Education & Products
Tick Tock
2001-2002 Continuing Education-Less Than 30 Days Left!
If you still haven't signed up to complete your 2001-2002 CE, do it now! There is less than 30 days left to complete your CE for the current biennium. Check the
online course
schedule for dates and places of live classes in your area. Unable to attend a class? Go to www.wra.org and find out about completing your CE requirements by using our
video-Internet or self-study-Internet
options. Register today!
"The BIG Picture"
Management Conference
- December 12 in Pewaukee
Real Estate is a relationship business - not a technological wonder.
Broker/Owners and Managers - you are invited to attend the annual Management Conference in Pewaukee on Dec. 12, 2002. Much of the focus on keeping up in business today is on the importance of technology. It is true, technological advances are changing the way real estate professionals do business ... but that is just one piece of the puzzle. To be a successful manager today, you need to incorporate strengths in many areas and help your agents do the same. Strong communication skills and the ability to be a leader are vital to staying in the game. Learn what's happening in your business at the annual Management Conference. Speakers include: David Charron, President and CEO of MRIS; Ed Krafchow, president of the Tri-state consortium of Prudential California Realty, Prudential Nevada Realty and Prudential Texas Properties; Steve Murray, co-editor of REAL Trends and president of Murray Consulting Inc., the nation's leading trends newsletter for residential brokerage firms.
Register online.
For New Recruits! Sales Prelicense Course - Madison
This program is also available through self-study video or a self-study Internet program.
To obtain a real estate license in the state of Wisconsin, you must first complete 72 hours of approved education courses such as our sales and prelicensing course.
Second, you must pass a state-administered exam. The WRA is offering an 8-day Accelerated 72 Hours Sales program on
January 6-9; 13-16, 2003 and March 3-6, 10-13, 2003 at the WRA in Madison. Brokers can purchase a $50 discount coupon for only $10, which entitles your new recruit to a $50 discount on the registration fee.
Your new recruits can be ready to take the exam as soon as they complete the class. Call 1-800-279-1972 to
register or register
online!
Buyer Agency Course - Do It!
Get in on buyer agency and watch your career take off! This is turning into one of the WRA's most popular classes as Buyer Agency is becoming the way more and more buyers are choosing to do business. This two-day course covers agency, service delivery, marketing and promotion, and negotiation and risk management. The next course offerings are Jan. 14-15, 2003 in Brookfield and March 20-21, 2003 is Eau Claire.
Register now
Information Regarding New Requirements for the ABR Designation is Available on the WRA Web site.
Appraisal Conference - March 13-14, 2003
Mark the date for the 2003 Appraisal Conference, which will take place on March 13-14, 2003 at the Ho Chunk Hotel and Casino in Baraboo, just outside of Wisconsin Dells.
Want to be at the Top?
GRI Course 2 & 3
Courses 2 & 3 will be offered February 3-6, 2003 in Appleton. Mark your calendars.
Take advantage of the opportunity to take a step up, raise your level of earnings and take your success in real estate to the next level. The Wisconsin
REALTORSŪ Association Graduate REALTORŪ Institute (GRI) program will provide you with the tools you need for an even more successful career. The coursework will teach you valuable and timely information about many aspects of the real estate business from marketing skills to building codes and technology. GRI Course 2 will cover Business Ethics, Buyer Agency, Environmental Issues, Multi-marketing Marketing, Selling to a Seniors Market, Personal Promotion and Personal Assistants and will include CRS 201 - Listing Strategies for the Residential Specialist. GRI Course 3 will cover Real Estate Investment, Exchanging, Legal Ethical and Regulatory Issues, Cultural Diversity, Introduction to International Real Estate and will include CRS 202 - Effective Buyer Sales Strategies. There are numerous scholarships available for the GRI courses. Register today!
To earn your GRI designation, you must complete three 4-day courses (GRI Course 1, 2, and 3) and pass an exam for each course. Wisconsin's GRI program also includes CRS courses, which means you are completing education requirements for your CRS designation at the same time as you are earning your GRI designation. GRI Course 2 contains CRS 201 and GRI Course 3 has CRS 202. Once you begin the GRI program, you have five years to complete the coursework.
GRI Course 1 - You Have Options!
