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Contact Us:
Greater Binghamton Association of REALTORSŪ
19 Jennison Avenue
Johnson City, NY 13790
607-729-6285
607-798-8246 (Fax)
executive@gbingar.com |
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Greetings!
Welcome to the May 15, 2013 edition of the
REALTORŪ Review!
As always, if you have any comments or suggestions for future issues of the REALTORŪ Review , please feel free to email me by clicking here.
Enjoy!
Barry Arnold, Executive Officer |
| Pending Status?
There has been a lot of discussion lately between agents about the controversial status of "Pending". When to pend a listing, should I pend a listing, should I put it in private remarks to let everyone know? Let me make this very clear, the decision on when to "pend" a listing is a discussion that each individual agent needs to have with their sellers, their Brokers and themselves. GBAR will not tell our agents when to "pend" a listing. It is not our position to tell you how to run your business.
Please don't get mad at other agents for their decision to leave a listing as "Active". It may not make some agents happy when they call to show a property and the listing agent then tells them it is "Under Contract" but just think, depending on what their listing agreement says, they didn't even have to tell you that much until you bring a contract.
But, when changing the status of the listing to "closed", please remember to use the correct date that the property was under Contract as the pending date. This will ensure that our statistics for the Association are accurate.
Everybody has a different opinion on when this should be done and that is a good thing. That is what makes us Independent Contractors and Entrepreneurs.
Comments for Tommy? Click here. |
| 2013 Agent's Day and Trade Show - Informative, Educational and Fun!
The 2013 GBAR Agents Day and Trade Show, held May 8, 2013 at the DoubleTree by Hilton (former Riverwalk) was a great day for all our attending Members and Vendors. GBAR Members were able to experience the goods and services of 50 real estate-related vendors, enjoy a spirited 3 Hour CE Course from Walter Sanford, and network both at lunch and cocktail hour. And many Members took home terrific prizes and gifts at our afterhours prize draw.
Many thanks to Dawn Roessing and her hardworking Trade Show Committee, our many sponsors and prize draw suppliers, and to all our attending Members who made this event such a success.
Here are a few pictures from the Show:
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Gary Kline Lives the Jungle Theme |
 | | Walter Sanford - Just Getting Warmed Up |
 | | Keith Oberg On Safari with Randy Bullock |
 | | Fred Lawrence and Eric Strong Outside the Jungle. |
 | | John Farrell, Krista McIntosh and Jon Sarra Share a Laugh |
 | | Donna Ciancio and Jim Trevitt Talk New Construction |
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Member Minute:
Lead Paint Obligations for New Landlords
Please be reminded that if one of your customers buys a multi-family unit, they are obligated as a landlord to provide any and all existing tenants, as well any new tenants, with the EPA's Lead Paint Pamphlet and a Lead Paint Disclosure Form, even though current tenants may have already received them from the previous owner/landlord. The EPA does not take kindly to new landlords who have not bet this obligation, so please comply!
Thanks to Bill Bernstein for bringing this important reminder to our attention.
Brought to you by the GBAR Membership Sub-Committee. Comments or suggestions? Click here to contact Jess Dillenbeck, Membership Sub-Committee Chair.
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Martha's MLS Tips:
Please Make Sure You Follow Lock Box Showing Instructions!
Attention all Lock Box Key Holders! It probably seems obvious to most, but just because a house is on lock box, or even vacant on lock box, it does not necessarily mean that you can access the property without calling the listing agent! Please make sure you have carefully reviewed and followed the showing instructions and private remarks to make sure you are not violating a seller's wishes.
Comments? Other Suggestions? Click here to email them to our Membership Committee for review and response.
Thanks! |
| New Advertising Regulations Text Released - Effective January 2, 2014
The text of the new advertising regulations has been released. The New York State Real Estate Board gave final approval to the revised advertising regulations at a meeting on April 24, 2013. A culmination of five years of work by NYSAR and other interested parties, the new regulations still need to go through the regulatory public notice process, including publication in the New York Register. Following publication, the new regulations are set to become effective on January 2, 2014.
We have scheduled NYSAR Director of Legal Affairs Anthony Gatto to brief our Membership on the implications of these new regulations on October 21, 2013 in Binghamton. Watch this space for more information and registration Instructions.
Click here for the full text of the new regulations.
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| Get the Recognition You Deserve! Apply for the NYSAR Honor Society!
The NYSAR Honor Society recognizes those Members who have contributed to our industry on a local, state and/or national level. Leadership positions, Committee Membership, RPAC contributions and Education Courses taken all count towards this prestigious recognition for your efforts in 2012.
