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ACROSST H E B O A R D
New Requirements for Handling Offers
REALTORreg QUEST is Just Three Weeks Away
Two Weeks until TREB FEST Donrsquot Miss This Event
Do You Need Stratus One-on-One Help
Use Your Phones Camera Like a Pro
And More
APRIL 2015
2
Table of Contents
New Requirements for Handling Offers Page 3
Have Your Say on the RECO Insurance Program
Page 3
REALTORreg QUEST is Just Weeks Away Page 4
Canadarsquos Largest Real Estate Trade Show Page 4
We Need Your Input Page 6
Members to Members - Call for 20152016 Committee Volunteers
Page 6
Members for Members ndash Thank You for Your Service
Page 7
Past Volunteers Honoured Page 7
Whatrsquos in Your REALTORreg Toolkit Page 8
Two Weeks Until TREB FEST Page 9
Tax Fairness for REALTORSreg Page 9
Do You Need Stratus One-on-One Help Page 9
CRB Designation Courses Page 10
25 or 50 Year TREB Membership Page 10
Use Your Phonersquos Camera Like a Pro Page 11
copy Copyright 2015 All rights reserved
New Requirements for Handling Offers
On July 1 2015 Ontario Regulation 30714 amendments to the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act
2002 (REBBA) under Bill 55 will come into force These changes are intended to address the issue of ldquomultiple offersrdquo in the real estate marketplace
Bill 55 introduced a number of changes to REBBA most notably around handling offers They are
bull Bill 55 prohibits a registrant working on behalf of a purchaser from presenting or representing an offer unless the offer is in writing
bull Bill 55 requires that the selling brokerage must retain copies of all written offers that it receives to purchase real estate or copies of all other prescribed documents related to those offers
Specifically the amendment outlines the required information that must be contained in a lsquoprescribed documentrsquo and states that the selling brokerage must retain a copy of the document or a copy of the written offer for a period of one year after receiving the written offer
To help Members comply with the new requirements the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) has developed a fact sheet on the changes Click here to view the RECO Bill 55 Fact Sheet
The OREA Standard Forms Committee will be designing a
new standard form to help REALTORSreg comply with Bill 55 and Ontario Regulation 30714
For more information on the amendments to REBBA please click here
3
Have Your Say on the RECO Insurance Program
On March 26 2015 the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services launched a 45-day
consultation regarding changes to the regulation governing the mandatory Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) insurance program for real estate registrants
The ministry is seeking input on proposals to modernize the insurance requirements under the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act 2002 for real estate Salespersons and Brokers
Proposed amendments include
bull modernizing outdated terminology
bull stipulating that registrants are required to pay the insurance deductible
bull providing for the submission of individual applications by a specified date if an insurer requires it and
bull establishing prescribed minimum insurance coverage amounts
TREB has been working with OREA RECO and the ministry over the past year and a half on changes to the insurance program for real estate registrants Together TREB and OREA have been fighting to retain and protect all three types of insurance coverage which includes errors and omissions commission protection and consumer deposit protection We support the move to rename the term of errors and omissions to professional liability insurance
TREB and OREA are also concerned with the proposal to remove maximum levels of coverage in the regulation as this could lead to higher claims higher settlements and upward pressure on insurance premiums for registrants For more information on our position please click here to view OREArsquos submission to the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services
To help ensure changes to our industryrsquos insurance program are comprehensive we are encouraging Members to provide their feedback to the province
Click here to send your feedback
REALTORreg QUEST 2015 starts in three weeks and the focus this year is on professional excellence with the greatest lineup of REALTORreg QUEST speakers ever The conferencersquos Learning Quest component offers an incredible 44 professional development sessions in four different streams
bull condominium bull general interest bull commercial and bull technology
No matter which sessions you choose yoursquore certain to walk away with new tools and information
4
Canadarsquos largest real estate Trade Show features 240 exhibitors showcasing the newest most
advanced products and services tailored specifically to the needs of real estate professionals Pick up some great show specials from many of the vendors
Check out Builder Boulevard hosted by RealNet Here you can meet with new home and condo developers and preview their newest projects
There is free parking at the TCC and a free parking lot shuttle bus to and from the doors
Canadarsquos Largest Real Estate Trade Show
REALTORreg QUEST 2015 for Professional ExcellenceMay 6ndash7 2015 | Toronto Congress Centre
REALTORreg QUEST is Just Three Weeks Away
Drop your business card in the bin for a chance to win a 60rdquo Samsung LED Smart
Television (Bins are located at Hall D and Hall E Trade Show entrances) The winner will be announced at 355 PM on May 7 at Centre Stage (located in Hall D)This Grand Prize Draw is open to REALTORSreg only
WIN A FREE TREB 20152016 MEMBERSHIPAdmission is complimentary with no pre-registration required to Members of TREB BREB and DRAR Scan your TREB eCard to enter REALTORreg QUEST and yoursquoll be automatically entered into the daily draw to win a FREE TREB 2015-2016 Membership Not sure how to access your TREB eCard Stop by the TREB Pavilionrsquos Info Corner
to get help accessing your TREB eCard and enter the daily draw
One winner will be announced at Centre Stage at the end of each day
Proof of TREB Membership is required upon entrance to the event (Stratus Au-thenticatorTREB eCardbusiness cardTREB Membership card)
REALTORreg QUEST 2015 for Professional ExcellenceMay 6ndash7 2015 | Toronto Congress Centre