Use your experience and save time by testing out of Course 1. You can take the
online version
of the GRI Course 1 Equivalency Exam. The cost is only $85. Go to www.wra.org, click on the Education tab, then click on Distance Learning, and then click on GRI Course 1 Equivalency. An
online demo is available.
It Will be Smooth Sailing with Quickstart
New agents will want to attend the four-day QuickStart Program (offered in two parts as two-day sessions). Course contents include working with FSBO and expired listings,
 farming, advertising, technology tools, creating a business plan, time management, listing presentations, overcoming objections, working with buyers, closing techniques and more.
Modules 1 and 2 will be offered Dec. 9-10, 2002 in Madison and modules 3 and 4 will be offered Jan. 22-23, 2003 in Madison.
The fee is only $230; however, the WRA offers a new member discount of $40, making the cost of this course only $190. This is a fantastic price for four days of instruction for new agents.
Upon completion of the four modules, participants can take a GRI Course 1 Equivalency Exam and move directly into GRI Course 2 or 3. which is scheduled for Feb. 3-6, 2003 in Appleton.
Is There a Broker's License in Your Future?
Video Course Now Available!
If you are interested in obtaining your broker's license, you must complete 36 hours of education. Areas of study include: contracts, marketing, trust accounts, business ethics, personnel, and more.
A video course is now available, or you can attend one of our live courses
scheduled for Jan. 20-23, 2003 at the Greater Milwaukee Association of
REALTORSŪ in Milwaukee and April 7-10, 2003 at the WRA in Madison.
Complete Two ABR Electives in Two Days!
We will be offering two ABR Electives on February 5 and 6, 2003 in Appleton. Representing the E-buyer will be presented on the first day, and Innovative Marketing Techniques for Buyer's Reps will be presented on the second day.
Registration
ABR Elective Course Requirement Reminder
Members who completed the ABR Designation course BEFORE January 1, 2002, but did not earn their designation by that date, are not required to take an elective course to earn their ABR designation. Members who completed the ABR Designation course AFTER January 1, 2002 must successfully complete an elective course to earn their ABR designation.
Home Inspectors CE Now on Video.
Modules can be purchased individually or in multiples.
module 1 Standards, Ethics and Report Writing - 4 hours
module 1a Electrical - 4 hours
module 2 Exteriors - 8 hours
module 3 Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning - 8 hours
module 4 Interiors, Insulation, Ventilation, Fireplaces, Basements, Crawl Spaces - 8 hours
module 5 Structural Systems and Components - 8 hours
Included is the home inspector's "HomeBook," a professional reference book with more than 365 pages and more than 600 possible inspection items, detailed drawings and the "what to" and "how to" of repairs.
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Member Benefits
AMI - Low Long Distance Rates!
AMI Communications is currently providing over 200 WRA members with long distance savings.:
| Usage Type |
Cost/Minute |
| Outbound Intrastate |
$.059 & Intralata |
| Outbound Interstate |
$.055 New! |
| Inbound Toll-Free |
$.059 Intrastate |
| Inbound Toll-Free |
$.055 New! |
| Interstate Calling Card |
$.15 |
- No term or volume commitments involved.
- No time-of-day restrictions. Rates are 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week and are guaranteed not to increase for two years.
- No monthly plan fee.
- Detailed easy-to-read billing statements with usage summaries and management reports.
- Calls are carried on the extensive, state-of-the-art networks of a major carrier.
- Accounts are managed by customer service personnel committed to providing the highest level of service. Any inquiries, problems, or concerns are always handled promptly and efficiently.
For those not yet benefiting from these services, please give us a call at (800) 254-3202 or visit
www.amicomm.net and take advantage of this exclusive plan for WRA members!
WRA PRoFIT Program
Join the WRA PRoFIT Retirement Program and start planning for your future!
The WRA's PRoFIT (Planned Retirement Future Investment Trust) program was developed in conjunction with the M&I Trust Company in Madison. This is an IRS-approved KEOGH Plan designed especially for
REALTORSŪ interested in a long-term financial plan. There are 31 funds to pick from. Jan. 1, 2002 brought new tax changes and savers are the big winners. Before, as an independent contractor, you could shelter $30,000 of your annual earnings, tax deferred. Now that has been raised to 20 percent of your annual income capped at $40,000.
There is no vesting period, unlike many pension programs. The only requirement is that you must remain a WRA member to continuing contribute to your PRoFIT account. If you terminate your membership, the funds you have already deposited will continue earning money.
