Amendment 4’s Hidden Danger #1: It’s Impossible to Create a “Lawyer-Proof ” Ballot Summary that Describes a Comprehensive Plan in 75 Words or Less.

Florida Amendment 4 (also known as “Hometown Democracy”) seeks to give Floridians a fi nal referendum vote on all comprehensive plan changes. It may seem like a good idea to folks who are frustrated with sprawl and overdevelopment, but voting for it is like bringing a piece of furniture into your home that looks nice but is infested with bedbugs...it’s full of hidden dangers that can make your home and town unliveable and are very diffi cult to exterminate once in place.

Amendment 4’s biggest (and most hidden) fl aw is that by requiring all comprehensive plan changes to go on the ballot, Florida election law requires that those comp plan changes (which oft en involve hundreds of pages of complex land use language) must be summarized in a ballot summary that is 75 words or less, which exposes cities to massive litigation costs due to ballot language challenges.

Why is trying to create a 75 word ballot summary of a comprehensive plan change such a problem? What’s the big deal?

Th e problem is that it is impossible to adequately summarize hundreds of pages of land use changes into a 75 word ballot summary, and if Florida’s cities are forced to undertake this impossible task, they will be vulnerable to costly lawsuits challenging those summaries as deceptive and incomplete...which is precisely what happened in St. Pete Beach.

In 2008, St. Pete Beach put proposed comprehensive plan changes on the ballot. We did this because in 2006, we made changes to our city charter which (like Amendment 4) required that future changes to our comprehensive plan must be approved by a vote of the citizens. So when we put our comprehensive plan changes on the ballot in 2008, Florida election law forced the city to summarize the 150 pages of changes into a 75 word ballot summary.

Here’s what the comprehensive plan change looked like....150 pages worth.

On Election Day, 2008, our comp plan was approved by the voters of St. Pete Beach by an overwhelming majority vote. Happy Day, right? Wrong! Aft er the comp plan was approved by the voters, St. Pete Beach was promptly sued by a resident who alleged that the city’s 75 word ballot summaries were “rife with deceptive and misleading statements” and that they omitted “material facts.” Ironically, the plaintiff alleges that the city’s 75 words were defi cient, but in his complaint he cannot even describe what is missing from the city’s ballot summaries in less than 75 words!

Th e litigation that started in 2008 is still ongoing, and in 2010 alone St. Pete Beach has incurred over $200,000 in legal fees defending the vote of the people. By comparison, St. Pete Beach spent only $33,000 on litigation in 2001. Similar problems threaten all Florida cities if Amendment 4 passes, since azll Florida cities will also be forced to undertake the impossible task of craft ing 75 word ballot summaries of comprehensive plan changes that involve hundreds of pages of complex land use changes.

Th e problem with summarizing comprehensive plans in 75 words under Amendment 4 is that you just can’t fi t everything that everyone cares about into those 75 words. No matter how hard you try, there will always be someone who can fi le a lawsuit alleging that what is most important to THEM was left out, and that the ballot language was “misleading” or “deceptive” or “incomplete.” And like a swarm of bedbugs, land use lawyers thrive by feeding on these legal vulnerabilities...with all Floridians suff ering for it.

So why will fi xing the problems caused by Amendment 4 be as diffi cult as exterminating a house full of bedbugs? Th e reason is simple: Amendment 4 is a statewide constitutional amendment. Once Floridians fi gure out how overbroad and damaging Amendment 4 really is, local cities won’t have the legal authority to alter or modify the scope of Amendment 4’s rules to suit the needs and desires of the local population.

By comparison, once St. Pete Beach’s voters realized the mistake they’d made by adopting their Amendment 4-style rules, we repealed their broad scope in favor of a much more restricted set of rules...but we were able to fi x our mistake because we had the power to undo the changes we’d made to our local city charter. But since Amendment 4 is a constitutional amendment, no Florida city will have the power to undo its requirements once it’s been approved, even if a majority of the city’s voters want to alter or repeal it.

So, just like a bedbug infestation, once Amendment 4 is approved, Floridians will stuck dealing with the vexing problems that come with it for a very, very long time. ■

October 2010

Amendment 4’s Hidden Danger #1by Kevin Hing

October 2010

If you are not currently using a robust CRM (customer relationship management) tool to control and enhance your business, now is the time to start. Innovation comes from obtaining and analyzing feedback, or simply fi nding out what customers want and delivering it to them. It sounds simple, but unless you have a thorough and comprehensive method to track every contact with every customer (and prospective customer), you are not doing the real work, and will not benefi t from the rewards.Th is means logging every phone call, every in-person meeting, and every piece of correspondence, whether it is email, snail mail or even a third-party contact initiated by you. Use the old fi ve-W’s of information gathering: who, what, where, why when, and then add a “how”. Here’s what you want to know about every customer interaction:1. Who is the customer? (Name, address, phone, email, family

info)2. What was the topic and outcome of the interaction?3. Where is this customer? (Th ink in terms of where they are

geographically, and also in their buying/selling process)4. Why are you engaging this customer? In other words, what

benefi ts do both you and the customer expect from this interaction? Be frank and honest in your evaluation of both sides.