realtorquestcarealtorquest
5
Promotional brochures are being distributed to all offices You may also click here to view the brochure online
Internationally renowned speaker author and elite business coach Richard Robbins will provide the Keynote Presentation on emerging trends in real estate at TREBrsquos Spring Annual Meeting which takes place on May 6 beginning at 1000 AM in Hall B
REALTORreg QUEST 2015 GRAND PRIZE DRAW
6
Volunteering to serve on a Committee offers you the opportunity to network to
enhance your professional knowledge and to explore and exercise your skills It can also distinguish you with your clients Making a contribution to the advancement of their interests through volunteerism demonstrates to discerning consumers that you are a trusted real estate professional
It is recommended that Committee Volunteers complete OREArsquos Leader-ship 100 course On the Path to Leadership available on the OREA website free of charge
The advancement of your profession depends on you
Committee Volunteer Application forms can be submitted online through the Stratus home page up until May 8 2015 Application forms will also be accepted by faxing 416-443-9153 or by mail
Toronto Real Estate Board Attention Sue Greensword 1400 Don Mills Road Toronto ON M3B 3N1
Click here to print the volunteer form for mailing or faxing
Call for 20152016 Committee VolunteersMembers for Members
TREB is asking for your help in shaping the future of your Association
TREB is assembling a database of volunteer Members to be part of an ongoing survey group which will be used to gauge Member perspectives on a range of issues and initiatives Surveys will be conducted at varying intervals with the goal of receiving immediate feedback on key matters
As a Member-driven Association TREB relies on the input of committed professionals like you in tailoring its offerings to serve the needs of all Greater Toronto REALTORSreg
Please take this opportunity to serve as the pulse of your profession
Get involved Have your say
To register click here
We Need Your Input
Front (left to right) Larry Cerqua Chair Nelly De Breze Peter Antoine Back (left to right) Guido Perciasepe Peter Drabik Esa Para Esananda Sukhwinder Bhaura Absent Laura Baragetti David Esho Gail Reeves Reid Linda Williams
Left to right Prakash Barbhaya Yolanda Johnston Shirley Porter Chair Marisa Roque Eve Leung Shahla Bashar Absent Khalid Javaid Gordana Valois
7
Thank You for Your Service
As a Member-driven Association TREB relies on the input of committed professionals volunteering to serve on focus groups committees and task forces In the
coming months Across The Board will showcase TREB Members serving on our committees
GREEN COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
On March 5 Members gathered at the TREB offices to celebrate the unveiling of a plaque that recognizes all those who have received an award
or served on TREBrsquos Board of Directors since 1987
In unveiling the plaque TREB President Paul Etherington noted the tremendous impact of their efforts
ldquoEach person listed on this plaque has made a lasting contribution to our Association to our profession and to our cityrdquo he said ldquoWithout question we can credit our Associationrsquos volunteers ndash leaders in the real estate community ndash with helping Toronto develop into the outstanding world city we live in todayrdquo
The plaque can be seen outside of TREBrsquos Auditorium near the north entrance doors
It may also be viewed from Stratus From the home page click TREB Facts then select TREB Honoured Volunteers
Past Volunteers Honoured
8
Beginning March 10 searching for listings across Boards became a lot easier The Connect Unified
Search interface is available to all Boards and Associations that are participating in Connect This new map-driven interface draws in listing information from all Boards and presents the search results all together in a single screen in a unified format
Now you no longer need to wonder about which Board a particular property or geo-graphic area is associated with Simply enter your criteria for Price Range Class Status and Address to engage a multi-Board search that focuses on the map area that you select To make things easy the rather flexible Address input box will accept various types of information in-cluding City Street Postal Code or other common place names like Cookrsquos Bay or Rideau Canal for example The active search area that is presented as a result can then be modified as you desire by dragging the map or zooming in and out using your mouse There are also controls for these op-erations as well as a control that provides the capability to switch between Road and Aerial views or a combination of the two
You can click on the map icons to get access to the listing detail reports or alternatively the mapped properties can first be compared in the Grid View where information from the multiple Boards and Associations is presented seamlessly Listing detail reports
can be printed using the provided icons and also in a feature enhancement over regular Connect they can even be emailed in either REALTORreg or Client formats
To search Unified Search
1 Log in to Stratus and in the LINKS menu click Connect
2 Agree to the Connect terms of use
3 On the Connect Listing Search page click Unified Search
4 Enter your criteria and click Search
Note Since Unified Search uses Bing Maps you may have to use Ontario in your search criteria For example when searching for properties in London use Ontario to avoid searching in London England
You can drag the map or zoom in or out to change the search area
The Grid View displays basic listing infor-mation in a one-line report format
The View button will bring up the detail re-port which can be emailed or printed
This Monthrsquos Focus Unified ConnectConnectrsquos Unified Search Simplifies Searching Across Boards
Whatrsquos in Your REALTORreg Toolkit
The Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 was introduced in the Ontario Legislature on
February 26 2015
Currently the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act 2002 (REBBA) prevents real estate salespeople from operating their business through a PREC
Many other regulated professions in Ontario including chartered accountants lawyers health pro-fessionals social workers mortgage brokers architects and engineers can all form personal or professional corporations
