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 Sell Yourself
Use the REALTOR® Brand to Generate Business
Did you know REALTOR is a registered trademark reserved for members only? Your membership gives you the right to use it to send a powerful signal to prospects that you follow the highest standards of the real estate profession. Follow the NAR rules to use it correctly on your business cards, fliers, web site and other marketing materials. Read more.
 Manage Your Business
A “Quick” Way to Avoid Tax Troubles
While keeping accurate records helps you track finances year round, there’s an even bigger payoff in time and money at tax time. Effective use of an accounting software like QuickBooks can help you be sure to set aside money from each commission for quarterly tax payments, and indicate how to write off equipment purchases. Then, when April 15 rolls around, you can prepare your own IRS return or give your accountant all the right numbers. Sandra Ciola, a sales associate with Greater Miami Investments in Coral Gables, says QuickBooks financial software helps her do just that. Read more.
 Success Stories
Patti Brotherton: Market Strategies
Thirty-one years ago, Patti Brotherton was a “rookie of the year” for her California brokerage. Today, she manages two offices with 125 agents who sold nearly $1 billion last year – a 26 percent increase during an overall down market. What are her secrets? One is to adjust your attitude. “No one wants to be around someone who’s not positive,” she says. “Accept what the market is today and remember the law of attraction: If you are positive, you’ll attract positive clients.” Watch video of Patti.
 Learn to Earn
Creating Effective CMAs
All prospective sellers want to know the current value of their homes before making a decision to put them on the market. As a real estate professional, you need to be able to prepare a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) that provides the most accurate sales price to home sellers. FAR’s Continuing Education (CE) Express course teaches how to research comparable properties in the area and shows how to present CMA reports to your clients and include appropriate statements about a home’s selling points. Download the CE Express course list here. |
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Free Online Forms
It’s after 5 pm on a Sunday night and you need a blank sales contract or a disclosure form. As an FAR member, you can easily go online and download these types of real estate forms in printable PDF format. You can also access tools to help you complete, store and manage all your real estate forms online. Just click here and log in to this password-protected portion of the FAR site. |
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Perez Wins FAR Newcomer Award
At the 2008 Annual Convention in Orlando, FAR bestowed its annual Newcomer Award on Christina Pitchford Perez, a member of the Sarasota Association of Realtors. The Newcomer Award recognizes an outstanding individual who entered the real estate profession within the past three years and during that time made notable contributions to his or her local and state association, as well as the community. Read more about FAR award winners.
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Before accepting a listing, use your best efforts to make sure the property is not already currently listed on an exclusive basis with another broker. See NAR Code of Ethics & Standards 16.9.
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