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WESTWORDS APRIL 2022

HAPPY

I AM

I AM PAULINA SCHUBEL I AM CONFIDENT I AM COMPETITIVE I AM LEVEL-HEADED I AM ADAPTABLE I AM RESPONSIVE I AM WEST USA

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING Paulina immediately responded to a call we made. The properties we were interested in were very hot and because Paulina made herself available for quick showings we were able to get exactly what we wanted. We actually wrote the contract on a picnic table using her phone as a hot spot! Paulina is a woman of integrity and grit and works tirelessly on her clients’ behalf. We were lucky to have found Paulina. A very pleasant experience! Having worked for a major oil company and being transferred around the county, I have bought and sold a number of primary residences over the past 30 years. Paulina and Justin were very accommodating to my schedule, as I was moving in from out of state, and bent over backwards to assure that viewings were available during my hectic schedule.

All of the properties shown were in my price range, with the amenities I was looking for. Very happy with my ultimate purchase! After the sale, Paulina and Justin were very instrumental in leading me to various services, maintenance/upgrades, a homeowner would require. Very helpful being new to the area. Highly recommend their helpful service! Paulina and Justin contacted us a few months later to see if we had any problems. They showed us places at a time that was convenient for us. Paulina did a Zoom showing so we didn’t have to drive for a few hours. They were very knowledgeable about the property. Informed us about how we could get a the utilities put in our name. We would recommend both Paulina and Justin to anyone that is buying or selling.

BROKER BLOG WITH BOB STEPHENS IS BEING A REALTOR A PROFESSION? NO! Here is NAR’s explanation of this, from their Membership Marks Manual!

consistent understanding and image of the MARKS, thereby undermining their identifying function, Being a REALTOR® is not a vocation! members and Member Boards are expressly prohibited from using descriptive words or phrases Compliance with the Context of Use limitation in the in connection with the MARKS. This prohibition case of oral communication requires forethought includes use of geographically descriptive terms and continued awareness that the term REALTOR® like the names of cities, states, and places and is set does not describe a vocation or profession. forth in Article V, Section 7 of the NAR Bylaws. For example, when asked what he does for a living, Wherever the MARKS are used – on business an unthinking member may answer incorrectly, cards, flyers, websites, domain names, usernames, “I am a REALTOR®.” Obviously, the speaker does social media profiles, email addresses, or not mean that he makes his living as a “member.” anywhere – they cannot be used adjacent to a Unfortunately, the response makes sense only if the descriptive word or phrase. listener assigns to the term REALTOR® the meaning “real estate broker.” Thus, by the answer given, the The following examples are all improper uses because they use a descriptive term in connection member has incorrectly used the term REALTOR® with a MARK: and, in the process, may have contributed to a Consult a professional REALTOR® misunderstanding of its meaning. Doe County's leading REALTOR® A response that is sure to clarify the registered Your local REALTOR® status and special meaning of the term REALTOR® Your international REALTOR® is, “I am a real estate broker and a REALTOR®.” If Commercial REALTOR® asked to clarify the distinction, the member can www.myrealtorfrank.com provide an explanation of the fact and nature of www.bestrealtor.com membership, including the binding commitment of www.listitonrealtor.com the member to the Code of Ethics. hometownrealtor@email.com In addition, because the term REALTOR® may chicagorealtorjane@email.com only be used to identify members of NAR, it is Number1realtor not permissible to use the MARKS in reference Actually, your profession is real estate sales, to non-members such as “non-REALTOR®” or commercial real estate sales, business opportunity “nonREALTORS®.” Such individuals should simply sales, property management, leasing properties, be referred to as non-members. land sales etc. Never modify REALTOR® with a descriptive term. HOWEVER—You do belong to an organization The term REALTOR® may never be used in called the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS connection with a descriptive word or phrase. and subscribe to their Code of Ethics. West USA Because adjectives may suggest an improper Realty also belongs and AGREED to never have an vocational meaning and also tend to distort the agent who is not a member.

