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The SCAOR office will be closed next Friday,
July 4 in honor of Independence Day.
Enjoy a happy and safe July 4th celebration! |
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When completing your MLS Participant agreement, please ensure that either Option 1 or Option 2 on pages 4 & 5 are checked.
All pages must be returned to SCAOR,
not just the signature page. |
MLS annual renewals are due
THIS TUESDAY, JULY 1st.
If they are not paid by July 1st, there will be a
$50 re-connection fee per agent. |
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Broker Licensing Course is Coming to Sussex County!
99-hour accredited Broker Licensing Course starts August 21
Only 22 openings available
Register by completing attached registration form
and returning with payment. |
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GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING UPDATE
On Thursday, June 19, the General Membership of SCAOR approved the proposed amendments to the by-laws. Updates on several key concerns including the new Statewide Sales Agreements, Reciprocal Key Card Agreement with the Coastal Association of REALTORS® and MLS Enhancements, and the Public Awareness Campaign were provided. The RPAC Duck landed for a brief visit during Camilla Conlon's government affairs update. Members enjoyed a full breakfast provided by Georgia House, the new caterer for the Cheer Center.
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ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS AND OFFICE MANAGERS
Mark your calendars for August 12th from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. SCAOR is hosting a working lunch and it's just for you. . . the folks who keep the offices humming along smoothly. Please join us to discuss important updates and hints to assist your office with new statewide sales agreements, MLS Updates, and more. Keep an eye on At a Glance for more information.
Wishing you took Spanish, so you could broaden your sales ability?
Now is your chance!
Join SCAOR for a 7-week, 15 credit course in beginning Spanish, especially designed for real estate professionals! Attend ALL of the 7 classes and you will also obtain a 15 credit continuing education certificate. Classes begin September 8, and will run each Monday, from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon at the SCAOR office through October 20.
Click Here to Register >>
NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR
2009 LEADERSHIP POSITIONS
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Are you a great person? How about a great leader?
As a former president said,
“I’ve learned that a great leader is a man who has the ability to get other people to do what they don’t want to do and like it.”
- Harry Truman
SCAOR is recruiting members interested in leadership. The Nominating Committee seeks any interested members to apply for leadership roles in 2009.
Applications are found by clicking here. . . Deadline is July 6th!
- 1st Vice President - One year term, a position of growth towards the Presidency, not automatic renewal position - Click here for job description
- 2nd Vice President - One year term, a position of growth towards the Presidency, not automatic renewal position - Click here for job description
- Treasurer - One year term, responsible for the finances of SCAOR and chairperson of the Finance Committee - Click here for job description
- 1 Year Director - A one year term
- 2 Year Director - A two year term
- 3 Year Director - A three year term
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SCAOR is in the process of "remodeling" our website as well as our building. Keep your eye out for the changes. We are adding more all the time.
Have you visited www.scaor.com members only? It is just for you.
| MLS UPDATE |
| The MLS Committee and the SCAOR Staff are quite busy administering the MLS to meet the needs of our members and to be in compliance with NAR guidelines. We have seen increasing member complaints on the police icon and in other formats regarding some advertising of our members. Therefore, it is a good time to remind you, yet again, about the trio that sets the "rules" for promotion: the State of Delaware, i.e. DREC, NAR through the Code of Ethics and MLS rules and regulations, and SCAOR MLS.
- The Real Estate License Act and Administrative Code state: "Any licensee who advertises, by signs, or in newspapers, the Internet, or any other media, any real property for sale, lease, exchange, or transfer that is listed with a broker must include in legible print in the advertisement the complete business name that has been registered with the Commission, and office phone number registered by the broker of record with the Commission for that office location."
- NAR Code of Ethics , Article 12, Standard of Practice 12-5: REALTORS® shall not advertise nor permit any person employed by or affiliated with them to advertise listed property in any medium (e.g., electronically, print, radio, television, etc.) without disclosing the name of the REALTOR®'s firm in a reasonable and readily apparent manner.
