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October 22, 2014

Featured Article
2014 Annual Membership Meeting a Hit!

The Suburban West REALTORS Association would like to thank the 330 plus members who attended our 2014 Annual Membership Meeting in Concordville last week. In addition to keynote speaker, Terry Watson, the event also featured the recognition of some very special members.

During the Association-portion of the Annual Meeting, Suburban West Chairman Joe Sheehan recognized 14 local REALTORS who have achieved the status of REALTOR Emeritus, an honor extended to dedicated REALTORS who have held Association membership for 40 or more years. "We hope you reflect on your years of service with a sense of pride and satisfaction in helping many local consumers realize their dream of home ownership," said Joe.

In addition, the Board graduated its 2014 class of the Leadership Development Program, a first-year program designed to identify emerging leaders, sharpen their leadership skills and equip them with a resiliency that is essential in our ever-changing profession. "We designed our Leadership Development Program to help our members develop their leadership and communication skills and now our graduates can use this knowledge to better serve their clients, our community and the real estate industry," said SWRA Chairman-Elect, Dave Ashe.

The event also featured the final opportunity to vote in our 2015 Board of Directors Election (click here for the election results), purchase chances for the RPAC Sweepstakes for a $1,000 Visa Gift Card (Winner: Kathleen Wilkin - RE/MAX Preferred, Newtown Square), participate in the Affiliate Sponsor Scramble for a $100 Visa Gift Card (Winner: Kris Maroney - RE/MAX Integrity, Chadds Ford) and purchase tickets for the 2014 Coin Drive and Raffle to Benefit Philabundance culminating in December.

Pictures from the event have been posted on our Facebook Page. Thank you to our attendees who helped make this event special for all involved!

Association News
Learn to Better Meet Luxury Home Clients' Needs at Upcoming Starbucks Morning

Specialization in the luxury home arena can be uniquely rewarding, while also challenging and demanding. Building a niche in the luxury home market requires an appreciation of the considerations and needs of the luxury home buyer and seller as well as an in-depth understanding of market dynamics.

The Association will be bringing its popular Starbucks Morning seminar to the Haverford Reserve Rec Center on November 5 (9:00am-10:30am) for the presentation, Starbucks Morning: Serving Today's Luxury Home Client featuring presenter, Carol Martin. In her presentation, Carol will:

Review and compare local & national luxury home market statistics
Review the psychodynamics of working with affluent clients
Identify unique luxury home attributes, driving forces and emerging trends
Provide tips on how a REALTOR can develop their luxury home business
Discuss ideas for finding luxury home clients and how to best serve them
Introduce helpful tools and resources to complement your success with luxury home clients

Be sure to register early as seats are sure to sell out. You can register online (access the Events Calendar) or call 610-560-4800. This event is generously sponsored by Franklin Mint FCU: Beth Manley.

Suburban West Required Training Course Deadline Quickly Approaching

Completion of Suburban West's Membership Renewal Training Requirement course must be satisfied by all SWRA REALTORS every two years. For the cycle 2013-2014, the Membership Renewal Training Course is called Disclosures in Real Estate and must be completed by this December 31, 2014.

The Association is offering a variety of dates, times and locations to help REALTORS complete the requirement on a schedule that is convenient for them. To register for the class, click here (access the Education Calendar) or call 610-560-4800.

If you are unsure if you completed this cycle's required course, you can log into our registration center, click on "education information" and choose "personal information tracking" to see if the continued member training 2013-2014 is either completed or pending. If you have additional questions about the requirement, please email Paula Tansey.

Industry News
2015 Application Period Now Open for REALTOR Mag's 30 Under 30

Calling all rising stars in real estate! Each Spring REALTOR Magazine features 30 rising young stars in the real estate industry and every year hundreds of real estate practitioners apply to be one of the thirty honorees. In determining who makes the 30 Under 30 list, REALTOR Magazine staff looks for candidates who are successful in the real estate business and have demonstrated skill, success, creativity and leadership in their careers.

