Ask Kate

I just found out that the Plasma Screen TV offered as a bonus in the MLS goes to my broker and not me…is that true!?

It depends.Any and all compensation offered via the MLS is to and from brokers.How you are paid as an agent is pursuant to your independent contractor’s agreement or employment agreement with your broker.Many agreements say that you would be entitled to any bonus offered on a listing, however, some may not.It’s best to check with your broker about bonuses before assuming that you will receive them.

MORe Events

V.I.R Member Miles Boone will be taking headshots for MORe members at a reduced rate of $50 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thursday, July 31st, in our Tinley Park Office and on Thursday, August 21st, in our Naperville Office. Click here for more information. To set up an appointment, please call Ron at (630) 324-8422 or Amy at (630) 324-8428.

MORE will host complimentary e-PRO Workshops featuring Saul Klein on Wednesday, August 20, 2008, from 9-10:30 a.m. in the MORE Downers Grove Office and from 1-2:30 p.m. in the Tinley Park Office and on Tuesday, September 30, 2008, from 9-10:30 a.m. in the MORE Downers Grove Office and from 1-2:30 p.m. in the Tinley Park Office. E-Pro is the only technology certification program approved by NAR. Click here and click on Current Flyers for further information. To register for the workshop, click here or call toll free 1-866-377-6627.

MORE News

The Association offices will be closed on Friday, July 4th, in observance of the Fourth of July holiday. The office will be open with normal hours on Monday, July 7th.

Newest Online Feature: The Association has live assistance on our website, www.Succeedwithmore.com Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you need help when on our site, please click on the “Click to Live Support online” logo under the log-on box.

Congratulations to Judy Stowe of Baird & Warner of Glen Ellyn on being named the 2008 REALTOR® of the Year. She will be honored at the annual Installation Luncheon on Friday, Aug. 29th at Seven Bridges in Woodridge.

A robbery has been reported at a listing in Woodridge involving an elderly couple. Someone claiming they were interested in purchasing the property came in, and while one kept the couple distracted in the backyard, another person came in the front door and stole thousands of dollars worth of jewels. The robbery is being investigated. Please remind your sellers to be cautious. If you hear of any similar situations, please contact Detective Barr at 630.719.4740

Congratulations to the newly elected members of the Board of Directors: Joanne Bartelsen of RE/MAX South Suburban in Flossmoor, Colleen Basinski of McColly Real Estate in Tinley Park, Tonya Corder of RE/MAX Excellence in South Holland and Joe Kenny of Coldwell Banker Residential in Hinsdale. The newly-elected board members will begin their terms in September. The by-law change was also approved by the voters.

Accounting News

MORE ADVANTAGE BILLING: The 3rd Quarter MORe Advantage statement for July, August, and September was mailed on July 2nd. The due date is July 24th. Any payment made after July 24th should include a $25 late fee

You may pay on our website by logging on with your name, your agent number, and your MORe password (this is different than your MLS password and is case sensitive), and then arrow down to Pay MLS Fees on the My Account page . If you do not know your password, you may request that it be sent to you by following the link under the login box.

You may pay at the Downers Grove, Naperville or Tinley Park office. Each location has a drop box for your convenience.

Media Update

CNN Headline News: Pam Krieter, CEO of MORe, was a featured guest on Comcast Newsmakers CNN Headline News beginning Monday, June 30th. The program airs on the :24 and :54 past the hour so check it out!

MORe has partnered with the Chicago Association and WBBM to bring a weekly 60-second real estate spot that will air on Wednesday evenings beginning July 2nd at 6:23 p.m. Listen to WBBM News Radio 780.

MORe Education

Learn to control your stress and enjoy the abundance of life. Hypnotherapist Terry Brinkman will share ideas about the remarkable power of the minds when we learn to relax and visualize success through hypnotism.Sign up for one of four complimentary sessions.For a detailed flyer, click here.

