CRS Certified Residential Specialists
Maryland / DC Chapter May/June 2011
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| Technology Corner | #5 in our MS Outlook Series for 2011
Microsoft OUTLOOK Contact Records:
Recurring Appointments It's easy to establish recurring appointments in Outlook, and there are several different options depending on your needs. Annual recurrences, like birthdays, monthly recurrences, like your CRS Chapter Board Meeting, or daily recurrences, for instance, the next three or four days, can all be handled easily. Simply open an appointment window and enter the subject. Next, click the recurrence button, which will allow you to then choose the time, the recurrence pattern, and the range of recurrence.
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| Did You Know? | 
Real Estate Trivia...
Q What famous American sign was originally erected as a real estate ad? A The Hollywood sign, built in 1923, was conceived as a real estate ad that originally read, "Hollywoodland." Under Water...
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Notably...
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News You Need,
Compliments of Your Chapter Member:
Shirley Matlock
Handy Smart Phone App - Austin Realtor Releases REAL ALERT - The Personal Safety App for iPhone! Read on...
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NAR News - New Campaign Ads - KEEP HOUSING FIRST
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Message From The President
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 Message From The President First of all I want to say a special thank you to Lynette Catha-Bridges and Vivian Feen for all of their time and attention to both of the events that the chapter sponsored this month in the Montgomery County and Washington D.C. area.
- Chapter With A Heart raised $250, about a quarter of what we had aspired to raise for our first NAMI Walk at the Veteran's Plaza in Silver Spring, but I am very proud of Lynette's efforts as the organizer, fundraiser, team captain and walker.
- I pledge to walk next year and raise the bar in dollars raised as well as awareness of the problems associated with mental illness. Capital area real estate professionals take note that May is the month CRS will be in your area next year. Come out and join us.
- Also, our other first annual event, "Rollin' on the River" was a huge success. It turned out that we sold all 120 tickets for the cruise and had 94 people join us for dinner at Chadwick's in Georgetown. Plans are underway for our second annual Cruise which will of necessity be larger so we can accommodate more CRS agents from around the country and the Bahamas. There were many agents who missed the boat this year. Don't be one of those next year! We would love to have more of your input especially if you would be willing to give a little back of your time and talents.
National Mid-Year Meetings were very lively this year. If you missed them, a brief synopsis might be that National CRS has decided to allow larger brokerages to use their in house trainers to teach one 2-day CRS core class to the agents in their own companies and will not have to pay the national already certified CRS instructors for one of the core classes. They also do not have to offer it to anyone outside their firms. A condition of this arrangement is that the company must allow the local chapter the opportunity to speak to the classes about CRS. It does not say how much notice they have to give the chapters and it is implied that the in house classes will cost the brokers agents a lot less than smaller brokers and the rest of us will pay. The suggestion from the committee who studied this in conjunction with a few large brokers was to allow the brokerage houses to be able to teach all three of the 2 day core classes. That was amended in order to move forward because there were so many opposing views. The trickle-down effect will be that the chapters will have to look long and hard about offering classes especially when they are not bringing in money but costing the chapters.
Which brings me to June events. Come and network with us on June 9th for lunch. Details are on the website. The monthly chapter board meeting was moved a day to occur on the same date and at the same location as the Quarterly luncheon. The board will meet at 10 am on June 9th at the restaurant. The District Vice President's meeting will take place after the Luncheon at the same place. Two 2 day core classes are being offered at MAR on June 21-22 (CRS 210, Referral)and June 28-29(CRS 202, Sales). Registration forms are on the website. Take a class and bring a friend.
Non-CRS agents can join the chapter while working to earn their CRS designation and save on classes. While they are called chapter members, they cannot use the logo or call themselves a CRS until they have earned the designation. They are called "candidates" for the designation until they earn it. Classes often cost the chapter in the neighborhood of $6,000 to put on so anything you can do to make it to a class for a refresher or invite a friend to take their business to a higher level would be most appreciated.
For the remainder of this year, we may have to put in place a new rule that if we do not have at least 30 agents signed up in advance, the classes may be cancelled due to the cost to the chapter for poorly attended classes. I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Two March classes were already rescheduled to June & then dropped for poor enrollment.
Best wishes this June and through the summer,
Linda
Linda Kangrga, CRS President, MD/DC Chapter, 2011
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Your Local Chapter News - MD/DC CRS Classes
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MD/DC CRS Classes -
We can't do it without you!
