Estate Agents Co-operative - From the Boardroom Summer Edition 2013

Get your office mobile in 2013!

S U M M E R E D I T I O N 2 0 1 3

Membership ServicesA Practical Guide To Social Media

Marketing For Real EstatePage 09

Around The TrapsAdvantages of Website

Banner Advertising Page 07

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FTB SUMMER Edition 2013

03 The Chairman’s View - Dale Whittaker

04 In the Pipeline - David Crombie

05 Compliance Matters - Geoff Hunter

07 Around The Traps - Damien McDonald

09 Membership Services - Ross Graham

13 Technology Review - Don Harb

14 EAC Classifieds - Damien McDonald

15 Forms and Administration News - Maureen Faapito

17 Guest Feature - John F Sercombe

21 Staff Profile - Damien McDonald

22 Member Profile - Damien McDonald

23 Welcome New Members

24 EAC Contact List

25 EAC & realestateworld.com.au Account Managers

FTB SUMMER Edition 2013Index

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The Chairman’s View2013 The Crystal Ball…

By Dale Whittaker, EAC Chairman

I am certainly hopeful, as I am sure you are, that this situation will be relatively short lived.

I believe that the root cause of this situation comes from two sources:

1. A continuing lack of consumer confidence. This is outof trend at the moment, interest rates are down at historical levels, people have been paying down debt and building equity and the global situation while not fantastic is certainly much more stable than this time last year. All of these factors would normally increase consumer confidence and get people spending againbut up until now it has remained stubbornly negative. Theannouncementofa federalelectiononSeptember14th with such a long and no doubt bitter and negative campaign by both sides is certainly not going to help consumer sentiment.

2. The removal of the first home buyers grant for existingproperties from October 1st 2012 has certainly affected thisimportantdriveratthebottomofthemarket.Theflowoneffectoffewerfirsthomebuyersgettingintothemarketand allowing sellers to move up the chain and upgrade is certainly evident. The governmentmay need to rethinkthis policy area sooner rather than later. I am sure their intention to stimulate new development was well meaning butIamnotsuretheaveragefirsthomebuyercanalwaysafford or even want to get into a brand new property that may be located away from where they want to live, in an established area, close to family, facilities and alike.

On a positive note auction clearance rates are higher than the same time last year and the shortage of stock is likely to have a positive impact on prices for those who do decide to sell.

Theshortageofpropertyshouldalsodeliveracontinuedstrongrental market with vacancy rates remaining at very low level and rents continuing to increase.

Thenewyearwillalsoseethecontinuedmarchforwardwithtechnology, particularly in the area of mobile devices. Recent statistics show a dramatic increase in the use of mobiles to search for property and to meet this trend EAC has produced anexcellentproducttosuitbothiPhoneandAndroidmobiledevices. If you have not already spoken to EAC about this product, I highly recommend you get on board and service thisrapidlyexpandingsourceofenquiry.

2013 also sees the likely introduction of National Licensing, an area of great concern for many.

As I have stated previously EAC has had a “seat at the table” in discussionswithNSWgovernmentandaccesstothecommitteemaking recommendations to the federal government.

I am also pleased to announce that EAC as a result of ongoing discussions with the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) hasdecidedtotakeupAffiliateMembershipoftheREIA.Thisrelationship will provide us with the ability to further participate in ongoing policy discussions and greater access to the decisionmakerstoensurethatthe interestsofEACMembersandtherealestateindustrywithinNSWareprotected.

The introduction of national licencing has been put backseveral times already and with an election now announced, who knows how hard the government will push on this front but you can be assured EAC will be putting practising agents’ concerns forward at every opportunity and keeping you informed as soon as developments occur.

From discussions with agents all over the state it appears that in many areas listings are quite tight and as a result the volume of sales is also down at the moment.

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Welcometo2013andtothefirsteditionofFrom the Boardroom for the year.

Withthemovetoournewofficesbehindus,wearebackintogetting on with business and many of the changes that we implemented as part of the move are already delivering results in the way of reduced operating costs. We are constantlylooking at ways we can do things better to improve our services without having to increase our subscription fees and prices.

One of the biggest changes the Industry may face this year is in regard to National Licencing, as yet there have been no further developments in this regard since we made our submission. EAC continues to consult with government and other industry bodies to try and ensure that interests ofMembers and theIndustry are protected. To view the submissions made bythe various industry bodies, franchise groups and real estate practioners visit http://nola.gov.au/consultation-regulation-impact-statement-submissions-2012/.

Onthe14thDecember2012,theProperty,StockandBusinessAgents Amendment (Professional Indemnity Insurance)Regulation2012waspublished.Thislonganticipatedlegislationrequires that all licensees must be insured under a policy of Professional Indemnity Insurance in respect to the licenseeor the licensee’semployer. This new regulationcommencedon 1 January 2013 but will not take effect until 1 July 2013 in ordertoprovidesufficienttimeforlicenseestoobtainsuitablecoverage.ToobtainaquoteortocheckyourcurrentlevelofcoveragecontactEAC’spreferredinsuranceadvisors,OAMPSInsuranceBrokerson(02)42268700anddon’tforgettomentionthatyouareanEACMember.

There have been several developments in regard torealestateworld.com.au. All of the listings on realestateworld.com.au are now being uploaded to odusee.com.au and we will soon be doing the same with realestate1.com.au in a content sharing arrangement which will see listings from this site uploaded to realestateworld.com.au as well.

Wehavealso now releasedamobile friendly version of thesite that consumers will be directed to. Work continues onthe development of a new realestateworld.com.au site and we are working towards a release date in the next coupleof months. In December we had two bumper editions of the realestateworld.com.au publication with the Illawarra achieving100pagesandtheFarNorthCoastandMidNorthCoastbeingnottoofarbehindwith92pages.Whilethefocusthesedaysisontheonlineworld,Memberscontinuetoobtainvery cost effective print advertising though the support of what is their publication.

