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BIG DROP! |
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COVID-19 SCAM ALERT, Scottsdale PD, April 7, 2020 https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/news/covid-19-scam-alert_s4_p29029 |
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ADRE Update, April 15, 2020 HERE |
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Data for March, 2020: Foreclosure activity in April will be very light. We have seen a limited number of new notices and virtually no actual foreclosures. The reason: forbearance. |
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Hope you're having a wonderful Wednesday! HomeSmart wants you to know there are a ton of Helpful Resources available to you. Many have asked for one location to find all our recent training videos, reference links, and social graphics that have been referenced in training, meetings, and business builders. Here is that Link: Please Click HERE to Access |
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It can also be accessed from our Real Smart Agent Dashboard at www.realsmartagent.com Please be sure to check out the Class Schedule under Education in RSA for additional education opportunities - new classes are being added all the time. |
COVID-19 Arizona REALTORS® Relief Hotline: HERE |
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OR HERE http://ow.ly/RwOr30qzR6R |
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Question: I'm just double checking that we are still good with showing homes in person? Answer: Yes, and try to follow all the protocols which include the following: https://www.aaronline.com/covid-19/ NEW NAR GUIDE: FAIR HOUSING COMPLIANCE DURING COVED & TRANSACTION GUIDANCE: HERE (Listings, Escrows, Leases) Check showing instructions and seller/listing agent requirements for showing and any restrictions Social Distancing Do not show if someone does not feel well masks, gloves, booties wipes or sanitizer available Separate cars Do not touch anything inside the home Use technology whenever possible, ie, check availability of "virtual open houses" and "virtual showings" which are now also offered in MLS Hope this helps, take care and stay safe out there |
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Cromford Report, Tina Tambooer: April, 2020 |
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4/29/2020: Can we hold open houses again? YES Hi Dave, Yes, HomeSmart Founder and CEO Matt Widdows sent out notice a couple days ago stating that since agents are independent contractors, you may conduct your business as you see fit, and if both you and the seller are in agreement, you are allowed to hold an open house. My advice is to plan accordingly and continue to follow all coronavirus protocols and guidelines that are available from sources such as CDC, AAR and NAR. AAR: COVID-19 Updates: HERE TOP 10 open house precautions: HERE Ongoing protocols may include any/all of the following: Clear instructions and seller/listing agent requirements for showing and any restrictions (Signage at entrance, Flyers, etc) Social Distancing Do not hold open if someone does not or has not been feeling well Consider masks, gloves, booties Wipes or sanitizer available Separate cars (if meeting clients) Visitors to the open house should try not to touch anything inside the home, leave curtains and doors open Use technology whenever possible, for example consider hosting"virtual open houses" and "virtual showings" which are now also offered in MLS Hope this helps, take care and stay safe out there! Jeff. |
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As an essential service in Arizona, we are following all recommended protocols provided by AAR and NAR as follows:
March 23, 2020: Executive order prohibiting the closure of ESSENTIAL SERVICES: HERE (See sect e (xix) for real estate services)
AAR: COVID-19 Updates: HERE TOP 10 open house precautions: HERE Sample AAR CORONAVIRUS Addendum: HERE
NAR: Open House Guidance During COVID-19: HERE
NAR: Guide for realtors: https://www.nar.realtor/coronavirus-a-guide-for-realtors
NAR: Transaction Guidance: https://www.nar.realtor/transaction-guidance-during-covid-19 May an agent require an individual complete a COVID-19 screening questionnaire before showing an individual a property? Yes, it is reasonable to screen individuals for COVID-19 prior to showing an individual a property, but be sure to require all individuals to complete the questionnaire to avoid fair housing issues.
We are also following recommended protocols from CDC regarding travel:
Avoid all nonessential travel in the United States: HERE CDC: Travelers returning from international travel should stay home for 14 days: HERE
Hope this helps, Jeff |
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Here's how to dial in to the broker line directly to pick up messages from home. This way we don't have to have someone at the office pulling messages and then distributing them. Call- 602.889.2294 Wait for VM greeting to start playing and Press # Press *7 Enter extn: 8662 # (Broker Group) Enter password: 1234 # Follow prompts to retrieve messages
FYI..Erin Holman is still the recorded name on the broker mailbox. Not a big deal because I don't think Agents hear it but we can update that sometime. Kyle |
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Dear HomeSmart Agents, Thank you for your continued support during these unprecedented times. As we navigate the days ahead and the reopening of our economy, we find it necessary to clarify HomeSmart’s position on various real estate activities. There has been some confusion about what HomeSmart will and will not allow its agents to do in the course of conducting business. This has been a very confusing landscape to navigate for all of us and deciding what is right and wrong, safe and unsafe, politically correct and not politically correct, has been something that everyone has struggled with. Because of this, I felt the need to clarify and summarize once and for all the position that HomeSmart is taking as a leader in the industry. The fact is, local, state and federal governments are the ultimate authorities that set rules and regulations to be followed during the pandemic. Associations and other entities in the industry are there to help interpret and advise but have no authority to dictate what any individual real estate company or independent contractor agent can or cannot do in the course of their business. And as I am sure you all have witnessed, this information is changing daily and is very specific to local markets. As an independent contractor, it is your responsibility and right to interpret such regulations and guidelines as you deem fit. As always, we will continue to provide you with relevant information, marketing tools, virtual training, and opportunities to continue to conduct your business in a manner that best suits you, our agent, and your clients. As such, HomeSmart has taken a position that it will not set mandates on the way that you conduct your business as an independent contractor. The bottom line: Our position is that we have no position. Again, HomeSmart will continue to provide you resources about the market, COVID-19 updates from NAR, as well as, local associations and avenues for you to explore for unemployment and payroll protection. As always, we’re here for you, we’re 100% operational and we look forward to supporting your real estate business. Sincerely,
Matt Widdows |
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From: Matt Widdows <matt.widdows@hsmove.com> |
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5/2020: SmartListing - Free Yard Signs Agents when entering a listing now have the option to select a free SmartListing yard sign for their listing.
