decorated and/or partially decorated condominiums, townhouses, patio homes, villas and cluster housing throughout central Ohio.

For more information on CondoQuest locations, please go to www.ColumbusCondoQuest.com for map/locations or contact the BIA office at 614/818-1398. The tour is free. Hours: 12 noon to 6 p.m. daily.

Oops

We regret that in our last issue, we inadvertently left an important contributor off of our CORPAC Auction donor thank you list. Thank you to Cricket Such of RE/MAX Achievers for donating one of her beautiful watercolor paintings for our auction!