5. When did this interaction take place? When do you (or the customer) expect the next interaction, and what should be the context?)

6. How did you leave this with the customer? How should you proceed from here? How will the next interaction happen? How do you want this to shake out: what results do you want? What does the customer expect next?

Separating the chit-chat from the meaningful give-and-take will help you to watch for trends, special needs, and new concerns shared by multiple customers. You may think you can track this in your head. However, unless you have just one or two customers, you need to use a CRM tool to really take advantage of the information being off ered by your customers.CRM tools can be as simple as a 3”x5” index card (this, however, does not qualify as technology!), as elegant as a customized MS-Outlook form and report template, or as effi cient as one of the commercial CRM soft ware packages, such as ACT!®, GoldMine®, or SalesForce®. You can construct your own CRM tool from MS-Access. You can use an on-line provider like Google® or YAHOO!®. Th e tool you use should refl ect your needs and expectations.

If you want to spot trends; co-create your business using customers as your partners and employing their input; and shape the outcome of your eff orts, you will need a robust CRM tool. Your ultimate results (the amount of increase in personal revenue) will be governed, to a large extent, by your selection.

Th e days of a single practitioner, or even a single brokerage, for that matter, continually creating innovative and unique products and service to attract buyers and sellers is long gone. Even the largest, best-known brands, have trouble getting and staying in front of their customers’ expectations.

But the reasons are diff erent: the huge, branded companies are slow, lumbering, multi-layered corporations. Th ey are physically unable to respond quickly and effi ciently to customer input. Whatever you see as cutting edge technology coming from a major real estate brand today is already old news, and probably out of date, if not obsolete.

Th e smaller broker and individual practitioner have a diff erent problem. Without knowledge of trends and customer expectations, the small company, although nimble and able to change directions quickly, is uninformed as to the proper direction and velocity to apply to the business. So they do little or nothing, waiting for clues from the major brands, or from trade associations which are equally under-informed.

Th e company utilizing a comprehensive CRM tool can not only extract trends and track current expectations, but can use their prospects and customers to co-create the very solutions asked for by the customer!

A huge component of CRM is the ability to categorize customers’ needs and expectations, and to include them in the shaping of the business model. Eff ective interaction and discreet polling of target customer groups can help the small broker or individual practitioner select the highest-probability clients from a target-rich environment. Using the results of self-generated polls and the records of interactions, the small company can actually involve the customer in the shaping of the goals, objectives and methods the company puts in place.

Customers as co-creators are one of the greatest advantages of CRM. Maybe you are not yet known as an innovator. Investigate installing and using a proper CRM tool to enhance your business and create better relationships. If you are properly interacting with your customer and reacting to their suggestions, tracking trends and creating solutions as situations arise, you are an innovator!

Today’s savvy Realtor must utilize CRM to remain viable. Use your customers as innovators. Tap into their pool of talent and resource. Extract more value from your customer interactions. Use technology to build your knowledge capital. Involve your customers in shaping your outcome. It’s a whole new world, and you can reap untold benefi ts by letting technology help you navigate.

Kemp Howland is a career-long member of OSCAR. His company, Howland International, helps real estate professionals understand and implement CRM, web-based video and audio technology. ■

Managing Relationshipsby Kemp Howard, GRI, SFROSCAR Technology Committee

October 2010

For an aft ernoon, at least, agriculture was at the forefront for state offi ce candidates who attended the Ninth Quadrennial Farm Credit & Agriculture Institute of Florida Candidates Forum in Orlando.

Florida Attorney General Candidate Pam Bondi seemed to expect applause when she stridently vowed to take on the federal government over healthcare reform during a speech at the Orange County Convention Center for the Ninth Quadrennial Farm Credit & Agriculture Institute of Florida Candidates Forum today.

She didn’t get it.

When she vowed to take on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over water nutrient criteria, the room resounded with applause.

In case any of the candidates who attended missed the point, agriculture wasn’t the primary topic the audience wanted to hear about. It was the only one.

Ag Institute President Betsy McGill said as much when she introduced the program by pointing out that the audience wanted to hear from the candidates, but they also wanted the candidates to know they’re priorities. Agriculture, McGill said, “is not only our job; it’s also a way of life.” Th e video McGill then played included information about agriculture’s economic impact on Florida and the challenges producers face. Most disheartening, the video noted, is an “oft en negative public perception of agriculture”.