QUESTIONS, CONTACT: Managing Broker, Bob Stephens | 602-942-4200

THE IMPORTANCE OF RAPAC BY ALY PERKINS, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DIRECTOR FOR PHOENIX REALTORS® Let me tell you a story about John. John is a REALTOR® that loves his work, loves helping his clients, and loves being his own boss. Most years, he does pretty well for himself-he makes about $50,000 a year in commissions. But things have been pretty tough for him lately. • 5.6% of commissions (about $2,800) go back to the government every year. • He spends $500 a year on permit fees to use his license to do business in 5 different towns in the metro Phoenix area. • He has to pay an extra fee to stick his sign in the ground in each HOA community, and the costs are adding up. • Every city that he does business in has a different rule about what he can display on his sign and where it goes on the property, so he has to keep track of each city’s rule to avoid a fine. 2020 was especially rough for him. Financially, he was hit hard by the pandemic. Going into 2022, he’s still financially recovering from the events of 2020: • The governor did not declare real estate an essential service in his stay-at-home order, so he was forced to put his business on halt, even though he saw his peers in other states make it work with safety precautions. • Remote work was made even more difficult, as tools like remote online notary and remote inspections didn’t exist in his area. • John was the primary earner in his family of four. With business stunted due to government orders, their family income was at an all-time low. Unfortunately, because John was an independent contractor, he didn’t qualify for unemployment insurance, or any sort of income assistance to support his family during the pandemic.

• His independent contractor status also prevented him from being recognized as a small business, stopping him from qualifying for the federal Paycheck Protection Program loans. John is stuck. In his situation, the cost burden on a REALTOR®, with the added financial pressure of the pandemic, forces him to seriously contemplate giving up his dream of helping clients find homes for a more financially stable option in order to support himself and his family. Do any of these obstacles sound familiar? If you said no, then you’re correct. It shouldn’t, and here’s why. Every single one of those scenarios was actively prevented by RAPAC. John lives in an alternate universe where RAPAC didn’t exist. Every single obstacle John faced was eradicated by RAPAC. If you don’t think that government has the power to impact your business, think again. John could be you. RAPAC is the number one way to protect the real estate industry and your clients from government interference. The way to keep REALTORS® from John’s situation is to create a strong presence on the local, state, and federal level. How do we do that? We seek out and help elect leaders who will champion issues crucial to real estate, like private property rights and homeownership. Elected officials that champion our issues will give us a seat at the table when it comes down to making decisions that impact real estate. The saying goes that if you’re not at the table, then you’re on the menu, and it’s true. If you consider yourself a leader in real estate and a champion of homeownership, I invite you to step up and invest in RAPAC and your industry to keep the REALTOR® voice strong. The top 1% of REALTORS® in Phoenix are investing the price of a daily cup of coffee- that’s it. What’s stopping you?

TIPS FOR RECORDING

YOUR REAL ESTATE VIDEOS

BY WISE AGENT INVEST YOUR TIME INTO EFFECTIVE PLANNING Planning is the first and most crucial step for creating quality video content for your database or business. Ask yourself, “what do I want the video to be focusing on?” or “How will I be filming each video?” “Where and how will I be promoting them?” These are all essential questions you need to know before you get shooting. Once you’ve planned effectively, Everything else should start falling into place.

TYPES OF REAL ESTATE VIDEOS YOU SHOULD CREATE

SHORTER VIDEOS TEND TO ATTRACT MORE VIEWS Video marketing for real estate should be entertaining, not a huge time commitment. Short videos are perfect for getting the point across while leaving the viewer wanting more! Your viewers don’t want to see 15 minute long videos filled to the brim with information. Small, bite-sized videos give all the vital information in that little window of time.

INFORMATIONAL VIDEO An informational video will provide value and show that you are the expert and can supply your clients with real estate knowledge. It will also show you know the market and your local neighborhood. A “How-to” video is an excellent piece of content that you can create and repurpose for marketing emails, landing pages, ads, etc.

For some, It can take some time to get comfortable with being in front of the camera. At first, you may tend to ramble or lose your words. Jotting down notes beforehand is the PERFECT way to become more comfortable in front of the camera so you can have a plan in place for what you’ll say and won’t have to focus on remembering those lines! INCORPORATE YOUR AGENCY CONTACT INFO AT THE START AND END OF EACH VIDEO Your agency’s logo, contact details, and any other information necessary to get in touch with you NEED to be visible in the introduction and conclusion of your video. You should also include a link to a separate “contact us” page. Plenty of great apps (like Canva!) are PERFECT for creating intros and outros to your videos! Real estate agents need to build community engagement, meaning you can not ignore the reception you’re receiving on your videos. People may comment, asking for more information, and they need answers. Responding is just as important as posting. Try to respond to every single comment/ reaction on your posts.

LISTING VIDEO A listing video not only grabs the attention of potential buyers but also shows sellers what you will do for them if they list a property with you! These videos are always great for repurposing content since you can use snippets of them in other videos for marketing down the line. These videos are perfect for camerashy people because you can just do a voiceover.

