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Is Active Rain the new Realtor Association?

Revelation My first week on Active Rain has been many things... fun, interesting, addicting and familiar. I can't get away from the feeling that I have done this before. No, not in another life, but in the real estate life- in the land before time and computers. Let me explain...

Back in the stone ages, long before computers in real estate, I was a lost and lonely broker searching for help and guidance. At a showing one day, someone said - go to the Real Estate Board, they have so much to offer. So off I went. I found the people warm, inviting and willing to share. I signed up for classes and learned from the best. I mingled with other realtors and other related industry professionals that may my work life more educated and fun. I joined committees and got involved and found that the more involved I got, the more I got out of my Association.

If you follow the links embedded in the blog, you will find the parrallel universe of Active Rain. The experience has already been worth so much more than the effort expended. The ability to meet, learn and mingle with other Realtors is an amazing reincarnation. As our local Associations grow bigger and more distant, how nice it is to make our world small again.

Thank you Active Rain and to all of you who have helped!

Posted by Beth Butler on 04/25/2007 01:42 PM

Comments (52)

active rain, realtor association

52 Comments on Is Active Rain the new Realtor Association?

APR

2007

Hi Beth - you bring up an interesting analogy, and one that probably a good number of us can relate to. The longer I'm here on AR, the more involved I get....it's hard not to!

Ann

Hi Ann- thanks for reading. You are so right - AR is habit forming... but it is a worthwhile habit.

You are so right. It seems I have more contact with "real" Realtors through my Active Rain contacts. What a great resource!

I'm trying not to make this a habit but I like being ontop of my market. AR is one of the best ways to do it!

Beth - welcome to ActiveRain from another South Floridian

I think the boards are stuck in their own paradigms and bound by their own rules. there are so many people that are more dynamic and that's the way it should be. the board is there to remind you how it is written - activerain is here to remind you how it is done

Beth, Welcome to AR. (I liked it when someone welcomed me a month ago) It is very addictive but yet extremely informative. I have made a lot of associations with agents from across the country. This is only helping me to become a better agent (person) I have been in business since before computers and YIKES! fax machines!!! I recall having to drive around to each of the brokerage offices all over my area to get the listing cards! Oh thank gooness for the Internet, email, and AR!

No but the community is the BEST !!

Beth,

This is a great place to be for people like us. I feel like I am addicted sometimes!

Beth -

I've found this a great place for so many reasons. I'm thankful it is here, just like many others do. I also know if I needed to, I could probably call any number of people to ask for advice or guidance. Nice post, and great analogy.

Beth,

When I began my real estate career, I began in a place that was that was very cliquee ( not sure if that's a word!) I had come from a career in the helping professions and found I had entered a place that no one wanted to help! I agree Active rain feels like what I am used ... sharing information, connecting with others like ourselves, advancing the profession. Its great and addicting !!!!

Well put Beth...I don't know if AR is the new Realtors Association...LOL but I do know I have given up on Realtor.com and for the first time in years did not renew my Premium Membership. I can only trace one sale directly from Realtor.com in the past 10 years. I have been a member of AR only since February 12th of this year. I have already made 4 sales directly related to AR not to mention the tremendous friends I have made. I wish you much success.

Beth,

I'm thinking it is and I also think it's great. What a wonderful resource AR is. Good post : )

Beth.... this is nice to hear over and over again. Just gives you that warm fuzzy feeling.

On another note, Welcome to Active Rain and Congrats on your 1st featured post.

featured

jeff belonger

Hi Beth,

I love having all this advice or ideas for me to use at my convenience! Isn't it great to get real ideas and comments from those who are not threatened or territorial?

Thanks and congrats on you featured post. You go girl...you are moving fast.

Beth,

I believe that it will more than that, it is growing and growing.

Welcome to AR Beth, we look forward to your posts and seeing you on AR.

Jeff Daley

I think it is the sense of community that is felt amongst many of the Active Rain members. Individuals are able to communicate (non-verbally) ideas, problems, and events with industry peers, and more importantly learn about different areas related to their craft. Forums such as Active Rain's have been in existence for decades for computer programming/software engineering bodies. The developments of the World Wide Web have made implementation of such communication systems feasible and inexpensive. The forum is not bound by any geographical or regulatory conditions, and it is this freedom which makes is so special and inviting. If things go along the right way, in the next decade we should be able to all transmit voice and video cost-effectively and really start talking then! When everyone has a small camera and microphone on their computer monitor, information sharing and Internet lead generation will increase tenfold.