Governor-hopeful Alex Sink, a Democrate, and Republican Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services candidate Adam Putnam gave the most detailed information on their agendas regarding the industry whose economic impact is surpassed only by tourism.

“But for agriculture our economy would be in worse shape,” Sink said. “Th ank you for continuing to do what you’ve always done, which is minding your own businesses.”

Sink supports all 10 of the issues in Farm Bureau’s ag policy statement, which includes property rights and fi nancial support for research.

“As Governor,” Sink said, “I intend to support the goal to ensure that IFAS (the University of Florida’s agricultural arm) is the No. 1 research facility in the industry.”

Ag Commissioner candidate Scott Maddox, a Democrat., also addressed funding for the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Services in a brief run-down of his beliefs.

“I believe in full funding for IFAS. I believe in Farm to Fuel (an alternative energy initiative). I believe you can be taxed out of business,” Maddox said.

Sink and Governor-hopeful Rick Scott both addressed immigration laws.

“I want you to hear me very loud and very clear,” Sink said. When she is governor, “we will not have an immigration polity that negative impacts agriculture. I will veto it.”

Scott wants “a guest worker program that works,” secure borders, the right of law enforcement offi cers to ask off enders for residency documentation and a system such as E-verify for employers to check the status of employees.

Florida Governor and Cabinet Hopefuls Focus on Agricultureby Pam Golden

President Elect Tim Weisheyer, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Candidate Congressman Adam Putnam, President Veronica Malolos and Association Executive Carol Platt.

Continuing to build on business and public policy alliances, OSCAR representatives attended the AG Institute Candidate forum held at the Orange County Civic Center on September 24th to hear from Florida’s cabinet candidates including, Alex Sink, Rick Scott, Scott Maddox, Adam Putnam, and Pam Bondi. Farm Credit of Central Florida, an OSCAR affi liate, is the corporate sponsor for this event.

*Interesting issue to note: One thing that all cabinet candidates agreed upon…Vote NO on Amendment 4!

Adam Putnam, center, gestures while talking to attendees after the Ninth Quadrennial Farm Credit & Agriculture Institute of Florida Candidates Forum. Putnam, a U.S. Representative, is the Republican nominee for Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture & Consumer Services.

October 2010

Th e greatest threat to agriculture in Florida, Putnam said, is government action. He’s opposed to estate taxes, a proponent of growing feedstock for alternative energy and a defender of agriculture’s water needs and everyone’s property rights.

In regard to changes they would make to the far-reaching department, Maddox said he wants more regional outreach regarding consumer fraud. Putnam wants to make the divisions for water policy, land use and energy his off ense teams and he wants to cross-train inspectors so only one need visit the facility the department is charged with inspecting, a move he believes would maximize effi ciency. ■

Courtesy of www.southernfarmer.com

NAR CEO Dale Stinton and President Elect Tim Weisheyer at the NAR Leadership Summit.

President Elect of East Polk County Association of REALTORS® and President Elect Tim Weisheyer at the NAR Leadership Summit

Association Recommendation CandidatesThe Osceola County Association of Realtors Board of Directors fi nalized their recommendations for the 2010 Election.

The following candidates are being recommended: COUNTY COMMISSION SEAT 2 JOHN “Q” QUIÑONESCOUNTY COMMISSION SEAT 4 FRANK ATTKISSONSCHOOL BOARD MEMBER DISTRICT 5 JOHN G. MCKAYHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 41 STEVE PRECOURTHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 79 JOSE ALVAREZHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 79 MIKE HORNERHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 49 DARREN SOTOCITY OF KISSIMMEE COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 4 CHERYL GRIEB

The Osceola County Association of REALTORS® establishes its recommendations through prepared questioning regarding the signifi cance of anticipated issues that affect the Real Estate Industry in Osceola County.

The screening committee, which consisted of nine members this year, was appointed by President Veronica Malolos and is ratifi ed by the Board of Directors. The committee makes its recommendations to the Board of Directors whose vote establishes the fi nal recommendation of the Association. The Board of Directors requests funding for the recommended candidates from the REALTORS® Political Action Committee. All fi nal candidate funding decisions are made by the Florida REALTORS® RPAC trustees.

The mission of the Osceola Association of Realtors is to provide a dedicated success to our members, Real Estate Professionals, while adding value to the community.

NAR Economist Lawrence Yun and Tim Weisheyer attend the NAR Leadership Summit.

Florida Gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink with Cheryl Grieb at the Florida REALTORS® Convention.

Tim Weisheyer and Florida Senatorial candidate Marco Rubio at the Florida REALTORS® Convention.

