Austin Updates

By Mary Lynne Gibbs • 2018 Director

CRS designees step up when there’s a call to action. Our RRC Central Texas Region contributed more than $1,000 to our charity of choice, The Refuge Ranch. The largest long-term, live-in rehabilitation facility provides holistic care for girls through age 19 who have been rescued from sex trafficking. Did you know there are currently 79,000 young adults and minors being sex trafficked in Texas alone? It was our pleasure to help those who are addressing this alarming exploitation.

“We have four girls who have already begun their journey to health, happiness and healing at the ranch and they are so deserving,” says Kristine Schmidt, a board member at The Refuge. “At The Refuge we believe there is no rescue without restoration and our circle of care is a reflection of this.” This year we also had moments of joy together as a board and a network group. This by far, I feel, is our greatest accomplishment. Another feather in our cap is that Mary Miner was named CRS of the Year for Texas.

To those who have served on this year’s board, I have profound gratitude in all that we’ve accomplished. I want to extend my highest appreciation for all the time and commitment everyone gave synergistically to create another successful year. It has been my honor to serve you. As I pass the baton, I do not say goodbye, I say carry on. I’m behind you and will continue to serve as the state education chair for 2019.

To those who have served on this year’s board, I have profound gratitude in all that we’ve accomplished. I want to extend my highest appreciation for all the time and commitment everyone gave synergistically to create another successful year. It has been my honor to serve you. As I pass the baton, I do not say goodbye, I say carry on. I’m behind you and will continue to serve as the state education chair for 2019.

Thank you to my outgoing board: trusted advisor, Gay Puckett; previous past director, Gena Hammonds; sponsors, Lili Maliner; treasurer, David Burton; education, Georganna Zaba; membership, Susanna Boyer and speakers, Ted Smith. And congratulations to the 2019 board: director, Susanna Boyer; previous past director, trusted advisor, Mary Miner; sponsors, Lili Maliner; membership, Cathy Ryden; treasurer, Linda Welsh; speakers, David Burton and education, Linda Scott. RRC luncheons for 2019 will be from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Austin Country Club on Feb. 20, April 17, June 19, Sept. 11 and Dec. 4. Please make plans to join us and become part of the Residential Real Estate Council. Happy Holidays.

By Mary Lynne Gibbs • 2018 Director

Errors and omissions insurance claims are rising in the nation, yet Texas is not seeing an increase in these kinds of professional liability issues. Why? At our most recent RRC luncheon, TREC Chair Avis Wukasch told a packed house that one E&O insurance provider believes it is because brokers in Texas must meet stricter educational and regulatory requirements.

Avis recently appointed me and eight others across Texas to the Broker Responsibility Working Group (BRWG) which will allow us to make sure Texas remains a leader in broker accountability. We are in charge with reviewing broker licensing requirements, minimum competency requirements, broker mentorship programs, minimum service requirements in relation to service fees and temporary out of state registrations for commercial transactions. It is my honor to be appointed to this vital group for the second time.

While most people in real estate are responsible, there are a few crummy people out there who make it imperative that we clean up the profession. I remember one case of a broker who was taking rental payments for a veteran serving in Iraq but was not depositing the money for him. The veteran got a notice of foreclosure after he was deployed. Another broker was in a nursing home and others individuals could not be located. 

“Over the years, the work of this group has resulted in a greater experience required to become a broker, a mandatory Broker Responsibility CE course for brokers who sponsor sales agents, TREC Rule 535.2 on Broker Responsibility and more consumer-friendly language for the Information About Brokerage Services Notice,” says Kerri Lewis, general counsel for the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC). “All of these improvements strengthen the professionalism of the industry and better serve consumers of real estate services in Texas.”

If you have an interest in improving broker standards, consider putting the Broker Responsibility Course offered by TREC on your goal sheet for next year. Whether you are a sales agent or a broker who supervises sales agents, there is so much valuable content that benefits our profession. Have you ever thought about getting your broker license? The Broker Responsibility Course is a great course to take before doing so and it would help you to determine if becoming a broker something that you would truly like to be involved with, especially if you are considering leading a team. Instructors are now revising the course, so I recommend that you take it beginning in January 2019. Another option is to sign up for the 9-day cruise to the Panama Canal in February. I will be teaching the course and you’ll receive six hours of CE elective credit.

