Most of you know that I train new sales associates in the art of selling.

Sales is a great profession. Your ability increases by preparing for each presentation as best as you can. But are you ready? Are we ever fully prepared for anything? You can always do better. You will never perfect your presentation. Will you be nervous before you knock on the door to your appointment? If you say that you are not nervous, then you have stopped growing.

I am not saying that you are going to fall over with anxiety, but there will always be butterflies until you get your presentation started and you find your groove! It’s that feeling that helps us stay grounded and makes us always want to do better. If you ask professional musicians or actors if they are nervous before a performance, they’ll say “of course”. When they hear the feedback from the audience, theie full confidence returns and they end up fine. But do they stop rehearsing? Do they stop trying to get better? No! If you’re new, get a good presentation prepared and get out there and do it! Don’t wait until it’s perfect.

The real training is when you put all your training and preparation into doing it! It takes persistence, patience, practice, learning new skills, being proactive, and creating change, not adapting to it. Knowledge, plus perfect practice and preparation, plus implementation equals success!

If you would like more information contact me. I’m Ric Giumenta. You can have a good day or a bad day. It’s your choice.

Make good choices. See you next time!

Today I am going to talk about something very unpleasant that occasionally happens in our business; Escrow Disputes.

Escrow Disputes happen when a sale falls apart and the buyer and the seller each want the deposit. This is one reason most Brokers don’t have an escrow account. Depending on who is holding the deposit, will determine how the escrow will be disbursed. No matter who is holding the deposit, the broker cannot release the deposit. If the broker is holding the deposit, the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) needs to be notified within 15 days of the dispute.

Then the broker has 30 days from the time of the dispute to tell the FREC how it will be cleared. Brokers have a choice. Mediation, Arbitration, Litigation, or Escrow Disbursement Order. These options are typically free or inexpensive. Now, if the Title Company or an Attorney is holding the funds, they are not subject to FREC rules. Typically, they resolve their issue through litigation. The prevailing party gets the escrow and the non-prevailing party pays for the litigation. Again, no matter who is holding the escrow, the broker’s hands are tied and cannot disburse the funds. This may make either or both the buyer, and the seller upset. Thankfully this is a rare occurrence and most sales end in successful completion and all are happy in the end!

If you would like more information contact me. I’m Ric Giumenta. You can have a good day or a bad day. It’s your choice. Make good choices.

See you next time!

According to the Code of Ethics, Article 12,

Realtors shall be honest and truthful in their real estate communications and shall present a true picture in their advertising…..ensure that their status as a real estate professional is readily apparent..

OK, this means we have to put the company name in all communications and advertising and we have to disclose that we are a real estate professional up front. This is a higher standard than the law. The law says that we have to disclose that we are a licensee upon first serious negotiations. The Code of Ethics says we have to disclose up front. So, we have two different requirements. When this occurs, our obligation is to always follow the higher standard, in this case the Code of Ethics. Now, the code says we have to paint a true picture in our advertising. Article 12 covers guidelines for offering prizes, premiums, merchandise discounts to sell or buy. It also covers website adverting.

Understandably, Article 12 is one of the most violated Articles of the Code. Why, because we all advertise and as often as we can! Unfortunately, we might exaggerate or embellish a bit too much! Again, if we see an improper ad, call the REALTOR and suggest they review Article 12 for compliance!

If you would like more information contact me. I’m Ric Giumenta. You can have a good day or a bad day. It’s your choice.

Make good choices.

As a REALTOR, I am very protective of the REALTOR trademark. All REALTORS have the duty to work under the Code of Ethics. We also have guidelines under the Pathways to Professionalism.
There are specific rules for using the trademark. We can only use the trademark adjacent to our name in all advertising, URLs, or e-mails. For instance, RicGiumentaRealtor.com is acceptable.
We can’t use BestREALTOR.com, because a member’s name isn’t there. It is great branding to use your communities name in advertising. So, we might be tempted to use Your Hometown REALTOR as a brand name, but that is a violation of the trademark.

So, who are the REALTOR Police? All REALTORS. If you see a violation, contact the REALTOR and explain that it might be a violation and suggest a change. Review the Membership Marks Manual at NAR.REALTOR. If they’re reluctant or disagree with your assessment, then contact Trademark@REALTORS.com and request a clarification from the legal department.

If you would like more information contact me. I’m Ric Giumenta. You can have a good day or a bad day. It’s your choice. Make good choices.

See you next time!

Are you a REALTOR? I am very proud to be a REALTOR who prescribes to the Code of Ethics.

There are 17 Articles which outline specific duties to customers/clients, the public, and to REALTORS.

I would like to highlight Article 16 which requires REALTORS to respect exclusive relationships. So, if a customer has an exclusive relationship with REALTOR 1, then REALTOR 2 is not permitted to talk with the customer without the permission of REALTOR 1.

Now, each article has Standards of Practices that clarify different situations and can guide REALTOR conduct. It’s imperative that REALTORS know and understand each of the Articles and follow them accordingly. Case in point, there are times that REALTOR 2 can contact the customer and they are outlined in the Standards!

If you would like more information contact me. I’m Ric Giumenta. You can have a good day or a bad day. It’s your choice. Make good choices.

See you next time!