The Active Rain forum should be looked at as a complimentary tool to the NAR and local associations, not as a competitor or a replacement, in my opinion. The goals and objectives of the NAR and Active Rain's community forums are different.

The latest US and international business, finance, economic and political news, comment and analysis from the Financial Times on www.financialtimes.com.

Can't beat it. Don't even have to get out of your PJs to associate with other agents now.

Beth, very nice analogy. My office is getting ready to create a company blog in order to communicate with one another. I told them that I have a blog on ActiveRain and probably know 100s of agents across the country better than I know the ones down the hall from me. I find it fascinating.

Christian, what's with the financial times banner ad?

I get more info here than from my local board and its free.

Great info all over the place in AR.

Isn't it amazing that you feel what a small world it is again and everyone who participates here is spread out literally all over the country!

It's kinda like a myspace for Real Estate agents. I have a my space at http://myspace.com/c21showcase People post comments but I don't see anyone blogging there.

Sadly, some REALTOR boards are not a successful networking opportunity for the members. Various things can be at the root; location, local culture, market competition. The networking at AR is more positive than any I ever experienced in the REALTOR board

That comment matches the Lemon -- need to fix that!

Welcome to this community!!! The wonderful thing here is that there is no competition...except maybe for points!!!

MY FIRST FEATURED POST!!!! I have been on the road all day and came back to a full mailbox...this is sooo exciting!

Luke: Try as you might, habit forming it is. Thanks for your comments.

Gary: It is a great "real crowd" here - everyone is great about sharing and we do learn so much at such a rapid rate.

David: You are so right - it does seem like our Association is stuck in the wrong box. There is a huge lesson for them AR...

Phill: Thanks for commenting. I am glad there are still people like us out there that remember real estate BC (before computers!)

Missy: AR is great - we agree .

Dan: Soon there will be a 12 step program for us...thanks for commenting.

Cynthia: I agree - the resources are limitless and so easily accessed.

Randi: your input is always relevant and welcomed.. thanks.

George- 4 sales due to AR - that is something to shout about. I hear a lot of agents are unhappy with realtor.com, not sure why - maybe you can tell me more.

Kelli: thanks for you comments - I am thinking it is too - at least a glimpse into the future anyway. Active Rain does function in the truest sense of what the boards are meant to do.

Jeff: Love the pic!! Have saved it to my desktop. Thanks so much for going to the time and trouble to do something so nice.

Nancy - agreed - it is a truly amazing experience - just when I was getting jaded and despondent. thanks for your encouragement

Aurora - you could be right - I can certainly see the growth potential.

Jeff: Thanks for the welcome.

Christain: I agree NAR and AR have different goals. I draw the analogy because somehow with the technology we have drifted away from the whole membership as a community part of the board. Now, with AR the community is back by utilizing the technology that might have created the drift in the first place. Thanks for you comments.

Tim: we are blogging here at EWM as well. I am trying to get my managers to get out there first so that they can be a person to person resource for our agents. It is an awesome communication tool - and the localism part is a huge business generator. Thanks for your remarks.

George M- Free is good, great point

Pete - so much good info - so little time - thanks for commenting.

Angie: You make a great point - it is easier and easier to see how small our community really is.

Timothy: I see your point, blogging is much more informative though - it seems much more issue focused which is what makes the comments sometimes the best part of blogging... just one more way to learn on AR.

JudyAnn: I think you are right... I have missed that from the boards though - I have always enjoyed the mingling and networking part. Thanks for the lemon!

Chris: Hey, the points thing is huge. Someone out there knew the audience when they added that component to a large group of competitive sales people. At this point, I love the blogging - but the points are what gets you hooked! Thanks for your comments.

Beth, congrats on your first featured post. It feels good doesn't it. Makes me want to write some more....such is encouragement.

Beth Congratulations -- AR is quite an experience. Hope you enjoy all the great people in this growing community. We have every type of personality here on AR. There is a lot to learn and a lot of time it is fun just to laugh. Enjoy.

AR is a training in networking that we can take back to our life at the REALTOR boards. They are what the members make them to be. It is too easy to go to the lunch meeting, figure "okay, I took care of that for this month." and get back to real estate work.