- SCAOR MLS Section 2.7: Advertising of Listing with the Service: a listing shall not be advertised by any Participant other than the listing broker without the prior consent of the listing broker except as provided in section 16 relating to advertising of active listing information on the Internet.
- Section 16.3.2- All listings displayed pursuant to IDX must clearly identify the name of the brokerage firm under which they operate in a readily visible color and typeface.
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CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
The weather is perfect for the site work in progress. Members can actually see the groundwork for the new building. The Building Committee has selected several subcontractors for the project including:
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AP Croll and Son: |
Site Work |
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Medli Construction: |
Concrete, Masonry, and Framing |
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George Sherman Corporation: |
Plumbing and HVAC |
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Murphy Electrical, Inc: |
Electrical |
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RT Absher: |
Septic |
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Dave Dunn: |
Roofing |
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James Industries: |
Insulation |
ETHICALLY SPEAKING...
How do you think the Professional Standards Panel ruled in last week's Case Study? Below is the Hearing Panel's decision.
Case #13-3: REALTOR®'s Obligation to Recommend Counsel When Needed
The panel concluded that REALTOR® A, in pointing out the fact that legal action was likely to be time consuming and expensive, was stating a practical circumstance which Customer C should consider and was proper. The panel further concluded that the expression of an opinion as to the probable outcome of the case was not an "unauthorized practice of law" within the meaning of Article 13.
However, the panel noted that a REALTOR® is obligated to "recommend that legal counsel be obtained when the interest of any party to the transaction requires it."
In this case, REALTOR® A was aware that the interest of Customer C required a legal opinion as to whether Customer C could compel Client B to convey title to the property and did not intend his personal opinion to represent a "statement of law" upon which Customer C could rely. Accordingly, REALTOR®A was obligated to affirmatively recommend that Customer C consult his attorney to definitively establish the legal rights in question.
Having failed to make such a recommendation, REALTOR® A was in violation of Article 13.
Please take 30 seconds to read Article 13 of the Code of Ethics, and additional time to reflect. How do you respond when put in a similar situation?
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This week we take a Code of Ethics Quiz.
Did you know that you're required to take a 3 hour NAR Ethics class once every four years?
Did you know that you only have until December 31, 2008, to complete this 3 hour course?
The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®' Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice establishes rules for the highest ethical conduct and professionalism. It's what distinguishes you as REALTORS® from other real estate licensees.
Take this quiz to see how well you know your Code. >>
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All aboard!
We were able to secure a larger number of tickets this year . . . and they are selling fast!
Please register SOON if you want to join the Affiliate bus trip to New York City. It's November 19 this year and we will get to see the Tony Award and Laurence Olivier Award winner Patti LuPone in "Gypsy". Tickets are $135 which includes orchestra seats, transportation, breakfast pastries, snacks and beverages. The bus leaves the SCAOR office at 6:30 a.m. sharp for an approximate 11 a.m. arrival in NYC. You will have time for independent sight-seeing and lunch before the show begins at 2:00 p.m.
Sign up today — Tickets are first come, first serve!
Listing of July 1, 2008 through July 30, 2008
Delaware News & Meetings
Please consider joining with other REALTORS® from across Delaware to continue keeping our watchdog eyes out for last minute legislation on the last day of the 144th General Assembly this Monday, June 30. Read details in today's issue of the DAR REALTOR® News You Can Use.
Did you miss the 2008 Legislative Wrap Up?
Click Here >>
SPEAKING OF LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT . . .
Flocks of rubber duckies are flexing their wings to prepare for the Second Annual Rubber Duckie/RPAC family event at Jungle Jim's! Bring the family and enjoy a friendly competition on Friday, September 5 between REALTORS® and their offices to see who is the leader of the flock, and who is the lame duck coming in dead last. Last year's losers cried fowl, but can they do any better this year?
Come join the fun, support RPAC, and find out!
Go to www.realtor.org and make sure that your e-mail address is correct. While there, sign up for YOUR choice of e-mail alerts on real estate industry news.
