Home staging gives sellers a leg up - Chattanooga Bar Association

32 | Friday, March 16, 2012 Hamilton County Herald www.hamiltoncountyherald.com
(423) 698-8001
Fax: (423) 698-8004
FOUNDED IN 1912
More open houses than any other source. www.GCAR.net
Rally to protect the American dream
A Message from
NAR President Moe Veissi
Our industry is facing a crucial
moment. Never before in the
history of our great nation have
housing and real estate been
forced to defend the benefi ts
they provide our country. � e
very foundation of civilization is
no stronger, nor more enduring
than the integrity of the homes on
which they rest.
We must have a sustainable,
durable housing economy for generations
to come. Congress and
the President should see their job
as bolstering the housing economy
and strengthening our commitment
to the country’s health.
If the housing market continues
to falter, the economy cannot fully
recover. Over the next 18 months
Congress will begin reshaping the
role of housing in achieving the
dream of owning a home. � at is
what we are facing. REALTORS®
have something to say about this.
And this is our opportunity to
ensure housing remains the fi ber
that binds together the fabric of
America.
We are going to defend the
American Dream from the doubters
who say home ownership and
real estate have run their course.
� at is why we are holding the
Rally to Protect the American
Dream on May 17th in Washington,
D.C. I am asking you to be
there and stand with your fellow
REALTORS® from every corner of
America -- from Alaska to Illinois
to Texas to Guam.
We are going to show Congress
that no one cares more about
revitalizing real estate for future
generations than REALTORS® do.
It is critical that you register
to let us know you are attending
the rally. We want to plan a great
event and make sure we have
enough food, water, lunches, tshirts
and buses. If you would like
to come, simply go to our registration
page at the Realtor Action
Center:
http://www2.realtoractioncenter.com/site/Calendar?view=Detai
l&id=105342&AddInterest=5781
Note that if you plan to stay
longer than one day, NAR is
not able to cover or reimburse
for lodging expenses. However,
if your room is over $300/
night, NAR will reimburse $100/
night up to two nights ($200)
to help defray housing costs to
attend. Simply bring your hotel
confi rmation with your room
rate and NRDS ID (members
only) to the NAR Registration
desk at the Marriott Wardman
Park hotel, and NAR will initiate
a refund.
� is is our time. � is is our moment.
We can’t do it without you.
Join us. ��
Upcoming knowledge opportunities for Realtors!
Now is a great time to enhance your Realtor knowledge and skills through the many
professional development courses off ered at Greater Chattanooga Association of Realtors.
HOW TO REGISTER FOR A CLASS
You may register for a class online (or check out what’s coming soon) by visiting our Web site at
www.GCAR.net. In the middle of the page click on Realtor Courses or click on the Calendar at the
top of the page. � e classes will be listed by date. Follow the onscreen directions to get more info,
Register, or add to your calendar!
All regular CE costs are $10 per credit hour for Realtors. Non-Realtors have diff erent pricing,
please see the calendar. Designation & Certifi cation courses are priced diff erently. See the online
registration for the prices of Designation & Certifi cation courses.
You may also contact the Association offi ce for a printed form you can fi ll out and fax or email at
your convenience.
If you’re having trouble registering for a class, please contact Susan at the Association offi ce at
423-698-8001 or via email at Susan@gcar.net.
For all LUNCH & LEARN seminars, please grab some lunch before you come!
Unless otherwise noted, all of the following classes will take place in the GCAR Knowledge Services
Department.
To cancel a class, you must submit an email or a fax. WRITTEN NOTICE IS REQUIRED. If we
do not receive a cancellation, you will forfeit the cost of the class. If a class is FREE, we will assess a
$30 “No Show” fee.
Monday, March 19, 2012
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Short Sale Specialist
Although we’ve been hearing over and over
that distressed property sales are a huge part of
today’s real estate market, pursuing short sales
as a viable business option has been avoided by
over 90 percent of real estate agents. Less than
2 percent of those who venture into the short
sale arena are successful. Yet, over the next fi ve
years, it is predicted that 40-60 percent of all
sales will be distressed, i.e. REO/Short Sale.
What are you waiting on? Get in the game. With
proper education and training, however, you
can successfully close REOs and Short Sales.
By participating in short sales, you will create a
niche for yourself in the community, which will
separate you from the competition and short
sales create banking connections that my allow
you to get into the REO business as well.
Instructor: Cathy McDaniel 6 Hours
TN & GA CE $60 for REALTORS - $120 for
NON-REALTORS
Tuesday, March 20
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Working with the Buyer –
Short Sales, REOs, New Construction
Realtors work hard to help people
buy and sell homes, while also
dedicating their time and eff orts to
improve the quality of life in communities
across the country. � e
National Association of Realtors
recognizes these Realtors who devote
themselves to volunteer service
through Realtor Magazine’s Good
Neighbor Awards, which is currently
accepting applications.