The ability to incorporate would allow a REALTORreg depending on their level
of business income to save money on their income tax by taking advantage of the lower corporate tax rate
To help advance this bill OREA launched a call-to-action on the Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 With the support of TREB Members over 2255 emails were sent to local MPPs on this issue
The Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 has not been passed in the legislature and it is not yet in force
TREB will update Members on the progress of this legislation
For more information on Personal Real Estate Corporations click here
Tax Fairness for REALTORSreg
99
Do You Need Stratus One-on-One Help
Do You Need Stratus One-on-One Help
Starting April 24 Members may stop by TREB on Friday mornings between 900 AM and noon A TREB Technology Learning Specialist will be in the computer lab to assist you with Stratus If you prefer you can bring your own laptop or use one of the lab computers
When Friday mornings from 900 AM to 1200 PM
Where TREB offices 1400 Don Mills Road Classroom 2
No registration is required
First-come first-served
You and 399 of your closest friends are invited to
TREB FEST an evening of networking and dancing at Torontorsquos CUBE nightclub on April 29 starting at 900 PM in support of Camp Winston
Admission-only tickets for this not-to-be-missed event are $20 with proceeds directed in support of Camp Winston a registered charitable organization that provides recreational opportunities in the idyllic Muskoka region for children with neurological conditions such as Autism Attention Deficit Hyperactivity and Tourettersquos Disorder
Come see and be seen On April 29 CUBE is the place to connect with many of the Greater Toronto Arearsquos most successful REALTORSreg Ticket holders will be eligible for Door Prize Draws As well attendees will have the opportunity to visit with our onsite lsquoPay to Playrsquo specialty entertainment including an Astrologer a Handwriting Analyst and a Henna Artist
For more information about Camp Winston please visit CampWinstoncom
For more information on CUBE visit CubeTorontocom
To purchase tickets visit the REALTORreg STORE in person call 416-443-8122 (credit card purchases only) or click here to buy online
We encourage everyone to share this great event with your social media net-works and contacts to help to make this the biggest and most successful event yet Click here for instructions on inviting Facebook contacts to TREB FEST 2015
Two Weeks Until TREB FEST Donrsquot Miss This Event
Trainer On Dutystarts April 24NEW
10
If you joined TREB before June 30 1990 or before June 30 1965 and have a total of 25 or 50 TREB membership
years you may qualify for a special membership rate
Requirements
1 Your application must be received by TREB no later than April 25 2015 in order to meet the invoice cycle for July 1 2015 to June 30 2016 TREB annual dues
NOTE Any applications received after April 25 2015 will be processed for the following TREB membership year of July 1 2016 to June 30 2017
2 Your 25 or 50 years of TREB membership must be completed by June 30 2015 to qualify for the July 1 2015 to June 30 2016 TREB annual dues and fees billing period
3 You are a TREB Member in good standing with a total of 25 or 50 years of TREB membership
Applications can be emailed to membershiptrebnetcom or faxed to 416-443-8830 or 416-446-6414
Please click on the appropriate link below complete the application and submit it to TREB by April 25 2015
Click here for the TREB Member for 25 Years + Application Form
Click here for the TREB Member for 50 Years + Application Form
Since 1968 the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers has awarded this prestigious
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB) Designation to help REALTORSreg improve both individual and Brokerage office performance in the competitive world of real estate
These two-day 3 CRB credit courses are presented to a maximum of 25 attendees allowing for an effective and interactive learning environment
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager Designation Courses Launch at TREB
Is This Your Year to Qualify for25 or 50 Year TREB Membership
Sales Leadership That Drives Performance June 2 amp 3 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Position Your Business for Profit June 15 amp 16 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Business Planning for Maximum Results July 13 amp 14 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Real Estate is Risky Business August 24 amp 25 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
The ART of Recruiting Attract amp Retain Talent September 10 amp 11 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
For complete information on earning the CRB Designation click here
The following courses are being held at TREBrsquos Don Mills office in Classroom 3
Toronto Real Estate Board
Member for Years
Years
Toronto Real Estate Board
Member for Years
Years
MEMBER FOR
TORONTO REAL ESTATE BOAR
D
+
MEMBER FOR
TORONTO REAL ESTATE BOAR
D
+
Iremember hearing a great story regarding photographic equipment where a man asks his photographer
friend ldquoWhatrsquos the best camera to userdquo His friend very astutely responded ldquoThatrsquos easy itrsquos the one you have with yourdquo This holds more truth today than ever since most people carry an excellent camera with them everywhere they go That camera is built right into their phone
In the past couple of years camera phones have been progressing rapidly in technology to the point where they now rival most good point-and-shoot single purpose cameras From my experience as a photographer of twenty years I can tell you that these built-in cameras now produce results that can allow you to take extremely high quality photos Even an expert might doubt that the image was created using a smartphone
You can harness the power of the phonersquos camera and greatly improve your real estate photos if you follow some basic tips
When shooting real estate images it is best if you shoot them all in landscape orientation This is how your photos will be uploaded into the listing and keeping all the images consistent will
improve the overall presentation of the property
