The next Open Zoom Caravan Tour will be this Thursday, January 7th, at 8:30 am.
Help us ring in the New Year with some new listings on tour!
Share your Holiday solds and your new buyer's wants!
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Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 931 4446 4330
Passcode: 303231
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Meeting ID: 931 4446 4330
Passcode: 303231
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8:00 am, January 21st
(via Zoom)
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2021 Board of Directors
President: Ted Benjamin
Past-President: Mike Badenoch
President-Elect: Amy Wainwright
Treasurer: Greg Demaras
Secretary: Mike McMurray
Director: George Kohlbrenner
Director: Connie Walters
Director: Janka Varmuza
Director: Brendan Albright
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2020 AWARDS
REALTOR® of the Year
Affiliate Business Partner of the Year
Rookie of the Year
Administrative Assistant of the Year
President's Award
Community Service Award
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REALTORS® and Affiliates: New Year, New Ad! |
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Are you looking to advertise in the Sanibel & Captiva Real Estate Guide or increase your ad size in 2021? If so we have a discount for you!
Any new contracted Real Estate Guide Advertiser will receive 15% off their first month’s ad. Also, all current advertisers that want to increase their contracted size ad or add an additional contracted page will also receive 15% off the increased size or the additional page for the 1st month.
This discount begins in the next edition for which the deadline is January 29th. Please contact us to sign up for a new ad or increase your contract to receive this discount.
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Join a Committee for 2021!
The Association needs your input! Would you like to help with our charitable events, the RPAC Auction & Golf Outing, or improve our MLS? Then check out the Communications & PR Committee, the RPAC Committee, or the MLS Committee!
Sign-up forms are available on our website and you can also click the image below to see descriptions of each committee. They meet once per month, and member input & participation is crucial.
Email the form to Megan or drop it off to the Association Office.
Committees:
- Affiliates & Special Events: All Members
- Communications & PR: All Members
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MLS: REALTOR® Members
- RPAC: All Members
- Professional Development: All Members
- Governmental & Environmental: All Members
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Budget & Finance: REALTOR® Members
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Bylaws: REALTOR® Members
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This year's meetings, scheduled at various times between January 12 to 29, 2021, are virtual. See the schedule here.
Participants and members at this annual business summit strive to advance the association’s initiatives through advocacy and committee involvement. Members take an active role to advance the real estate industry, public policy and the association. The event concludes with the Board of Directors meeting, where the association’s bylaws are updated to ensure the association's membership goals are met and keep the association on a path of success.
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2021 Continuing Education Classes |
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*Counts for 3 hours of Ethics & Business Practices Credit
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It's a Great Time to Get Your C2EX Designation! |
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The CE Shop offers Code of Ethics & Core Law classes online all through the year. There is a 14-hour Package available, as well as individual classes.
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Photo by Roberta Schuldenfrei |
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Full Association Calendar |
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Jan. 7: Zoom Open Caravan Tour, 8:30am
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Jan. 7: Affiliates & Spec. Events Committee, 9:00am
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Jan. 12: Professional Dev. Committee, 9:00am
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Jan. 19: Communications & PR Committee, 8:30am
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Jan. 21: Installation, Awards, Caravan Tour via Zoom 8:00am
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Jan. 29: Real Estate Guide Deadline
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NAR-DOJ MLS Rules Agreement Update |
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Watch the video above from 2021 NAR President Charlie Oppler.
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Check out our new VIDEO VAULT! If you've missed any of the MLS Tips or full membership meeting videos, they're all available on our website in one convenient place.
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Updated MLS Rules & Regulations |
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MLS Rules & Regulations Update
The Updates mainly address photos in the MLS.
Section 1.21.0: MEDIA: At least one digital image (photo/plat map/rendering) of each property listed in the MLS shall be submitted to the Service immediately upon saving the listing as “Active,” except where sellers expressly direct that photographs of their property not appear in the MLS compilations. Written documentation requesting that a digital image not be submitted, signed by the seller, should be available for review if requested by the Service.
If the listed property has a dwelling, at least one photo must be a front exterior view of the property structure for sale with the exception that for vacant land, a plat or map of the specific property is acceptable. All photos uploaded must be representative of the property, landscape, views, neighborhood, and surrounding community. If using a photograph (excluding artist renderings) that is similar to but not a photograph of the actual listing, users must include a disclaimer “example photo” across the photograph or in the caption. (Adopted 10/20)
Section 1.21.1: VIRTUAL STAGING: “Virtual Staging” is defined as using photo editing software to create a photo or conceptual rendering of what a room and/or property could look like, if it were staged or lived in.
