Tuesday, September 25, 2018 – Save That Date!

RAHB’s ProDev+ (Professional Development Plus) will be coming your way on Tuesday, September 25, 2018! This full-day event will include an education program, expanded exhibitor hall and interactive networking time to unwind after a busy, information-packed day.

Watch for more details in upcoming issues of NewsReal, but for now – save that date!

 

 

RAHB REALTORS® Release June Stats

The REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) reported 1,257 sales were processed through the RAHB Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) System in June, 14.2 per cent fewer than the same month last year and 19.2 per cent fewer than the 10-year average for the month.

Please click here to read the full report.

Follow the links below for:

 

Update Your Profile in the New Member Portal!

When you go to RAHB Education/Account Services, review your profile information and make sure your information is complete and up-to-date. You can edit your member profile information whenever you have a change of address, new website URL, new e-mail address, etc. It’s easy!

When you are in RAHB Education/Education Account Services home page, look for your member profile on the left-hand side of the page.

If information is missing, incomplete or incorrect, click on the Edit button to the right of the My Profile title:

Alternately, you could point to the Member button on the home page header and select My Profile.

Then go through your personal information listed in the fields presented to you, add or update information and then click on Update at the bottom of the page.

Please note that fields marked with an asterisk – which will all be populated for you – are mandatory; you can change the information in the field, but you cannot remove information or leave it blank.

If you have questions about how to change your information on the new Member Portal, contact Justin Hayes at the RAHB office at 905.529.8101 x250.

City of Hamilton Sign By-Laws

All members received the following e-mail on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.

RAHB members have asked us to find ways to improve professionalism across our association to ensure members are treating not only their fellow practitioners with the utmost respect, but also the public.  Your RAHB Board of Directors has, in fact, made increasing member professionalism one of our top five strategic priorities for the next three years.

We and the City of Hamilton By-Law office have recently noticed an increase in signage infractions throughout Hamilton. Specifically of concern is an increase in the number of open house directional signs within intersections and along roadways. This is outlined in Sign By-Law 10-197 (Real Estate Signs).

Under Section 5.11.2. (i), an open house directional sign, that is a temporary, free-standing sign advertising an open house, is prohibited except:

  • Between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. of the day of the open house;
  • With a maximum sign area of 0.5 m2;
  • Not displayed on a traffic island or median or attached to a light standard or utility pole; and
  • At least 0.3 m from a sidewalk

RAHB understands this by-law to mandate that there should be only one directional open house sign within an intersection, per property, within the noted time parameters.

See below for examples of violations of the by-law.

In an effort to curb these infractions and to increase professionalism, we have met with the City of Hamilton and will be working closely with them to ensure this by-law is enforced.

We support the City of Hamilton in their efforts, including but not limited to the removal of signs that violate the by-law. We also support the City of Hamilton to conduct blitzes on weekends to enforce the by-law for RAHB members, as well as non-members.

We also encourage our RAHB members to anonymously report real estate sign by-law violations throughout the City of Hamilton. To do so, please collect the information, take a photo of the infraction, and send it to Angela at angelam@rahb.ca.

Additional information on the City of Hamilton’s sign by-law can be found on our blog at https://blog.rahb.ca/?p=9628.

Angela in the RAHB office can also answer any of your questions via phone at 905.529.8101 x233.

Thank you in advance for your compliance with these important by-laws, as well as your support in enforcement. Raising professionalism is good for all members.

Community Open Forum Highlights

The spring RAHB Community Open Forums held through the month of June have wrapped up!

Members who attended received a wealth of information; in addition to RAHB updates by RAHB CEO George O’Neill, each open forum featured presentations by speakers local to the respective communities.

Caledonia and Dunnville:
Both events featured guest speaker Jaymie Nelson, a Senior Economic Development Officer for Haldimand County. Jaymie’s presentation looked at economic development and tourism initiatives – use the links below to view her presentation as well as additional information about development in Haldimand County:

Jaymie Nelson’s Slide Presentation Haldimand County Community Profile Haldimand County Map Request Form

 

Grimsby:
The Grimsby Community Open Forum featured two representatives from the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC):  Nancy Mott, who spoke about the Commission and Niagara Escarpment Plan, and John Stuart, who went through the Development Permit application process.

Use the links below to view the presentations by Nancy and John, as well as to access an interactive map of the Niagara Escarpment, the NEC website and information about Development Permits.