Pay attention to where the sun is when you are shooting exteriors of the property When the sun is at your back and shining on the property there is a higher level of contrast and less chance of lens flair from the sun shining onto the lens causing your pictures to look washed out As well if there is a blue sky it will look most vibrant with this lighting
When shooting interiors of a property it is best to do so when there is plenty of daylight streaming in This will prevent the image looking too dark and will give
a more inviting feeling to the image You may be tempted to turn on the flash but donrsquot That little flash is not powerful enough to light a room and the quality of light from it is flat and uninteresting
In order to get sharper images you want to be able to have the phone as steady as possible This can be accomplished three ways The first (which is the best bet) is to use a tripod to keep the phone from moving during the exposure The second method to getting sharper images is to brace yourself against a wall or door frame and try and keep your arms close to your body Finally by taking a deep breath and holding it for a few seconds when taking
Tips on Using Your Phonersquos Camera Like a Pro
11
Using Your Phonersquos Camera Like a Pro (continued)
9
Suggestions amp FeedbackIf you have content suggestions for Across The Board or comments about this publication feel
free to email us at acrosstheboardtrebnetcom
GET SOCIAL WITH TREB
the picture you will find you can hand-hold the phone much steadier
Since there is no real cost involved in producing the images such as in the past due to the cost of film and developing shoot many more pictures than you think you need Try various angles including from up high or down low Try shooting the same scene from different locations to get a new perspective Remember in Stratus you can now upload as many as 20 images so take full advantage of this
Look for interesting details about a property After the large rooms and the exterior have been shot from all angles look for small things that a home Buyer may be interested in seeing If a staircase has a beautiful wooden railing take photos of this Maybe a built-in bookcase or a large walk-in closet would help show off the property Look around and think like a Buyer
Here is a simple tip that is often overlooked most phones are stored in our pockets or bags and the camera lens traps dirt lint and dust Before you spend time capturing your images clean the lens with a micro cloth which you can find at a camera store or any store that sells glasses
While a camera on a cell phone will not
replace an experienced photographer with thousands of dollars of professional photographic gear and years of experience many smaller photographic tasks are perfectly suited for your phonersquos camera If you follow the above tips and remember that the best camera you have to use is the one with you you are on your way
to beautiful real estate images that will help prospective Sellers and Buyers see the potential in a property that yoursquore marketing
Cliff Spicer is a professional photographer and a Technology Learning Specialist at TREB
2
Table of Contents
New Requirements for Handling Offers Page 3
Have Your Say on the RECO Insurance Program
Page 3
REALTORreg QUEST is Just Weeks Away Page 4
Canadarsquos Largest Real Estate Trade Show Page 4
We Need Your Input Page 6
Members to Members - Call for 20152016 Committee Volunteers
Page 6
Members for Members ndash Thank You for Your Service
Page 7
Past Volunteers Honoured Page 7
Whatrsquos in Your REALTORreg Toolkit Page 8
Two Weeks Until TREB FEST Page 9
Tax Fairness for REALTORSreg Page 9
Do You Need Stratus One-on-One Help Page 9
CRB Designation Courses Page 10
25 or 50 Year TREB Membership Page 10
Use Your Phonersquos Camera Like a Pro Page 11
copy Copyright 2015 All rights reserved
New Requirements for Handling Offers
On July 1 2015 Ontario Regulation 30714 amendments to the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act
2002 (REBBA) under Bill 55 will come into force These changes are intended to address the issue of ldquomultiple offersrdquo in the real estate marketplace
Bill 55 introduced a number of changes to REBBA most notably around handling offers They are
bull Bill 55 prohibits a registrant working on behalf of a purchaser from presenting or representing an offer unless the offer is in writing
bull Bill 55 requires that the selling brokerage must retain copies of all written offers that it receives to purchase real estate or copies of all other prescribed documents related to those offers
Specifically the amendment outlines the required information that must be contained in a lsquoprescribed documentrsquo and states that the selling brokerage must retain a copy of the document or a copy of the written offer for a period of one year after receiving the written offer
To help Members comply with the new requirements the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) has developed a fact sheet on the changes Click here to view the RECO Bill 55 Fact Sheet
The OREA Standard Forms Committee will be designing a
new standard form to help REALTORSreg comply with Bill 55 and Ontario Regulation 30714
For more information on the amendments to REBBA please click here
3
Have Your Say on the RECO Insurance Program
On March 26 2015 the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services launched a 45-day
consultation regarding changes to the regulation governing the mandatory Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) insurance program for real estate registrants
The ministry is seeking input on proposals to modernize the insurance requirements under the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act 2002 for real estate Salespersons and Brokers
Proposed amendments include
bull modernizing outdated terminology
bull stipulating that registrants are required to pay the insurance deductible
bull providing for the submission of individual applications by a specified date if an insurer requires it and
bull establishing prescribed minimum insurance coverage amounts
TREB has been working with OREA RECO and the ministry over the past year and a half on changes to the insurance program for real estate registrants Together TREB and OREA have been fighting to retain and protect all three types of insurance coverage which includes errors and omissions commission protection and consumer deposit protection We support the move to rename the term of errors and omissions to professional liability insurance