We have also now released our AgentMobileweb sites forMembers.Withtheamountofrealestatesearchesnowtakingplace on mobile devices, a mobile friendly version of your website needs to form part of your online marketing strategy.

On the Red Square front, there have been severalenhancementsincludingupdatestoRedSquareMobile.Oneof the latest editions to Red Square isNSW TelephoneData,the phone data is checked against the ADMADo Not CallRegisterandisupdatedevery30days.ForthoseMembersona package the telephone data is available at no additional cost.

One of the biggest developments we have been working on in regardtoRedSquareisthenewListingManagementfeature.Thisfeatureisnowundergoingfinaltestingandwillbereleasedto a select number of Agents in February for feedback.

In October I attended and presented at the International Year of Co-operative’s Conference. It was an interesting conference on several fronts. It is surprising just how many large Australian businesses, and I am talking some with billion dollar turnover, operate under a Co-operative structure. Co-operatives are distinguished from other forms of organisation by their democratic structure and the fact that capital is used to service the common needs of the members, rather than to provide individual benefit.As a result of someof the ideas Ipicked up at the conference this year I will be working with theBoard todevelopnewways tomakeMembershipmorebeneficial to Members as the marketplace and industrycontinue to change.

Over the coming months we will be conducting some surveys andfocusgroupstogetabetterunderstandingofMembers’needs but if you have any feedback in the meantime feel free to call me.

All the best in the coming year.

In the PipelineWhat’s Happening at EAC

With the amount of real estate searches now taking place on mobile devices, a mobile friendly version of your website needs to form part of your online marketing strategy.

By David Crombie, EAC Chief Executive Officer

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By Geoff Hunter, Industry Liaison and Compliance Advisor

New Rules for Boarding Houses from1 January 2013

Agentswill bewell aware thatboardinghousesareexemptpremises in so faras theResidential TenanciesAct2010andRegulationareconcerned.CurrentlyinNSWtheonlyboardinghouses that are required to be licensed are those that accommodate two or more people with a disability, all others are unlicensed but are required to comply with standard public health, local government and sundry legislation.

TheBoardingHousesAct2012commencedon1January2013and will be progressively implemented during this year.

All boarding houses are required to be registered by 30 June 2013,proprietorscanobtain the form from theOfficeof FairTradingwebsite,www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au.NSWFairTradingwill host the register but enforcement of requirements rests with local councils.

The legislation provides specific occupancy rights whichinclude the following:

• liveinpremisesthatarereasonablyclean,inareasonablestate of repair, and reasonably secure

• knowtherulesoftheboardinghousebeforemovingin• quietenjoymentofthepremises• 4weeks’writtennoticeofanincreaseintheoccupancy

fee• benotifiedbeforesigninganagreementiftherewillbea

charge for utilities• be charged for any utility according to the cost of

providing it plus usage by the resident• knowwhyanoccupancymaybe terminatedandhow

much notice will be given before termination• begivenreasonablewrittennoticeofeviction• be given written receipts for any money paid to the

proprietor• haveanysecuritydepositlimitedto2weeks’occupancy

fee, and repaid within 14 days of the end of the occupancy, less certain allowable deductions.

Residents will be able to enforce these rights at the Consumer, TraderandTenancyTribunal.

Theseoccupancylawswillstartinmid2013.

A comprehensive fact sheet has been published and can be obtained at:

www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/Tenants_and_home_owners/Boarding_houses.html

Professional Indemnity Insurance Reminder

MandatoryProfessionalIndemnityInsuranceforlicenseholderscommencedon1January2013.Thosewhodonotcurrentlyhave insurance cover have until 30 June 2013 to obtain cover in the following terms:• notlessthan$1mforanyoneclaimand• not less than$3m in theaggregate forall claimsmade

during the insurance period

For those license holders who are employed, salaried or commission only basis, you are most likely covered by your employers policy, but you should discuss the arrangement with theinsuranceprovidertoconfirmthisfact.

It is recognized that there are a considerable number of license holders who work under different arrangements with an agency and for those who are not “genuine employees” but may be “in conjunction” or “in association” etc, you should obtain advice from the agency broker for certainty.

Should you have any questions, please call Geoff Hunter,AgencySupporton1300137161.

Swimming Pools – A Timely Reminder for Property Managers and Sales Personnel

EAC members were previously advised of the recent amendmentstotheSwimmingPoolsAct1992passedbytheNSWParliamenton23October2012.

Whilst the majority of the changes have a stagedimplementationoverthenext12months,thecriticalfirststepofregistrationMUSTtakeplaceby23April2013.

Those agents who currently manage properties with pools,both in-ground and above- ground and spa pools, should immediately advise their clients that registration is mandatory by 23 April 2013.

Thedefinitionof“swimmingpool” includes in-ground,above-ground,and spapools, BUTNOT spabaths situatedwithinabathroom.

Registration forms are available from your local council.

Salesstaffshouldalsoadvisetheirvendorstoensureregistrationoccurs and discuss this with the solicitor/conveyancer who is preparing the contract for sale.

Warning for all Agencies

Fair Trading Minister Anthony Roberts recently announceda crack down on a number of compliance issues. At the top of the list were false representation to both vendors and purchasers as to the estimating selling price for property and thefailurebyagentstokeeppropersalesfilesandrecordsofthe substantiation process.

Operation Poseidon is also investigating agents for underquoting, improperly accessing trust accounts and deceptive conduct. Fair Trading Officers are also undertaking covertoperations in attending property auctions.