In order to share the wealth of information contained in this newsletter in an effi cient manner, please submit your articles via e-mail or fax by the 10th of the monthly. Please clearly indicate that submission is for the Osceola ReVIEW.Articles: communications@osceola-realtors.comAdvertising: accounts@osceola-realtors.comFor advertising inquiries please contact Bob St. Gordon at the Association Offi ce. Your advertising defrays the cost of publishing. Th ank you for your support.

Th e Osceola ReVIEW is published exclusivelyfor the Association by

Th e Baker PressOrlando, Florida

tel 407.290.5800 • fax 407.290.5977graphics@thebakerpress.com

Disclaimer: Th e Osceola ReVIEW is published for the member and affi liates of Osceola County Association of REALTORS®, Inc. by Th e Baker Press, Inc. as a courtesy. Th e Baker Press, inc. nor the Association assume any responsibility for article content or advertising message as submitted for inclusion in the newsletter. Advertising and articles are not endorsed by the Association, nor is there any implied warranty by the Association or its staff .

October 2010

Mlxchange Basic – Entering and Updating ListingsWednesday, October 20, 2010

Short SalesTh ursday, October 21, 2010

Preparing a Listing ContractTh ursday, November 11, 2010

Design Web Pages – Creating Professional CMAWednesday, November 17, 2010

NegotiatingTh ursday, November 18, 2010

Negotiating Skills for the Real Estate PractitionerTh ursday, November 18, 2010Time: 9:00 am - 1:00 pmInstructor: Marilyn “Charli” PhelpsLocation: Osceola County Association of RealtorsDescription: With this course, students will learn the motivations of the parties in the transaction and learn to funnel those motives toward signifi cantly higher volume of closed transactions.Cost: ______CE Credit: 4 CE Hours

Congratulations to our offi ce staff for successfully completing their e-PRO certifi cation: Anneris Rivera, Eli Perez and Chris Florence.

Congratulations!Congratulations!

October 2010

Today the Osceola County Association of REALTORS® (OSCAR) proudly donated towards the Florida REALTORS ® “Show Our Troops We Care”. Deployed members of the U.S. Armed Services will benefi t from this donation through the use of calling cards.A $1700 check was presented to active duty offi cer MSgt Burnett Patterson Jr. from the United States Air Force Reserves and Vernon Taylor, Co-Chair for the Florida REALTORS® Association’s USO Committee.“Th is donation represents a $1 contribution on behalf of each of our members”, says Carol Platt, Association Executive for the Osceola County Association of REALTORS®. “It is a true honor to help provide these soldiers a way to connect back to their home”.OSCAR is one of only four associations that have met the $1 per member goal set by the Florida REALTORS® for the “Support our Troops” eff ort. Members in attendance also donated an additional $60 this morning.

To date, more than $50,000 has been donated. A donation buys international calling cards that the USO gives to deployed members of the U.S. armed services – the item most requested by our men and women serving overseas. Donations are fully tax deductible and anyone may donate. Visit www.fl oridarealtors.org/AboutFar/Support-our-Troops.cfm to learn more about the program.Th e mission of the Osceola County Association of REALTORS® is to provide a dedicated success to its membership consisting of real estate professionals and affi liates, while adding value to the community. ■

www.osceolarealtors.org

In September, our Osceola Brokerage Council spent an evening being trained by our own, Nick Nichols, who was selected to facilitate Florida REALTORS® “training the trainer” program, as the new Residential Sales and Purchase (Florida REALTORS®/Florida Bar) contract becomes the standard in the industry, so that they could make sure their agents remained well versed in the completion of real estate’s most important document. Our association is fortunate to have so many brokers and broker/owners who are actively engaged in agent management and association leadership. As I read a recent article by Alan Murray from Th e Wall Street Journal regarding how well good leaders manage the future, I couldn’t help but think of many of the brokers that I have met and served with here at OSCAR. Th is article mentions the following traits that business leaders must have to be successful in the future:

• Stay fl exible to reassess and adjust business practices.• Seek good statistical data regarding your business.• Humbly listen to your clients, agents and peers.• Communicate to overcome negativity and inspire creativity.• Practice good contingency planning.• Proactively solve problems.• Be honest and truthful in all your dealings.• Stay involved with your agents and your professional associations.• Avoid too much bureaucracy.• Employ multi-talented people.• Assess your team and your teamwork.• Use good judgment and common sense.Our members and leaders remind me of these very traits. I’m proud and humble to represent you. We will continue to strive toward providing you with association resources, tools and education to assist you in your “quest for success”. ■

Donation Towards “Show Our Troops We Care”by Wendi Jeannin

L-R: Vernon Taylor, MSgt Burnett Patterson Jr. and Veronica Malolos, President Osceola County Association of REALTORS®