TREB and OREA are also concerned with the proposal to remove maximum levels of coverage in the regulation as this could lead to higher claims higher settlements and upward pressure on insurance premiums for registrants For more information on our position please click here to view OREArsquos submission to the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services
To help ensure changes to our industryrsquos insurance program are comprehensive we are encouraging Members to provide their feedback to the province
Click here to send your feedback
REALTORreg QUEST 2015 starts in three weeks and the focus this year is on professional excellence with the greatest lineup of REALTORreg QUEST speakers ever The conferencersquos Learning Quest component offers an incredible 44 professional development sessions in four different streams
bull condominium bull general interest bull commercial and bull technology
No matter which sessions you choose yoursquore certain to walk away with new tools and information
4
Canadarsquos largest real estate Trade Show features 240 exhibitors showcasing the newest most
advanced products and services tailored specifically to the needs of real estate professionals Pick up some great show specials from many of the vendors
Check out Builder Boulevard hosted by RealNet Here you can meet with new home and condo developers and preview their newest projects
There is free parking at the TCC and a free parking lot shuttle bus to and from the doors
Canadarsquos Largest Real Estate Trade Show
REALTORreg QUEST 2015 for Professional ExcellenceMay 6ndash7 2015 | Toronto Congress Centre
REALTORreg QUEST is Just Three Weeks Away
Drop your business card in the bin for a chance to win a 60rdquo Samsung LED Smart
Television (Bins are located at Hall D and Hall E Trade Show entrances) The winner will be announced at 355 PM on May 7 at Centre Stage (located in Hall D)This Grand Prize Draw is open to REALTORSreg only
WIN A FREE TREB 20152016 MEMBERSHIPAdmission is complimentary with no pre-registration required to Members of TREB BREB and DRAR Scan your TREB eCard to enter REALTORreg QUEST and yoursquoll be automatically entered into the daily draw to win a FREE TREB 2015-2016 Membership Not sure how to access your TREB eCard Stop by the TREB Pavilionrsquos Info Corner
to get help accessing your TREB eCard and enter the daily draw
One winner will be announced at Centre Stage at the end of each day
Proof of TREB Membership is required upon entrance to the event (Stratus Au-thenticatorTREB eCardbusiness cardTREB Membership card)
REALTORreg QUEST 2015 for Professional ExcellenceMay 6ndash7 2015 | Toronto Congress Centre
realtorquestcarealtorquest
5
Promotional brochures are being distributed to all offices You may also click here to view the brochure online
Internationally renowned speaker author and elite business coach Richard Robbins will provide the Keynote Presentation on emerging trends in real estate at TREBrsquos Spring Annual Meeting which takes place on May 6 beginning at 1000 AM in Hall B
REALTORreg QUEST 2015 GRAND PRIZE DRAW
6
Volunteering to serve on a Committee offers you the opportunity to network to
enhance your professional knowledge and to explore and exercise your skills It can also distinguish you with your clients Making a contribution to the advancement of their interests through volunteerism demonstrates to discerning consumers that you are a trusted real estate professional
It is recommended that Committee Volunteers complete OREArsquos Leader-ship 100 course On the Path to Leadership available on the OREA website free of charge
The advancement of your profession depends on you
Committee Volunteer Application forms can be submitted online through the Stratus home page up until May 8 2015 Application forms will also be accepted by faxing 416-443-9153 or by mail
Toronto Real Estate Board Attention Sue Greensword 1400 Don Mills Road Toronto ON M3B 3N1
Click here to print the volunteer form for mailing or faxing
Call for 20152016 Committee VolunteersMembers for Members
TREB is asking for your help in shaping the future of your Association
TREB is assembling a database of volunteer Members to be part of an ongoing survey group which will be used to gauge Member perspectives on a range of issues and initiatives Surveys will be conducted at varying intervals with the goal of receiving immediate feedback on key matters
As a Member-driven Association TREB relies on the input of committed professionals like you in tailoring its offerings to serve the needs of all Greater Toronto REALTORSreg
Please take this opportunity to serve as the pulse of your profession
Get involved Have your say
To register click here
We Need Your Input
Front (left to right) Larry Cerqua Chair Nelly De Breze Peter Antoine Back (left to right) Guido Perciasepe Peter Drabik Esa Para Esananda Sukhwinder Bhaura Absent Laura Baragetti David Esho Gail Reeves Reid Linda Williams
Left to right Prakash Barbhaya Yolanda Johnston Shirley Porter Chair Marisa Roque Eve Leung Shahla Bashar Absent Khalid Javaid Gordana Valois
7
Thank You for Your Service
As a Member-driven Association TREB relies on the input of committed professionals volunteering to serve on focus groups committees and task forces In the
coming months Across The Board will showcase TREB Members serving on our committees
GREEN COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
On March 5 Members gathered at the TREB offices to celebrate the unveiling of a plaque that recognizes all those who have received an award
or served on TREBrsquos Board of Directors since 1987
In unveiling the plaque TREB President Paul Etherington noted the tremendous impact of their efforts
ldquoEach person listed on this plaque has made a lasting contribution to our Association to our profession and to our cityrdquo he said ldquoWithout question we can credit our Associationrsquos volunteers ndash leaders in the real estate community ndash with helping Toronto develop into the outstanding world city we live in todayrdquo
The plaque can be seen outside of TREBrsquos Auditorium near the north entrance doors