During 2012, 59 agents were disqualified for various non-compliance issues.

Anyquestionsoncomplianceandagencypractice,callGeoffHunteron1300137161.

Compliance Matters

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www.eac.com.au | [email protected] | 1300 137 161

50SERVICING REAL ESTATE

PROFESSIONALS FOR OVER

yearsEstablished 1960

Industry LeadingElectronic Real Estate Forms

EAC eForms are simple to use and in some cases half the length and half the cost of other existing real estate forms on the market.

What do you get?

Access to the best quality, cost effective and comprehensive pay per form online real estate sales and property management agreements and forms in the market!

All 100% legally backed by the Estate Agents Co-operative for your peace of mind.

FREE professional support on all forms related queries or issues.

How much does it cost?

From $59 per year plus form usage charged to your monthly account – No minimum use,No contracts and No hidden extras!

How do I order?

Simply call 1300 137 161to order your EAC eForms today!

*Average price per form or agreement is thirty cents per impression

Around The TrapsAdvantages of Website Banner Advertising

By Damien McDonald, EAC Sales & Marketing Manager

You want your name to be out as many places as possible, with intention, impact, and a reputation for reliability. This is where website banner ads can become a very strategic tool.

Many businesses adopt passive web strategies – building awebsiteandassumingthatcustomerswillautomaticallyfindit–butastrategicallyplacedbanneradisaverycosteffectiveand aggressive method of building brand awareness, which results in driving customers to your site.

One of the most important aspects of marketing is branding. You want your name to be out as many places as possible, with intention,impact,andareputationforreliability.Thisiswherewebsite banner ads can become a very strategic tool.

By using a similar look and feel for your web banners thatyou use for your other business related materials, you can utilise these ads to reinforce the image of your company to prospective customers. Even if the prospect doesn’t click on yourbannerad,theyarestillexposedtoyourcompanylogoand company image.

Whenaconsumerisvisitinganywebsitethathasbannerads,even though they are focusing on website content, they are also subconsciously taking in the banner ads around that content. It’s very similar to how commercial jingles get stuck in your head. Although a consumer might not remember when or where they saw the ad, when they go to research or purchase a service or product, they will recall the name and logo of the company that they saw on the banner ad.

Banners ads are powerfulmarketing tools for branding yourbusiness with online display ads now overtaken search term ads as the top online ad referral. Facebook revenue, for example, ismostlybasedonbannerads.Byadvertisingwithbannerads,youwilldefinitelygainacompetitiveadvantageover less forward-thinking competitors.

Strategically Expose Your Website or Company Brand Right Where You Want It

EAC can strategically place your company banner ads on realestateworld.com.au website pages that are in line with the geographicfootprintofyourbusiness.Forexample,yourofficeislocatedinThirroul;wecanplaceyourbannertoalsoappearin searches that incorporate Austinmer, Woonona and Bulli.Basically,youwillgainexposurefromyour locationsuburbaswellasthesurroundingsuburbstoensureconsumerexposureinthe areas you would more than likely do business in.

Easily Measure the Results of Your Campaign

Whenwehostyourbanneradsonrealestateworld.com.au,youwill also receive an advertiser monthly report, which provides you with statistics so that you can track unique click-throughs and analyse how effective your campaign is. By trackingbanner advertisement performance, you can review and determine which ad placements direct the most customers to yourwebsite,andfinetuneyouroffersandadplacementstoimprove your conversion rate.

Budget for a 3 Month Campaign

Manyrealestatesiteswillofferbannerpackageswithseparatecharges for concept, creation, production and hosting that in most cases put this form of advertising out of reach of your average office. The team at realestateworld.com.au willworkwithyouonalloftheseaspectsandprovideyourofficewith a complete 3 banner, 3 suburbs, 3 month campaign for only $330 including GST. Contact us on 1300 137 161 [email protected] to secure your banner positions orjusttofindoutmore.

realestateworld.com.au is a division of Estate Agents Co-operative Ltd.

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www.eac.com.au | [email protected] | 1300 137 161

50SERVICING REAL ESTATE

PROFESSIONALS FOR OVER

yearsEstablished 1960

Industry LeadingElectronic Real Estate Forms

EAC eForms are simple to use and in some cases half the length and half the cost of other existing real estate forms on the market.

What do you get?

Access to the best quality, cost effective and comprehensive pay per form online real estate sales and property management agreements and forms in the market!

All 100% legally backed by the Estate Agents Co-operative for your peace of mind.

FREE professional support on all forms related queries or issues.

How much does it cost?

From $59 per year plus form usage charged to your monthly account – No minimum use,No contracts and No hidden extras!

How do I order?

Simply call 1300 137 161to order your EAC eForms today!

*Average price per form or agreement is thirty cents per impression


Was itever thateasyordidwe justmisunderstandwhatwasbeing said? Social Media Marketing (SMM) certainly holdsenormous potential to reach customers but it is not a silver bullet for all our marketing and it certainly does not happen all by itself!

Firstly, it is important to understand how it works and then establish some realistic objectives. Let’s begin with what it is in marketingtermsthatapplytotheaveragerealestateoffice.For the most part, it is an “awareness” tool that can be used to reach lots of people and it provides the opportunity to promoteyouroffice.Itistruetherearepromotionaltechniquesavailable that can be used to sell a property but the values involved in a real estate purchase make those promotional tricks inappropriate and ineffective.