OSCAR Brokers Focus on the Futureby Veronica Malolos

President Veronica Malolos–Vote “No” on Amendment 4

President Elect Tim Weisheyer, Central Florida Real Estate Council President Nancy Pico Campiglia, Esq., President Veronica Malolos

Grace Anne Glavin, Esq. and President Veronica Malolos

President Elect Tim Weisheyer

Host Lynn Goffredo

President Elect Tim Weisheyer, Daniel Villazon, Esq., President Veronica Malolos

Barry H. Gleen, Esq. Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Greenberg, Formato & Einiger, LLP

President Elect Tim Weisheyer, Henry M. Cooper, Esq. with Bogin, Munns and Munns, P.A., President Veronica Malolos

October 2010

Grace Anne Glavin, Esq. - “25 Practical Ways that a REALTOR® can Assist a Settlement Agent to get a Residential Transaction Closed”

“Feeling Distressed? Bankruptcy, Foreclosures and Short Sales Property Panel Discussion” Charles P. Castellon, Esq., Kenneth L. Schlitt, Esq., Barbara J. Leach, Esq. – Panel

Charles P. Castellon, Esq., Kenneth L. Schlitt, Esq., President Veronica Malolos, Barbara J. Leach, Esq.

REALTORS® packed the room with engaged and inquiring minds!

Barbara J. Leach, Esq., Winderweedle, Haines, Ward & Woodman, P.A.

Kenneth L. Schlitt, President Elect of the Central Florida Real Estate Council

October 2010

October 2010

CONGRATULATIONS to new SRES Designees

that took our fi rst

SRES class!

LEN GOFFREDO

MARGARITE HART

BETSY HOLLISTER

PRESIDENT

VERONICA MALOLOS

ANGEL L. ORTIZ, JR.

PRISCILLA RODRIGUEZ

MICHAEL E. STASTKA

October 2010

When I think of the professional education classes and programs that are off ered and developed for our members toward meeting the challenges of success in real estate for today and in the future, I think of the words of Alvin Toffl er (author of Th e Th ird Wave) who stated “Th e illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write. Th ey will be those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.” Th at one statement so aptly describes the constant continuing education necessary to maintain profi ciency and market share within the real estate industry.In a recent study that compared profi t leaders to profi t challengers, evidence showed that profi t leaders provided professional continuing education for management, administrators, technology, sales and

customer service staff . It also showed that profi t leaders spend 4.1% annually on that education while profi t challengers spend 2% annually. It’s easy to deduce that many of our members function in their careers utilizing all those aforementioned roles. With that in mind, an agent grossing $40,000 per year, whose performance goal was in profi t leadership, would spend approximately 4.1% annually or $1,640.00 annually on their training to comply with this 2005 Graphic Arts Monthly study.I would urge our members, not only to begin to plan their goals and budgets for 2011 in October of this year, but to consider where they want to be in this diverse real estate industry. Th at decision is essential to focusing on personal market share and profi tability and choosing “literacy” and performance education. Help us to provide you with what you need for success in our professional development, certifi cation and continuing education by completing our 2011 education survey. Th e survey is anonymous and provides us with solid data for these important decisions that are more refl ective of your objectives…which is our goal! If you have not received your survey by email call our offi ce and we will make sure that you do! ■

“Learning, Unlearning and Relearning” for the Futureby Carol K. Platt, CRB

Kurio Mobile MLS Real Estate Search For Mobile Devices

Kurio Mobile MLS provides real-time access to MLS data from the convenience

of your mobile device. Search property listings, view critical property details including price, square footage, REALTOR® and public remarks and showing instructions, email a property fl yer to your client, and consumers can instantly connect with the listing agent. All this and more is now available on your mobile device with Kurio.

Consumers may also access MLS listings using the public portion of Kurio. With an automatic redirect, if a consumer visits MyFloridaHomesMLS.com through any mobile device, they will be given the choice to view and use the new mobile site which will hide any Realtor specifi c information such as REALTOR®-only remarks, showing instructions and commissions.

Kurio Highlights

Works with any mobile device—Kurio lets you and your customers search critical MLS data from any web-enabled mobile device including iPhones, iPads, Androids, BlackBerry’s, Palms and Windows Mobile devices.

Stay Connected to the MLS—Whether you are on your way to meet with a client, working an open house, or even on vacation, Kurio keeps you connected with your MLS so you can easily look up the information you need, and immediately respond to your client’s inquiries.

View Nearby Homes—Have you ever been showing a home, but your client wants to know what else is available in the neighborhood? Kurio is specially designed for occasions like this! Using GPS technology, Kurio will automatically locate you and show you nearby listings. Some carriers may not support, or may limit access to, Assisted-GPS (A-GPS) for location services.