1. Prohibited Inclusions: Modifying photo(s)/rendering(s) to include visual elements not within a property owner’s control is strictly prohibited. Example: Editing in a view of the beach or waterway that is not physically possible from the specified location in the real world.
2. Prohibited Exclusions: Modifying photo(s)/rendering(s) to exclude visual elements not within a property owner’s control is strictly prohibited. Example: Removing power lines, other structures and/or nearby roads.
3. Permitted Uses: Modifying photo(s)/rendering(s) to include personal property items not conveyed with the real property is permitted. Permitted personal property modifications include, but are not limited to:
A. Applying digital photos of furniture, mirrors, artwork, plants, etc. into a photo of an empty room.
B. Removing existing furniture from a photo and replacing it with digital images of furniture, mirrors, artwork, plants, etc.
Disclosure of virtually-staged photo(s) is required to be readily visible on the image, and a non-staged image must be included immediately following or preceding the virtually-staged photo(s).
4. Permitted Virtual Staging and Listings of Properties Not Fully Constructed: Virtually-staged photo(s)/rendering(s) on either (a) To-Be Built or (b) Under Construction is permitted for all facets of real property to be conveyed to a buyer in a sale.
Disclosure of virtually staged photo(s)/rendering(s) is required on the image and a non-staged image must be included immediately following or preceding the virtually staged photo(s). (Adopted 10/20)
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Florida Realtor's Honor Society Application |
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The 2020 FR Honor Society applications are now available online and will soon be available in Form Simplicity.
Form Simplicity: The form will be found in the Florida Realtors library on Form Simplicity. Just log in to your Form Simplicity account, select the library tab and navigate to the form titled "2020 Honor Society Application."
Applications are due no later than February 5, 2021.
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The coronavirus is still with us. Do NOT let your guard down and be sure to follow all CDC guidelines and local emergency regulations.
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Open House & In-Person Showing Safety Guidelines:
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As Florida prepares to slowly reopen, Florida Realtors has released new information on their Safety Guidelines for Realtors Showing Properties During COVID-19. See the full details below.
This new guide has been developed by Florida Realtors based on public communications by the Florida surgeon general. If your Broker determines that a virtual open house is not an option, they have provided a list of some do's and don’ts for an in-person event. The full list can be found HERE. Also, the poster below should be used and can be downloaded HERE in several different file formats.
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The guidelines highlight that a careful plan should be developed before returning to in-person events. The plan should involve discussions with and/or information collected from:
- The broker and agent
- The homeowner
- The condo or homeowners association
Please make sure you follow all local restrictions and HOA or Condo Association Restrictions that are in place.
We sent this to brokers first, as ultimately the decision on whether or not to hold open houses yet will be up to your broker. Virtual Open Houses are still the recommended choice, but if you choose, after careful consideration, to begin holding live Open Houses please share the guidelines with your clients and place posters at your Open House. The full article and details from Florida Realtors can be found HERE.
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Don't forget the NAR and Florida Realtors Guides and Checklists for re-opening when the time is right. Please take a look at these and use them.
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Florida Realtors COVID-19/Coronavirus In-Person
Acknowledgment Form
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Released on April 13, 2020: Realtors can provide this form to consumers who still wish to view or show properties in person. It can be given to sellers, landlords, potential buyers and potential tenants by the listing office, the cooperating office or both. CLICK HERE FOR THE FORM.
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- Florida Realtors® is providing the following to its members using Form Simplicity:
- For Florida members, the Ultimate Edition for individual users will automatically be provided at no cost through June 30th to members that are not already subscribed to the Ultimate Edition. As a reminder, the Ultimate Edition includes unlimited eSign and unlimited file storage.
- For current individual users of the Ultimate Edition whose renewal occurs between tomorrow and June 30th, their annual renewal will automatically be discounted by $20, which equates to 3.3 months of free service of the Ultimate Edition.
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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS |
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Putting Members First With the Right Tools, Right Now
In light of the challenges presented by COVID-19, and its impact on the real estate industry, NAR is taking steps to support members through these uncertain times. The Right Tools, Right Now initiative, which was activated once before in 2009, makes new and existing NAR products and services available for FREE or at significant discounts – right now – and is available to REALTORS® and REALTOR® Associations.
