CRS Certified Residential Specialists
Maryland / DC Chapter October 2011
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| Who is this? And what is she smiling about? ...find the answer below... |  Who is this?
And what is she smiling about?
The answer's below... Keep reading! |
 Sell-a-bration's coming!!!
Raffle tickets are on sale offering one lucky agent a waiver of the CRS registration fee (transportation, room and meals not included) to Sellabration January 19-21 in Arizona. The cost is $2 per ticket or 3 tickets for $5. Tickets can be purchased at any of the upcoming chapter events.
www.Sellabration.com |
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| Technology Corner | #8 in our MS Outlook Series for 2011
Microsoft OUTLOOK Contact Records:
vCards A vCard is a universal file format that most programs have adopted which simplifies transferring individual contact data. It stands for virtual card. You can send any Contact record you have in Outlook as a vCard. Start in the contact record that you wish to send. On the contact ribbon, actions group, click send, in internet format (this will be the most universal). An email will open with this contact's info attached as a vCard. If the recipient is using an email client that supports vCards, they will be able to open the attachment and save it to their contact's list.
BE AWARE: This will also send any notes you have made in the Notes Section. To work around this, highlight the notes, cut them, send the vCard, and then immediately paste the notes back in to the contact record. |
| Funnies | |
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My buyer told me that he lived in the same house for 10 years. When I checked, I found out he'd still be there
today if the Governor hadn't pardoned him. * * * * * Where Am I? A balloonist is blown off course and is forced to land. He is
in a field close to a road, but has no idea where he is. He sees a car coming along
the road and hails it.
The driver gets out and the balloonist says, "Howdy! Can you tell me where I am?"
"Yes, of course," says the driver. "You have just landed in your balloon, and with this wind
you have obviously been blown off course. You are in the top field on John Dawson's farm, 12 miles from Albury. John will be plowing the field next week and sowing wheat. There is a bull in the field. It is behind you and about to attack you."
At that moment, the bull reaches the balloonist and tosses him over the fence.
Luckily, the balloonist is unhurt. He gets up, dusts himself off and says to the motorist, "I see you're an appraiser."
"Good grief," says the other man, "you're right! How did you know that?"
"I employ appraisers," says the balloonist. "The information you
gave me was detailed, precise, and accurate. Most of it was useless, and it arrived far too late to be of any help."
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Message From The President
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 Message From The President
Dear Fellow Agents,
Welcome to the Soggy Bottom. That is my way of describing the market in which we find ourselves working. Help yourself stay afloat and bring a friend to our last October CRS class! CRS 200 - Business Planning and Marketing is scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday, October 11th & 12th from 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM, both days. Go to www.MDDCCRS.com, for registration forms.
While at the class, buy a chance to win free a registration to Sellabration in January 19-21 in Arizona! Raffle tickets cost $2.00 a piece or 3 tickets for $5.00, (transportation, room and meals not included). Check out the banner on the website with all the details. Raffle Tickets can be purchased at any of the chapter events this month and in November, all of which are scheduled at MAR in Annapolis except the Heart Walk which is in Baltimore. Speaking of which, won't you join me for the Chapter With a Heart - Walk for Heart Association, Saturday, October 22nd, 2011 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM? I would love your company. Details are on our website, www.MDDCCRS.com. Join Team CRS!
This year the Chapter went all out to provide CRS classes. The low turnout this year means fewer classes next year. Get your credits now and position yourself to make and receive referrals next year.
Best wishes, Linda Linda Kangrga, MD/DC CRS President 2011 |
Your Local Chapter News - MD/DC CRS Classes
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Need another course for your CRS Designation?
Want a refresher?
Hurry! Don't miss the last 2 day
MD/DC CRS Class scheduled for 2011 -
Business Planning CRS-200
by Robert Morris
Plan ahead now - Your local MDDC CRS Chapter is offering the CRS-200 Business Planning 2-day course
October 11 & 12 in Annapolis.
Register HERE
Looking forward to seeing you at class!
Sincerely,
Sharron
Sharron Dorsey, Education Chair
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We Have a WINNER!!