Applications are now live for the 2015 30 Under 30 class! REALTOR Mag's website is now updated with the 30 Under 30 FAQ and Contest Rules and 2015 Application (log-in required, call 800-874-6500 if you need assistance). Good luck!

Association Tips
Professionalism Tip: Advertising Your Business

This Professionalism Tip has been provided by SWRA Staff Paula Tansey.

A real estate licensee's advertising efforts are governed primarily by the Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act, referred to as RELRA. These rules are in play in large part to protect the consumer. The requirement that a licensee must include the name of the employing broker and the main phone number of the employing Broker is designed to ensure that consumers have unfettered access to the individual responsible for the office. A salesperson or Associate Broker may also include the licensee's name, personal phone numbers or contact information (email, websites, etc.) but these cannot be larger than the name and number of the Broker. They may be of equal size. Click here for the specific regulation.

A licensee may only advertise using the name that appears on his or her license (or registered nickname). So, when two or more licensees wish to advertise as a team, the team name must be the name of one of the licensees on that team. Click here to read more.

Association of REALTORS School
Real Estate Law - Helping You Prepare for the Common Pitfalls of Real Estate Practice

This October, Real Estate Law is coming back to the Association of REALTORS School. This five-day course beginning on October 27th is a program for anyone looking to improve knowledge and skills with a concentration on law related to the sale, purchase, financing or lease of real property. Real Estate Law will prepare you for the common pitfalls of real estate practice and will help you recognize potential problems before they become complicated messes.

Please note that this course is open to all licensees, but is required of Broker candidates. To register, please click here (access the Education Calendar) or call Gail Parke at 610-560-4900.

Suburban REALTORS Alliance
Edgmont Sewer Plan Continues to Garner Objections

Years into planning the public sewer project along the West Chester Pike corridor and in communities east of Ridley Creek State Park, some residents are still raising objections. Despite monthly updates by supervisors and many opportunities for public interaction, several residents from Charter Oak Drive in the Runnymeade Farms section said that communication has been minimal or absent. They charged a "lack of full disclosure" particularly with regard to a new pump station in the proximity of their homes. Construction on the station is imminent. Read more.

Questions? Contact the Suburban REALTORS Alliance at 610-560-4800. Additionally, you can sign up for the SRA Weekly News Briefs through their Action Center.

Reminders:

2015 Membership Dues Now Active - Cycle 1 Ends November 15th

Suburban West members can now make payment on their 2015 membership dues. The Association has set up a variety of options to make payment for dues quick and convenient. For questions regarding dues billing, please email Suburban West Bookkeeper, Cathy DiMarco.

Risks Associated With Agency When Working on a Team

Working in teams may be an efficient method of managing your real estate business. It may also bring greater risk to the individuals on the team. On November 6th (9:00am-10:30am) join us for our REALTOR/Lawyer: Risks Associated With Agency When Working on a Team to help understand the relationship between team members and the fiduciary duties owed the clients. To register click here (access the Event Calendar).

In This Issue

Annual Membership Meeting Wrap-Up

Learn to Better Meet Luxury Home Client's Needs at Upcoming Starbucks Morning

SWRA Required Training Course Deadline Quickly Approaching

Applications Now Available for 2015 "30 Under 30"

Association Tip: Professionalism

Real Estate Law Course Returns October 27th

Edgmont Sewer Plan Continues to Garner Objections

Payment & Registration Center

You can register for courses & events, pay Suburban West invoices and see past invoices & courses by logging into our Payment and Registration Center.

Log-in using your User Name (First and Last Name) and Password (Last Four Digits of Your Social Unless Changed).

Having difficulty logging in? Call the Association office at 610-560-4800.

Mark Your Calendars!

October 24; 1:30pm-4:00pm

Disclosures in Real Estate @ Hilton Garden Inn, Kennett Square

October 27; 9:00am-3:00pm

Real Estate Law (five-day course)

October 29; 1:30pm-4:00pm

Disclosures in Real Estate @ Llanerch Country Club, Haverford

November 5; 9:00am-10:30am

Starbucks Morning: Serving Today's Luxury Home Client @ Haverford Reserve Rec Center

November 6; 9:00am-10:30am