It may also be viewed from Stratus From the home page click TREB Facts then select TREB Honoured Volunteers
Past Volunteers Honoured
8
Beginning March 10 searching for listings across Boards became a lot easier The Connect Unified
Search interface is available to all Boards and Associations that are participating in Connect This new map-driven interface draws in listing information from all Boards and presents the search results all together in a single screen in a unified format
Now you no longer need to wonder about which Board a particular property or geo-graphic area is associated with Simply enter your criteria for Price Range Class Status and Address to engage a multi-Board search that focuses on the map area that you select To make things easy the rather flexible Address input box will accept various types of information in-cluding City Street Postal Code or other common place names like Cookrsquos Bay or Rideau Canal for example The active search area that is presented as a result can then be modified as you desire by dragging the map or zooming in and out using your mouse There are also controls for these op-erations as well as a control that provides the capability to switch between Road and Aerial views or a combination of the two
You can click on the map icons to get access to the listing detail reports or alternatively the mapped properties can first be compared in the Grid View where information from the multiple Boards and Associations is presented seamlessly Listing detail reports
can be printed using the provided icons and also in a feature enhancement over regular Connect they can even be emailed in either REALTORreg or Client formats
To search Unified Search
1 Log in to Stratus and in the LINKS menu click Connect
2 Agree to the Connect terms of use
3 On the Connect Listing Search page click Unified Search
4 Enter your criteria and click Search
Note Since Unified Search uses Bing Maps you may have to use Ontario in your search criteria For example when searching for properties in London use Ontario to avoid searching in London England
You can drag the map or zoom in or out to change the search area
The Grid View displays basic listing infor-mation in a one-line report format
The View button will bring up the detail re-port which can be emailed or printed
This Monthrsquos Focus Unified ConnectConnectrsquos Unified Search Simplifies Searching Across Boards
Whatrsquos in Your REALTORreg Toolkit
The Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 was introduced in the Ontario Legislature on
February 26 2015
Currently the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act 2002 (REBBA) prevents real estate salespeople from operating their business through a PREC
Many other regulated professions in Ontario including chartered accountants lawyers health pro-fessionals social workers mortgage brokers architects and engineers can all form personal or professional corporations
The ability to incorporate would allow a REALTORreg depending on their level
of business income to save money on their income tax by taking advantage of the lower corporate tax rate
To help advance this bill OREA launched a call-to-action on the Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 With the support of TREB Members over 2255 emails were sent to local MPPs on this issue
The Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 has not been passed in the legislature and it is not yet in force
TREB will update Members on the progress of this legislation
For more information on Personal Real Estate Corporations click here
Tax Fairness for REALTORSreg
99
Do You Need Stratus One-on-One Help
Do You Need Stratus One-on-One Help
Starting April 24 Members may stop by TREB on Friday mornings between 900 AM and noon A TREB Technology Learning Specialist will be in the computer lab to assist you with Stratus If you prefer you can bring your own laptop or use one of the lab computers
When Friday mornings from 900 AM to 1200 PM
Where TREB offices 1400 Don Mills Road Classroom 2
No registration is required
First-come first-served
You and 399 of your closest friends are invited to
TREB FEST an evening of networking and dancing at Torontorsquos CUBE nightclub on April 29 starting at 900 PM in support of Camp Winston
Admission-only tickets for this not-to-be-missed event are $20 with proceeds directed in support of Camp Winston a registered charitable organization that provides recreational opportunities in the idyllic Muskoka region for children with neurological conditions such as Autism Attention Deficit Hyperactivity and Tourettersquos Disorder
Come see and be seen On April 29 CUBE is the place to connect with many of the Greater Toronto Arearsquos most successful REALTORSreg Ticket holders will be eligible for Door Prize Draws As well attendees will have the opportunity to visit with our onsite lsquoPay to Playrsquo specialty entertainment including an Astrologer a Handwriting Analyst and a Henna Artist
For more information about Camp Winston please visit CampWinstoncom
For more information on CUBE visit CubeTorontocom
To purchase tickets visit the REALTORreg STORE in person call 416-443-8122 (credit card purchases only) or click here to buy online
We encourage everyone to share this great event with your social media net-works and contacts to help to make this the biggest and most successful event yet Click here for instructions on inviting Facebook contacts to TREB FEST 2015
Two Weeks Until TREB FEST Donrsquot Miss This Event
Trainer On Dutystarts April 24NEW
10
If you joined TREB before June 30 1990 or before June 30 1965 and have a total of 25 or 50 TREB membership
years you may qualify for a special membership rate
Requirements
1 Your application must be received by TREB no later than April 25 2015 in order to meet the invoice cycle for July 1 2015 to June 30 2016 TREB annual dues
NOTE Any applications received after April 25 2015 will be processed for the following TREB membership year of July 1 2016 to June 30 2017
2 Your 25 or 50 years of TREB membership must be completed by June 30 2015 to qualify for the July 1 2015 to June 30 2016 TREB annual dues and fees billing period
3 You are a TREB Member in good standing with a total of 25 or 50 years of TREB membership
Applications can be emailed to membershiptrebnetcom or faxed to 416-443-8830 or 416-446-6414