CSC - Certified Staging Consultant: Get the 411 on Home Staging! The Organization is proud to announce its second organization-owned certification. Join the Professional Development Committee and the Education Department on Thursday, Sept. 11th, in the Downers Grove classroom. The CSC session will be held from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. For a complete 2008 schedule, click here. This certification is not endorsed by NAR but is recognized through MRED.

Is your client's home (seller) still on the market? Did you know that a staged home has a 13% higher sold price? Did you also know that staged homes sell 30% faster? You ask how the certification will help you sell. Speaker Julea Joseph of Reinventing Space and Brook Furniture Rental will show you how! Click here to check out the video clip!

CRS members comprise just 4 percent of all REALTORS®. CRS designees earn an average of $110,000 annually and nearly three times as much as the $37,300 that the average REALTOR® who sells real estate earns. Would you like to be part of these statistics? Get started to obtain your CRS designation. MORe and RANWC are co-sponsoring the following 2008 CRS 1-day session! Get an edge over your competition! Click here to sign up today. To learn more about the CRS designation, please click here.

Newly licensed brokers need to complete the 6-hour Broker Management course within 180 days of licensure. The Education Department is offering two summer classroom Broker Management courses; one in July and August. Renewed Brokers, even though the broker renewal period has ended, did you know the state allows all licensees two full years to complete their continuing education! The broker 2-year period started May 1, 2008, and will end April 30, 2010? So, GET STARTED EARLY and enroll in the summer Broker Management courses. For a schedule of classes, click here.

In approximately seven months, as a requirement of NAR, the Education Department will verify whether you, as a member of Mainstreet, have completed the required quadrennial Ethics requirement. By now, each managing broker should have received a list of agents in that office that has not yet complied with this requirement, according to their membership records. Please take a moment and follow these simple steps to verify if our records show that YOU have complied:

• Click here.
• Login to the member login section of the home page.
• Look in the far left “My Account” column.
• Scroll to the bottom of the column.
• Ethic Completed: Yes? You’re done!!!!
• Ethics Completed: No?
• If your records show “No” and you have completed a continuing education ETHICS course dated after Jan. 1, 2005, fax over your ETHICS certificate of completion to 630-324-8403 so that your record can be update; -or-
• If your records show “No,” sign up for one of the upcoming continuing education ethics sessions. Click here. -or-
• If your records show “No”, choose the ethics course from our home study flyer. Click here for more information on our home study courses. -or-
• If your records show “No”, click here to complete NAR’s complimentary 2.5 hour online course. This online course does not warrant Illinois continuing education credit.
• If you are a new member and are scheduled for the 1.5-day orientation, attending the orientation will comply with the current ethics quadrennial requirement. After completing orientation, your records will be automatically be updated.

Please remember that this is an ongoing requirement.January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2012, will be the next quadrennial period of completion.Why not comply during your state continuing education period?Choose a 3-hour elective Ethics course and you will also comply with the national requirement.If you have additional questions, do not hesitate to contact an Education Department staff person at 630-324-8400.

Know someone who would like to get into the Real Estate business? Did you know that Mainstreet offers quarterly 45-hour Pre-licensing sessions for all three locations: Downers Grove, Naperville and Tinley Park? To download a full 2008 schedule for each location, click here and click on “CURRENT FLYERS” from the home page. If additional information is needed, please contact the Education Department at 630-324-8400.

Commercial News
July Commercial Seminar: "I Want More Money Now! Finding What Works in Your Business" is the topic for the July Commercial Seminar from 9-11 a.m. on Friday, July 11th, in the Downers Grove Office. The seminar is an interactive approach to viewing your business from a different perspective. Cost is $10 for members and $15 for non-members and walk-ins. For more information, click here or contact Nancy Willig at 630.324.8414.

Government Affairs

Calumet Park attempts to obstruct “As Is” sales by denying escrow/bond. MORe has appeared before Calumet Park council on three occasions in the past year along with letters from IAR and private Counsel to the Mayor.  If you are attempting to transact, please email Tom Joseph.

