Online Newsletter for January 9th

QUOTE: "Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don't wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it's at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored." Earl Nightingale 1921-1989, Radio Announcer, Author and Speaker

REMINDER - Effective January 1, 2010 the Residential Property Disclosure will be REQUIRED to be attached to all applicable listings in the MLS within 7 days of listing entry. This rule applies to existing active listings also. Note if a seller of a property is exempt from the Residential Property Disclosure, then the Informational Statement Page for the Residential Property Disclosure shall be attached to the MLS listing within 7 days.

JOE TYE: Everything Joe Tye writes is great but this is his greatest and if you pay attention it really could change your life; it has mine. Take the Self-Empowerment Pledge at: http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=001PEzLWYs7lNK7HHgmCxtjFPAfyf73Uw5nCaKcCUGakKJOkrpLpVpApmrEeRIHpSzev4LMRtx-8yLFxPRDZmMLMQ0mRR0CBSzJxoXubK2ZKGe3vkP4xMpmIMK1DoX-G32LdI3wtgxfKQQ%3D

JEFFREY GITOMER: Happy New Year! What Are You Going To Do With It? As you read this article, think of the words of Bob Proctor to Leslie Householder when she said her mind is always thinking. Proctor said, “Your mind is not always thinking, your mind is busy but not always thinking.” There is a difference and that is what Gitomer would like for you to do in 2010, not just think but THINK DIFFERENTLY! http://www.gitomer.com/articles/ViewPublicArticle.html?key=ajcdMibak3P3STtm17%2F9qg%3D%3D

LEW SMALLWOOD: Language for a More Effective Life. Another great Smallwood article that seems very appropriate for the New Year. http://www.gitomer.com/articles/ViewPublicArticle.html?key=ajcdMibak3P3STtm17%2F9qg%3D%3D

REALTOR® CODE OF ETHICS CHANGES FOR JANUARY 1, 2010: Please take note:
Standard of Practice 3-1. To be effective, any change in compensation offered for cooperative services must be communicated to the other REALTOR® prior to the time that REALTOR® submits an offer to purchase/lease3 the property. (Amended 1/10)

Standard of Practice 3-9: REALTORS® shall not provide access to listed property on terms other than those established by the owner or the listing broker. (Adopted 1/10)

Article 11
The services which REALTORS® provide to their clients and customers shall conform to the standards of practice and competence which are reasonably expected in the specific real estate disciplines in which they engage; specifically, residential real estate brokerage, real property management, commercial and industrial real estate brokerage, land brokerage, real estate appraisal, real estate counseling, real estate syndication, real estate auction, and international real estate.

REALTORS® shall not undertake to provide specialized professional services concerning a type of property or service that is outside their field of competence unless they engage the assistance of one who is competent on such types of property or service, or unless the facts are fully disclosed to the client. Any persons engaged to provide such assistance shall be so identified to the client and their contribution to the assignment should be set forth. (Amended 1/10)

• Standard of Practice 11-1
When REALTORS® prepare opinions of real property value or price, other than in pursuit of a listing or to assist a potential purchaser in formulating a purchase offer, such opinions shall include the following unless the party requesting the opinion requires a specific type of report or different data set:
1) identification of the subject property
2) date prepared
3) defined value or price
4) limiting conditions, including statements of purpose(s) and intended user(s)
5) any present or contemplated interest, including the possibility of representing the seller/landlord or buyers/tenants
6) basis for the opinion, including applicable market data
7) if the opinion is not an appraisal, a statement to that effect (Amended 1/10)

• Standard of Practice 12-5
REALTORS® shall not advertise nor permit any person employed by or affiliated with them to advertise real estate services or listed property in any medium (e.g., electronically, print, radio, television, etc.) without disclosing the name of that REALTOR®’s firm in a reasonable and readily apparent manner. (Adopted 11/86, Amended 1/10)

• Standard of Practice 15-2
The obligation to refrain from making false or misleading statements about competitors, competitors’ businesses, and competitors’ business practices includes the duty to not knowingly or recklessly publish, repeat, retransmit, or republish false or misleading statements made by others. This duty applies whether false or misleading statements are repeated in person, in writing, by technological means (e.g., the Internet), or by any other means. (Adopted 1/07, Amended 1/10)

• Standard of Practice 15-3
The obligation to refrain from making false or misleading statements about competitors, competitors’ businesses, and competitors’ business practices includes the duty to publish a clarification about or to remove statements made by others on electronic media the REALTOR® controls once the REALTOR® knows the statement is false or misleading. (Adopted 1/10)

• Standard of Practice 16-20
REALTORS®, prior to or after their relationship with their current firm is terminated, shall not induce clients of their current firm to cancel exclusive contractual agreements between the client and that firm. This does not preclude REALTORS® (principals) from establishing agreements with their associated licensees governing assignability of exclusive agreements. (Adopted 1/98, Amended 1/10)

ONE YEAR DOWN, THREE TO GO. Please remember you are required to complete the National Association of REALTORS Quadrennial Ethics Training. You can take it online free of charge by going to WWW.REALTOR.ORG Don’t wait until the last minute.

10-12 CORRIDOR NEWSLETTER. Covington the site of an Indoor Sports Arena and other local news: http://www.1012corridor.com/archives/1012-corridor-weekly/latest/

CELL PHONE AND ELECTRICAL CHARGER FIRES: There has been a report regarding a car fire that originated at a cell phone charger that was plugged into the cigarette lighter but the phone was not connected. The following site explains that chargers apparently CAN be the source of fires when left plugged in even though nothing is being charged. It would appear that being safe is far better than being sorry even thought the incidents have not as yet been commonplace: http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/c/cell-chargers.htm

THE SELF EMPOWERMENT GUIDEBOOK, by Chris Cade. According to the cover, a simple but powerful guide for realizing your greatest potential. It is an eBook that has been uploaded to www.SlidellCalendar.com in the Document section under eBooks. Really positive reading.

5 PERFECT “SPARE TIME” ONLINE BUSINESSES: This is for what it’s worth: http://www.theperfectbizfinder.com/blog/yanik/?dip=xt32q

20 TIPS FOR A POSITIVE NEW YEAR by Jon Gordon: http://www.jongordon.com/newsletter-010410-20tips.html

REAL ESTATE BOOK. When you advertise with The Real Estate Book you have instant referral of your listing to a lot of different web sites. Check them out here: http://www.realestatebookla.com/trebfiles.html

CREDIT CARD FRAUD. Should not have to tell people this but if you receive a call from a supposedly credit card company wanting to verify information and they give you the last four digits of your social security number DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY INFORMATION. Never give anyone your private information over the phone. If they are a legitimate credit company that you have an account with they already have all your information and will NEVER ask you for it over the phone. As obvious as this may appear, it just happened to a friend so it does happen and it happens more frequently with older people. Spread the word! Use the Internet. If you have caller ID you can simply enter the number, usually an 800, or 888 or other toll free number in Google and it will tell you if it is legitimate.