DESIGNATED
®
REALTOR ISSUE 4: August 2017
Leading By Example Prepare Your Office for Realtor® Safety Month
NJREALTOR.COM
EVENTS AND DEADLINES >> AUGUST
>> NOVEMBER
8 RPR webinar
3 2017 Realtors® Conference & Expo
Perfect Pricing with Easy, Accurate CMAs
>> SEPTEMBER 4 NJ Realtors® office closed in observance of Labor Day
12 NJ Realtors® Board of Directors meeting Pines Manor | Edison
19 RPR webinar
Three Ways to Build Listing Inventory
nar.realtor/convention
23, 24 NJ Realtors® office closed in observance of Thanksgiving
>> DECEMBER 4 Triple Play Realtor® Convention & Trade Expo realtorstripleplay.com
8 RPAC 2017 end of year deadline njrealtor.com/account
22 NJ Realtors® Good Neighbor Award deadline njrealtor.com/awards
29 Deadline to invest $100 in RPAC for 2017 COE unit njrealtor.com/account
2017 Good Neighbor Award Recipient N
ew Jersey Realtors® new headquarters recently received a New Good Neighbor Award from the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, which recognizes projects on economic benefit and job creation, architectural merit, and community involvement. A long-vacant piece of land and deteriorating parking lot sat adjacent to the Mercer County Improvement Authority on Hamilton Avenue. The association, after deciding
to move its then-headquarters from Edison several years ago, eyed the space as a possibility. Through a promising partnership with the MCIA, the association purchased the land. The lot was a slew of different pieces that were combined into one parcel for purchase and required thorough cleanup and remediation. Construction was completed in July 2016, roughly one year after first breaking ground. The building, located on the corner of Hamilton Avenue and South Broad Street, is located in a redevelopment zone. The association hopes the new construction of the headquarters will be a catalyst for the neighborhood.
Jeff Totaro Photography
Industry Victory: Independent Contractors in NJ L
ast October, New Jersey Realtors® sent you an important Call For Action requesting that you take action in support of the New Jersey Real Estate Commission’s proposed rule on Independent Contractors. The proposal further clarified that an independent contractor relationship between a broker and a broker-salesperson, salesperson, or referral agent is permissible in NJ. We are pleased to report that the rule has been published for final adoption and went into effect July 3, 2017. Thank you to everyone who supported this effort! The REC received 268 written comments, all in support of the new rule, which included one comment from Chief Executive Officer, Jarrod C. Grasso on behalf of New Jersey Realtors® and 267 comments from the New Jersey Realtors® Action Center in support of the rule proposal. Because of the nature of the real estate profession, New Jersey Realtors® strongly believes the ability for brokers to classify the real estate agents they supervise as independent contractors is vital for several reasons. First and foremost is the distinction between an employee and an independent contractor. In the employer-employee relationship, employers traditionally dictate how their employees do their jobs — from the hours they work to their job responsibilities and the tasks they must perform. In an independent contractor relationship, real estate brokers do supervise their agents, but typically give them latitude in how they represent their clients, not dictating specific hours they work or assigning them tasks. “In New Jersey, this has been business as usual, but we are pleased the regulation now unequivocally allows for this practice,” said NJ Realtors® CEO Jarrod Grasso. “This allows for brokers and agents to operate and succeed in this very industry.”
This rule change brings New Jersey in line with the Internal Revenue Service on the national level, which exempts licensed real estate agents from its employment tax provisions as long as their compensation is directly related to sales, rather than hours worked, and they have a written contract with the broker specifying that they are independent contractors. Read the final rule in its entirety. If you are not already signed up for NAR’s Broker Involvement Program, please contact Bruce Shapiro. This easy-to-use program provides broker-owners with a quick and effective tool to rally agents on critical legislative issues affecting our industry. Nearly 40 percent of all responses on the Broker Calls for Action are from agents in the Broker Involvement Program.
Setting a Standard for Safety It’s important to be aware of the dangers that sometimes go hand-in-hand with this job. As a broker and leader in the industry, you have the unique opportunity to lead by example.
START IN THE OFFICE
Create a company policy requiring Realtors® to meet with new clients in the office before heading to any property. At the office, all new clients should be screened. Identification, such as a photocopy of their driver’s license, should be kept on file until it is no longer necessary. While the new client is in the office, also make it a point to introduce them to at least one other coworker for identification purposes. These simple steps can deter criminals and alleviate the risk of a dangerous situation by ensuring that the initial meeting between Realtor® and client is in an office setting and not a vacant property.
COMMUNICATE CLEARLY
Make it a company policy or strongly encourage Realtors® to always let others know where they’re going. Remind agents to keep their cell phone on at all times, and set safety code words so the office and its agents can communicate discretely over calls or texts. Lastly, install a “checkout” board in the office, where agents can write the address they are going to, and a time for the office to check-in if they haven’t gotten back yet. In addition, allow agents to request a “buddy” employee to go to a property with them if they feel uneasy about going alone.