Midlothian and Monee are applying what Mainstreet and Illinois Association Government Affairs refer to as an "illegal transfer stamp" which has no dollar amount applied. Per Illinois Association REALTORS@ advocacy, all transfer stamps must go to referendum. If you run into any attempts to "OBSTRUCT" transfers of property per point of sale in these two villages or any other south suburban village, please email Tom Joseph.  

Professional Standards

Respect for Peers: Respond to other agents’ calls, faxes, and e-mails promptly and courteously

Take ethics to a higher level in your business by joining one of our Professional Standards Committees! We are currently accepting applications. Click here for more information.

REALTOR® Store

MORe Store Sale! Come in to any one of our 3 MORe store locations or visit our online store between July 1st and August 31st for our newest sale items. Everything from mortgage calculators, laser measurers, BOSS Planners (final mark down!), selected books, Real Estate Ethics book (closeout clearance), business card holders, heart-shaped stickers, stamps, selected open house binders (clearance), selected sign riders, and more!

New Sentrilock Items – All of our MORe store locations are carrying new Sentrilock items.  We have pouches perfect for carrying your Sentrilock card that come in black, blue, navy, green, tan, brown and red ($6 each for members). Each are leather, hand made, card sized pouches with a ring to conveniently attach to your keys for easy access to your Sentrilock card at any time.  Our stores are also now carrying card reels for your Sentrilock card ($1 each for members). Attach this retractable reel to your card and clip it to you belt, shirt, or pocket and never worry about losing your card. 

Now available are extra Sentricard readers for both your home and office.  The home card readers are $35 for members and the office readers with weight are $58 for members and are available for pickup at any of our offices or delivery via UPS (shipping and handling charges will apply).  If you would like to purchase a reader for delivery, call 630-324-8450.

Store Discount Offer – Anytime you attend a class or seminar at any of MORe’s locations, visit the store and receive a 10% discount on a full purchase (excludes lockboxes, contracts, and forms).  Let the MORe staff person helping you know you are attending a class/seminar to receive your discount.  **This discount can be combined with any other sale, discount, or clearance price for added savings.  **To receive the discount, you must tell the staff member ringing you up that you are attending a class before you pay for the items.

Items listed below are not association sponsored or endorsed but are published as a service to our members.

What’s the Buzz?

The July DuPage/Will WCR Event, Christmas in July, will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8th, at Carol King Design Studio, 724 Vandustrial Dr. in Westmont. Refreshments will be served while you browse the studio. Please RSVP to Liz Moore, 630.357.1300.

The DuPage/Will WCR invites you to celebrate its name change from 4-8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 8th, at 5831 Elinor Ave. in Downers Grove. DuPage changes its name this year to DuPage/Will because it better reflects its area, its members and recognizes the large volume of sales done in Will County. Please RSVP to Irene Panos at 630.357.1300.

The South Suburban PADS Golf Outing will be held on Saturday, July 26th, at University Park Golf Club in University Park. Cost is $100 per golfer and includes golf, cart, lunch and dinner. Sponsorships are also available. Click here for more information.

The 2008 IAR Convention and Expo will be Sept. 17-19 at the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center. Please visit the IAR website for further information.

The 2008 Village of Woodridge Residential Real Estate Brokers Tour is scheduled forThursday, July 17th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The 9th annual tour will travel the Village providing you information on new and proposed developments, as well as general information on Village services and the community. The tour bus will pass by the Seven Bridges Development, Cedar Hill Subdivision, the recently approved Farmingdale Village Unit 26, several new retail developments, and many upcoming development sites. Lunch will be provided at no cost to you. If you are interested in being on the invitation list.

Premium Mortgage, Inc., in Palos Park is offering a complimentary loan officer training class for any MORe member. Being a dual licensed REALTOR® and Loan Officer is legal with proper disclosure. For more information, contact Todd Probasco at 708.361.8686 or by email.

Let us know what you’re doing that’s newsworthy! Are you using any innovative business approaches? Received any awards? Have a human interest story? Do you have any new ways of dealing with diverse clients? Click here to send your story. If we think the local media will be interested, we’ll ship it off to them pronto – and – we’ll jot it down in this section of E-blast. Questions? Please contact Ron Brow.