Announcements

CBR Elections Results

Congratulations to the following members elected to the 2004 CBR Board of Directors.

President – Skip Weiler, The Weiler Company
President-Elect - Doug McCloud, Aspen Realty
Treasurer - Chris Reese, Metro II Realty
Secretary - Brad Bennett, HER Real Living
Directors: Sandy Schupp, HER Real Living; Nancy Byrd, RE/MAX Achievers; Mar’ Hartley, HER Real Living; Pat Hummer, HER Real Living
Affiliate Director -  Dave Dewey, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Commercial Section Elections - Ballots and voting information for the Commercial Section positions will be mailed to Commercial Section members in mid December.  Results will be posted on the web site and included in the January magazine.

MLS Elections - Ballots and voting information for election of new MLS Committee members were scheduled to mail just before Thanksgiving.  Results will be posted on the web site and included in the January magazine.

NEW Residential Property Disclosure Form

CANNOT be used before Jan. 1, 2004; MUST be used beginning Jan. 1, 2004
The much anticipated revisions to the new Residential Property Disclosure form have been adopted by the Ohio Real Estate Commission. However, according to the Ohio Division of Real Estate the new form CAN NOT be used before Jan. 1, 2004.  After that date you MUST begin using the revised form.  REALTORS® could face possible disciplinary action if this form is used prior to Jan. 1.

The new form is now 4 pages.  Printed forms will be available in the CBR Member Service Center in December.  Cost for the set of 50 sheet pads is $9.  The form will also be available on the CBR web site and in our PCF online forms package.

New Member Service Vendor - Twin Horizons Travel

CBR is pleased to introduce our newest preferred service vendor - Twin Horizons Travel.  They offer spas, resorts, cruises, European tours, ski trips, family vacations - getaways custom made for you.

Each Twin Horizons Travel agent has over ten years experience arranging vacations; several have thirty years each. They have specialists in all destinations; domestic and international, and most types of travel.  All agents are College of Disney Knowledge graduates and Master Cruise Consultants.

You can listen to owners Susan and Robin Schneider every Tuesday night from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on WOSU 820AM Radio’s “Open Line” program.  To find out more, call them at (614) 793-8855 or visit their web site www.TwinHorizonsTravel.com and use the Columbus Board of REALTORS®’ password “CBR”, for special value vacations.

10 Points qualifies you for a Volunteer Service Award

Did you serve on any CBR committees this year? Were you involved in any area association projects? Did you donate blood, contribute to CORPAC or volunteer for any community-oriented programs? If so, you may have already accumulated the 10 points needed to qualify for CBR’s Volunteer Service Award.

This award celebrates volunteerism!  Everyone who qualifies will received an award and be recognized at CBR’s Forecast Night on January 21, 2004.  Members can only receive this award once. To apply, please complete the Volunteer Service Award application included as an insert in this issue of the magazine.  Deadline:  Friday, December 19.

Reminder - Dues are due Jan. 1st

This is your final reminder that dues are due January 1, 2004.  As members, you may pay the total amount due or the detailed charges by 01/01/04.  If you choose to pay the detailed charges only, the balance of the 2004 dues will be invoiced in April.

If you currently lease an electronic Keypad, your dues invoice includes the cost of leasing the new Keypad to take place during the conversion in January, 2004.  The lease fee increased from $85/year to $106/year.

Dues may now be paid online.  From CBR’s web site home page, www.ColumbusRealtors.com, click on the ‘Pay Dues Online’ button on the right side of the page.  You’ll need your login ID which is your file number and the password.  Although we cannot print the password in this magazine, should you wish to use this service, please contact CBR and we’ll be happy to provide it.    

Mobile Callback free activation through Dec. 31

REALTOR® VIP Alliance Program partner Mobile Callback is offering free activation and no monthly fee through 2003 (and only $10 per month starting January) on its personal safety service.

With Mobile Callback, members can receive prearranged calls on a mobile phone to monitor their location and security. Members can use this service 24/7 but find it particularly helpful at open houses and home showings where safety is a concern.

This limited-time offer does not require a long-term contract.  For more info, contact  Mobile Callback, 866/756-SAFE or visit  http://www.mobilecallback.com.