Please click on the appropriate link below complete the application and submit it to TREB by April 25 2015
Click here for the TREB Member for 25 Years + Application Form
Click here for the TREB Member for 50 Years + Application Form
Since 1968 the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers has awarded this prestigious
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB) Designation to help REALTORSreg improve both individual and Brokerage office performance in the competitive world of real estate
These two-day 3 CRB credit courses are presented to a maximum of 25 attendees allowing for an effective and interactive learning environment
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager Designation Courses Launch at TREB
Is This Your Year to Qualify for25 or 50 Year TREB Membership
Sales Leadership That Drives Performance June 2 amp 3 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Position Your Business for Profit June 15 amp 16 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Business Planning for Maximum Results July 13 amp 14 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Real Estate is Risky Business August 24 amp 25 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
The ART of Recruiting Attract amp Retain Talent September 10 amp 11 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
For complete information on earning the CRB Designation click here
The following courses are being held at TREBrsquos Don Mills office in Classroom 3
Toronto Real Estate Board
Member for Years
Years
Toronto Real Estate Board
Member for Years
Years
MEMBER FOR
TORONTO REAL ESTATE BOAR
D
+
MEMBER FOR
TORONTO REAL ESTATE BOAR
D
+
Iremember hearing a great story regarding photographic equipment where a man asks his photographer
friend ldquoWhatrsquos the best camera to userdquo His friend very astutely responded ldquoThatrsquos easy itrsquos the one you have with yourdquo This holds more truth today than ever since most people carry an excellent camera with them everywhere they go That camera is built right into their phone
In the past couple of years camera phones have been progressing rapidly in technology to the point where they now rival most good point-and-shoot single purpose cameras From my experience as a photographer of twenty years I can tell you that these built-in cameras now produce results that can allow you to take extremely high quality photos Even an expert might doubt that the image was created using a smartphone
You can harness the power of the phonersquos camera and greatly improve your real estate photos if you follow some basic tips
When shooting real estate images it is best if you shoot them all in landscape orientation This is how your photos will be uploaded into the listing and keeping all the images consistent will
improve the overall presentation of the property
Pay attention to where the sun is when you are shooting exteriors of the property When the sun is at your back and shining on the property there is a higher level of contrast and less chance of lens flair from the sun shining onto the lens causing your pictures to look washed out As well if there is a blue sky it will look most vibrant with this lighting
When shooting interiors of a property it is best to do so when there is plenty of daylight streaming in This will prevent the image looking too dark and will give
a more inviting feeling to the image You may be tempted to turn on the flash but donrsquot That little flash is not powerful enough to light a room and the quality of light from it is flat and uninteresting
In order to get sharper images you want to be able to have the phone as steady as possible This can be accomplished three ways The first (which is the best bet) is to use a tripod to keep the phone from moving during the exposure The second method to getting sharper images is to brace yourself against a wall or door frame and try and keep your arms close to your body Finally by taking a deep breath and holding it for a few seconds when taking
Tips on Using Your Phonersquos Camera Like a Pro
11
Using Your Phonersquos Camera Like a Pro (continued)
9
Suggestions amp FeedbackIf you have content suggestions for Across The Board or comments about this publication feel
free to email us at acrosstheboardtrebnetcom
GET SOCIAL WITH TREB
the picture you will find you can hand-hold the phone much steadier
Since there is no real cost involved in producing the images such as in the past due to the cost of film and developing shoot many more pictures than you think you need Try various angles including from up high or down low Try shooting the same scene from different locations to get a new perspective Remember in Stratus you can now upload as many as 20 images so take full advantage of this
Look for interesting details about a property After the large rooms and the exterior have been shot from all angles look for small things that a home Buyer may be interested in seeing If a staircase has a beautiful wooden railing take photos of this Maybe a built-in bookcase or a large walk-in closet would help show off the property Look around and think like a Buyer
Here is a simple tip that is often overlooked most phones are stored in our pockets or bags and the camera lens traps dirt lint and dust Before you spend time capturing your images clean the lens with a micro cloth which you can find at a camera store or any store that sells glasses
While a camera on a cell phone will not
replace an experienced photographer with thousands of dollars of professional photographic gear and years of experience many smaller photographic tasks are perfectly suited for your phonersquos camera If you follow the above tips and remember that the best camera you have to use is the one with you you are on your way
to beautiful real estate images that will help prospective Sellers and Buyers see the potential in a property that yoursquore marketing
Cliff Spicer is a professional photographer and a Technology Learning Specialist at TREB
New Requirements for Handling Offers
On July 1 2015 Ontario Regulation 30714 amendments to the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act
2002 (REBBA) under Bill 55 will come into force These changes are intended to address the issue of ldquomultiple offersrdquo in the real estate marketplace
Bill 55 introduced a number of changes to REBBA most notably around handling offers They are