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Vivian Feen and her crew of volunteers at the MAR Convention in September
had some great opportunities
to chat with other Realtors state-wide,
make connections, and talk up
our Chapter at the same time!
They also had the pleasure of raffling off an iPAD2!!
Meet Terri Matlock of Keller Williams Home Towne Realty, Frederick, MD.
Terri got "the" call. The call: "You won!".
Terri held the lucky raffle ticket for the IPAD2 that CRS was raffling. When reached via phone, Terri said that she was thrilled, and swore she never won anything before. The money that she gave as well as others was all donated to the charity, Soles for Souls. The CRS MD-DC Chapter raised over $800 during the 2-1/2 day conference at Ocean City.
We thank all who stopped by our booth - hoping we could shed some light on questions, and we look forward to your
being part of the MD-DC Chapter family next year!
TERRI MATLOCK, iPAD2 WINNER!!
Would you like to help with upcoming events?
Give Vivian a call at 443-794-4106
or send her an email: VivianFeen@mris.com
Sincerely,
Vivian
Vivian Feen, Education Chair
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SELL-A-BRATION 2012!
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Heat Up Your Business at Sell-a-bration® 2012 in Arizona Kick off the New Year on a high note with an education-filled mid-winter getaway to Phoenix to attend the Council of Residential Specialists' Sell-a-bration® 2012 at the Arizona Grand Resort, Jan. 19-21, 2012. The annual educational event draws hundreds of top real estate professionals of all levels of experience from across the country and around the world who gather to learn strategies and techniques from industry leaders and each other. The skills they discover and the relationships they build will help attendees improve their productivity, grow their referral business and increase their chances for success. And once again, agents can earn one unit of elective credit toward the CRS Designation by attending Sell-a-bration® 2012. "Sell-a-bration® has certainly helped to grow my business by making me a much more thorough agent and taught me how to deal with many different types of buyers and sellers. CRS in general has been a great teaching tool for technology," says Donna Pudenz, CRS, with Mid Iowa Real Estate in Carroll, Iowa. Sell-a-bration® 2012 kicks off Jan. 19 with a series of interactive, topic-driven and solution-focused workshops, while the keynote presentations and educational sessions take place on Jan. 20 and 21. Previous events covered a range of topics including referrals, social media, technology, marketing, working with buyers, foreclosures and short sales, listings, and much more. Most important, the three-day event gives agents the knowledge and skills they need to resolve everyday real estate matters. "Sell-a-bration® has given me the tools, techniques, energy and confidence I need to make this the best year of my career...even in a 'down' market," says Mike Jorgensen, CRS, with Edina Realty Duluth in Duluth, Minn. W. M. Briggs, Jr, CRS, with McEnearney Associates in Arlington, Va., concurs, "Attending Sell-a-bration® reminds me that there are a significant number of CRS members making a conscious effort to improve yearly, which might be the biggest differentiator between CRS and non-CRS agents." For more information about Sell-a-bration® 2012 and to register, visit www.sellabration.com or call customer service at 800.462.8841. |
| 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 The SOLES4SOULS SHOE COLLECTION at the OC MAR Convention in September was a huge success! Thank you to everyone! Our NEXT Chapter FUNDRAISER IS a second FUNDRAISING WALK for 2011, on 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 |
Links to Register for Upcoming Events:
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10/11-12/11 - CRS-200 Business Planning & Marketing - Register HERE
12/02/11 - Officers' Installation Luncheon - Register HERE
MacGregor's Restaurant, Havre de Grace
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CRS BRANDING COURSEThis is a FREE online self-study course that is available only to CRS Desginees. Take it anytime from any computer with an Internet connection. * * * * * * * 2011 National Meetings: COMING UP SOON! 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 Hundreds of top real estate professionals working in all types of markets across the country attend this event to share ideas, grow their referral business and learn what's working (and what's not). Act quickly and you can save up to $100 off the registration price by inviting a friend through our new Buddy Program. Simply sign up for Sell-a-bration® with a friend before Oct. 27, 2011, and you both receive a $100 discount off the regular registration price. Visit www.sellabration.com for more details. 2012 Mid Year Meetings: May 17-20, 2012 * Washington Hilton (near Dupont Circle)
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** The Second Annual Cruise! - Friday, May 18, 2012 ** * * * * * * * MD/DC Chapter Consumer Booklets TERRIFIC HANDOUT FOR YOUR BUYERS & SELLERS!  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!