Nancy Mott’s Slide Presentation John Stuart’s Slide Presentation
Interactive Map NEC Website Development Permit Process

 

 

Grimsby Open Forum – Niagara Escarpment Plan Featured

The Grimsby Community Open Forum (Friday, June 15) was an excellent time of conversation and exchange of information and ideas! Members who attended were treated to a presentation by Nancy Mott and John Stuart of the Niagara Escarpment Commission, who spoke at length about the Niagara Escarpment plan and the development permit process.

In response to members’ interest in learning more about the Niagara Escarpment Plan, the Niagara Escarpment Commission, the process for obtaining development permits, and the escarpment itself, we are providing links to additional information for the benefit of all members.

Check out this information:

Interactive Map NEC Website Development Permits

Photos of the action at the Grimsby Community Open Forum

Property Information Forms Updated

The Property Information Forms (PIFs) for both residential and commercial properties have been updated!

The updates include several changes by way of amended, new or deleted requirements and picks.  You can review summaries of the changes to each of the forms by clicking on the links to the residential PIF and commercial PIF below.

The new Property Information Forms will be available in the Realty Shoppe on Tuesday, June 26, 2018. Availability on WEBForms® will be announced soon. Please begin using the new forms as soon as they become available.

View Residential Property Information Form summary

View Commercial Property Information Form summary

Take a Look at RAHB’s New Member Portal!

On Tuesday, June 12, you had your first glimpse at RAHB’s new Member Portal!

How to access the new Member Portal 

It’s easy! Just click on the link to RAHB Education/Account Services under RAHB News & Membership Services on your single sign on (SSO) dashboard at my.rahb.ca.

When you click on this icon you will now be taken to the new Member Portal.

The new, user friendly Member Portal will eventually replace the Clareity dashboard (or single sign on) at my.rahb.ca.  You will still log in as usual, but the dashboard you see will provide more information on one screen, while still giving you easy access to the services you need, like Matrix, WEBForms®, CONNECT and more.

The new member portal will also provide you with easier access to your own member profile, information about your account, and RAHB professional development and computer courses.

What’s new about the RAHB Education/Account Services program?

The new RAHB Education/Account Services program allows you easier access to your education and account information. There will be a more comprehensive listing of information specific to you – such as a list of courses for which you have registered. It’s also more intuitive when you search for courses and your account information.

What can you do?

Be sure to go into the new Member Portal via the RAHB Education/Account Services icon on the Clareity Dashboard – take a look around, and familiarize yourself with the look and feel.

Be sure to update your information within the new Member Portal.

And help us help you by sending us any questions you have about the new RAHB Education/Account Services program, or new Member Portal as a whole, so we can ensure we have everything covered before this becomes the Member Portal at my.rahb.ca later this summer.

Please submit your questions and comments about the new Member Portal to rosanneh@rahb.ca. Your input/feedback will be very useful as we develop educational resources (e.g. FAQ and videos) for the official launch later this summer.

 

Great Open Forum in Caledonia – Two More to Go!

Thank you to all members who attended the Caledonia Community Open Forum on June 5, 2018!

There was great dialogue and participation by all members, with discussion covering upcoming events, RAHB initiatives, professionalism, and updates from representatives on the Nomination Committee and Charity Auction Task Force.

Joining the Open Forum was Jaymie Nelson, Senior Economic Development Officer for Haldimand County.  Several members asked Jaymie where to find the Community Profile; it can be downloaded in full online here.

Also, any members interested in receiving FREE print copies of Haldimand County Maps and Guides can simply fill out this form.

** Remember: There are still two more Community Open Forums being held this month.  You don’t want to miss out so please pre-register today!

Grimsby – Friday, June 15: Register here

Dunnville – Wednesday, June 20: Register here

Some scenes from the Caledonia Community Open Forum!

 

 

 

Just Junk – Newest Partner in RAHB Advantage!

We are pleased to announce that Just Junk Hamilton is the newest partner in RAHB’s member value package, RAHB Advantage.

Just Junk offers a 10 per cent discount on junk removal from your or your clients’ homes – a great service for you as well as your clients! A phone call or e-mail is all it will take to rid your home of unwanted clutter.

Just Junk Hamilton covers a wide area from Oakville to Caledonia – check out what areas they cover as well as how to take advantage of this great service.

Please click here for more information about Just Junk.

Please click here for more information about RAHB Advantage.