While we are spending a lot more time indoors recently, here are a few tips to take advantage of your time at home and enhance your social media game:

  1. Build out your social media strategy.  Make sure you’re customizing your message for each social media channel and the specific customers you are targeting.  Remember when you said you don’t have time to post on social media?
  2. Reach out to clients.  This is the time to reach out to your clients, access their individual needs and reach out to them via email, phone, or video chat. During these times of isolation, we all crave social interaction.  You have a captive audience, so make sure you provide value.
  3. Stay in contact with your clients.  The most successful agents build and maintain relationships in addition to selling houses.  Every day, make yourself a list of who you are going to call, text, or write a personal note to.  Your words can make a difference in someone’s lives during these times of social isolation.
  4. Reassess your tools and systems.  This is a great opportunity to take the time to really understand all the features your CRM has to offer.  Make sure your client profiles are complete with current contact information and special dates like birthdays, anniversaries, etc.  Do you know which clients are essential services?  This could be an opportunity of a lifetime for them if they are a first time home buyer. If you don’t have a CRM, now is the time to invest.
  5. Create a QR Code or Text #.  Since you can no longer have a flyer available for the public, consider displaying a QR Code or Text # to give those walking in the neighborhood access to your virtual tour. There are a lot of free QR code generators on the internet, such as this one.
  6. Manage your brand.  Google yourself. Do you like what you see?  Do photos need to be updated? Are all your marketing channels working in harmony?
  7. Update your business plan.  Hopefully, you had one.  The market is the market, someone always succeeds.  Why not make it you?  New strategies will have to be implemented to be successful in the new normal.  You can still end up having a very prosperous year, but you must adapt.
  8. Organize your life.  This starts with your computer.  Get your files organized and clean up your desktop. Use your calendar to time block those projects that you have been putting off. 
  9. Invest in yourself.  There is no better time to take advantage of the professional development offered by SCCAOR, C.A.R., and NAR.  Many of the courses are free during the Shelter in Place order.  You are in control of how you manage your 24 hours.  Spend your time wisely because your competition sure is.
  10. Stay in the zone with real estate podcasts.  When you need a break from the computer screen, put on your headphones, take a walk,  and get inspired by listening to some of the brightest minds in the business. Here are a few good ones to start with:
    • Housing Matters Podcast  (C.A.R.)
      https://www.car.org/marketdata/podcast
      The Housing Matters Podcast is your housing hub for market analysis, economic trends, and housing news from the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.).

    • Center for REALTOR® Development Podcast (NAR)
      http://www.crdpodcast.com/

      NAR’s Center for REALTOR® Development podcast focuses on education in the real estate industry and is hosted by Monica Neubauer, an award-winning industry leader, speaker, and instructor based in Nashville, TN. The podcast discusses formal and informal sources of industry knowledge, including NAR education and credential programs.

    • Gimmie Shelter
      https://calmatters.org/articles/category/podcasts/gimme-shelter
      Why is it so expensive to live in California? And what can the state do about it? Every other week, Los Angeles Times housing reporter Liam Dillon and CALmatters’ data reporter Matt Levin chat about the latest developments in California housing policy and interview a key housing newsmaker.

REALTORS® can now apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) through the California Employment Development Department (EDD). Here are three tips from SCCAOR Member Richard Calhoun who applied successfully on Tuesday, April 28th:

1) Hand type in all entries. Text that is copied and pasted might get rejected in many of the sections of the application.

2) REALTORS® type of work is “Salespersons”. It appears that the capital “S” and the “s” at the end of the word are both required to avoid an error message.

3) For Annual Income, do not use “$” or any commas.  You do need to include the decimal point and cents.

This whole process should take about 20 minutes to complete.

The fastest way to apply for benefits is through the  “UI Online” website.

You can also apply for PUA by phone, mail, or fax. Click here to learn more

Learn more about the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance on the EDD website

It’s important to log in to your SCCAOR Profile and make sure all your contact info is up-to-date.