However,whenitcomesto“positioning”(thewaypeoplethinkaboutyou),socialmediaisextremelyeffective.Thereisplentyof evidence to back up claims that social media is a powerful marketingtool.TheobjectiveofyourSMMshouldbetogainsomuchexposurethatwhenpotentialvendorsfinallydecidetosell,yourofficeisthefirsttocometomindbecause:

1. TheyseeyouontheirFacebookpage;

2. Theylikethe“justsold”datayouhavebeensendingthem;

3. They like the football jumpers you have given the localteam that their son plays in.

Simplyput,theyknowyou!ThatiswhyitiscalledSocialMedia.Soyourobjectivesshouldbelongtermandyoumustbeableto identify business opportunities that have arrived via social media.Don’texpectvendorsandbuyerstobeknockingdownyourdoor in thefirstweek:but, toquote froma famous80’smovie, “build it and they will come.”Thisleadsmetohowtodoit.

1. Have EAC’s Web Services set up your social mediapresence. It may sound simple enough but you will maximisetheresultswhenyouputtheexpertstowork.Theydo a lot more than just set up accounts.

2. Really,ifyoudon’tenjoyit,thenfindastaffmemberwhodoes, because it takes some work. It’s a good idea to have one person responsible for gathering content and posting it on each of your social media sites and aim for daily entries.

3. Getinvolvedwiththelocalcommunity.Sponsorshipsareagreatvehicletoraiseyourofficeprofileandtheyhelpthelocal community too.

4. Startane-newsletter includingsalesdataandlistingsetc.Sendittoallyourclientswithlinkstoyoursocialmediasites.EAC’s Communicate lets you create great e-newsletters in aslittleasfiveminutes.

5. Avoidfillingyoursocialmediawith listings.Remember it issocial media and if you are going to post a listing, do it in a personal way.

6. Havefunwithit.

SocialMediaMarketingmayberelativelynewbuttraditionalmarketing disciplines still apply. Just like any medium such as TV,radioorprinttherearesomekeyquestionstobeconsideredbefore committing time and money to a campaign.

It all sounds very exciting, reaching 10 million Facebook users with just one free entry on a website, but as we have discovered it’s just not that easy.

By Ross Graham, Membership Sales & Operation Manager

Membership ServicesA Practical Guide To Social Media Marketing For Real Estate

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Red Square Mapping is builtwith the modern real estate professional in mind.

• Start any property search directly from the map

• NSW statewide cadastral and aerial maps as standard

• Perform multiple radius searches

• Export images to reports

• Heat maps option displaying sold and what’s currently on the market

• Display dimensions and total area size on lots

• Measure any property area with our area measurement tool

• Add your office logo, for sale or sold signs to maps

CALL NOW FOR YOUR FREE 7 DAY TRIAL!

1300 137 161

For as little as $273 a month on a 24 month contract, your office can have access to the latest online tools to ensure maximum exposure of your brand to buyers and sellers alike.

The cost effective solution to your online presence.

WHAT YOU GET

1Latest in EAC Powered Premium Website packed with features including;

• Homepage•Aboutuspage•Staffprofilespage•Contactuspage•FeaturePropertyonthehomepage•Propertyquicksearchfeature•MortgageCalculator•Propertyemailalert•ConsumerNeighbourhoodReportfeature•6xonlinerealestateforms•Automaticpropertyupload•Websitehosting•Emailhosting•Searchengineoptimised(SEO)•SocialMediaenabled•Blog(mappedtoyourdomain)

EAC e-marketer PACKAGES

Join the conversationBuild Your Brand Locally,Regionally and Nationally

Connect with buyers and sellers

All the Social Media Tools for connecting with buyers and sellers including;

A realestateworld.com.au Pro package and all of your listings uploaded to your website as well as most of the major real estate listing portals including;

Meaningful Property Newsletters you can produce in less than 5 minutes that include;

• YourListingsuploadedtoyour socialmediapages• Facebookcompanypagesetup• LinkedIncompanypagesetup• Twitteraccountsetup• Google+accountsetup• Googleanalyticsaccountsetup• Googlewebprofilesetup• GooglePlacessetup• YouTubeChannelsetup• OfficeBlogsetup

• Fullintegrationwithyourlistings• Unlimitedcampaigns• BuyerandsellerleadalertsviaSMS• Customisedbrandedtemplates• Featuredproperties• OFI’s• Newrentals• Newscontentprovideddaily• Campaignmanagementtools• SocialMediaintegration• Spamcompliant

If purchased individually these features would total over $6,500. Avoid a big upfront payment with our 24 month cost effective plan from $273 a month.

Contact us today about our e-marketer package on 1300 137 161.

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All the Social Media Tools for connecting with buyers and sellers including;

A realestateworld.com.au Pro package and all of your listings uploaded to your website as well as most of the major real estate listing portals including;

Meaningful Property Newsletters you can produce in less than 5 minutes that include;

• YourListingsuploadedtoyour socialmediapages• Facebookcompanypagesetup• LinkedIncompanypagesetup• Twitteraccountsetup• Google+accountsetup• Googleanalyticsaccountsetup• Googlewebprofilesetup• GooglePlacessetup• YouTubeChannelsetup• OfficeBlogsetup

• Fullintegrationwithyourlistings• Unlimitedcampaigns• BuyerandsellerleadalertsviaSMS• Customisedbrandedtemplates• Featuredproperties• OFI’s• Newrentals• Newscontentprovideddaily• Campaignmanagementtools• SocialMediaintegration• Spamcompliant

If purchased individually these features would total over $6,500. Avoid a big upfront payment with our 24 month cost effective plan from $273 a month.

Contact us today about our e-marketer package on 1300 137 161.

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Technology ReviewMobile Warrior

By Don Harb, EAC IT Manager

Whenyouhear“MobileWarrior”youmightassociatethiswithbusiness people that are always on the move, never in the office,completelymobile.Everythingisdoneviatheirphone,laptop or tablet device. These words are now becomingsynonymous with the everyday consumer. These are thepeople that do everything on their mobile from social media to dinnerreservationsandevenfindingthenexthousethattheyare going to purchase or rent.

