In this issue What are the five traits of todays homebuyers? Click here to see the answers. How do you build a great relationship with a remodeling contractor? Click here to find out what the experts say! NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS MEMBERSHIP UPDATE HOW WOULD YOU VOTE? Welcome Aboard to our October new members! Designated REALTORS Michael Ladden Keller Williams Realty Central CT REALTORS Joseph Malerba Heritage Properties Andrew Maynard Hunter Moore and Stearns Kara Spinnato William Raveis Real Estate (Norwich) Janet Swider CG Real Estate (Salem) Rachanee Wysgoll Prudential Connecticut Realty (So.Woodstock) Katherine Young-Murphy William Raveis Real Estate (East Lyme) Joseph Malerba Heritage Properties Andrew Maynard Hunter Moore and Stearns Kara Spinnato William Raveis Real Estate (Norwich) Janet Swider CG Real Estate (Salem) Rachanee Wysgoll Prudential Connecticut Realty (So.Woodstock) Katherine Young Murphy William Raveis Real Estate (East Lyme) Affiliates Julia Rose Eco-Options Cleaning Group PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AFFILIATE PROFILE AFFILIATE UPDATE REALTOR Association Web Sites ECAR CAR NAR ECARVoice Firm/Office Updates for October 2010 CG Real Estate opened a branch office at 26 New London Road, Salem. Keller Williams Central CT, 821 North Main Street Ext, Wallingford was added to the roster. 1
Member Updates for October 2010 Agency Transfers Quinn Caramante William Raveis Real Estate (Mystic) Kathryn Dupont RE/MAX Realty Group Rachael Gifford StoneHouse Real Estate Rose Kovalik Randall, REALTORS (Norwich) Jan Mallett William Raveis Real Estate (Norwich) Stephanie Morton ZipRealty Karen Wasserman Keller Williams Realty Central CT Association Deletes Meredith Bolt - Weichert, REALTORS -Suburban Properties Donna Brouillard Loomis Real Estate Darlene Dalpe StoneHouse Real Estate Lee Elci Prestige Properties Jose Ferreira - Weichert, REALTORS -Suburban Properties Peter Giordano Jr. - Weichert, REALTORS -Suburban Properties Laurie Giordano - Weichert, REALTORS -Suburban Properties James Halloran CG Real Estate Victoria Hurst CG Real Estate Jason Jacaruso Realty World Signature Properties Katherine Jerr Sellstate Leading Edge Real Estate Judith Lethbridge Prudential Connecticut Realty (Old Saybrook) Laurie Longo Realty World Signature Properties Jill Menard The Partner Network (Dayville) Nicholas Sapiente - Weichert, REALTORS -Suburban Properties Carolyn LeMaire Trotta Lyman Real Estate Article 12 REALTORS shall be honest and truthful in their real estate communications and shall present a true picture in their advertising, marketing, and other representations. REALTORS shall ensure that their status as real estate professionals is readily apparent in their advertising, marketing, and other representations, and that the recipients of all real estate communications are, or have been, notified that those communications are from a real estate professional. Copying and Publishing other Brokers Advertisements Case Interpretation 12-16 by the NAR Professional Standards Committee Wanting to take advantage of the virtual explosion of the World Wide Web, REALTOR A, who had a respectable level of expertise in computer technology, decided to purchase a Web site design software package and set out to design his own Web site. Understanding that his site would be greatly enhanced by providing as much 2
information as possible, he decided he would offer two pages of listings; his own and some choice listings of his competitors. Being careful not to present a misleading picture in his advertising, he was very careful to list the company name and phone number of the listing company with each ad of his competitors listings. When REALTOR B found one of her listings on REALTOR A s new Web site, she filed an ethics complaint with the local Association of REALTORS complaining that REALTOR A had blatantly and without authorization of any kind whatsoever advertised my listing on his Internet Web site and in so doing was clearly in violation of Article 12 of the Code of Ethics as interpreted by Standard of Practice 12-4. The matter was placed on the agenda of the Grievance Committee. At their next meeting, the Grievance Committee decided that the alleged conduct, if taken at face value, could possibly violate Article 12 and directed the Association s Executive Officer to schedule an ethics hearing before a Hearing Panel of the Association s Professional Standards Committee. At the hearing, REALTOR B produced a printed copy of the advertisement of her listing which had been placed on REALTOR A s Web site. She produced a copy of her listing agreement and a photograph of the property, which matched the information in the ad. She testified that she had never been contacted by REALTOR A for permission to advertise her listing. When REALTOR A presented his case, he showed the hearing panel several examples of REALTORS providing links to sites with ads for other REALTORS listings. He said he saw no fundamental difference between providing such links and actually advertising other listings on his Web site, especially when he was very careful to also give the listing company s name and phone number. He went on to argue that REALTOR B s clients would be hard pressed to understand REALTOR B s objection to giving their properties the additional exposure they received on REALTOR A s Web site. Upon the conclusion of all testimony and closing statements, the Hearing Panel met in executive session and decided that while providing a link to listings of other REALTORS did not violate Article 12, by actually publishing REALTOR B s listing on his Web site REALTOR A was not linking, but instead was advertising (by copying, as opposed to simply providing a link) without authority. In their findings of fact, the Hearing Panel also noted that even if REALTOR B s clients might not object to such advertising, the lack of objection could not be assumed and would not relieve REALTOR A of the obligation to obtain REALTOR B s specific authority and consent to advertise her listings. How would you vote? The Hearing Panel found REALTOR A in violation of Article 12 of the Code of Ethics. 3
Inaugural Reception In honor of Samantha Storey, 2011 ECAR President and Officers & Directors Date: November 12, 2010 Time: 5:30 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. Location: Mashantucket Pequot Museum (Mashantucket, CT) Community Benefit Raffle & Bazaar Date: December 8, 2010 Time: 11:30 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. Location: Port-N-Starboard (New London, CT) 2010 Affiliate of the Year Hughes (Toby) Griffis Waller, Smith & Palmer, P.C. 52 Eugene O'Neill Drive New London, CT 06320 Position: Attorney Type of Business of Service: Real Estate Law Number of Years in Business: 38 years 4
Markets Served: Mainly Southeastern Connecticut, but practice throughout Connecticut. Business Accomplishments: 1979-83 Probate Judge, District of Lyme; 1995- Present, Legal Council for ECAR and predecessor organization; 1995-Present, Chairman - New London County Bank Bar Committee of CT Bar Associates; 2002-2005, Chairman - New London Redevelopment Agency. Business Philosophy: You have to give if you expect to get! Products and Services Add Value By: For 38 years I have tried to protect, advise and educate agents. Our most valuable service was and is, answering REALTOR questions and helping to solve their problems (whether it is our closing or not.) Advantages of Becoming an Affiliate Member of CAR! Did you know that as an Affiliate Member you... Have exclusive Affiliate Sponsorship Opportunities at a variety of CAR events giving your company a chance for exposure with REALTORS across Connecticut. Pay the discounted member price for Mailing Labels that can be requested by local Association, zip code or Statewide to help target your mailings for success. Can volunteer to serve on one of CAR's Committees where your grassroots involvement will help make a difference. Don't miss out on all of these opportunities, resources and more available only through the Connecticut Association of REALTORS! Contact your local Association to become an Affiliate Member of CAR today! This message was sent to john.bolduc@easternctrealtors.com. Visit your subscription management page to modify your email communication preferences or update your personal profile. To stop receiving this e- mail in the future, click to remove yourself from this list. NAR maintains a separate email system to communicate our national news and programs. If you would like to manage those subscriptions and optin/optout of those communications please click here to login to Realtor.org. 5
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