Do Not Call/Do Not Fax Toolkit

NAR rolled out a Do-Not-Call/Do-Not-Fax Toolkit at the 2003 REALTORS® Conference and Expo in San Francisco. The toolkit provides REALTORS® with more than 100 pages of information on the new do-not-call and do-not-fax rules, including information on the safe harbor provision, how to access the registry, sample FTC Registry Web pages, FTC and FCC consumer advisories, and NAR’s webcast seminars on complying with the rules. Copies are available for $15. Order through the REALTOR.org Store or call Information Central, 800/874-6500 and order item number 186-100.

www.WorldProperties.com

WorldProperties.com is a unique promotional tool to help you secure more listings, sell more homes and promote yourself and your business to a wide international audience. On November 6, 2003, this new advertising service for distinctive and featured properties at WorldProperties.com went live. The service enables member to help their clients buy and sell properties around the world from the comfort of their own desk chairs!

In a special four month introductory period, made possible by REALTOR.com, select listings from REALTOR.com® will appear on the WorldProperties.com advertising service – all at no charge! This service is designed for marketing vacation, resort and a wide variety of luxury properties.

In the spring of 2004, REALTORS® will be able to select the listings they wish to promote to a global audience via this fee-based service.

The WorldProperties.com site is a service of ICREA (International Consortium of Real Estate Associations) of which NAR is a founding member. For more information, contact ICREA at consortium@realtors.org.

Realtor.org new Resort Home Page

The Resort Home Page on REALTOR.org is now available to serve the information needs of NAR’s resort area and second home specialty members. Find news, business tools, resources, education info, and details on the upcoming Resort Symposium. The web pages include information on classes, workshops, legislation,1031 exchanges and articles of interest to members who are interested in resort home sales.  To access, Go To:  http://www.REALTOR.org/Resort

Advertising Guidelines information added to CBR web site

For your convenience, we’ve recently added the following information to the CBR web site:

• How to use the REALTOR® logo
• Ohio License Law - Advertising
• Fair Housing Rules & Regulations

You’ll find Advertising Guidelines under ‘Services’ on the CBR web site.  Just click here.

Library Corner

Book Review  - 21 Things I Wish My Broker Had Told Me  (by Frank Cook)
 
This book is a MUST for every beginning REALTOR® (and quite a few experienced ones will learn a lot as well!). Author Cook went to dozens of top-producing professionals and asked the simple question, “What do you wish you had been told at the beginning, and not learned the hard way?” This book is the result of those answers.

The CBR Library has purchased 3 copies of this book, anticipating strong demand. They will give you important insights into simple ways to become a better, more effective REALTOR® (and just as importantly, how to not spin your wheels or waste money). Check out a copy today- you’ll be impressed.

Attention New Members...Applications being accepted for Multi-Cultural Real Estate Grant

The CBR Equal Opportunity Committee is accepting grant applications for their Multi-Cultural Real Estate Grant program. 

To apply for the grant, applicants must be associated with a member broker and must apply within the first six months of being licensed.  Other eligibility requirements are listed in the grant application which can be found on CBR’s web site www.ColumbusRealtors.com (click on ‘About CBR’ and ‘Membership Information’.)

Grants are awarded twice a year in January and July.  For the January funding period, applications must be postmarked by December 31. 

For questions, please contact CBR’s Lynn Hackworth at (614) 475-4000 x248.

Features of the Month!

20% off Planners, Calendars, Refills during December.  The New Year is approaching fast. Let us help you make 2004 your best year ever by helping you stay organized and at the top of your game. We have a wide selection of planners, calendars, and refills specific to the real estate industry.

Mention this ad in the Member Service Center during the month of December and receive 20% off our entire selection of planners, calendars, and refills!! (excludes magnetic calendars)

Join a  2004 Committee!

Want to have a say in how your REALTOR® Board runs and what programs and services you get for your dues?  Join a Committee!

Serving on a committee provides you an opportunity for input as well as to network with other real estate professionals.  Don’t delay, complete the form and fax to CBR today!

Industry Credit Still Required for Million Dollar Club Awards

If you think that 2004 just might be the year that you’ll earn your $1, $5, $10 or $25 Million Dollar Club award, don’t forget about the industry requirement. This requirement reads as follows:

“Applicants must have served on a CBR committee (complying with its attendance policy) or have been elected to an office of an area association, recognized by the Columbus Board of Realtors®, for the calendar year in which the sales award is applied for.”

The attendance requirement must be met by October 31, 2004 (cut-off date for the award).  In other words, committee meetings held after October 31, 2004 will not be considered when determining if you have fulfilled the attendance requirement.  So, if the requirement, states that you must attend 5 of the 10 meetings, make sure you attend all five of those meetings PRIOR to October 31, 2004.

Any further input should be directed to the 2004 Chair of the Sales Advisory Committee, Terry Bryant at (614) 523-0808 or tbryant@kingthompson.com.