The Education Committee has been busy scheduling classes this year to give you the opportunity to receive the most cutting edge education, which helps to improve your business and reach your goals.
We have received several comments about the location of the classes as well as pricing, which we can address for you here:
Location - The locations for the classes are based on the Boards and Associations that have been willing to work with the Chapter to provide these classes to their members. Ask your local Board or Association; the Chapter is willing to work with all.
Pricing - Let me start by saying education is an investment in your future as a REALTOR®. The Chapter doesn't make a profit on the classes and if anything's left over, it goes back into more classes.
Here's a breakdown of the cost to put on a class:
- Instructor Fee - deposit to hold the date. This is nonrefundable if the class is cancelled
- National CRS deposit - nonrefundable, to hold the date as well as to do email blast for a two day class. Same deposit for a one day with no email blast
- Room Rental deposit
- National CRS - a fee is charged for everyone in the class to mark the tests and for the materials they print
- Food - if we are unable to get sponsors to supply lunch and/or snacks and it is too far for attendees to go and get back in time, the Chapter will supply your lunch.
We are here to offer you the educational opportunities to improve your business and to receive the most up to date cutting edge educational materials. We need you help to fill the classes. Please post the course flyers in your office, tell others how much your personal and business life has improved, and the level of expert information you received when taking a CRS class. We need and want your help to grow the Chapter and the awareness of CRS.
Thank you in advance for all of your help.
Sincerely,
Sharron
Sharron Dorsey, Eduction Chair
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| CRS OCEANFRONT OPPORTUNITY IN SEPTEMBER!! | |
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY!
Vivian Feen is looking for a few good volunteers for a few hours here and there at the MAR Convention in September.
This is a great opportunity to chat with other Realtors state-wide, make connections, and talk up our Chapter at the same time!
Give Vivian a call at 443-794-4106
or send her an email: VivianFeen@mris.com
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| Membership Get Serious. Get a CRS. | |
Questions about membership?
Jeff Annis is the one to ask.
He's got the scoop on updates, deadlines, and reinstatement. Give him a call at 703-906-9869.
Congratulations to those who completed their designation requirements and can now proudly exhibit the Certified Residential Specialist logo!
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| Chapter With A Heart |  This year's Chapter With A Heart events and fundraisers are going to WOW you!!
The theme this year is
Heart, Mind, and Soul First, a FUNDRAISING WALK on MAY 15th: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) 10:00-11:00 am in Silver Spring MD SIGN UP ONLINE - TEAMCRS !!
Then, at the OC MAR Convention in September, we'll be collecting SHOES at the CRS Luncheon with SOLES4SOULS so save 'em up! And then a second FUNDRAISING WALK, October 22nd: for Kintera - the American Heart Association Heart Walk in Baltimore MD HEART ASSOC. SIGN UP ONLINE - TEAMCRS !!
.Sign up online, and contact Lynette Bridges-Catha directly at 443-497-3128 for more information.
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| Upcoming Events |
 Mark Your Calendars!
The June 2011 Quarterly Meeting/Luncheon has been scheduled!
Thursday, June 9th
Fisherman's Inn Crab Deck
410-827-6666
3116 Main Street, Grasonville MD 21638
(just across the Bay Bridge)
www.fishermansinn.com
Registration Form: HERE
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6/09/11 - June Quarterly Meeting/Luncheon
6/21-22/11 - CRS-210 Exclusively by Referral
6/28-29/11 - CRS-202 Sales Course
9/13/11 - September Quarterly Meeting/Luncheon
10/11-12/11 - CRS-200 Business Planning
12/02/11 - Officers' Installation Luncheon
Link to Register for Upcoming Events: HERE
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COMING TO MAR's OC 2011 CONVENTION?
Our September Quarterly Meeting/Luncheon
has been scheduled!
Tues., Sept.13
Speaker: Nationally Recognized CRS's Allison Mooney!