Five winners will be announced
in the November/December issue
of Realtor Magazine. Each winner
will be recognized at the 2012 Realtors
Conference & Expo in Orlando
and will receive a $10,000 grant
for his or her charity. Winners will
also receive travel expenses to the
conference and national and local
media exposure for their community
cause. In addition to the winners,
fi ve honorable mentions will each
receive a $2,500 grant.
“� is year marks the 13th annual
Good Neighbor Awards,” said NAR
President Moe Veissi, broker-owner
of Veissi & Associates Inc., in Miami,
Fla. “� e program is signifi cant
not just because it spotlights members
who have a strong commitment
to helping others, but because
it reminds us that Realtors build
communities in more ways than
one. � e awards signify the dedication
and passion Realtors have for
helping others in need.”
Last year’s Good Neighbor
Award winners contributed a
combined total of more than 8,000
hours to their causes and drew a
standing ovation from more than
6,000 Realtors and guests during
the conference’s general session in
Anaheim, Calif. � e 2011 winners
were LeRoy J. Bendickson, Edina
Realty, Edina, Minn., for National
Multiple Sclerosis Society, Minnesota
Chapter; Marta Karpiel,
Alain Pinel Realtors, Carmel, Calif.,
for Freedom Fields USA; Vito A.
Pampalona, Vito Anthony Homes,
Rochester, Mich., for the Yellow
Ribbon Fund; Judy Pitt, Wright
Kingdom Inc., Boulder, Colo., for
Kazi Yake (In His Hands); and
Wayne J. Shaff er, Shaff er and Associates,
Santa Cruz, Calif., for St.
Francis Catholic Kitchen, Siena
House Maternity Home, and Jesus
Mary Joseph Home.
Previous Good Neighbor Award
winners say their charities benefi t
from the grant money and the increased
public exposure. “We don’t
do what we do to get awards,” said
2011 Good Neighbor Award winner
2963 AMNICOLA
HIGHWAY
CHATTANOOGA,
TENNESSEE 37406
Realtor magazine seeking nominations
for Annual Good Neighbor Awards
2012 GCAR Officers and Board of Directors
Mark Hite, President; Mark Blazek, President-Elect; Vicki Trapp, Secretary-Treasurer; Jennifer Grayson, Past President; Byron Kelly;
Melissa Harrison; Russ Elliott; Fidel Fonseca, John Healy, Julie Chamberlain, Nathan Walldorf, Travis Close, Andy Hodes; Arnold Farmer;
Brenda Pargeon; Gayle McMillen; Jennie Brockman; Mary Carlson; Francie Ryder, Executive Officer
MLS Officers and Board of Directors
Russ Elliott, President; Pam Duffy, President-Elect; Byron Kelly, Secretary-Treasurer; Dan Griess, Past President; Wells Eady; Jennifer Grayson;
Andy Hodes; Julie Chamberlain; Mark Hite; Ben Pitts; Mark Blazek; Travis Close; Vicki Trapp; Nathan Walldorf
LeRoy Bendickson, who won for
his work with the National Multiple
Sclerosis Society, Minnesota Chapter.
“But the national attention that
resulted from winning the Good
Neighbor Award has increased
awareness of the disease and I can
see that the fundraising will be
advanced and that this year’s team
will be larger than ever. Now I look
at awards diff erently—they can be
a huge help in furthering the cause
you are fi ghting for.”
Good Neighbor Awards entries
must be received by Friday, May 18,
2012. For more details and a nomination
form, call (800)874-6500,
visit www.REALTOR.org/gna, or see
the March/April issue of Realtor
Magazine.
Realtor Magazine’s Good Neighbor
Awards is sponsored by Lowe’s
and HouseLogic. In addition to the
grant money, each winner will receive
a $2,000 Lowe’s gift card and
each honorable mention will receive
a $1,000 Lowe’s gift card.
Lowe’s has worked with customers
to maintain and improve their
homes since 1946. Lowe’s is proud
to support the Good Neighbor
Awards. Lowe’s is a proud supporter
of Habitat for Humanity
International, American Red Cross,
SkillsUSA/SkillsCanada, and � e
Nature Conservancy, in addition to
numerous nonprofi t organizations
and programs that help communities
in North America. In 2009,
Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable
and Educational Foundation together
contributed more than $30
million to support community and
education projects in North America.
Lowe’s also encourages volunteerism
through the Lowe’s Heroes
program, a company-wide employee
volunteer initiative. Lowe’s,
an NAR Realtor Benefi ts Partner,
brings Realtors exclusive benefi ts to
help build relationships with their
customers, generate referrals and
expand their client base.
HouseLogic is a free source of
information and tools from the National
Association of Realtors that
can help home owners make smart
and timely decisions about their
home. With content covering home
improvement, maintenance, taxes,
fi nance, insurance, and even ways to
get involved in and enrich their community,
HouseLogic can help home
owners increase and protect the
value of their home by helping them
make confi dent decisions.
Source : Nar �