CREA Update
REALTOR.ca has new features and tools to improve the user experience of REALTOR.ca.
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MLS® Updates
Board ID in search window
Have you noticed that “Board ID†is now a search criterion in MLXchange and Fusion? By using “Board IDâ€, you can specify which listings you wish to view by selecting one or both Associations.
Selecting “H†for Hamilton-Burlington, “N†for Niagara or both “H†and “N†will determine which listings will appear in your results window. However, if you select only one, you may be missing results if members from the other Association have listed properties within your search criteria. If you wish to see all listings from both Associations in your results, simply leaving this criteria blank will also give you all results from both Associations.
New LIVE CHAT feature available
A new “Live Chat†feature is available in both MLXchange and Fusion. This feature can be used when you require computer support.
To use “Live Chatâ€, look under the “Help†File/Tab for the “Live Chat†icon. Click on the button to connect to computer support during the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.,
Monday to Friday.
OREA Listing Agreements
OREA Listing Agreements are now in stock in the Realty Shoppe. RAHB will advise members via Message of the Day (MOD) when the form is available on WEBForms.
Please note that RAHB will accept OREA’s 2011 forms until February 29, 2012. After that date, only the new OREA Listing Agreement dated 2012 will be accepted.
No need for Acess Listings between RAHB and NAR
Now that RAHB and NAR share a common MLS® database, there is no longer a need for access listings between the two associations. As a result, and to avoid duplication of listings, NAR and RAHB have cancelled ouststanding access listings from their respective associations.
Governance Corner – February 2012
by Cameron Nolan, 2012 President
Members’ Rights
At a membership meeting last year, a motion was made and passed that the square footage field be removed from listing information forms. Of the 188 members at the meeting, 101 voted in favour of the motion and thus it was passed.
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Ethics Corner – The Fourth House
Remember your duty to your buyer client
The Fourth House
The buyer signs a buyer representation agreement including specifics as to the type of property wanted, namely a two-storey residential home in the $425,000 to $500,000 range in the West Ridge area of Anycity. The salesperson locates four listed properties meeting those specifications, three of which offer co-operating brokerages a commission ranging from 2.5% to 3%. The fourth is attractively priced, offers the same amenities but with a lower commission of 1.5% to the co-operating brokerage. The salesperson shows the three properties only and obtains an acceptable offer. Prior to closing, the buyer discovers that the fourth house was deliberately withheld and lodges a complaint with RECO. Disciplinary action is subsequently taken against the registrant.
Article 19 REBBA 2002
19. If a brokerage has entered into a representation agreement with a buyer, a broker or salesperson who acts on behalf of the buyer pursuant to the agreement shall inform the buyer of properties that meet the buyer’s criteria without having any regard to the amount of commission or other remuneration, if any, to which the brokerage might be entitled.
(reprinted from Introducing REBBA 2002:Â The Real Estate and Business Brokers Act 2001, published by the RECO.)
Members are reminded that they have a duty to their buyer client to show their buyer all properties that meet their requirements, even though it might mean a lower commission for you.
Stats Changes – Seasonally adjusted data
Members will notice a few changes have been made to the statistics released by the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton Burlington.
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Association Event
For more information and course outlines, go to www.rahb.ca/events
Gala Highlights
The date was January 21, the place was Michelangelo’s and the stars of the evening were RAHB’s volunteers from 2011, the newest members of RAHB’s long service clubs and RAHB service award recipients. (more…)
Low inventory of listings in Greater Hamilton, Burlington and outlying areas
The REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) reported 819 property sales through the RAHB Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) for the month of January, representing a 10.8 per cent increase in sales over the same month last year.  RAHB also reported that 7.7 per cent fewer listings were taken in the month of January of this year compared to January of last year.
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Area Maps – RAHB Average Price by District for January
Staff Profiles – Meet Nancy and Maggie
Many members speak to RAHB staff over the phone or by email, but have never met them. As a way of putting a face to a name, we will be introducing all RAHB staff over the next few months and telling you a bit about what they do.