Same section as when an agent would choose info on PHW or ETA as an example. Sign shop then calls the agent to get the name they want on the sign - Only agent name and SmartListing # only. No cell phone on sign. Once sign is in the yard and a consumer calls the number, as an example, our Concierge Dept will answer these calls, vet out the caller (most are spam/junk calls), then route leads directly to the agent, and also service the caller to see if they need anything else - i.e. Title, pre-qual, etc. Free sign and we answer calls for agents. No transaction limit. All agents qualify. Live in PHX & DEN.
Free TC Services - Live in PHX & DMV No limit on transactions. All agents qualify. $125 (Sales Starter Package) or $175 (Agent Listing Package) TC offerings at no cost. If they want to upgrade to our $375 TC services (Sales Contract Package), they would either pay the difference, or if they use ETA, they can get this level at no cost through ETA's free TC offerings.
By the end of May, these both will most likely be live in all 5 of our Corporate markets. "Come to HS, not only do you only pay $350 per transaction with no other hidden costs, you get free yard signs for your listings, and free TC services for all your transactions."
Valid for any Active HS agent. |
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Consider adding to Line #33-34 of Covid addendum: “Any party requiring the need for a voluntary or mandatory quarantine shall provide a note from a healthcare professional documenting the need for the quarantine”.
Consider using Model COVID-19 Certification for Property Access: HERE(or attach pdf from docs tab) https://www.aaronline.com/covid-19/ NEW NAR GUIDE: FAIR HOUSING COMPLIANCE DURING COVED & TRANSACTION GUIDANCE: HERE (Listings, Escrows, Leases)
Q: Is the COVID Addendum required? A: NO. This is NOT a required addendum to the purchase contract, if the parties agree to sign it fine, if not that is their choice. You would not check box #32, that would cancel the contract upon acceptance. With box #18, if a quarantine were to occur, either party could extend for up to 10 days. With box #24, there is up to a 30 day total extension plus the ability of either party to terminate the agreement. Please feel free to call the broker dept with any questions. Take care. |
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NEW! |
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"As an independent contractor, it is your responsibility and right to interpret such regulations and guidelines as you deem fit. As always, we will continue to provide you with relevant information, marketing tools, virtual training, and opportunities to continue to conduct your business in a manner that best suits you, our agent, and your clients. As such, HomeSmart has taken a position that it will not set mandates on the way that you conduct your business as an independent contractor. The bottom line: Our position is that we have no position. Again, HomeSmart will continue to provide you resources about the market, COVID-19 updates from NAR, as well as, local associations and avenues for you to explore for unemployment and payroll protection. As always, we’re here for you, we’re 100% operational and we look forward to supporting your real estate business."
So, with that we have been and continue to advise our agents to be cautious and to follow protocols and guidelines from all available sources including:
AAR: https://www.aaronline.com/covid-19/ NAR : HERE (Listings, Escrows, Leases) NAR: Open House Guidance During COVID-19: HERE Use technology whenever possible, ie, check availability of "virtual open houses" and "virtual showings" which are now also offered in MLS CDC: How to protect yourself: HERE CDC: Cancelling or postponing air or cruise travel: HERE Avoid all nonessential travel in the United States: HERE CDC: Travelers returning from international travel should stay home for 14 days: HERE Maricopa County: https://www.maricopa.gov/5504/Businesses |
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Ultimately it's up to the seller and the listing agent to determine whether or not they want to hold an open house and how to proceed with that. This includes special showing instructions/requirements in the private remarks section of the MLS, Social Distancing, Do not show if someone does not feel well, masks, gloves, booties, wipes or sanitizer available, Separate cars, Do not touch anything inside the home, etc, etc, etc. I have attached an example of an access questionnaire you could consider using along with a sample flyer and the coronavirus addendum from AAR.
Attachments Covid Access Covid Welcome Covid Addendum
Used with xkimberlyxschmidtx email |
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The effects of this crisis are being felt by the entire world. Companies, families, individuals are all having to make sacrifices in order to get through it. From our entire family to yours we would like to thank you for your business and wish you and your family are healthy and safe. |
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EVICTION MORATORIUM LANGUAGE SAMMYX Q: I am working with a friend looking for a short-term rental here in Phx for Dec - February. They had a great question and I wasn’t sure how to answer. They wanted to know if the governor shuts down the city again for COVID (or their home state MN doesn’t let people in from AZ), would they get stuck and how would that be handled?
A: Great question, we have the COVID addendum for sales transactions but do not have that for rentals, so anything regarding "COVID" issues would have to be negotiated upfront between the Landlord and Tenant.
Right now the eviction moratorium in AZ runs to 12/31, what happens after that is anyone's guess especially since there appears to be a COVID spike happening across the country.
Bottom line is there are no provisions in the contract, the parties would need to agree to add any terms regarding that. Click here to view the CDC Order in its entirety. Below we provide a breakdown of what you need to know about the CDC Order. |
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COVID-19 addendum to the purchase contract helpful: Chris Combs, Arizona Republic Article, November 22, 2020 https://combslawgroup.com/covid-19-addendum-to-purchase-contract-is-helpful/ |
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Lawrence Yun NAR Chief Economist |
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Lawrence Yun NAR Chief Economist |