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2011 Sell-A-Bration:
Sell-a-bration® Audio Files Now Available
If you couldn't attend Sell-a-bration® 2011 in Orlando, Fla., you can now purchase audio files from all the workshops and education sessions. Learn about the latest trends and strategies in marketing, social media, technology, finance, working with buyers, listings, referrals and more. To purchase the audio set, visit the CRS website. 2011 National Meetings: National CRS Meetings should be on your calendar now -- November 9-12, 2011 in Anaheim CA The CRS Headquarter Hotel is the Hyatt Orange County,
11999 Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, CA. Link to Register: HERE Don't forget to pencil in NEXT YEAR'S Sell-A-Bration January 19-21, 2012 * Arizona Grand Resort 2012 Mid Year Meetings: May 17-20, 2012 * Washington Hilton (near Dupont Circle) * * * * * * * MD/DC Chapter Consumer Booklets  If you have your CRS Designation and are a member of your Maryland State Chapter, please stop by at our next event and pick up FIVE copies of our Chapter's Consumer Booklet for distribution to your clients. Buyers and Sellers alike will truly appreciate the value you're bringing them when they choose you as their Realtor. Having the value of being a CRS clearly outlined in this high-quality handout is just one more reason to become and remain a Maryland DC CRS Designee. We plan to have the booklets available to hand out to qualified CRSers again at our upcoming events, so use up your FIVE and keep coming back for FIVE MORE! |
Send Us Your Photos!!
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Mid Year Meetings...
Classes...
Eating in Georgetown...
Eating in Georgetown...
Classes... 
Classes...
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Notice of Elections - Chapter Officers
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The Maryland DC CRS Chapter is holding elections for new officers beginning Friday June 24, 2011 at 12:01am and ending Tuesday June 28, 2011 at 11:59pm. The candidates are as follows:
-- President -- Sharron Dorsey - recommended by the nominating committee
Bio: Sharron has been a resident of Harford County since 1983. She worked in the banking industry for over 25 years and became a licensed Investment Counselor. She served in the US Air Force as an Aircraft Electrical Repairperson. Sharron earned her real estate license in 2003 and is affiliated with Harford County Association of REALTORS®. She had been recognized as Harford County's Women's Council Member of the Year. Sharron has worked with Harford Land Trust and was a member of the Board of Trustees for the Women Entrepreneur of Baltimore (WEB). She received her CRS designation in 2007. She has served as Chairman of MD/DC CRS Chapter Education Committee for 2010 after being co-chairman in 2009, and was elected MD/DC CRS Chapter President-Elect for 2011. She is also a director of her local board, the Harford County Association of Realtors.
Sharron is affiliated with Long & Foster Realtors in Belcamp MD and was the 2011 President-Elect
-- President Elect -- Gretchen Conley - recommended by the nominating committee
Bio: Gretchen has been a resident of Howard County since 1989, raising 3 lovely and interesting daughters there, and is a Washington DC native. Gretchen is a member of Howard County Association of REALTORS® and earned her real estate license in 2001. She joined CRS in 2005 at her first CRS class and earned the CRS designation in 2007. Gretchen is a graduate of the MAR Leadership Academy, and was the Howard County Legislative Committee Chair in 2011. Gretchen is interested in increasing Chapter membership, along with networking and referral opportunities for CRS designees, while maintaining the traditional high standards expected of CRS. She has been responsible for putting together the monthly Newsletters for the MD/DC CRS chapter this year.
Gretchen is affiliated with Re/Max Advantage Realty in Columbia, MD and was the 2011 Communications Committee Chair
-- Treasurer -- Dan Quinn- recommended by the nominating committee
Bio: Dan Quinn is a native Washingtonian with an intimate knowledge of the Metropolitan area and Montgomery County. As a former contractor in Metropolitan Washington DC, he brings his many years of working in homes to the table and knows what to look for and how to identify a quality home. As an experienced professional who has owned a very successful painting company, Dan knows all about the field of fine finishes in construction and has learned to appreciate the various aspects of home design and building. Married with 2 children and two grandchildren, Dan is also an accomplished pianist and arranger who has performed with various musical groups to sold out venues all over. He loves to work with people and is committed to your real estate needs. As Dan notes, "I enjoy working with people and I look forward to being of service to you".
Dan is affiliated with Prudential Advantage Realt in Olney MD and was the 2011 Treasurer
-- Secretary -- Jan Brito - recommended by the nominating committee
Bio:Jan has been involved with the Technology Committee of the MD/DC chapter for a number of years, and this year serves as the Technology Committee Chair. Jan is a native Washingtonian, having grown up in the Maryland suburbs. She has called Montgomery County home for the past 20 years. She came to the real estate field in 2005 after spending 15 years in Information Technology - experience that serves her well in this fast-paced digital age - where more than 85% of consumers begin their search for real estate on the Internet. She uses technology and social networking to keep in touch with clients, promote listings, and answer consumer questions. Jan's thorough follow-up, her strong customer service orientation, and her endless initiative earn a steady stream of referrals from satisfied clients.
