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January 7th, 2015

Featured Article
Satisfy Clients' Wants and Concerns About Local School Districts

When families are looking for a new house, chances are they are looking at more than just the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. A parent is concerned about the schools available to his or her children.

The REALTORS Property Resource (RPR), free to members of the National Association of REALTORS, offers the ability to quickly check school zoning and informational data clients need to make an educated decision. With school district and attendance zones, RPR provides REALTORS with the functionality to search for properties based on school district boundaries, attendance zones and even test scores, number of students enrolled, student to teacher ratio and reviews. With this information at your fingertips, REALTORS can easily educate their clients on the school assigned to a specific property, or in a given area, allowing their clients to make a well-informed decision. Please note that offering an opinion or commenting about school districts by REALTORS has led to allegations of steering. While it is safe to provide RPR data to clients as additional information about a property, members should be careful not to edit the information or provide commentary. Always let the client decide what information or details s/he desires about schools.

Access the RPR website to log-in or create an account. RPR also provides free webinars to teach members how to best utilize the system, click here for a training schedule.

Please also note that as a free benefit for members, the Association works closely with TREND MLS to provide monthly market reports organized by school district in five local counties.

Association News
REALTOR News Magazine - The Anatomy of a Message Issue Now Available

The most recent issue of Suburban West's REALTOR News Magazine is now available for members. This month's issue highlights the importance of the Suburban West member including articles on:

developing the organization's Member Value Proposition which featured the direct assistance of 25 members
the first graduating class of SWRA's Leadership Development Program
welcoming your 2015 volunteer leadership team
and much more

Click here to access the digital edition. You can also view the magazine in a PDF format that can be easily printed. Interested in receiving future issues in print to your home or office? Contact Suburban West at 610-560-4800.

Are You Looking to Become More Involved in Your Local Association? Join YPN!

Since 2011, Suburban West has been cultivating its Young Professionals Network (YPN) to engage our REALTOR members. SWRA's YPN Committee is a group dedicated to increasing the voice of young professionals in the real estate industry and serves as an entry point for Association volunteer and leadership opportunities. Click here for a summary of our various education and community service initiatives over the past few years!

Signing up for the YPN Committee is very easy - just access the YPN Member Profile Online Form and be sure to denote Suburban West REALTORS as your local Association.

You can help shape YPN in the new year by attending the 2015 YPN Planning Meeting next Tuesday, January 13th (11:30am-12:00pm) at the Association office in Malvern. Questions? Contact Kristin Tornetta.

SWRA Seminars/Events
Final Chance to Register for the 2015 Board of Directors Installation Celebration

Don't miss out signature event of the winter season - the 2015 Installation! Join Suburban West on January 15th (6:00pm-10:00pm) at The Desmond Hotel in Malvern for a celebration of our 2015 Board of Directors and its new Chairman, Dave Ashe. In addition to the ceremony, the event will feature:

entertainment from Philadelphia Comedian Joe Conklin - known for impersonations of local athletes and national celebrities
one hour complimentary wine and beer
hors d'oeuvres and "beef and beer" dinner stations
networking with local REALTORS and Affiliates

And don't forget to dress up for our denim and diamonds theme - blue jeans and bling! The last day to register is Tuesday, January 13th at noon so please register today (access the Event Calendar) as this event will be sure to sell-out!

Association Tips
Professionalism Tip: Use Technology Wisely

This Professionalism Tip is provided by SWRA Staff Paula Tansey

There is a place for technology in real estate. Technology can deliver information quickly; bring immediate response or result and close a milage or time gap. Technology can also reduce the human interaction that is sometimes necessary to create a lasting and beneficial relationship. Remember, sometimes it is necessary to pick up the phone or make an appointment to visit the client, prospective client or fellow REALTOR.

Suburban REALTORS Alliance
Haverford, Upper Darby Raise Taxes

Please take note of the following Delaware County tax updates:

Upper Darby Council Adopts Budget With Tax Increase - Upper Darby adopted the 2015 budget with 0.99 mill tax increase. Households with an average assessment of $102,000 will pay $100.98 more next year for a total of $2,032. The annual trash collection fee of $165 and sewer fee of $205 remain unchanged.

Haverford Passes Budget With Tax Hike - The 2015 budget requires a real estate tax increase from 7.334 to 7.540 mills, a 2.81% change. The average assessed property of $171,990 will see a $36 annual increase, raising the average tax bill from $1,261 to $1,297. The board also improved a .20 cent sewer rental increase, from $4.50 per 1,000 gallons consumed to $4.70.

Suburban REALTOR Alliance News Briefs - sign up to receive these notices for free through the SRA Action Center.

Association of REALTORS School
Become a More Effective Leader and Manager

Looking to become a more effective manager, leader and communicator in today's real estate world? The broker-level course Real Estate Office Management (six-day course beginning February 2nd; 9am-2pm each day) will help you understand business management, supervising people and how to establish a profitable enterprise. The course will cover both the practical and legal issues of office management. Click here to register (access the Education Calendar). This class is generously sponsored by Brandywine Staging: Kathy Kosciewicz.

Questions? Contact ARS School Administrator, Gail Parke at 610-560-4900.

Suburban West Forums
Downtown Condos Presented by C/I Exchange Leadership

There are unique aspects to commercial real estate that differ greatly from residential. For an individual primarily involved in the residential side of the business, it can be challenging to handle a commercial client. To assist our members, the Association has maintained a Commercial/Investment Marketing Exchange that meets monthly to help REALTORS learn and discuss the commercial real estate business in a comfortable environment with commercial real estate experts.

The C/I Exchange will meet this Friday, January 9th (8:30am-10:00am) at the Association office in Malvern. This month's session will feature the presentation "Urban Build-Outs: Downtown Condos" presented by C/I Exchange Leadership. Registration is not required. Questions? Contact Steve Farace.

Reminders:

Enhance Your Value to Your Buyer at January 13th Starbucks Morning Seminar

These days consumers have access to a vast amount of information at their fingertips. At our January 13th (9:00am-10:30am) Starbucks Morning: Buyer Agency in the Age of Online Home Searches, REALTOR Christina Cardone will present on how REALTORS practice buyer agency today and identify some strategies to provide highly valued service to your clients way beyond the home search. Click here to register (access the Events Calendar).

Suburban West Launches New "Professionalism Exchange"

Suburban West's new Professionalism Exchange (January 16th; 9:00am-10:30am) is an opportunity for members to come together to share and evaluate concerns about professionalism. Each session will open with a brief update on any new information from NAR, PAR the state Real Estate Commission. This forum will be moderated by a panel of REALTORS and Association Legal Counsel, William J. Weber, Esquire. To register click here (access the Events Calendar).

In This Issue

RPR Provides Ability to Quickly Check School Zoning and Information

Winter Issue of REALTOR News Magazine Released

YPN Planning Meeting Set for Next Tuesday, Jan. 13th

Final Chance to Register for 2015 Installation Celebration

Association Tips: Professionalism Tip

Haverford, Upper Darby

Raise Taxes

Broker Course: Real Estate Office Management

C/I Exchange:

Urban Build-Outs

Downtown Condos

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!

Jan. 13; 9:00am-10:30am

Starbucks Morning: Buyer Agency in the Age of Online Home Searches

Jan. 14&15; 9:00am-5:00pm

Seller Representation Specialist (SRS) Designation Course

Jan. 15; 6:00pm-10:00pm

2015 Installation @ The Desmond, Malvern

Jan 16; 9:00am-10:30am

Professionalism Exchange

Jan. 19