INTERVIEW OR TESTIMONIAL VIDEO An interview or testimonial can be used in so much of your marketing and helps potential clients build trust in your brand. An excellent way to start is to have a past client answer short questions like “What was something I helped you with the most during the transaction?” or other leading questions. LIVE-STREAM Q&A VIDEOS A live Q&A video is a great way to show off your personality while getting in front of your sphere that may have otherwise not been looking at your activity. Going live also keeps you top of mind since social media algorithms favor live videos and will often notify your friends and followers that you are live and encourage them to join. LOCAL BUSINESS OR NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY VIDEOS Doing local business reviews can tell potential buyers what the community is like and provide value to them. It’s also a bonus to partner with local businesses to expand your reach and open up your video marketing to a whole new audience.

TODD MENARD’S REAL ESTATE MARKET STATS MARCH 2022

Our Agent in Action for April 2022 is Ed Haines out of the Ahwatukee office. Ed was chosen for his volunteer efforts with Angels on Patrol that was founded by Lt. Jacqui MacConnell in 2009. Since its beginning, 2,059 victims of abuse and assault, and youth from at-risk communities, have access to safety and basic needs like food, clothing, shelter through Police Officers.

ED HAINES If you would like to nominate an agent that is doing great things in the community or making a difference, please fill out the nomination form on the Mywestusa.com website under the downloads tab and the Cares button.

According to Haines “I started working with AOP a couple years ago to help them raise money. I was drawn to this organization because of their goals to help those in need. Having worked for 25 years on Phoenix PD, I came across many situations where a family or person hit hard times and needed some help. I also had some officers' families who needed help. AOP is available to officers who encounter these situations in their everyday patrol work and would like to extend financial help. They simply contact AOP and give them the information of the person/persons in need and AOP will take it from there.” Angels on Patrol continues to grow across Arizona, serving 13 law enforcement agencies. Requests continue to increase yearly as well. In 2020, 237 requests were received, compared to 7 in 2010. On their website it states: Not every 911 call requires an arrest, most times it requires an intervention. Officers want to help beyond their official capacity and often reach into their own pocket to do so. Haines added “Lt Jacqui MacConnell, created AOP while working for the Phoenix PD. She would learn of many situations from her officers, of a family that was in need and found there was a gap in organizations that could help. When AOP was created, and the officers were made aware of this program, they began helping so many families. No one is turned away. Often, we bridge the help from other organizations when possible. The annual golf tournament is one place that we raise money using business sponsorships.” For more information about AOP please visit their website angelsonpatrol.org.

Thank you for everything you do, Ed!!

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M O N DAY

T U E S DAY

W E D N E S DAY

APRIL 2022

T H U R S DAY

F R I DAY

West USA Weekly Webinar 9:00am - 10:00am / Webinar

West USA Agent Orientation 10:30am - 12:00pm / Webinar Don’t Do Dat w/Broker Bob Stephens 2:00pm - 2:30pm / Webinar

REACT - Day 1 of 3 9:00am - 3:00pm @ N Phx Office iFound Agent - Learn Homeowner Drip Campaigns, Instant Listing and Sold Listing Campaigns and more 1:00pm - 2:00pm / Zoom Spring Pop-By’s 1:00pm - 2:30pm @ Chandler Office Ready, Plan, Action 3:30pm - 4:30pm @ Surprise Office

ProStart Training Session 1 - Day 1 of 3 9:00am - 4:00pm / Zoom West USA Weekly Webinar 9:00am - 10:00am / Webinar Don’t Do Dat w/Broker Bob Stephens 2:00pm - 2:30pm / Webinar

West USA Weekly Webinar 9:00am - 10:00am / Webinar Don’t Do Dat w/Broker Bob Stephens 2:00pm - 2:30pm / Webinar

19 Chandler iFound Agent Website Training 9:00am - 11:00am @ Chandler Office Homes with Solar Energy & AAR Contract Compliance (3 Hrs Contract Law) - 9:00am 12:00pm @ North Phoenix Office Prostart Training Session 2 - Day 2 of 4 9:00am - 4:00pm / Zoom Coffee with Justin - Level Up Loans 10:00am - 11:00am @ Surprise Office Goodyear Essential Learning 10:00am - 12:00pm @ Palm Valley CC iFound Agent - Learn Homeowner Drip Campaigns, Instant Listing and Sold Listing Campaigns & more 1:00pm - 2:00pm / Zoom Ready, Plan, Action - 3:30pm - 4:30pm @ Surprise