The program includes products, resources and services from all areas of the Association, including:
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PLEASE READ: The MLS Clear Cooperation Policy is now in effect. Once you begin marketing a listing (sign in the yard, e-mail blast, flyers, announce at caravan, etc.) you have one business day to get it in the MLS. Based on this new policy, we have added a Coming Soon status that you can put your listing live under for 14 days before putting it Active in the system. This 14 days allows you time to get pictures, finish projects, etc.. All listings under Coming Soon are only view-able by other participants in the MLS and will not be sent out to prospects, IDX sites, or other 3rd Party syndication sites until it is placed Active. If you do not update your listing to Active before the 14 day coming soon period ends it will automatically go to withdrawn until you place it active. |
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Clear Cooperation: Within one (1) business day of marketing a property to the public, the listing broker must submit the listing to the MLS for cooperation with other MLS participants. Public marketing includes, but is not limited to, flyers displayed in windows, yard signs, digital marketing on public facing websites, brokerage website displays (including IDX and VOW), digital communications marketing (email blasts), multi-brokerage listing sharing networks, and applications available to the general public. (Adopted 11/19)
Note: Exclusive listing information for required property types must be filed and distributed to other MLS Participants for cooperation under the Clear Cooperation Policy. This applies to listings filed under Section 1 and listings exempt from distribution under Section 1.3 of the NAR model MLS rules if it is being publicly marketed, and any other situation where the listing broker is publicly marketing an exclusive listing that is required to be filed with the service and is not currently available to other MLS Participants.
Non-Participation Appendix B is no longer in use. Non-Participation Appendix A is still in effect for a seller that wishes to opt-out their property from the MLS, however, if the listing is publicly marketed in any way the non-participation becomes invalid and the listing must go into the MLS within one business day.
Please Contact Bill if you have any questions about this new policy. 239-472-9353
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Paragon Help
Members have direct Tier 1 support for MLS questions and concerns. http://paragonconnect.paragonrels.com
1- 877-MLS-HELP (877-657-4357)
Paragonsupport@bkfs.com
Hours:
● Monday through Friday: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., ET
● Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., ET
● Sunday: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., ET
**Please help us make the new system even better by submitting your comments and suggestions to mls@sanibelrealtors.com.**
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The Association has partnered with Homesnap to bring the highest-rated real estate app to its members - for free.
With easy-to-use mobile technology fueled by unmatched, real-time data intelligence, Homesnap is changing the way real estate agents connect with consumers and serve their clients. The industry-endorsed Homesnap platform leverages real-time data from 170+ MLSs to empower millions of consumers each month with a superior home search experience, while providing over 75% of U.S. agents with access to powerful mobile tools that automate their work and accelerate their success.
Homesnap Pro is the professional version of the Homesnap consumer platform built specifically for real estate agents. Real estate agents work in real time, and they need products that deliver in real time. Through deep partnerships and integrations with MLSs and brokers through the Broker Public Portal, Homesnap Pro provides you with real-time mobile access to your most valuable asset: MLS data, enhanced through data intelligence. Millions of consumers use Homesnap to search for homes every month, and each time they explore your listing, you get the lead instantly from Homesnap, for free. Homesnap is transforming the industry by bringing real-time to real estate. More information can be found at www.homesnap.com and www.homesnap.com/bpp.
Homesnap University: Resource Guide & Tutorials
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Email: support@homesnap.com
- Phone: 800-431-5509
- Hours:
- Monday - Friday: 9:00 A.M. - 8:00 P.M. ET
- Saturday: 9:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. ET
- Sunday: 10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. ET
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The New Association Website is up and running at Sanibelrealtors.com The password to the Resources page is still sanibel1 (all lowercase letters and the number one). This section is for all REALTOR and Affiliate Members.
You now have the ability to update your personal and office contact information on our website. You can edit your info, add your photo, add your logo, and add a bio to your directory entry. See the video from Bill on how to do it!
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Along with the new website you should have seen a new Homepage section in the MLS. This new MLS Homepage is tied directly to the new website with quick links to important Resource Documents, MLS News, and Association News. If you are looking for any Resource Information it can all be found on that one page or you can find links to more information that will pop-out in a new tab. |
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Association T-Shirts On Sale Now! |
Our NEW Association t-shirts are here! Show your Sanibel & Captiva Islands REALTOR® pride when attending events around town. Cost is $15/shirt and $3 from each purchase goes to the Charitable Funds Account for distribution to local organizations in need.
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