New technology is being introduced every day to allow these types of users to be able to do more and more from their mobile and tablet devices. Even in the offline world,technology is being used to allow the online world to connect. QuickResponseorQRcodesareaperfectexampleofusingan offline system that allows mobile warriors to quickly andeasily access information from their mobile and tablet devices. QRcodesredirectausertoeitherawebsiteoraspecificURLon the web.

So, what does this mean for your real estate office? If youuse QR codes on your marketing material you need to make sure that the page you are sending the consumer to is mobile friendly. As we have all experienced at one point, there isnothing worse than trying to access a website on your phone or tablet that isn’t designed for that device.

So,whatshouldyoulookforwhenchoosingamobilewebsite?Here are some points that should be fundamental to yourmobile website decision making process.

Branding–Alwayshaveyourbrandingonyourmobilesite.Yourmobilesiteisarepresentationofyourofficesomakesureithasyour branding easily viewable without using too much “real estate” that is available on the device that the consumer is using.

Simple and easy to use – Mobile sites should be simple forthe end user to navigate to the information that they require. Peoplethatareusingmobiledevicesdon’thavethepatienceto try and flick through a number of screens to get theinformationthattheywant.Simpledoesnotmeandullasmostpeople think.

Communication–Makesurethat it iseasyfortheusertobeable to contact you for more information, whether that is via emailonthesiteorothercommunicationdetails.ContactUspages are important.

WiththisinmindEAChasdevelopedtechnologytoprovideyouwitha mobile version of your website that meets all the criteria above. Byleveragingtechnologyfromourrealestateworld.com.aumobile

site this service becomes a cost effective way of providing consumerswithatruemobileexperience.

Why didn’t we create a mobile application you ask? EACbelieves that by providing a website rather than application we eliminate a number of factors that hinder the use and creation of mobile sites.

Applications are not cross platform i.e. if you want your application to work on Apple’s iOS, Google’s Android orWindowsMobilethenyouwouldneedtocreateanapplicationfor each of these operating systems. You would then need to maintain each of these separately, potentially increasing ongoing costs.

Applications need to be installed from the appropriate store suchasApple iTunes,Googleplay,etc. This removesoneofthe fundamental rules outlined earlier of keeping it easy to use.

Don’t misunderstand me, applications on mobile devices are very powerful tools but can be costly to create and maintain due to some of these factors.

Bydevelopingamobilewebsiteinsteadforyouroffice,EACisable to minimise the upfront and ongoing costs while providing yourofficewithaprofessionalmobilesitethatisquickandeasyto use.

GiveEAC’sWebServicesteamacalltodayon1300137161tosee how we can help you build your mobile presence.

Quick Response or QR codes are a perfect example of using an offline system that allows mobile warriors to quickly and easily access information from their mobile and tablet devices.

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FTB SUMMER Edition 2013 20

EAC Classifieds

realestateworld.com.au Goes MobileWith consumer real estate searches now predominantly taking place on mobiles, realestateworld.com.au is now

optimised for the latest Apple, Android and Blackberry devices. Our solution automatically redirects browsers to

the mobile site when searching on a supported device to increase consumer visibility of your office listings. Log

onto www.realestateworld.com.au on your mobile today and see for yourself the difference in browser usability

available with mobile technology.

Mobile Office Websites a hit with EAC membersEAC Web Services was inundated with

requests in response to recent EAC

promotional broadcasts advertising

the availability of mobile websites to

complement your existing office sites.

At time of writing there were over 44

member mobile sites in production with

the team churning out in excess of 4 to 5

a day! Click here to learn how your office

can take advantage of the Gen Y search

phenomenon.

Red Square NSW Telephone Data changes the way agents are marketing to their local areaThe recent inclusion of washed NSW Telephone data to Red Square has seen the ability for agents to now more easily canvas their local area with accurate phone data for their campaigns. One of the main benefits that users have reported is the ability to be able to export Name, Address and Contact Number details directly into their CRM systems.

Outdoor advertising making an impact for Illawarra realestateworld.com.auSummer season outdoor advertising continues to highlight the realestateworld.com.au brand in the Illawarra, with a new series of high consumer impact bus shelter sites in late January 2013.

EAC & Odusee.com.au partnership now in place

The listing partnership between EAC and the major global database search engine Odusee.com.au,

is now in place. In a nutshell, if your office is listing with realestateworld.com.au then your listings

will also be automatically uploaded to www.odusee.com.au. This venture will ensure an even

greater exposure for supporters of the realestateworld.com.au website.


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http://eac.com.au/page/2708/Mobile-Web-Services.aspx


AsannouncedlatelastyearNSWFairTradinghasenteredintopartnership with EAC to supply the Agency agreements for the sale of residential property, Bidders Guide and New TenantChecklist factsheets. NSW Fair Trading will cease to supplythese real estate factsheets in print form.

Belowisourpricingforthefactsheets

If you print these factsheets yourself or order your forms from another supplier, make sure you compare our prices prior to ordering as we doubt you can buy them or print them at a lower cost yourself.

Changes to Open Agency Agreements

TheEACOpenAgencyAgreementshavebeenupdated toprovide a greater level of protection to agents in regard to remuneration.

Our New Member Trade site Forms and Stationery are now available for pick up fromSouthernEstatesWollongong.

As with our other trade sites all orders are to be placed and paid forwithheadofficeorvia theonline storeprior topickup.Onceyourorderhasbeenprocessedaconfirmationemailand electronic receipt will be sent to you advising the order is ready for pick up.