Jan is affiliated with Long and Foster Realtors in Bethesda, and was the 2011 Technology/Website Committee Chair
-- HOW TO VOTE -- Members will receive an email with a link to the Zoomerang voting system and complete instructions just before the election begins.
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Your Home - CRS Newsletter Article available to you for your SOI Newsletters - go online!
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Have you seen this article at www.crs.com? As a Certified Residential Specialist, are you making use of the magazine articles readily available for you to share with your clients? Each month, there's a new two page newsletter full of timely information, waiting for you, one more way CRS is providing value to you, and you can provide value to your clients.
The Final Tally
More Americans prefer living in walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods with easy access to local amenities, according to a recent Community Preference Survey by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. More than half (56 percent) of respondents say they preferred living in a walkable neighborhood over one that requires more driving between work, home and recreation. When considering a home purchase, 77 percent of respondents say they would look for locations that had abundant sidewalks, while 50 percent say they would rather see improvements to the existing public transit system than initiatives to build new roads.
While space is important to many homebuyers, some say they are willing to sacrifice square footage if it means less driving. Nearly three out of five homebuyers (59 percent) say they would choose a smaller home if its location promised a commute time of less than 20 minutes.
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| Pillar-to-Post -- Please support our 2011 MD DC CRS Platinum Sponsor! | 
Complimentary Resource from
Pillar to Post
for YOU to USE in your Client Newsletters/Communications: SPRING CLEANING DONE RIGHT With the arrival of spring and warmer weather, homeowners know that the event known far and wide as Spring Cleaning is just around the corner. Where to begin? As with most big projects, the best tactic is to break the job into smaller tasks that can be completed over parts of several weekends or scheduled around other activities. Tackling one space at a time is an effective approach and can keep spring cleaning from becoming an overwhelming task. The first step should be to declutter your spaces. In the kitchen, for example, spring cleaning is a great time to clean out drawers and cabinets and put the contents back in order. Check pantry items and discard stale or expired packaged goods and spices. Wipe up crumbs and spills, and re-line shelves with fresh shelf liner. Remove everything from the refrigerator and store perishables in an ice chest while cleaning the interior surfaces. Empty one kitchen drawer at a time and get rid of what isn't being used or that has no value. This is also the perfect opportunity to determine whether your drawer arrangement is working optimally - for example, should cooking utensils be in a drawer that's closer to the stove? In bathrooms, take a similar approach to the cabinets and drawers. An amazing amount of new space may be discovered. Check your local regulations for the proper disposal of expired medications - do not just flush them down the toilet. After the kitchen and bath clutter has been corralled, clean the walls and floors thoroughly, using cleaners appropriate for each particular surface. Follow manufacturers' recommendations for countertops and appliances. Launder scatter rugs and let them dry outside in the sun if possible. The family room, living room, and bedrooms will need to have their walls dusted top to bottom. Vacuum the nooks and crannies in upholstered furniture and leave the cushions off for a few hours so the furniture can air out. Window treatments such as curtains or drapes should be cleaned according to manufacturers' instructions. Thoroughly dust window blinds, then wipe clean with a damp cloth. Switch to lighter-weight bed linens for a fresh look that you'll welcome at day's end. Floors should be swept or vacuumed as a final touch. Garages and basements pose their own challenges at any time of the year. As with other spaces, start with removing clutter and unused items. Using a discard-donate-keep sorting system can be very effective and helps in the decision making process. Many items can be donated to charity, or consider banding together with neighbors to stage a multi-household yard sale. Once the floors and shelves are clear, think about rearranging where items are located to make often-used items the most accessible. Holiday decorations and supplies can be tucked away; just be sure to label the containers clearly so you'll know what's where. These steps will get you on your way to a clean house - and you'll have more time to enjoy it. Article courtesy of Pillar To Post Home Inspection - www.pillartopost.com |
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MISSION STATEMENT:
The Maryland/DC CRS Chapter will provide Chapter members with superior benefits to maximize their professional performance and profitability in residential real estate, and to provide resources to the real estate community and general public.
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