AR is such a useful tool. Anything that you learn from AND is addicting can't be a bad thing (unless you start neglecting your actual work and family...i guess). Thanks for the post and the links!

Beth,

WOW! you catch on quick! Welcome you are a great addition.

Dick Beals

Beth - you're so right to relate this to Board activities. 20 years ago it made sense to drive and participate in the board activities. Now it's so much better to communicate on line.

Welcome Beth. I loved your analogy. Great post and way to get it featured!

Timothy: Thanks for the congrats... Ill be looking for your next post.

Joan: I agree... this is fun and I am learning - isn't that the best?

Paula: I agree... the constant and continuous commenting is what makes the networking even better.

Luther: You are welcome. Thanks for commenting

Dick: Thanks for your nice welcome.

Sharon: AR is a great example of technolgy making things easier. I love St. Pete - how's the market over there?

Christy: Thanks for your comment... its all a bit overwhelming- but I am figuring it out.

Wow Beth----Wow! Addicting yes! Congrats on your FIRST featured post!!!

Beth - thanks for the link love (much appreciated) - and what a great post with such a strong analogy. I'm personally getting a lot more from this that the local board....but shhhh....don't tell anybody. I like your style by the way...subtle, yet addictive. Congrats on the feature.

Great analogy! Thanks for reminding me of what a warm and special place AR is. And yes, it is addicting!

Beth, welcome to ActiveRain, I'm glad that we're able to provide something that is a benefit to the real estate community.

Beth - This is a wonderful community and I found it just at the right time. I see it did not take you long to feel right at home. welcome!

Kevin...a double wow - thanks for clueing me in

Ines.. your secret is safe with me and you like my style... I am so flatterred.

Diane... thanks and it is my pleasure

Matt...thanks for the welcome

Jennifer.. thanks for the welcome.

Beth,

It's great to be able to network and learn new things afterhours, without the driving and having the opportunity to find so many interesting topics

Ines

APR

2007

Ines... looks like you are getting hooked.

This has been an incredible place (AR) to learn and share. I'm on board for life.

Congratulations on your gold star and welcome to AR Beth! This place is very addicting and full of awesome people. Enjoy.

Beth...

I love this post. Like you, my husband (Broker Bryant) and I started, and have remained solo. The first thing we did when we opened our business, 13 years ago, was join and participate in our local BOR. We attended meetings and served on Committees. I eventually became a Director for our BOR and a Director for our local MLS. These were the best training tools that were available to us back then.

You are quite right about Active Rain being much like a BOR. It's a giant virtual meeting with the added benefit of being able to have FUN as we learn :)

Do you remember the switch from MLS books to computers? What a disaster that was at our Board :)

TLW...ROAR!

Ross- I am learning so much - thanks for your comments

Monika - Thank you for the congrats and I am thrilled to be meeting and greeting.

TLW- loved your comments - and yes I remember that switch over - did you have the computer with the phone coupler and the paper that disentegrated in the hot car??? Nothing like giving a client a printout that seemed like it was done with disappearing ink! Nevermind what it did to your appointment schedule. Technology has come a long way!

LOL. Yup. We had magic paper. LOL.

I would jokingly tell them it was invisable ink and only I knew the secret code for reading it :)

Today's technology blows me away.

When we switched over to the computers I had to keep 15 MLS books for the older seasoned pros that were having a terrible time adapting. I would spend several hours a day helping them learn the new MLS system. This reminds me of that song "Those were the days my friend...We thought they'd never end"...

Totally off topic there. Must be time for me to shut her down and get some sleep :)

TLW...ROAR!

TLW... you mean you don't still have books?????? just kidding - but let me tell you it took forever to get rid of them... those were the days! 'nite

APR

2007

I have been a member for about a week and find it a great resource...wow, who would have known this underground world existed...but I am shocked that more agents that I have mentioned it to have not jumped on the bandwagon....

APR

2007

Hi Caroline- I think its just a matter of time before more and more people are blogging.

APR

2007

Beth, it's that missing green hat thing again. Sorry =) Thanks for the link!

Congratulations on your first featured post! Double woo hoo! I like your analogy. When I first joined the local board I spent days on their website looking at all the resources they have available. ActiveRain gives me that same sense of resources and helpful people.

here's the green hat for you Maggie....

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