25 West USA Weekly Webinar 9:00am - 10:00am / Webinar Don’t Do Dat w/Broker Bob Stephens 2:00pm - 2:30pm / Webinar

26 Surprise Office Meeting 10:00am - 11:00am @ Surprise Office iFound Agent - Learn Homeowner Drip Campaigns, Instant Listing and Sold Listing Campaigns and more 1:00pm - 2:00pm / Zoom Ready, Plan, Action 3:30pm - 4:30pm @ Surprise Office

• CE- Continuing Education Renewal Training • Luxury Division Event

FREE LIVE CE CLASS Mastering the AAR Listing Agreement (3Hrs Contract Law) 9:00am - 12:00pm @ Chandler

REACT - Day 2 of 3 9:00am - 3:00pm @ N Phx Office

REACT - Day 3 of 3 9:00am - 12:00pm @ N Phx Office

Team Leaders Monthly Mastermind 11:00am - 12:00pm @ Chandler Office

Arrowhead Office Meeting 10:00am - 11:00am @ Arrowhead Bullpen

12 FREE LIVE CE CLASS - To Be or Not To Be Paid, That is the Question (3Hrs Contract Law) 9:00am - 12:00pm @ Mesa ProStart Training Session 1 - Day 2 of 3 9:00am - 4:00pm / Zoom Goodyear Office Meeting 10:00am - 12:00pm @ Palm Valley CC Ice Cream Social - 1:00pm - 2:00pm @ Surprise iFound Agent - Learn Homeowner Drip Campaigns, Instant Listing and Sold Listing Campaigns & more 1:00pm - 2:00pm / Zoom LIVE CE CLASS - Homes with Solar Energy & AAR Contract Pipeline - 1:00pm - 4:00pm @ Chandler Ready, Plan, Action 3:30pm - 4:30pm @ Surprise Office

ProStart Training Session 2 - Day 1 of 4 9:00am - 4:00pm / Zoom

FREE REMOTE CE CLASS Mastering the AAR Residential Purchase Contract (3Hrs Contract Law) 9:00am - 12:00pm / Zoom

13 Coffee, Conversation, & Collaboration 9:00am - 10:00am @ Chandler Office FREE REMOTE CE CLASS Duties to Clients and Customers (3Hrs Commissioner Standards) 9:00am - 12:00pm / Zoom ProStart Training Session 1 - Day 3 of 3 9:00am - 4:00pm / Zoom Strategies for Maximizing Facebook 10:30am - 11:30am @ Chandler Office North Phoenix & Kierland Happy Hour 4:00pm - 6:00pm @ Sandbar Mexican Grill

FREE REMOTE CE CLASS Agency & Industry Related Issues (3Hrs Agency Law) 9:00am - 12:00pm / Zoom Prostart Training Session 2 - Day 3 of 4 9:00am - 4:00pm / Zoom

Chandler Office Meeting 10:00am - 11:30am @ Chandler Office

FREE REMOTE CE CLASS High Fiduciary Representation (3Hrs Fair Housing) 9:00am - 12:00pm / Zoom

Let’s Get Creative with Canva 10:00am - 11:00am / Zoom

Reels for REALTORS 3:30pm - 4:30pm @ Surprise Office

Good Friday at the Goodyear Office 10:00am - 12:00pm @ Goodyear Office

Ahwatukee Office Meeting 4:00pm - 6:00pm @ Ahwatukee Office Surprise Happy Hour 4:30pm - 6:30pm @ Macayo’s Mexican Food

Prostart Training Session 2 - Day 4 of 4 9:00am - 4:00pm / Zoom

Goodyear Coaches Meeting 10:00am - 11:30pm @ Palm Valley CC Using Youtube for Real Estate Marketing 10:00am - 11:00am / Zoom Goodyear Happy Hour 4:30pm - 6:30pm @ The Wigwam Bar

Mesa Happy Hour 5:00pm - 7:00pm @ The Hub Grill & Bar

Kierland Office Meeting 10:00am - 11:00am @ Kierland Office

28 Broker Round Table with Susan Herber 10:00am - 11:00am / Zoom

29 Mesa Office Meeting 10:00am - 11:00am @ Mesa Office

Kierland In-Person CE Class 10:00am - 1:00pm @ Kierland Office North Phoenix Office Meeting 10:00am - 11:00am @ North Phx Office Video Marketing Tips for Real Estate Pros 10:00am - 11:00am / Zoom

• Commercial Division Event • Office Meetings