ON THE JOB
When showing the property, it is strongly recommended that agents always walk behind their clients. Have them direct the potential homeowner, rather than lead them. At open houses, the most important time to be on alert is at the end of the day. Before locking the home and leaving, agents should check the backyard and every room to make sure that no one has lingered in the house. Before the open house begins, agents should park their car in a well-lit area where it cannot get blocked in, and make note of where an escape route is. If possible, try to have more than one person working at an open house.
BONUS
six more tips from
nar.realtor Show properties before dark.
LIMIT PERSONAL INFORMATION
In marketing, use your cell phone number and office address, rather than information that could be tracked to your home address. It’s always advised that agents avoid using a photograph in advertising, which can make them a target for predators. In fact, there have been cases where criminals circled pictures of their potential victims in newspaper advertisements.
Limit the amount of personal information you share.
When speaking with clients, you can build a relationship without mentioning personal information about where you live, who you live with, or your after-work plans. In addition, agents should not include any personal information via email, as it is never secure.
Wear visible company identification, such as a badge.
KNOW YOUR RESOURCES
The best source of information on Realtor® safety is the local police department. As the broker, make an effort to establish a connection with local police, and request any records on prior incidents that can inform your company policies. Ask that the department share information on any crimes that are committed against real estate professionals, so you can alert your agents about potential danger as soon as possible. You can also ask for an in-house safety presentation, or request a squad car to drive by scheduled open houses. Making safety a priority is the best way to prevent issues, so it is important to stay up to date with the latest safety information, and make training mandatory for everyone in the real estate industry. Most safety measures are quick and simple, but can make a huge difference.
Never open an attachment from someone you don’t know.
Prepare a scenario in advance so that you can leave.
Be sure to use the lockbox property-key procedure for clients’ keys.
The tips that appear in this article have been compiled via the National Association of Realtors® and Realtor® magazine.
Designated REALTOR® | August 2017 | 5
SAFETY IS NO ACCIDENT Stay safe on the job, year-round with tips and tools from NAR at
www.REALTOR.org/Safety
SAFETY RESOURCES NEW! Learn more about safety presenters, smartphone apps and safety products ARCHIVED SAFETY WEBINARS Safety at Open Houses, Social Media Safety, Identity Theft, and more VIDEOS AND MONTHLY ARTICLES DYNAMIC SAFETY WIDGET AND WEB BANNER ADS SAFETY PRESENTATION MATERIALS PowerPoint presentation template, talking points, handouts and more OFFICE FORMS for REALTORS® and clients
For questions about
NAR’s REALTOR® Safety Program, contact safety@REALTORS.org
SAVE THE DATE
December 4-7, 2017
: g soon17 n i m Co 20 Play p! e l p i r T e ap mobil
Atlantic City Convention Center
FO R S U CC E S S
Photography by Joan Heffler
DECEMBER 5 & 6
DECEMBER 4 • ADVANCE CONFERENCE – Industry visionaries share tips to
• TRADE EXPO – The latest industry
advance your business, value, resources and opportunities.
innovations and ideas from more than
• SOCIAL MEDIA PANEL – Top brokers sharing their best strategies.
250 exhibitors!
• DESIGNATION COURSES - Create your niche market while earning CE credit. • KICKOFF PARTY (co-sponsored by the tri-state YPNs) - open to all.
DECEMBER 5 • STATE RECEPTIONS - Network with colleagues from your home state. • ICEBREAKER RECEPTION - Networking, dancing and fun with live music from Nik & The Nice Guys.
Register early to pay just $89*!
DECEMBER 5, 6 & 7 • LEARNING - More than 90 one-, two- and three-hour CE and professional development sessions instructed by an array of rising stars.
.com
RSTriplePlay
Visit REALTO
Play Along! #TP17
*When you register online during the early-bird period starting in September.
Hosted by the New Jersey, New York State and Pennsylvania associations of REALTORS®
RISE HIGHER THIS FALL A T T H E 2 0 1 7 R E A L T O R S® C O N F E R E N C E & E X P O
Chicago has always been a place where people have dreamed bigger, reached further and worked harder to achieve their goals. This year, REALTORS® will have the opportunity to do just that at the 2017 REALTORS® Conference & Expo. Catch up on the latest industry trends from 100 education sessions, explore the hottest technologies from over 400 exhibitors, and network with 20,000 of the industry’s most successful real estate professionals.
SKY’S LIMIT THE
THE
R E A LTO R S® C O N F E R E N C E & E X P O
C H I C AG O 2 0 1 7
R E G I S T E R N O W AT W W W. R E G I S T E R . R E A LT O R L E A R N M O R E A T W W W . C O N F E R E N C E . R E A LT O R