Romona Ellison of Sand Springs Presented Key to the City

One of the best things about working at Coldwell Banker Select is getting to work with some really awesome people. I want to take this week's blog to tell you about one of them. Last week, Romona Ellison of our Sand Springs office was present with a Key to the City and proclaimed the "Hometown Hero" for 2010.

I have had the honor of knowing Romona for over 25 as an agent for Terry Gartside, Realtors and now as a proud agent for Coldwell Banker. She is such a dynamic and giving person that always puts the needs of her clients over her own. Over the last 43 years of selling real estate, she has always been a top producer closing hundreds of transactions over the years.

Next time you see Romona, be sure to congratulate her on her award. We are so proud to have her as part of our team!

Have a great weekend!

Being big is no big deal, being best is…

This is common phrase we hear a lot at Coldwell Banker Select and it’s true. As the owners and managers work hard to give you the best tools and training available for you to use, our goal is always to give excellent representation to our clients and provide agents a stellar marketing plan to list and sell houses.

But…… There comes a time to take brief timeout when you hit a goal that is really worth stopping to let out a big “WHOO HOO”!

Well, let me be the first to let out a huge Coldwell Banker WOO HOO!

Out of the thousands of real estate brokers in the United States, Coldwell Banker Select has officially cracked the top 50 at, ironically, #50!

So hats off to Sam, Terry, and everyone at Coldwell Banker Select. You are part of a very special team of Realtors.

Being big no big deal, but being the best gets you there. And we thank you helping us get there!

Congrats Sam and Terry…

See you on the road.

Do you know the impact that RPAC has on our industry and how it gives Realtors a voice with our leaders in government?



Last week, the Greater Tulsa Association of Realtors and the RPAC committee hosted Mayor Dewey Bartlett for an RPAC reception at the home of one of our owners, Terry and Carolyn Gartside.



You would be proud to know that both Sam and Terry are trustees for RPAC giving their time and $$ for a great cause. The main reason they do this is that it's important to us, as Realtors, that our views and agenda are promoted to the local, state and national levels. Could you imagine the banks in real estate given the crisis we are currently experiencing? Or what if you were not able to put a "for sale" sign in the front yard of a property due to a strict sign ordinance? Kind of hard to imagine.



I would also be remiss if I didn't give an RPAC "atta girl" to Julie Tetsworth for stepping up year after year as a member of the RPAC committee at GTAR and chairing the committee the year before last. She represents us well along with many of our agents on the committee while she still finds time to serve as treasurer for GTAR as well.



So next time someone hits you up for RPAC, give it your best consideration. The money really goes to good use to promote the interests of the Realtor.



Have a great week selling and listing....Only 18 more days of the $8,000 tax credit.



Pete



PS- If you've benefited from selling a house in the last 180 days using the Federal Homebuyer's Tax Credit, you can thank your RPAC dollars for helping get it extended.



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This week took me to the city of Enid. The Enid Board of Realtors invited me to speak to their lunch group about the Oklahoma Real Estate Commission and some of the changes the Commission instituted this year that affect what we do.

One item that came up was one of the minor changes that we will be seeing on the Seller's Disclosure Statement. The updated disclosure prompts a seller to disclose if the property is in foreclosure. The intent is that a prospective buyer will have knowledge in advance that a home may not make it to the closing table after a he or she has invested money in an appraisal and inspections.

Another item that was added is that properties with septic tanks now have a specific question as to if the septic system is working properly.

But the most lively discussion came about when talking about that an agent must have the brokerage's name and phone number on a yard sign that is "prominent" and "easily identifiable". If you have a yard sign with your information on it, you can't bury the broker's name in the fine print.

Otherwise, it was great day for drive and I've got to hand it to the broker's and Board of Realtors in Enid..You do a great job representing our industry!

If you ever have a question about the OREC code and rule, never hesitate to call me, even if you're calling for "a friend" :)

Have a great week selling!

Pete