Forms and Administration News

By Maureen Faapito, Administration and Resources Manager

NSWFairTradingFactsheets

MemberNon Member

EAC031–BiddersGuidePackof50

$12.50 $15.00

EAC032–AgencyAgreements Agency agreements for the sale of residential property

Packof50

$25.00 $30.00

EAC072–NewTenantChecklist

Packof50

$12.50 $15.00

Testimonials:

I have been using the service and products of the EAC for over 25 years and have no hesitation in recommending them to any real estate person.

TheproductsareverycompetitivelypricedandtheirservicesIcanhighlyrecommend.Ifyou’relooking for good value in all aspects of real estate EAC is well worth considering.

John ContosEACCustomer-L.J.HookerMerrylands

TaragoRealEstatewasestablishedin2007tofillaneedforrealestateservicesinourlocalareaclosetobothGoulburnandCanberra.

Weareproudthatin2012ourofficeheld27%ofthemarketshareinourarea.

Althoughweareasmallofficeofthreesalesagentsandonepropertymanageroneofusisoncall7days per week to accommodate our client’s needs & busy schedules.

SoonafterestablishingourbusinessasanindependentrealestateagencywewerefortunatetohaveanEACrepresentativecallinandintroducehimself.Inhisshortvisit,JohnexplainedtheproductsandservicesofferedbyEACandIamsurebeforehegottohisnextappointmentIwasringing his mobile to arrange another visit.

WehavebeenmembersofEACeversince,utilisingmanyoftheirservicesincludingtheRedSquaresoftwarewhichhasaneasyuploadtoallofthemajorwebsitesaswellascurrentmarketdata;EACwebhosting;realestateforms&countlessadvicefromtheteamatthecomplianceseminars.Wealllovethediarieswithrelevantinformationinthefront.Thisisoneofmanyproductsdiscountedtomembers.

Judy AlcockEACMember–TaragoRealEstate

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Administration

Haveyouupdatedyourrecordswithournewaddressdetails?Itwouldappearasthough some members and customers are still sending through mail using our old addressdetails.Mailredirectionisnolongerinplace.

Ournewofficeislocatedat:

2A/175JamesRuseDriveRosehillNSW2142

OurPostalAddressis:

P.OBox9054HarrisParkNSW2150

OurTelephoneNumberforallenquiresis1300137161andourFaxNumberis 1300789675

UpcomingMeetings

TheBoarddatesforthefirstquarterare:

30 January 201327February201327March2013

16


But,isthereadownsidetothistechnology?

When every agent presents the same sort of analysis, whatmakes you standapart? Sure, youcanchange thecolours,even the photos, but where is your expertise? When thetechnology was new, it really was a point of difference in itself, but today, everyone has the same sort of presentation.

As technology achieves broader adoption, the consumer expectsmore. This isbothanopportunityandachallenge–especiallywhentheylookupinformationonGoogleandfindlistings that aren’t necessarily comparable!

So,howdoyoutakeadvantageofthetechnologyandatthesame time differentiate yourself in the marketplace? After all, propertyinformationandstockarenolongerexclusivetotheagent.

I would suggest to you that your own personal knowledge of the district, the marketplace around the subject property, and your personality can be every bit as important as the computer generatedComparativeMarketAnalysis?ThisisoldfashionedI know, but it still can give you an edge that you otherwise wouldn’t have approached!

Theactualpropertyinspectionandmeetingwithyoursellerarestillthebestopportunitiestodifferentiateyourself.ThiscanbeverymuchharderifthevendorisattheotherendoftheState,but most sellers will appreciate you taking the trouble to meet with them,explain justwhyyou’reworthhiringandhowyoumight work together to help them sell their property or business!

Don’t forget - youcaneven talk to themover Skype if theyhaveacomputer!Thepersonalapproachstillworkswellandnot everybody does it!

Guest FeatureIs Technology Turning You Into A Lazy Agent?

By John F Sercombe, Principal - Coffsproperty Estate Agents

In the past, preparing a CMA took a long time, whereas today, you can create a far more comprehensive CMA in a fraction of the time!

17

OUR LICENSING PROGRAM ISN ’T SEXY

BUT IT WILL ARM YOU WITH THE

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

TO BE AHEAD OF THE GAME

Gain more customers and improve your client loyalty byutilising one of the Industry’s leading customer relationship management and marketing tools.

CONTACT

Monitor leads

Reach your contacts

Marketing campaigns

Keep in touch

Increase Sales

Generate more leadsGrow your business

Now fully compatible withRed Square Listing Management!

Contact Database

Customer Relationship Management

Communication

Office Administration/Financial

• Easilyadd,syncorimportcontactswithGoogleorOutlook• Auto-Captureandstorageofenquiriesfromyourwebsite• Unlimitedclientcategories(Cashedupbuyers,prospectivelandlords,investmentbuyers)• Clientinformation&trackingfeatures• Attachopenhomeorinspectionfeedbackagainsteachprospectivebuyertoeasilypreparevendorreports

• Bulkprintingofvendorletters• CampaignManager(monitoreffectivenessofyouremailmarketing)• Classifycontactsaccordingtolevelofinterest.• AttachAction/Correspondence/Trailplanstoclients• LoadallyourlettersintoContact(thankyouforlisting,congratulations,etc)• SendSMS/Emailstoallclientsonceofforinbulk

• GenerateWindowCards,JustListedFlyersetc• Send1:1or1:Many(bulk)SMSand/orSMSmessagestoclients• Matchaprospectivebuyeragainstpropertiesmatchingtheirrequirements• Matchalistingagainstyourlistofprospectivebuyers

• Createloginaccountsforeachstaffmember• Conversionreportsandtrackingofstaffperformance• Offsitebackuptool• Franchise/Corporatereporting• Sourceofenquiryreports• AdvertisingManager• SalesTrust&BankReconciliation• Calculateagentandofficecommissionreports• Cashflowforecastreports• Trackadvertisingexpenses• EnhancedDuplicatecheckingtoolforcontacts

RedSquareContactisawebbasedcustomerrelationshipmanagementapplicationthatcanbeaccessedanywhereyouneedit.Personalisedloginscreenswithvariousaccesslevelsforsalesrepsandadministrators.Integratedcalendaranddiarycontainingyourdailytasksandevents.Customisedreportingwiththeabilitytoshareactionplans,contactsandbuyermatchingwithourmultiofficeenvironmentfeature,makeContactapremiumofficetool.It’salsototallycompatiblewithRedSquare.