Get Instant Daily Market Updates—With Kurio, you can instantly get a complete picture of what’s going on in the market, such as nearby homes, new listings, price reductions, and upcoming open houses.

Search On-Market & Off-Market Listings—Kurio provides you with ‘REALTOR®-only’ access to all property types and all listing data

including Pendings and Solds, showing instructions, private remarks, and more.

Instant Access to Your Own Listings—It has never been so easy! With Kurio, you have one-click access to your own listings, so you are ready to respond when buyers or their agents inquire about one of your listings.

Roster Searches—Search offi ce roster and agent contact information using Kurio. Convenient hyperlinks allow you to instantly initiate an email or phone call right from within the contact record.

E-Mail a Flyer—With Kurio, you can email professional, branded property fl yers to your clients on the fl y.

How to Get Started

It is of vital importance that you take the following simple steps to get started using Kurio:

1. On your mobile device go to mfr.kurio.mobi2. Click on “REALTOR® Sign In” then choose “Not Registered”3. Verify your membership in the MLS by choosing “MFRMLS” in the

drop down menu4. Enter your MLS user ID and Password for validation. NOTE:

Passwords are case sensitive5. In the next step, you will be choosing your Kurio Username and

password – My Florida Regional MLS recommends for consistency that you use your MLS ID as your Kurio Username as well as using the same password. By keeping the username and password consistent this will enable our Help Desk to assist you in the event of any technical challenges.

6. Be sure to check the box to accept the terms of service and then choose “Sign up.”

Consumers will also have the option to create a Kurio account. By registering, they will gain the ability to save their favorite properties to reference later. Consumer registration is optional and is not required to access the MLS listings.

October 2010

October 2010

Gaining more exposure for its members, the Osceola County Association of REALTORS® (OSCAR) joined forces with Point2 Technologies’ MLS and Association listing syndication program.Point2 develops, markets and supports web-based inventory management and online marketing soft ware solutions for the real estate industry. Now the nearly 1,800 members of OSCAR can effi ciently distribute listings and off er their clients an unbelievable amount of viewership.Once an OSCAR REALTOR® submits a MLS listing, it is disseminated to a national network of 55 syndication partner websites and search engines including Google, Yahoo!, Cyberhomes/AOL, Trulia, Zillow, Homefi nder, Oodle, Vast, eBay, and Craigslist.“Incorporating the Point2 technology with our Association provides leverage for our members to off er a better level of service to their clients,” says Chris Florence, Technology Representative for OSCAR. In addition to free listing syndication, the Point2 solution gives

all MLS members, brokers and agents, free access to online traffi c reports generated on key syndication partner websites, to enable more informed online marketing and advertising decisions. Point2 was founded in 1996 and employs a staff of nearly 130 employees at its Saskatoon, SK headquarters, and at its Vancouver, BC and San Diego, CA offi ces. More information can be found at www.Point2.com. For ongoing news about Point2, please visit www.point2.com/news.asp. Th e mission of the Osceola County Association of REALTORS® is to provide a dedicated success to its membership consisting of real estate professionals and affi liates, while adding value to the community. ■

www.osceolarealtors.org

OSCAR Stay Forefront in Technology For Membersby Wendi Jeannin

OSCAR STAYS AT THE FOREFRONTOscar stays at the forefront

President Veronica Malolos and her husband, Manny

Mr. & Mrs. Bob Caldwell (Bob is our District 12 RPAC Trustee)

October 2010

First and foremost, read the book that came with your voicemail system. Over the course of a year, you may waste a few hours repeating whole messages if you don’t know the simple commands for forwarding and rewinding calls. What? You’ve lost the book, or they never gave you one? No excuse: www.google.com. Search for your phone model, and you will probably fi nd the manual. No time to read it? Bring it with you to meetings, on airplanes, the grocery store – fi nd a minute here or there to pick up a new tip.Your Outgoing Messages1. Identify your name, organization, and telephone number in your outgoing message.“Hi, this is Karen Smith with Adcomine at 212-555-1234.”2. State that you are not available and any other important information.“I’m out of the offi ce today, January 3rd, 2006. I will be returning January 5th, 2006. I will not check voicemail until I am back. If this is an emergency or you need immediate assistance, please call Bill Withers at 917-555-6543.”3. Tell people how to leave an appropriate message. Th at’s right, if you want good information, ask for it.“Please leave a brief message stating how I can help you, along with your phone number, and I will call you back.”4. If you prefer email, off er that as an option to callers. If you have an unusual name or company name, spell out the email address.“You may want to email me at ksmith@adcomine.com.”5. To cut down on repeat calls if you work in a high-volume call area, state that you will return calls within 24 hours or whatever time period your organization’s policy on return calls requires. 6. If you update your message when you go out of town, don’t forget to update it again when you get back.7. If your system allows callers to bypass your message by hitting the pound key, tell them that, especially if you have an unusually long message.When to Check and How to Check VoicemailTh e number of times you check voicemail each day will vary depending on your job function and industry. However, if you have not told people diff erently, at a minimum you should check messages once a day and return those calls. Here are some other helpful tips for checking voicemail.1. Have a pen and paper ready when you begin dialing – duh. (Th is is Voicemail 101).2. Listen to all of the messages before you start returning calls.3. Remember that you don’t have to return them in the order they were received. 4. Sometimes it’s easier to return calls when you are pretty sure the recipients won’t pick up the telephone. You can answer

