.Realestate domains coming this fall
The National Association of REALTORS® will be launching a new top-level internet domain, realestate, to members starting in September. NAR members who already have an active REALTOR® domain will be eligible to participate in a presale of the realestate domain on Sept. 18, 2018. The .realtor domain is available only to NAR members and affiliated REALTOR® organizations and businesses. However, the realestate top-level domain will be made available to the general public in November, following the presale.
Two New Preferred Vendors make the grade!
Columbus REALTORS® has approved two new preferred vendors — Downsize with a Heart and Go Mini’s Moving and Portable Storage. Below is a brief description of their services and the benefit they provide our members:
Downsize with a Heart
Operated by the Furniture Bank of Central Ohio (FBCO), all proceeds from Downsize with a Heart are invested into the core mission of the FBCO to help families in need. Services offered include all aspects of a move, including sort/organizing/packing; schedule/oversee movers; unpack and arrange new home; donation of unwanted items to the FBCO; auction if needed; general cleaning services after the move; and coordination with other services – REALTORS®, attorneys, assisted living facilities, etc. For more information, call (614) 545-3844.
Go Mini's Moving and Portable Storage
Portable storage containers that can be left on the property while being packed and then transported to within 25 miles of Columbus (around the 270 loop). Members get 10 percent off monthly rentals and $20 off the first delivery. Call them at (614) 626-5399, for more information.
Thirty-day orientation requirement for new members!
Effective 9/1/18, new REALTORS® will be required to take Columbus REALTORS® New Member Orientation within 30 days of getting their electronic key box access. After 30 days, if the member has not completed orientation, key box access will be turned off. Once an online orientation is available, new members will have to take the orientation prior to getting key box access.
Spring Scholarship Winners Announced!
The Columbus REALTORS® Foundation Scholarship Committee is proud to announce six new additions to the REALTOR® class, following the committee’s spring scholarship interviews held in May.
A $12,000 investment (funded by the Foundation), provided scholarships to this year’s awardees who are dedicated to becoming the best in the business, hailing from all areas of the industry, including unlicensed assistants, affiliate members, and current REALTORS® seeking their broker’s license.
A special thank you goes to current Scholarship partners, Keller Williams Realty of Central Ohio, Women’s Council of REALTORS®-Columbus Chapter, and the Columbus REALTORS® Young Professionals Network (YPN), for providing funds administered by the committee annually.
The Foundation is also excited to offer the new Columbus REALTORS® Past President’s Leadership Scholarship funded by past association leadership. Contact Ida Seitter at[email protected], or (614) 475-4000 to discuss setting up a scholarship in your name.
Missed out? The next deadline to apply for the annual John G. & Linda Hondros Pre-Licensing and the Fall Memorial awards is Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. Visitcolumbusrealtors.com/scholarshipsfor more information or to apply today!
Spring Scholarship Award Winners:
YPN Network Award: Samantha SchilderNate
Katz Memorial Award: Kristin Phillips
Women’s Council of REALTORS®: Taylor Carrington
Columbus REALTORS® Foundation Memorial Awards:
Scott Bryan Candice Evans Ryan Rice
Leadership Academy accepting applications
Applications for Columbus REALTORS® Leadership Academy are being accepted. Members interested in developing their personal and leadership skills are encouraged to apply. Only 12 REALTORS® will be selected for the academy and they must meet the following criteria:
Must be a REALTOR® member in good standing for the last three years.
Tuition is $850 (non-refundable); and the deadline for submitting applications is Aug. 1, 2018, 5p. For more information, application and selection process, visitColumbusRealtors.com/la
There’s a leader in you waiting to grow. Could this be your year?
Spotlight on Community Service!
Columbus REALTORS® is still accepting nominations for third quarter 2018 Spotlight on Community Service recognition. This recognition honors members for their everyday community service activities, i.e., coaching little league, participation in school/church functions, involvement in charitable organizations, etc.
Four members will be selected and featured in the September/October In Contract for their work in the community. If you or a colleague is deserving of this recognition, please nominate yourself or your colleague by calling (614) 528-1112 or sending an email to[email protected]. We just need a name and the community service activity. Nominations are due Aug. 1, 2018.
Supporting those who support us – In Contract advertisers
We ask that you take a few minutes to send a note to our magazine advertisers to let them know that you saw their ad in our magazine and appreciate their support. And, then please send a little business their way. In Contract is supported in part from the advertising dollars we get from our advertisers. It’s important that we continue to support those who support us.
KeyBoxUpdate
I’m often asked if the eKey will function in areas that do not have cell phone reception or Internet connectivity. It’s a good question and one that I can answer with a qualified ‘yes.’ The eKey performs every operation through the Bluetooth embedded in your phone which needs no reception to function. However, for those Bluetooth operations to take place, the application must be updated every day that you plan to do a showing. To perform this update, simply open the app before you leave you house on the day of a showing and make sure it displays a green checkmark. If you see that after opening the app, you are all set and will not need any sort of phone service for the app to function. – Samuel Brody-Boyd, Columbus REALTORS® Keybox Administrator
Board of Directors Report – 5/23/18
Membership was 7,883 (as of 4/30/18), up 2.6 percent from last year (7,686). New members approved – four brokers, one Corporate Affiliate, five Sustaining, and 95 REALTOR®-Salespeople. Effective 9/1/18, new REALTORS® will be required to take Columbus REALTORS® New Member Orientation within 30 days of getting their electronic key box access. After 30 days, key box access will be turned off. Once an online orientation is available, new members will have to take the orientation prior to getting key box access. Added Go Mini’s Moving and Portable Storage and Downsize with a Heart to the members’ Preferred Vendor list. Approved funding for advocacy and legal research of the draft ordinance to regulate Short Term Rentals (Air BNB, VRBO, etc.) in the City of Columbus. MLS Board of Directors Report -- 5/21/18:
New worksheet: Residential Dwelling/Other Structure Features for Land Property worksheet. By policy, a property cannot be listed as Residential and as Land/Farm simultaneously. This new form will be used when a property is a land listing but has residential property on site that may or may not be habitable (i.e. a hunter’s cabin, mobile home, tiny house, etc.). This will be available in the MLS by 3Q18. Clarified that online auction services must be marked as an Auction property in the Additional Acceptance Conditions field.
Board of Directors Report – 6/27/18
Membership was 8,037 (as of 5/31/18), up 3.3 percent from last year (7,780). New members approved – five brokers, two REALTOR®-Appraisers, one Corporate Affiliate, one Individual Affiliate, 11 Sustaining, and 107 REALTOR®-Salespeople. Bylaws amendments:
Created a Trade Expo Committee (was the responsibility of the Recognition & Sales Awards Committee). Amended Article 5 – Qualifications/Election to require that new members take the association orientation class within 90 days of getting their electronic key box access. After 90 days, key box access will be turned off. Once an online orientation is available, new members will have to take the orientation prior to getting key box access, and will have to take orientation within 60 days to continue receiving other services. Changed the name of the HOA/Condominium Checklist to Condominium/HOA Checklist. Revised form: Seller’s Occupancy After Closing