Click here for a letter from NYSAR President Margaret Hartman describing the Society, and click here for your application. Applications are due by August 16. |
| NAR Code of Ethics Centennial Celebration
2013 marks the 100th Anniversary of the REALTOR Code of Ethics, the document which guides the ethical duty of all REALTORS toward their clients and customers, the public and their fellow REALTORS.
At GBAR, we'll be commemorating the Centennial in a number of ways, including full page ads in the Press & Sun-Bulletin Home Marketplace Section ( click here for a sneak preview), the purchase of commemorative posters for all our Broker Members, as well as periodic historical tid-bits in the REALTOR Review.
In the meantime, click here to view an NAR Video commemorating the COE Centennial.
Or, how would you like to see the original Code of Ethics from 1913? You'll find its quite a bit different from today's version - Click Here! |
Lobby Day is June 11!
Lobby Day in Albany is Tuesday, June 11, 2013! Come join us for this FREE trip to Albany to let our legislators hear REALTOR voice! For more information and registration instructions, click here!! |
| Register Now! 24th Annual J.S. Elliott Tournament of Love is June 19, 2013
Plan to join your fellow REALTORSŪ at our 24th Annual John S. Elliott Camp Good Days and Special Times Golf Tournament on June 19, 2013. This year's activities will again be held at the Genegantslet Golf Course.
All profits benefit the children and their families associated with Camp Good Days and Special Times. Our Association supports this wonderful cause in memory of John S. Elliott - a past President of Greater Binghamton Association of REALTORSŪ, Inc., who also was recognized by and served on committees for NYSAR and NAR.
Click here for to register your golf foursome and/or to attend the post-golf Smorgasbord. Registrations are due by June 10.
Click here to advertise yourself or your organization by sponsoring a golf hole.
We look forward to seeing you there! |
| Join the Private GBAR Facebook Group!!
Did you know that GBAR has a Members-Only GBAR Facebook Page?
Currently, 198 GBAR Members are members of this Grup, but our goal is to sign-up every GBAR REALTORŪ and Affiliate Member!
This page has been a great discussion and problem-resolution tool for those of us using it - just ask a question or make a suggestion and you'll get answers and feedback almost immediately!
If you are not already a Group Member, shoot me an email by clicking here, and I'll send you an invite right away. Please note - we can only sign you up using your personal page, not a business page, so please send your request from the email address attached to your personal page only.
We look forward to welcoming you aboard!
Barry |
2nd Half 2013 GBAR Dues and Fees Billing Notice to be Emailed at the End of May, 2013
A reminder that your Association Dues and Fees Notice for the second half of 2013 will be e-mailed to you at the end of May, 2013. As in previous years, it will include instructions on how to access and pay your invoice on-line through our ECommerce system.
(NOTE: MLS Only Members will be e-mailed an invoice directly, as the online feature is not available to MLS Only Members.)
This dues and fees invoice must be paid by June 28, 2013 either on-line or to your Principal Broker in order for you to remain an active Member of our Association and MLS.
Please note that this is a preliminary notice - payments cannot be accepted until the Official Notice Regarding Association Dues and/or MLS Fees email is sent and received by you.
IMPORTANT!! Since our billing system is email-based, it is important that your email of record be accurate and current. To ensure your email of record is correct, please log onto our MLS at www.binghamtonmls.com, click on "Agent Roster" in the right hand column and scroll down to your name and email address. If you need to update/correct /change your email address, please send an email immediately to realtor@gbingar.com with the new email address.
Finally, now is the time to take care of any outstanding invoices that you have or your dues and fees payment cannot be accepted.
Thank you!
Barry Arnold, Executive Officer |
| Considering a Leave of Absence from GBAR?
If you are considering requesting a leave of absence from GBAR please be advised that the letter stating this request must be received at the Association Office on or before June 12th. As stated in GBAR Bylaws these requests need to be presented to the Board of Directors. Any questions should be addressed to Barry Arnold, Executive Officer at 729-6285.
Article VI Section 6:
(e) The Board of Directors may grant a leave of absence for a REALTORŪ Member, for a reasonable length of time, upon receipt of request from said REALTORŪ Member, based on a serious health condition that would make it impossible for said REALTORŪ Member to participate in the normal activities of listing and selling real property in the area covered by the Greater Binghamton Association of REALTORSŪ, Inc.
Thank you. |
| Supra Lock Box Key Invoices to be Sent May 26; Payable by July 1
Supra will be invoicing GBAR Agents for their ActiveKEYs and eKEYs on May 26, with these invoices being payable by July 1.