their questions on their voicemail and move on with your day.5. If you are super busy and have the luxury of an assistant or some other kind soul, ask this person to return some of your phone calls. Th is is especially good if it is going to take an unusually long time for you to get back with someone.6. Don’t save messages you really don’t need. If you wrote down the information from the call, most of the time there is no reason to save the original recording. Aft er all, do you really want your box so full no one can leave a message? Th at’s embarrassing and unprofessional. Imagine that you are charging clients big bucks, and they can’t leave messages because you can’t get your act together well enough to leave them adequate recording room. Pitiful.Leaving Eff ective VoicemailsWhen leaving messages, have mercy on your listeners and do the following:1. Speak slowly and leave your phone number at the beginning and the end of the message.2. Limit your comments to one or two subjects. Voicemail is not a one-person show.3. If you are rambling, for the sake of others and your reputation, stop yourself and rerecord.4. If you need action of some sort, state what you need. Voicemails that simply say, “call me” are irritating at best.5. If the recipient of your messages tends to fall into the trap listed in the previous point, tell him or her, “When you return my call, please leave a message on my voicemail to let me know the status of the project if I’m not able to pick up the phone.”6. If you are using a group distribution list that lists everyone’s name on the message, read the manual for your phone system and put the list at the end. If people want to listen to it they can.Sample of a Perfect Voicemail“Hi, this is Karen Smith with Adcomine at 212-555-1234. I’m calling to let you know that we have received your package and will have a response to you by Friday. If you have any questions, please call me. Again, Karen Smith with Adcomine at 212-555-1234.”Th ere you have it: Voicemail 101 in a nutshell. A little careful planning and attention can free your time and help you view voicemail as the useful tool that it is rather than the torture it can be.

Business Training Works, Inc.®

Voicemail 101:Simple Steps That May Save You Hours

October 2010

October 2010

Homes.comPamela Cameron4501 Hills & Dales Rd. NWCanton, OH 44708Office: 813-681-5117Fax: 813-661-9036 E-mail: Pamela.cameron@homes.comWebsite: www.homes.com

Keating Schlitt, PANancy Campiglia250 E Colonial DriveOrlando, FL 32024Office: 407-425-2907 Fax: 407-425-6345E-mail: ncampiglia@keatlaw.comWebsite: www.keatlaw.com

October 2010

Accu Title AgencyKathy Cape 22 W. Moument Ave., Kissimmee, FL 34741 Office: 407-738-8852Fax: 407-641-9731Email: kathy@accutitleagency.bizWebsite: www.accutitleagency.biz

Final Negotiation, LLCRhonda Owen1201 Emmet StreetKissimmee, FL 34741Office: 407-846-0978Fax: 407-846-6573E-mail: rowen@stewart.comWebsite: www.stewart.com

Globe Home Warranty CompanyAlex PeytonP.O.Box 620395Orlando, FL 32862Office: 800-842-2177Fax: 800-597-3630E-mail: apeyton@globewarranty.comWebsite: www.globewarranty.com

Standard Pacific HomesHilton Ayala 200 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 124Orlando, FL 32801Office: 407-304-2803Fax: 407-304-2835E-mail: hilton.ayala@stanpac.comWebsite: www.standardpacifichomes.com

Standard Pacific HomesJesus Alvarez 200 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 124Orlando, FL 32801Office: 407-304-2803Fax: 407-304-2835E-mail: sbower@stanpac.comWebsite: www.standardpacifichomes.com

October 2010

Mr. and Mrs. Angel L. Ortiz, Jr. represented OSCAR last month at GALA OSCEOLA that was held at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. This annual event honors exceptional members of the Kissimmee/Osceola Chamber of Commerce’s Hispanic Business Council. OSCAR’s alliance with the Kissimmee/Osceola Chamber of Commerce is an important part of our mission to add value to our community.

