TheREALTYgram Blogger

Blogging Diva Logs 12,885 MilesIn Transcontinental Virtual Tour, Sans a Plane!

It's been a busy week for Web Women Giving Circle Founder Joeann Fossland, who has been traveling through the blogosphere to talk about CARE and philanthropy. She has been criss-crossing the country for a couple of weeks, with 12,885 miles of travel and NO frequent flyer miles.

  Beverly Hills: Philanthropic lifestyles of the rich and famous and their realty professionals was the theme of the interview at Bernice Ross' Luxury Clues earlier this week ... Maryland: Beltway Artist Tammy Vitale's Women, Art, Life: Weaving It All Together took Joeann back to her roots and  into the artsy neighborhood of the blogosphere for an interview and some creative meanderings. There's a lot of nice color and art on this stop! Surf around this blog for some creative fun ... Southern California:  Michael Trust has some questions and answers about real estate, CARE, and humanitarian outreach in his Michael Trust Realty, Your San Francisco Real Estate Professionals blog.

Las Vegas: Nevada Blog REALTOR Chris Shouse welcomed her bloggy guest with a perfectly chilled bottle of Virtual Moet & Chandon Dom Perignon Rose Vintage 1996, served in an Orefors crystal flute, with FRESH Pacific Oysters and Shrimp flown in for the occasion!!! Additionally, she had a bath be drawn for her prior to her arrival, with champagne caress bubbles and bath oil. "How much better can it get????" asked the happy Coach.

Amissville, VA:  Joeann's whirlwind transcontinental travel brought her back to Northern VA Real Estate Notes with host Julie Emery. They talked about CARE and philanthropy in a discussion about how REALTORS can "give back" to their communities ...West Valley, CA: Joeann is back in  Southern California today for a nice chat with REALTOR Shelly Slovin. They talk about real estate "community" and the role that members play in helping to make the world a better place. Shelly took note of Michigan REALTOR Wynne Achatz's bubble bath outsourcing last week and decided that he would do better than that. He invited Lily to the Bubble Fest!!

Maybe If I Can Master An Artful Demi-PliéI Can Call Myself A Real Estate 'Consultant'

I am getting ready to take a class in real estate consultancy. There is growing consumer demand for real estate services that are "unbundled" and consultancy is clearly an option that we need to review and develop as a business model. There's only one small problem. In Pennsylvania it is ILLEGAL for a real estate agent who is not a broker to use the dirty "C" word. Seems the PA State Real Estate Commission says real estate consultancy is an "art", according to attorney Ray J. Michalowski, Esq:

"The Commission recently ruled on whether licensed real estate salespersons may refer to themselves as real estate 'consultants' in an advertisement. Although there is little doubt that salespersons routinely provide services to their clients that constitute 'consulting' as that word is defined in plain English, the Commission has held that 'consultant' is a term of art in real estate and may only be used by licensed real estate brokers.

"The Commission’s view is based on the definition of 'Broker' found in the Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act (RELRA), which defines a 'Broker' as someone who 'represents himself to be a real estate consultant, counselor, agent or finder.' An important question is raised by this definition; does this also mean that salespersons can no longer refer to themselves as 'agents'?

"Don’t panic, because while the terms 'consultant,' 'counselor' and 'finder' are off limits for salesperson advertising, the term agent is probably still safe to use.

"This is because the definition of 'Broker' is repeated in the Commission’s regulations and contains a minor, but significant difference stating that a 'Broker' is someone who 'represents himself or itself as a real estate consultant, counsellor or finder.' The word “agent” is absent from this version of the definition of “Broker”. In addition, the common use of the term “agent” to identify both brokers and salespersons in the real estate industry, and if fact throughout RELRA itself, make it very unlikely that any salespersons will be prosecuted for calling themselves 'agents'."

Well, it's resassuring to know we're not headed to the hoosegow if we call ourselves agents!

It's Lust At First Sight With New Web Site;Point2 Agent Platform Even Has a Blog!!

Well, I am going to be scrapping my old web site ... poor thing is tired and neglected and needs to rest. Time to bring in something with more tech pizzazz and I finally found a likely candidate at Point2 Agent. I'll be integrating HUD homes and foreclosure listings into a new office site that I am developing at RealtyWorldBenchmarkRealty.com. There's even a built-in blog that is useful for posting new listings, price changes, and all sorts of other stuff. Watch for new special features on Historic Homes, with special emphasis on Historic Bethlehem.

I'm not scrapping any of the blogs, though ... check out my new blog baby at the new web site.