For detailed information on the invoicing process, on-line access to your account, a summary of fees and due dates, please click here.
If you have not received your invoice by email or mail by early June, please contact Supra at 877-699-6787.
IMPORTANT!
If you plan to discontinue using your Supra Key or are leaving GBAR at the end of June, help the Association Office with record keeping and turn in your Supra Active Key and charger to the office before June 25. If the equipment is not returned by then, you may still owe the Supra System Fee for July 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013 even if you are no longer using the KeyBox System, or have discontinued GBAR membership. If Active Key chargers are not returned at all, Supra may bill up to $250.00 per item.
If you are discontinuing use of the Supra Active Key or are not paying July's Supra Invoice, you must also turn in all leased KeyBoxes immediately. You will be billed for as much as $95 per box for unreturned Boxes.
To access Supra Billing Information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, go to https://supraweb.suprakim.com. Or call (877) 699-6787 to speak to a Supra Support Specialist. |
| New Members - April, 2013
Please join us in welcoming the following New GBAR Members approved at the April 16, 2013 Board of Directors Meeting:
New REALTORŪ Principal Broker -MLS-Only Member:
- Bruce Freeman, ERA Decker Real Estate
- Kevin O'Neill, McKinney Real Estate
- Laura Melville, McKinney Real Estate
- Terry Morey, Exit Realty Front and Center
- Raymond Merritt, Century 21 Sbarra & Wells
- Anne Schoonover, DWS & Associates Real Estate
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Condolences - Stella Scelsi
 We regret to advise you of the passing of Stella Scelsi, mother of GBAR REALTOR Member Anita Casella, on May 1, 2013. Please join us in conveying our heartfelt sympathies to Anita and her family during this difficult time.
For a full obituary, click here. |
| Condolences - Julie Andrascik
We regret to advise you of the passing of Julie Andrascik, sister-in-law of Lois and Joe Andrascik (Joe's brother's wife), on May 11, 2013. Please join us in expressing our sympathy to Lois and Joe during this difficult time.
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Register Now for 2013 GRI and ABR Designation Courses in Binghamton!
For those of you interested in taking Designation Courses in Binghamton in 2013, I am pleased to confirm the following courses, instructors and dates:
- ABR-R - Randy Templeman - September 23 and 24
- GRI 402 - Jim Braman - October 7 and 8
To register, click on the course you wish to take to access course information and registration instructions, which is done directly through NYSAR. |
| Big Discounts on Online CE Courses Available!
If you're looking for CE Credit, there's no better place than The CE Shop! All New York CE courses are now offered with a 15% discount by using promotional code MAY15 through the end of May. And Pennsylvania courses are offered at a 25% discount using promotional code GBARINPA.
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BCC Courses on Energy Smart Training
Broome Community College is offering a number of Home Performance and Energy Smart Training Courses in their Spring, 2013 Course Catalogue. Click here to review the course offerings and registration instructions, which include NYSERDA's Building Analyst Training, Envelope Professional Training, Building Infrared Thermography Training and Basic Mold Awareness and Risk Management. |
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Join the Finance Committee and Help Build the 2014 GBAR Budget
In July, the GBAR Finance Committee will begin building the 2014 GBAR Budget. Got a knack for numbers? Click here to email Finance Chair and Treasurer Diane White to indicate your interest. It's a great way not only to contribute to your Association, but to learn more about how it works, inside and out. Contact Diane today! |
| Join a GBAR Committee!
Thank you to the following GBAR members who have volunteered their time to Chair GBAR Committees and Sub-Committees in 2013. If you'd like to join a Committee, click on the relevant Chair name(s) below to send them an email and volunteer!
Thank you to all our Volunteer Leaders. They look forward to welcoming you to GBAR Committee Membership and Service. |
Got Suggestions or Concerns with the Listing or Purchase Contracts?
Got any suggestions or concerns with the GBAR Listing or Purchase & Sale Contracts? The REALTOR/Lawyer Committee, chaired by Diane White, would be glad to get your input. If you have any suggestions, click here to email Diane. |
10K Marketing GBAR Monthly Statistics - March, 2013
Click here to review the March, 2013 10K Marketing Monthly Statistics for GBAR. |
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10K Marketing NYSAR Monthly Statistics -March, 2013
Click here to review the March, 2013 10K Marketing Monthly Statistics for NYSAR. |
| "The Skinny" - NYSAR's Monthly Housing Market Video for March, 2013
Click here to view "The Skinny", NYSAR's Monthly Housing Market Video for March, 2013. |
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