Archive for May, 2010

Local REALTOR® Member Website Recognized By National Association

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

The member web site of the Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS® (GRAR) was recently chosen as one of three “Best of the Web” in the 2010 Outstanding REALTOR® Association Web site Contest. A judging panel comprised of the editorial board and staff of REALTOR® AE Magazine determined that www.grar.org stood out for its focus on delivering outstanding on-line member services. The decision of the judges was based on the conclusion that the site represented the “innovation, commitment, and excellence for which all associations strive.” The other two associations recognized were the Chicago Association of REALTORS® and the Florida Association of REALTORS®. The contest drew nearly 50 entries from real estate associations across the country.

GRAR launched its newly-renovated member site in January 2010, which was designed by Site Brand Builder.com, a Rochester-based company. The interactive site features pages that provide education course descriptions, events and news, government relations information, and a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) section as a source for real estate forms and tech support. In addition, there is a member resources and support section that offers marketing tools, business practice updates, and industry-related links. Also available is a calendar of events, news gallery, and information on how to begin a career in real estate.

“When we set out to rebuild our online presence in 2009, our goal was to focus on the needs of our members,” stated Ryan Tucholski, CEO for the Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS®. “Information provided on the site is only presented when it’s relevant, accurate, and requested by our membership.”

Among the judges’ highly rated features of the site are the prominent Google search, the updated news section, and the depth of information in the members-only section. Also noted was the members’ use of the site as a portal to their dashboard on the public-facing MLS Web site, where they can track their listing performance.

Tucholski stated that like all web sites, grar.org is a work in progress. “We believe that the site must be a living and growing object that can flex and move for the benefit of our members.”

The Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS® represents more than 3,000 real estate professionals in the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region.

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Home Staging Your Yard

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

By: Kristen Noble

I think it’s finally safe to say that spring has sprung in Rochester.  The budding trees and warmer weather have brought everybody outside including home buyers.  Now is the time to pay as close attention to the impression the outside of your house makes.  Your efforts will make a difference!  Here are a few suggestions:

Be certain your house can be clearly seen from every direction of the yard.  If there are bushes or trees blocking windows trim them back.

Have your curtains/blinds all uniform in color from the outside.

Wash your windows.

Place decorative lights in your windows.

Power washes your house if it has siding and definitely your deck.

Schedule your driveway to be sealed.

Put a fresh coat of paint on your front door.

Add a new layer of mulch and edge your yard.

Plant uniform annual flowers. Plant twice as many as you would normally so they appear plusher earlier in the season.

If you have a front porch highlight it with a pair of chairs to sit on.

An American flag always looks simple and beautiful. All other decorative flags should be avoided.

Remove lawn ornaments.

Replace your mailbox if it is not in mint condition.

Make sure your house number is clearly visible.

Park in your garage and keep the door down whenever possible.  Your house will appear bigger.

Have a simple new front door mat.

As long as it is safe, add new light bulbs with a brighter wattage to your porch lights.

Keep your lawn mowed neatly at all times.

Scrub your patio set before putting it up.

Treat your yard as if it is another room to your home and keep it picked up at all times!

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