Real Estate websites , Realtors & you………

The answer to whatever thought or question this headline may have evoked is most likely YES, please do. There was a time when much of the value a real estate professional brought to the table was proprietary inventory information. Someone forgot to bar the barn doors because not only is every form of information out there for those with any type of Google savvy but it’s out there and moving very fast in every direction, unmanaged and in many cases very inaccurate. Today’s Realtor embraces your research and input to dovetail their own expertise to represent clients with the depth of knowledge required to do so in a land mine latent landscape.
Most real estate search sites pull preprogrammed data from the MLS and or public records. The data can be limited, out of date and work from undefined standards. From a Realtor with boots on the ground please let me express to you some of my favorites in no particular order. The Colorado Association of Realtors has an incredible site up under www.REColorado.com . This site is very clean and crisp with extras such as map tools and customized views. What I like most about this site is that it is the most accurate out there. The information given to this site is complete and is managed by the MLS which governs the criteria that Realtors must follow when presenting a property to the public. I am of course partial to our site; www.PerformanceBrokersCO.com . The searches are top shelf but the stand outs here are the free apps, maps, market stats and reports. The focus is very local with in-depth school data, entertaining blogs and yes it’s free! www.Realtor.com is another quality site brought to you by the National Association of Realtors. This information is reliable and comes with all the bells and whistles. Once your eyes get used to some of the clutter and advertising you will find it very useful.
Knowledge is always a good thing when accurate, relevant and used in conjunction with an experienced professional. Your Realtor will appreciate your research.

Heather Baird 720.201.4187
Lifelong resident of Evergreen with Deep Roots in its development and growth; real estate legal office experience and numerous years as a house hold name in our real estate market

Sean Endsley 303.895.4663
Mountain Metro Association of Realtors board member, Former Sotheby’s franchise owner, U.S. Marine and current marketing expert.

I have benefited greatly from my membership with MMAR aka
Mountain Metro Association of Realtors both in sense of community and book of business.
Please have a look at our new video, I play the role of “Swoop, the Rookie”.

 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JohbcIVmNZA

Enjoy!

Sean can’t act but he can sell

Comparing a real estate agent/licensee and Realtors® is an apples and oranges scenario.  Realtors® have an established Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, as set forth by the National Association of Realtors®,  which Realtors® have taken a pledge to adhere to and serve the public at a higher level than non-Realtor agents.  This code can be reviewed at www.realtor.org/mempolweb.nsf/pages/code.  This is a very important distinction  for the consumer to be aware of as a difference between Realtors® and licensees.

Now Realtors® have a new and very powerful tool in their box to help serve the public in their real estate needs.  The Realtor® Property Resource (RPR) functions for Realtors® much like the MLS does for all Realtors® and participating licensees.  The RPR has been created and coordinated by the National Association of Realtors®, and for the use of Realtors® only.  This provides Realtors® across the country access to all MLS data bases throughout the entire United States.  As a result this has volumes of data  than could be found on any other site, public or private, anywhere in the country.

What value is this to the public?  Put in the capable and trained hands of Realtors®, the public can be provided with information about properties across the country.  Examples would be you are moving out of state and want to know more about your target area say in Cleveland.  RPR enables your local Realtor® listing your home here to provide you with volumes of information on the target area including real estate data, neighborhood data, mapping data, and much more.  If your friend or relative is moving across town to a new are out of the local MLS area, your Realtor® can research information on the new area.  If you want to simply compare markets or homes in different geographical locations anywhere in the U.S., your local Realtor® can get the information you are looking for – via RPR.  The possibilities are indeed endless, using your local Realtor® to access the information via RPR.

The National Association of Realtors® *(NAR) is a “watchdog” on the real estate industry nationally, not only on the Realtor® members, but on the industry as a whole, and how the public is affected by various aspects that occur.  One of the NAR’s  prime directives is to influence Congress to protect Homeowner’s rights.  A couple of very important examples of the vigilance of the NAR is the current and very serious fight about to be mounted on the mortgage interest deduction for homeowners, as it applies to Federal taxes, as well as the mounting fight on the elimination of Capital Gains, again as it applies to Federal taxes.

The Colorado Association of Realtors® (CAR) is the real estate industry’s State component of these same roles.  The CAR, and all State Associations, are also charged with continuing education policies, and management the Code of Ethics within the Colorado Realtor® ranks, as set forth by the NAR.   The Mountain Metro Association of Realtors®, the local Realtor® association, is the grass roots entity of the state and national associations, charged with the same responsibilities locally.

Being a Realtor® is not cheap, with each Realtor® and Broker individually committing hundreds of dollars each year to supporting all the above important functions, and so much more.    Just as important, Realtors® care.  Realtors® are also neighbors, friends, parents, and a large part of and participant in the community, just like yourself.  Realtors® consistently and continually give back to community, and for the same reason I read, or work out, or spend time with my family.  I strive to be the best I can be as a person.  Being a Realtor® is a big step in this direction.  If you need a real estate professional, I highly recommend using a Realtor®.  If you make your living from real estate and are not a Realtor® I recommend becoming one.  The rewards you will receive are worth what it takes to carry the Realtor® designation

Article written for Canyon Currier by Sean Endsley