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Member Connect News - Top 10 Most-Searched Housing Markets
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 Member Connect News
Most-Searched Housing Markets
REALTOR® magazine reported REALTOR.com's Top 10 most-searched housing markets for the month of August. They are: 1. Chicago 2. Las Vegas 3. Detroit 4. Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif. 5. Atlanta 6. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla. 7. Philadelphia 8. Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz. 9. Dallas 10. Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, Mass.-N.H.
Thu., Sep. 22, 2011 |
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.
No Regrets About Homeownership
Despite the ups and downs of the housing market, most homeowners, including those who are underwater on their mortgages, don't regret their decision to own a home. In a recent surveyby the National Association of Home Builders, three out of four Americans believe that homeownership is the best long-term investment and is worth the risk. Some 95 percent say they are happy with the decision to own a home.
That sentiment is also strong among homeowners who are underwater on their mortgages. Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) believe owning a home is worth the risk of the ups and downs of the housing market, and 83 percent of say they are happy with their decision to own a home.
Four out of five homeowners overall (80 percent) say they would advise a friend or family member to buy a home, while slightly fewer (78 percent) underwater homeowners would do the same. Only 19 percent of underwater homeowners believe homeownership is too risky.
PLEASE NOTE: The images featured in the Your Home newsletter may only be used within the context of the original article. These images may not be reproduced or republished elsewhere outside of this newsletter format. CRS Members are free to re-use the text of the articles contained in this newsletter, however.
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Pillar-to-Post -- Please support our 2011 MD DC CRS Platinum Sponsor!
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Complimentary Resource from
Pillar to Post
for YOU to USE in your Client Newsletters/Communications:
ALL ABOUT FURNACES:
FURNACE EFFICIENCY, SAFETY & MAINTENANCE
Furnaces in homes throughout Canada will soon be up and running for a long winter season. It is especially important for homeowners to have furnaces inspected and maintained to ensure that they run efficiently and safely as we head into the colder months.
SIMPLE WAYS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY
By some accounts, home heating, especially gas furnaces, can represent half of a typical home's winter utilities bill. Efficient operation can mean lower energy bills and a more comfortable home. For example, programmable thermostats can be used to automatically turn heat up or down at specified times, so that the temperature is lowered overnight or while no one is at home. Thermostats should be calibrated occasionally to avoid "off cycle" heat loss; a properly calibrated thermostat will result in more even heating between the on/off cycles, which is both more efficient and comfortable.
SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE
Safety is also an important factor in furnace operation. Gas furnaces can be a source of lethal carbon monoxide if leaks or cracks go unnoticed or unrepaired. The furnace flame should be steady and burn blue; if it isn't, this should be addressed immediately. A qualified contractor or inspector can detect these types of problems and recommend needed action.
Simple furnace maintenance includes checking and replacing disposable air filters and cleaning permanent-type filters, as well as keeping dust, hair, and lint away from the burner compartment and air intake. No matter what type it is, a well-maintained furnace will not only last longer, but can save energy, money, and help a home's overall air quality and comfort.
CONSIDERING A NEW FURNACE?
If a new furnace is necessary, it is a good opportunity to evaluate the various types of furnaces now available and how well they might meet a home's specific situation. Furnaces are defined as conventional efficiency, mid efficiency, and high efficiency. There are advantages and drawbacks to each type, and some are better suited to older homes, for example, and cost may be a factor in considering various types of systems. However, the ability of some new furnaces to reduce off cycle heat loss, eliminate the need for an always-on pilot light, etc. make replacing a furnace worth considering if a current system is in bad repair functioning poorly. Your local Pillar To Post office can provide you and your clients with additional information on various types of furnaces.
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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