Nancy Duce
Nancy is RAHB’s Manager, Member Products/Councils. She is staff liaison for the Membership Area Representation Committee (MARC), the Burlington Council and the Regional Commercial Council (RCC).   She also oversees the functions of the RAHB Print Services department and the Realty Shoppe, which includes scheduling, ordering paper supplies, liaising with and setting up new suppliers, and ordering products and business forms for resale in the Shoppe. Nancy is also responsible for special projects such as RAHB map updates and MLS® form updates.
Nancy has been with RAHB since 1978. She started by assisting in the Print Services area. This was back in the days when RAHB members were obliged to receive dailies and we had our own pre- and post-production equipment, including an offset press.  Nancy remained in Print Services, working her way up. The digital age brought tremendous changes to the graphic arts business, and these changing times and technologies brought changing responsibilities. So what have the years taught her?  That change is an inevitable fact of life, and learning is a lifelong process.
Maggie Inglis
Maggie is RAHB’s Computer Graphic Designer. Maggie has been with RAHB the longest of all staff employees. She is the one who designs all the graphic components of every RAHB brochure, flyer, manual, sign, poster, graph, certificate, advertisement, newsletter and anything else that goes out of the RAHB office. Maggie ensures that all RAHB branding appears as it should on all our printed and online materials. She also works with outside graphics to make them work for RAHB. Given her many artistic talents, it may come as a surprise that Maggie is also our internal handy person and is the keeper of the tools we might need around the office.
Maggie started with RAHB in 1975 in the information centre, typing conditional sales on MLS® listings. From that position, she moved to the Print Services department and oversaw it’s day to day operations. She did a temporary stint in the Computer department and from there started digitizing MLS® house photos for the image downloading system (IDS) for half the day and desktop publishing for the other half. When the demands for desktop publishing and computer graphic design became greater, Maggie started designing full time, and that is where she uses her considerable talents today.
Please note: Â Staff photos do not appear on RAHB blog just in the PDF version of REALinfo.
Realty Shoppe
Congratulations Joe!
Congratulations to Joe Graci of Sutton Group About Town Realty Inc., Brokerage, winner of the Realty Shoppe’s Customer Appreciation Day draw for a 2012 Toronto Entertainment book. Light refreshments were enjoyed by all who dropped by on January 18.
New Releases – Available by advance order only!
Rough/Advanced Guide to Construction Costs 2012
A great reference book for current construction costs, both residential and commercial.
$25.65 ea., or  $33.50/pkg with GTA Green Guide 2012
Provides an overview of current green building trends and green building rating systems to both new and existing buildings.
Order deadline is February 24, 2012
Popular Sellers – Valuable Information
OREA Marketing Tools
How to Buy Your Home
A great tool to promote your services and help your buyer through the home buying process. It details the many steps in purchasing a home such as making an offer, arranging financing and working with a REALTOR®.
How to Sell Your Home
Another tool to help you build a strong relationship with your seller by making the selling experience as simple and stress-free as possible, and emphasizing the vital role REALTORS® play in this complex process.
Only $3.00 ea.
Please Note: Â Final Sale policy in effect on all published books
Call the Shoppe at 905.529.5979 to order your copy!
Welcome New Members – December 17 to January 25
The REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington would like to extend a warm welcome to the newest members.
Robert Bryer
Beacon Hill Realty Inc., Brokerage
Bill McMahon
James Ferris
Judy Marsales Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage
Matthew Fascione
Tammy Gosden
Lise Miles
Michael Delvecchio
RE/MAX Escarpment Realty Inc., Brokerage
Rob Hegedus
Noel McCabe
RE/MAX Garden City Realty Inc., Brokerage
Beau Spencer
Right At Home Realty Inc., Brokerage
William Hicks
Royal LePage Burloak Real Estate Services Inc., Brokerage
Robert James
Royal LePage Niagara Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage
Angela Smuk
Amir Ahmadi
Sylvie Lalumiere
Royal LePage State Realty Inc., Brokerage
Alex Kupiec
Sutton Group Results Realty Inc., Brokerage