Member Update January 8, 2021

January 08, 2021

Individual continues to contact and harass female REALTORS®

Several female Realtors have been harassed by a man sending them threatening messages and explicit videos. Police are aware of this individual and are working to find him. At this point, he appears to be in the Langley and Abbotsford area.

At this point, he appears to be located in the Langley and Abbotsford area. If this person has contacted you, please file a report with your local police and email Fiona Youatt at fyouatt@rebgv.org with the case number and relevant information about the incident.

What to do if you’re being harassed

If someone is harassing you, note the time and date, as well as the name and phone number of the harasser. Tell them to stop contacting you and file a report with your local police.

If your harasser is making threats, or if you believe you’re in danger, call 911.

Safety tips for Realtors:

Always have another Realtor at your showing.
Jot down your client’s car descriptions, license plate numbers, and physical descriptions.
Trust your gut — if you sense someone is up to no good, cancel the appointment. Don’t meet with the person and stop communicating with them.
Do whatever it takes to remove yourself from an uncomfortable situation.
Always walk behind an attendee at a showing and show the house by directing, not leading, them.
Notify someone in your office or a friend that you’ll call every hour on the hour when conducting a showing. If you don’t call, they should notify police.

Please stay safe out there.

COVID-19 restrictions extended until February 5

The Provincial Health Authorities announced yesterday that the current COVID-19 restrictions will be extended until February 5.

These restrictions include limiting home showings to six people or less and requiring attendees to use multiple layers of protection, like masks. Health officials are also advocating for Realtors to use virtual options as much as possible.

These restrictions were put into place in November 2020. You can read them here.

Resources

Learn more about livestream open houses, how to enter one on Paragon, who can help you host one, and tips for making it effective.
Review guidance on how to make showings safer and from BCREA and Council.
Review a list of where to find personal protective equipment.
Use signage we’ve developed to help you run a safe in-person showing when absolutely necessary.

Save the date: REBGV’s Board of Directors election begins in one week!

Voting in REBGV’s Board of Directors election will begin on January 15. Here are some things you should know about our 2021 election:

The voting period will run between January 15-21.
Members will vote to fill five seats on REBGV’s Board of Directors – four two-year terms and a one-year term.
You’ll be able to see the list of candidates running this year and read their bios on our website starting next week.
You can learn more about our election process and the work your Board Development Committee does to identify, evaluate and recommend candidates for your voting consideration here. You can also hear committee members answer some of your most common questions about the work they do, and the candidate recommendation process they follow, in our new three-part video series.

Watch for much more election news in the days ahead!

Share information about the latest property assessments and the Home Owner Grant with your clients

Most BC home owners received their 2021 property assessments in the mail this week, which reflects the assessed value of their property as of July 1, 2020. We’ve published this article that you can share with your clients to help them understand what their assessment means and how to dispute it if they disagree with it.

The Home Owner Grant has been updated for 2021. Click here for an article with all the details that you can share with your clients about that grant program.

New January events announced – register today!

We keep adding new online January events for you to take in – here are the details:

Pivot your business in a Pandemic: How to generate Leads – January 27

Join us on January 27 at 10 a.m. for the first of three Morning Talk Shows with Ashley Smith and Morgan Browne of Oakwyn Realty. They’ll share tips on how to generate leads and pivot your business during a pandemic.

For their first show, Ashley and Morgan will interview Shawn Brown from West Haven Group and Kim Lee from Kim Lee Real Estate to learn how they have navigated through 2020 and learn insights from their experiences.

The discussion will cover:

How to have meaningful connections with your sphere of influence.
How to take advantage of the digital landscape in a low-touch environment.
Effective techniques for lead conversions.
How to rise ahead during disruption.
Getting and staying motivated.
Systems you should consider to create an award-winning real estate business.
Referral businesses - who, why and how?
Successful social media strategies.

Deciphering the Money Code: Managing finances for REALTORS® – January 19

Kelly Fry of Keller Williams Elite Realty has been a Realtor for 10 years and a Medallion Club member since 2014. Before starting her career in real estate, she worked as an accountant and ran her own business.

Join us on Tuesday, January 19 at 10 a.m. when Kelly will share tips on how to manage your finances effectively as a Realtor, including:

How to use accounting to make business decisions.
Keeping business and personal expenses and credit separate.
Setting and sticking to budgets.
Using a Personal Real Estate Corporation (PREC) to keep costs down and save.
Setting up a holding company for investment purposes and investing in real estate.
Financing commercial space for your business.

Don’t forget about our other January events – click below to learn more and register:

The 2021 Economic Outlook: Five Reasons to be Optimistic

Blueprints to Commercial Success: Learn from the experts

Nominate a colleague for one of our awards

We need your help to celebrate the best of our profession! Nominate a member for one of our annual Realtor awards.

The Professional Excellence Award recognizes members who have helped elevate and strengthen our profession throughout their careers. Click here to learn more and nominate a deserving member.

The REALTORS Care® Award celebrates Realtors or real estate offices that consistently help others by raising funds, volunteering, or doing other good deeds in the community. Click here to learn more and nominate a deserving member.

We need nominations by January 18 – don’t hesitate, nominate a member for an award today!

My Profile

Current PDP Status