CONTACT

CallEACon1300 137 161tofindouthowyoucanbecomeaContactpoweredagenttoday.

Gain more customers and improve your client loyalty byutilising one of the Industry’s leading customer relationship management and marketing tools.

CONTACT

Monitor leads

Reach your contacts

Marketing campaigns

Keep in touch

Increase Sales

Generate more leadsGrow your business

Now fully compatible withRed Square Listing Management!

Contact Database

Customer Relationship Management

Communication

Office Administration/Financial

• Easilyadd,syncorimportcontactswithGoogleorOutlook• Auto-Captureandstorageofenquiriesfromyourwebsite• Unlimitedclientcategories(Cashedupbuyers,prospectivelandlords,investmentbuyers)• Clientinformation&trackingfeatures• Attachopenhomeorinspectionfeedbackagainsteachprospectivebuyertoeasilypreparevendorreports

• Bulkprintingofvendorletters• CampaignManager(monitoreffectivenessofyouremailmarketing)• Classifycontactsaccordingtolevelofinterest.• AttachAction/Correspondence/Trailplanstoclients• LoadallyourlettersintoContact(thankyouforlisting,congratulations,etc)• SendSMS/Emailstoallclientsonceofforinbulk

• GenerateWindowCards,JustListedFlyersetc• Send1:1or1:Many(bulk)SMSand/orSMSmessagestoclients• Matchaprospectivebuyeragainstpropertiesmatchingtheirrequirements• Matchalistingagainstyourlistofprospectivebuyers

• Createloginaccountsforeachstaffmember• Conversionreportsandtrackingofstaffperformance• Offsitebackuptool• Franchise/Corporatereporting• Sourceofenquiryreports• AdvertisingManager• SalesTrust&BankReconciliation• Calculateagentandofficecommissionreports• Cashflowforecastreports• Trackadvertisingexpenses• EnhancedDuplicatecheckingtoolforcontacts

RedSquareContactisawebbasedcustomerrelationshipmanagementapplicationthatcanbeaccessedanywhereyouneedit.Personalisedloginscreenswithvariousaccesslevelsforsalesrepsandadministrators.Integratedcalendaranddiarycontainingyourdailytasksandevents.Customisedreportingwiththeabilitytoshareactionplans,contactsandbuyermatchingwithourmultiofficeenvironmentfeature,makeContactapremiumofficetool.It’salsototallycompatiblewithRedSquare.

CONTACT

CallEACon1300 137 161tofindouthowyoucanbecomeaContactpoweredagenttoday.


What were you doing job wise before working with EAC?

Before EAC, Iwasworking in thecity fora financial servicescompanyasapersonalassistant.Mybosswoulddropineveryafternoon for an hour to give me an update on his meetings and appointments and then I wouldn’t see him again until the nextday!Sotheother7hoursIwouldspendshoppingatPittStreetMallhaha,oknotreally,Iwish!

What are your usual daily tasks as AdConstructor Client Liaison?

I’m either designing online templates for new clients, making changes to current ones, conducting AdConstructor training sessions, creating in-house artwork or taking support calls, keeping our clients happy.

Give an example, without naming names, of an interesting situation you have had to deal with on the phone since appointed to your position.

Hmm ... I’ve had many, I do remember one though thatneeded help with hair loss, it was a busy day, a lot of support calls, and I found myself actually looking for a tab that was associated with hair loss in AdConstructor!

What motivates you to come to work every day?

Loving what I do, working with different people, and going to the vending machine in the kitchen.

What sort of hobbies or activities do you like to participate in after work hours?

I like to read, at the moment I’m reading, Scandilands,biography of radio presenter Kyle Sandilands. I also enjoypainting but don’t do it as often as I would like to.

What sort of music do you listen to?

I’m a sucker for old schoolmusic, Dr Hook, The Nolans, TheTemptationsTheBeeGees,younameit.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

That is absolutely none of your business! Lol… just kidding.Personally,I’dliketoberelaxingonthebeachesofCostaRicawithmy family,we’ll seeabout that.Workwise, in5years I’dlike to have progressed in terms of my skills from where I am today.Thetechnologyusedinthis industry isalwaysevolvingand my aim is to stay up to date with the new programs on themarketbycontinuallyupskilling.Thisinturnwillallowmetodeliver better services to our clients.


Let me introduce you to the vivacious Oketi Faapito whose wit, keen sense of humourandexpertiseisnotonlyanassettoherbuthighlyvaluedbyEACaswell.

OketihasbeenwithEACforjustover7halfyearsandhasalwaysbeenanintegralpartofthePublications-ProductionandSupportteam.

Oketi’s ability to see the lighter side of things helps her to interact easily with herclientsandevendiffusedifficultsituations.Wellknowninthecompanyandamongherclientsforherexpertise,OketiisthegotopersonforusersoftheEAConline AdConstructor system.