Let’s work together to make sure brokers ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including proper training and supervision of sponsored agents.

By Mary Lynne Gibbs • 2018 Director

As REALTORS, you know that trees add value to property. A majestic oak may be worth thousands! With the constant threat of oak wilt, one of the most destructive tree diseases that can kill oaks at epidemic proportions, we need to make our homeowners aware of the dangers. 

Research and industry knowledge add value to our clients and improves our competency, but we certainly do not want to offer information outside our expertise. I recommend you seek the advice of a qualified arborist like Greg Gundersen of Certified Tree Care who recently shared with me some helpful advice: 

What recommendations do you have for agents who refer landscape and tree care services to clients?  

Greg: The most important thing is to make sure whoever is being referred is a professional in their field. If looking for tree care, make sure they are using an ISA certified arborist. 

What do we need to know about tree care and oak wilt? 

Greg: If the trees have a lot of broken or dead limbs, make sure to have them painted to ensure their health. Oak wilt beetles are active between 60-90 degrees so no matter what time of year, pruning is important and all equipment should be sterilized. 

What preventive measures can be taken? If discovered, what can be done to help save the trees?

Greg: Prevention is always less expensive than being reactive. Keeping the trees properly maintained and all wounds painted is crucial. There are ways to protect the live oaks if oak wilt is a threat. After trees are manicured, we recommend injecting the trunk base with a fungicide, which acts as a protective barrier for up to two years. It also helps open the vascular system of the tree to allow water and nutrients to flow more freely to the crown. Make sure you have an ISA certified arborist up-to-date on the most effective and efficient ways to treat the issue.

So my advice this September is to take care of your trees, educate your clients and have a happy fall! And since fall is one of the best times to establish trees, you might tell your clients to consider planting some trees. One day they may add thousands to the value of their home!

By Mary Lynne Gibbs • 2018 Director

Moving often rates among the top stressors in life. So, when various start-up companies say they have invented ways to make buying and selling homes hassle free, we, as REALTORS, often want to know more. Because isn’t it our job to make sure our clients have a pleasant and smooth experience during these kinds of transactions? 

But let’s remember that our job is also to protect our clients during these transactions. As we often say, “they don’t know what they don’t know,” and our job is to educate buyers and sellers. These new options to buy and sell a house with the click of a mouse – or a tap on a phone – may be convenient, but, as in many things in life, convenience often comes at a cost. I did some research on one of these companies that is active in some our state’s largest cities and found that at least one of these start-ups has charged fees of 8 to 10 percent, and sometimes as high as 12 percent. Clients have the perception they are saving 6 percent without working with a traditional REALTOR, but often they aren’t.

In addition to possibly higher fees, sellers may be leaving money on the table that they don’t know they are leaving. Like I said before, “they don’t know what they don’t know.” If they are in a hurry to sell, perhaps a click and sell method is beneficial to them, but in most cases, people need to get the most money for their homes. As REALTORS, we bring experiential knowledge that sets us apart. Algorithms used by these technology-based companies can’t touch, taste, smell or put their eye on the property to determine its value like we can. 

Even a former REALTOR, who had years of experience but had let his license expire, did not know how much his home was worth when it came time to sell. Factors such as low inventory and location allowed us to push the market and we got him $100,000 more. If he had used a click and sell type of company, he would have left that on the table unknowingly. How is that helping the consumer?

In everything, there is going to be a bigger, better model that touts itself as being more efficient and saves money, and we in the industry must be prepared for that. But we also must be ready to educate and protect our clients about the potential costs of these click and sell methods. More than ever, be ready to show clients how using your skills as an experienced and educated REALTOR is essential. And if the transaction does turn out to be one of life’s stressful events, they can buy multiple massages with the money they did not leave on the table!