October 2010

Nove

mber

2010

CommercialMarketing Session

8:30 am - 10:00 am

Short Sales

Octo

ber 2

010 Entering and

Updating Listings

Public Policy 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

OSCAR Toastmasters Club 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

OSCAR Toastmasters Club 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

OSCAR Toastmasters Club 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

OSCAR Toastmasters Club 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

OSCAR Toastmasters Club 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

MLXChange Basic9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Entering & Updating Listings in MLXchange

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

New Member Welcome 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Design Web Pages and Capture Leads

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Creating aProfessional CMA

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Executive CommitteeMeeting

8:00 am - 9:00 am

BOD Meeting9:00 am - 10:30 am

WCR Meeting9:00 am - 11:00 am

MFRMLS BOD Meeting 8:00 am - 12:00 pm

ASSOCIATIONCLOSED ALL DAY

Election Day

MLS Marketing Meeting 8:30 am - 9:30 am

Affi liates Council Meeting 9:45 am - 10:45 am

Daylight Savings

Ends

MLS Marketing Meeting 8:30 am - 9:30 am

MLS Marketing Meeting 8:30 am - 9:30 am

MLS Marketing Meeting 8:30 am - 9:30 am

MLS Marketing Meeting 8:30 am - 9:30 am

Veteran’s Day

Preparing aListing Contract

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Negotiating Skillsfor the Real Estate

Practitioner 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Thanksgiving Day

ASSOCIATIONCLOSED ALL DAY

VV VVVVVVV

PRSRTU S POSTAGE

PAIDMID-FL FL

PERMIT NO. 581

STD

October 2010

AB Realty, LLC ............................................Leonardo Cano3800 Red Road, Pembroke Pines, FL 33025Offi ce: 954-517-9800 • Fax: 954-499-7404

Abbey Road Realty, LLC ............................... Adlany Barboza7203 Winding Lake Circle, Oviedo, FL 32765Offi ce: 407-366-0881 • Fax: 407-358-5002

Agent Trust Realty ........................................ Juan Paradas13574 Village Drive, #130, Orlando, FL 32837Offi ce: 407-251-0669 • Fax: 407-209-3882

Celebration Executive Realty .......................... Paul E. Thomas1420 Celebration Blvd., Kissimmee, FL 34747Offi ce: 407-566-2188 • Fax: 407-475-7512

Coldwell Banker Feltrim ...............................James McCarthy116 Polo Park East Blvd., Davenport, FL 33897Offi ce: 863-353-0011 • Fax: 863-353-0017

Dale Sorensen Real Estate .......................... Dale M. Sorensen3206 Cardinal Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32963Offi ce: 772-492-5322 • Fax: 772-231-3726

TIR Prime Properties Corp. ........................... Tohilmy Alvarez18851 NE 29th Avenue, Suite 732, Miami, FL 33180Offi ce: 305-931-7262 • Fax: 305-931-0230

Accu Title Agency ........................................... Kathy Cape22 W. Moument Avenue, Suite #19, Kissimmee, FL 34741Offi ce: 407-738-8852 • Fax: 407-641-9731

Fifth Third Bank ......................................... Walter Alvarez3801 Pleasant Hill Road, Kissimmee, FL 34746Offi ce: 321-697-5800 • Fax: 407-931-0112

Homes.com ............................................ Pamela Cameron4501 Hills & Dales Road NW, Canton, OH 44708Offi ce: 813-681.5117 • Fax: 813-661-9036

Standard Pacifi c Homes .............................. Stephanie Bower200 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 124, Orlando, FL 32801Offi ce: 304-280-3200 • Fax: 407-304-2835

Nominating Committee Submits Slate For 2011The Osceola County Association of REALTORS®’ Nominating Committee met on September 21st, 2010, to select candidates for 2011 Offi cers and Directors. The newly elected Offi cers and Directors will join the following Directors whose terms have yet to expire: Daisy Lopez-Cid, Re/Max Premier Properties Angel L. Ortiz, Jr., One Way Realty and Associates Denise Sacks, Sacks Realty Group, Inc.

OFFICERSPresident Tim Weisheyer, Dream Builders RealtyPresident Elect Renee Clark, Clark Investment PropertiesVice President Susan Graves, Coldwell Banker Ackley RealtyTreasurer David DeLoach, DeLoach Real Estate, Inc.Secretary Kim Goodwin, Goodwin Realty and Associates, Inc.

3-YEAR TERMS AS DIRECTORSKaren Dierickx, Weichert REALTORS® Hallmark Properties

2-YEAR TERMS AS DIRECTORSCheryl Grieb, Olde Kissimmee Realty, Inc.Richard Knapp, Re/Max Pros

1-YEAR TERMS AS DIRECTORSArlene Conow, Re/Max Premier PropertiesHemendra Thakkar, International Professional Services CorporationNick Nichols, Goodwin Realty and Associates, Inc.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact, Carol Platt at the Association Offi ce.

NEW AFFILIATE OFFICES

NEW REAL ESTATE OFFICES