I recently took the opportunity to ask Oketi some questions to give you a better insight into the ‘personality behind the phone’.

Staff ProfileOketi Faapito - AdConstructor Client Liaison

21


Member ProfileAnthony Chapman - Western Plains Real Estate


Each edition of From the Boardroom features a profile of an EAC Memberto give youan ideaof how theyachieved success in their area. This editionfeatures the versatile, multi-talented and good humoured Anthony Chapman, Auctioneer,LicensedRealEstateAgent,BusinessBroker,DirectorandLicenseeinchargeofWesternPlainsRealEstateDubbo.AnthonyhasbeenamemberoftheCo-operativesince2010andcurrentlyutilisesourPlatinumMembershippackage.

How did you first get started in the real estate industry?

Afternearly17years intheNSWPoliceForceImadeahugecareerchange.IcommencedworkatRaine&HorneDubboas a sales consultant and after three years was presented an opportunitytopurchaseWesternPlainsRealEstate.

On the 1st of January 2010 I commenced as a Director of WesternPlainsRealEstate,onthe1stofJuly2010Iwasjoinedby my business partner Lorraine Harris. Together we havecontinued to build our agency to be the largest independent agency in Dubbo.

Can you describe the most memorable moment of your career so far?

December 2011 - A complete office fit out, re brand andrelocation within 3 weeks - now that was memorable.

So we can get to know you better, what are your personal interests or hobbies?

Ihavecoachedswimmingfor18yearsandalthoughtakingabreak from coaching I still have a huge interest in that sport. Musicisanotherinterest,Iplaytromboneinajazzandconcertband.

Who would you rate as your biggest inspiration in your life?

DrSeuss–“Youhavebrainsinyourhead,youhavefeetinyourshoes;youcansteeryourselfinanydirectionyouchoose”.Wehavethisquoteonourofficewall.

What do you see as the secret to the success of Western Plains Real Estate?

TwoDirectors thatgetalongverywell,one runningpropertymanagement and the other running sales. Our clients know

that they can contact a director at anytime which has enhancedour reputationwithin theCommunity.WehaveagreatteamofstaffatWPREwithagoodmixofpersonalitiesallof whom are local to the Dubbo area.

How do you see the Co-operative helping the real estate industry?

The services that EAC offer are many and varied for theindividual and agency. They have become a lobby groupagainst the proposed changes with National Licensing.

What do you see as the main benefit of being an EAC member?

Having people like Geoff Hunter on call for advice. HisknowledgeofcomplianceandtheActissecondtonone.Weuse EAC for a variety of services including mapping and data as well as our website design and hosting and electronic forms.

Where do you see yourself and Western Plains Real Estate in 5 years?

We are looking forward to continued growth and a largershare of the Dubbo and surrounding area market.

22


Gloucester Real EstatePeterMarkey

Quest Realty Bankstown DeanStojanovski

JMA Property Services Blayney JamesMaher

Clarke National Realty Revesby GarryClarke

Hutton Real Estate Lavington NigelHorne

Wise Choice Real Estate Kellyville RobertStuckey

Welcome New Members

23


www.eac.com.auwww.realestateworld.com.au

EAC Contact List

Estate Agents Co-operative Ltd. Phone: 1300 137 161ABN 52 079 055 637 Fax: 1300 789 6752A/175 James Ruse Drive Email: [email protected] Rosehill NSW 2142

Membership Services Email: [email protected]

realestateworld.com.au Publications Email: [email protected]

Red Square & realestateworld.com.au Email: [email protected] Support

Web Design & Development Email: [email protected]

Real Estate Forms & Stationery Email: [email protected]

Compliance & Practice Support Email: [email protected]

Training Services Email: [email protected]

24


Ross [email protected]

MembershipSales&OperationsManager

Pat [email protected]

For the informationofEACmembersandSubscriberswehave includedyourEACAccountManager’scontactdetailsbelow.

Ray [email protected]

Victor [email protected]

EAC & realestateworld.com.auAccount Managers

MEMBERSHIP SALES

25


Phyllis [email protected]

SalesSupportOfficer

Joanna [email protected]

SalesAdministrationOfficer

Malcolm Walsh0425 332 [email protected]

AreaofOperation–Illawarra

Jon [email protected]

AreaofOperation–NorthernRivers

ToconfirmyoursalesrepresentitivepleasecontactEACMembership

[email protected]

MEMBERSHIP SUPPORT

PUBLICATION SALES

26

How well do you know..

Australia?1. What is Australia’s

National Gem Stone?

3. What is Sydney’s Harbour Bridge affectionately known as?

7. Is Australia the biggest or the smallest continent in the world?

8. What is Australia’s only land locked

State or Territory?

Answers along right hand side of page.

2. What is the floral emblem of NSW?

4. Which NSW town is the Big Prawn

located?

5. Was Australia the 1st or 2nd country in the world to give Woman the vote?

6. What former Australian Prime

Minister was included in the

Guinness Book of Records in 1954?

Catch and comment on the latest industry news by joining theEstate Agents Co-operative social media pages updated daily.

Join the conversation :)

Scan QR code and jump right into the action!

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ital.

Does your office websitecut it these days?

Don’t put up with yesterday’s technology. EAC can provide a complete modern office website solution with

all the bells and whistles for under $1000.

Call the real estate Industry website specialists on 1300 137 161

NowMobileCompatible!

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Our

Cap

ital.

Does your office websitecut it these days?

Don’t put up with yesterday’s technology. EAC can provide a complete modern office website solution with

all the bells and whistles for under $1000.

Call the real estate Industry website specialists on 1300 137 161

NowMobileCompatible!

Documents

Estate Agents Co-operative - From the Boardroom Summer Edition 2013