 

Highlights from this video

Register for the March 29th Commercial Referral Network event
Learn more about the new laws that affect REALTORS®
See the most recent Code of Ethics Case Interpretation blog post
View January 2019 Market Stats

 

We are happy to announce that SCCAOR has created an Amazon Echo Flash Briefing skill. You can now get housing stats and other Association updates simply by talking to your Amazon Echo. Once enabled, just say “Alexa, what’s my Flash Briefing?” or “Alexa, what’s in the news?”

GET THE SKILL

 


Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren will be coming to SCCAOR for a Town hall meeting on Wednesday, September 19th from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM. Lunch will be provided and advanced registration is required. There are a limited number of tickets available so register today to guarantee your seat!

CLAIM YOUR FREE TICKET

 


SCCAOR YPN invites you to attend inspiRE on September 20th at the Casino M8trix. This event will feature a host of well known and insightful speakers, including Andrew Flachner, Mark Von Kaenel, Mike Ramos, and more! A limited number of tickets are available so get yours today!

LEARN MORE

 


REignite 2018 is a one-day real estate conference on Friday, October 19th at the Santa Clara Convention Center. It will feature a morning keynote by Stefan Swanepoel followed by breakout sessions throughout the day. These insightful breakout sessions will cover trends, marketing, tech, sales, and other hot real estate topics. All attendees also get a free lunch and access to the hosted reception at the end of the day!

LEARN MORE

 



All SCCAOR REALTOR® members get access to zipForm® — a truly essential transaction management and forms software. It helps you draft contracts, manage transactions, and close deals. Best of all, it’s 100% free for our members.

LEARN MORE

 


The Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS® voted unanimously to endorse 7 candidates running for office on the November 6, 2018 ballot. The SCCAOR Board of Directors recognizes each of these candidates as aligning with our mission as a pro-housing and property rights association and are proud to offer them this endorsement.

SEE THE CANDIDATES

After conducting extensive in-person interviews with potential candidates for the Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors and Officers, our Nominating Committee has selected the following candidates to serve as the Association leaders in 2019:

Officer Candidates selected by the Nominating Committee

Gustavo Gonzalez, President
Sandy Jamison, President-Elect
William Chea, Vice-President
Stephen Theard, Secretary-Treasurer

Director Candidates selected by the Nominating Committee

Kip Barnard
Kevin Cole*
Doug Goss
Bill Rehbock
SCRA Director TBD**

* Per SCCAOR policy, the immediate Past President is given a three-year term.
**Per SCCAOR Bylaws, one director shall be designated by the South County REALTORS® Alliance to serve a one-year term from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019.

Petition: Candidates for officers or directors, other than those candidates selected by the Nominating Committee, may be nominated by written petition on a form from SCCAOR. The petition must be signed by 150 or more REALTOR® members in good standing and be delivered to the Chief Executive Officer at SCCAOR not later than noon on July 23, 2018 (as prescribed in the SCCAOR Bylaws Article 10, Section 5)


Timeline of Election of Board of Directors

July 23 – Deadline to petition to be on the ballot.
July 24 – Record Date (Voting members must have their current e-mail address on file at SCCAOR prior to this date. Contact Member Services or go online to ensure your e-mail address is current.)
September 3 – Online voting begins at 8:00 a.m. (E-ballot sent via e-mail to all eligible members.)
September 21 – Online polls close at 5:00 p.m.
September 25 – Election results reported to Board of Directors.
November 16 – President declares the election results at our General Membership Meeting


Special Thanks to the SCCAOR Nominating Committee

Trisha Motter, Chairperson (Past President 2016), Rick Smith, Vice-Chairperson (Past President 2017), Myron Von Raesfeld, Chairperson (Past President 2014), Carl San Miguel (Past President 2013), Barbara Lymberis (Past President 2012), Jim Myrick (Past President 2005), Steve Hanleigh (Past President 2002), Pam Foley (Past President 1998), Kraig Constantino (SCCAOR Member), Natalie McNany (SCCAOR Member), Claudia Mendivil (SCCAOR Member), Gabrielle Perez (SCCAOR Board of Director), Frank Cancilla (2018 Foundation Chair & SCCAOR Board of Director)