To participate in the WRA's PRoFIT plan, there is a one-time, non-refundable application fee of $75 and annual administrative fee of $40 or $10 per quarter. The minimum initial contribution is $100, with no minimum deposits after enrollment. You may contribute on your own by check or your broker can deduct a percentage from each commission. M&I Trust Company will run a quarterly and annual account of balances and earnings.
It is easy to apply! Call Debbie Thacker at (800) 279-1972 for an application or go out on the
WRA Web site and sign up today.
Are You In Need of Errors and Omissions Insurance?
Pearl & Associates, Ltd., a WRA-endorsed carrier of E & O Insurance, has some excellent features in their REAL PRO Plan, including:
- First Dollar Defense
- Zero Deductible available
- Deductible Waiver of 50 percent up to $10,000 during policy period
- Lock Box coverage up to $30,000
- Choice of three payment options with $500 minimum
- Risk Management Features
- New three-year policy features available to firms of five or fewer agents
- And more!
Call their customer service representative at (800) 289-8170 to go over the comprehensive insurance program that would work the best for you. Kemper Casualty Insurance Company and Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Company underwrite your coverage.
REGIT, Inc. Insurance Plans
REGIT's Professional Standard Health Program can provide you access to insurance plans that can be customized to meet your individual needs:
- Flexible deductible and coinsurance options
- Choice of traditional "any doctor/any hospital" or money-saving PPO plans
- Doctor visit and wellness benefits
- Optional maternity coverage
- 24-Hour Nurse hotline
- Affordable premiums and payment options
- Next-day coverage for short-term needs
- No maximum benefits
- No waiting periods
- No age limitations
- Coverage for pre-existing conditions
REGITS's Dental Insurance-go to your own dentist and save money. This plan is low-cost and available as a stand-alone.
- Preventive services ... with no deductible
- Minor restorative and diagnostic services
- Major restorative services
REGIT's Life Insurance can offer a quick and easy way to get Term Life Insurance from $25,000 to $250,000
- Coverage for spouse and children
- Low-cost, convenient quarterly premium
- Discount for non-tobacco users
- Higher limits and level item options available
REGIT's Dental/Vision/Chiropractic Co-Pay-by utilizing this program (POSCARD) you will have access to the services of well-known industry leaders at a minimum cost. This card allows discounts on prescriptions at most pharmacies around the country.
- No Deductible
- No Claim Forms
For brokers with either two or over a hundred employees, REGIT can provide a wide variety of plan options. For further information on individual or group plans, call REGIT, Inc. at (800) 537-9786, ext. 558 or look to their new Web site
www.regitinc.com.
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CRB Launches New Bi-monthly Magazine
February/March 2002 marked the first issue of Real Estate Business magazine, a CRB publication. The design and focus of the new magazine position it to serve a target market of brokers, owners and managers. Real Estate Business is published bi-monthly and is available on a subscription basis to nonmembers for $19.99.
To subscribe, contact the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers at 430 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611; phone: (800) 621-8738; e-mail:
info@crb.com
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ZipForm Online vs. ZipForm Desktop-What's the Difference?
by Kristi Mikalsen
The WRA now offers two versions of ZipForm to its members-ZipForm Online and ZipForm Desktop.
The key difference between ZipForm Online and ZipForm Desktop is how each is accessed.
ZipForm Online is a Web-based program, which means an Internet connection is required to use it. Only a form viewer is downloaded from the WRA's Web site and stored on the computer. All forms and completed transactions are stored on a commercial server elsewhere. Other than an occasional update of the form viewer by the user, all program and form updates are automatically done by ZipForm.
ZipForm Desktop differs in that all program files, forms and completed transactions reside on the user's computer hard drive. The entire program is downloaded from the WRA's Web site and updating form and program files are the user's responsibility.
Both ZipForm Online and ZipForm Desktop are available free of charge to WRA members. For detailed instructions on how you can obtain one or both of these programs please visit the WRA's Web site
to view all your ZipForm
options.
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New Environmental Consumer Brochure Available
Environmental issues are becoming more and more prevalent in real estate transactions. This new 12-page guide for home sellers and buyers includes important information on key environmental issues including lead-based paint, mold, radon, public and private drinking water, underground storage tanks, aboveground storage tanks, and asbest | 