bull Bill 55 prohibits a registrant working on behalf of a purchaser from presenting or representing an offer unless the offer is in writing
bull Bill 55 requires that the selling brokerage must retain copies of all written offers that it receives to purchase real estate or copies of all other prescribed documents related to those offers
Specifically the amendment outlines the required information that must be contained in a lsquoprescribed documentrsquo and states that the selling brokerage must retain a copy of the document or a copy of the written offer for a period of one year after receiving the written offer
To help Members comply with the new requirements the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) has developed a fact sheet on the changes Click here to view the RECO Bill 55 Fact Sheet
The OREA Standard Forms Committee will be designing a
new standard form to help REALTORSreg comply with Bill 55 and Ontario Regulation 30714
For more information on the amendments to REBBA please click here
3
Have Your Say on the RECO Insurance Program
On March 26 2015 the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services launched a 45-day
consultation regarding changes to the regulation governing the mandatory Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) insurance program for real estate registrants
The ministry is seeking input on proposals to modernize the insurance requirements under the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act 2002 for real estate Salespersons and Brokers
Proposed amendments include
bull modernizing outdated terminology
bull stipulating that registrants are required to pay the insurance deductible
bull providing for the submission of individual applications by a specified date if an insurer requires it and
bull establishing prescribed minimum insurance coverage amounts
TREB has been working with OREA RECO and the ministry over the past year and a half on changes to the insurance program for real estate registrants Together TREB and OREA have been fighting to retain and protect all three types of insurance coverage which includes errors and omissions commission protection and consumer deposit protection We support the move to rename the term of errors and omissions to professional liability insurance
TREB and OREA are also concerned with the proposal to remove maximum levels of coverage in the regulation as this could lead to higher claims higher settlements and upward pressure on insurance premiums for registrants For more information on our position please click here to view OREArsquos submission to the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services
To help ensure changes to our industryrsquos insurance program are comprehensive we are encouraging Members to provide their feedback to the province
Click here to send your feedback
REALTORreg QUEST 2015 starts in three weeks and the focus this year is on professional excellence with the greatest lineup of REALTORreg QUEST speakers ever The conferencersquos Learning Quest component offers an incredible 44 professional development sessions in four different streams
bull condominium bull general interest bull commercial and bull technology
No matter which sessions you choose yoursquore certain to walk away with new tools and information
4
Canadarsquos largest real estate Trade Show features 240 exhibitors showcasing the newest most
advanced products and services tailored specifically to the needs of real estate professionals Pick up some great show specials from many of the vendors
Check out Builder Boulevard hosted by RealNet Here you can meet with new home and condo developers and preview their newest projects
There is free parking at the TCC and a free parking lot shuttle bus to and from the doors
Canadarsquos Largest Real Estate Trade Show
REALTORreg QUEST 2015 for Professional ExcellenceMay 6ndash7 2015 | Toronto Congress Centre
REALTORreg QUEST is Just Three Weeks Away
Drop your business card in the bin for a chance to win a 60rdquo Samsung LED Smart
Television (Bins are located at Hall D and Hall E Trade Show entrances) The winner will be announced at 355 PM on May 7 at Centre Stage (located in Hall D)This Grand Prize Draw is open to REALTORSreg only
WIN A FREE TREB 20152016 MEMBERSHIPAdmission is complimentary with no pre-registration required to Members of TREB BREB and DRAR Scan your TREB eCard to enter REALTORreg QUEST and yoursquoll be automatically entered into the daily draw to win a FREE TREB 2015-2016 Membership Not sure how to access your TREB eCard Stop by the TREB Pavilionrsquos Info Corner
to get help accessing your TREB eCard and enter the daily draw
One winner will be announced at Centre Stage at the end of each day
Proof of TREB Membership is required upon entrance to the event (Stratus Au-thenticatorTREB eCardbusiness cardTREB Membership card)
REALTORreg QUEST 2015 for Professional ExcellenceMay 6ndash7 2015 | Toronto Congress Centre
realtorquestcarealtorquest
5
Promotional brochures are being distributed to all offices You may also click here to view the brochure online
Internationally renowned speaker author and elite business coach Richard Robbins will provide the Keynote Presentation on emerging trends in real estate at TREBrsquos Spring Annual Meeting which takes place on May 6 beginning at 1000 AM in Hall B
REALTORreg QUEST 2015 GRAND PRIZE DRAW
6
Volunteering to serve on a Committee offers you the opportunity to network to
enhance your professional knowledge and to explore and exercise your skills It can also distinguish you with your clients Making a contribution to the advancement of their interests through volunteerism demonstrates to discerning consumers that you are a trusted real estate professional
It is recommended that Committee Volunteers complete OREArsquos Leader-ship 100 course On the Path to Leadership available on the OREA website free of charge
The advancement of your profession depends on you
Committee Volunteer Application forms can be submitted online through the Stratus home page up until May 8 2015 Application forms will also be accepted by faxing 416-443-9153 or by mail
Toronto Real Estate Board Attention Sue Greensword 1400 Don Mills Road Toronto ON M3B 3N1
Click here to print the volunteer form for mailing or faxing
Call for 20152016 Committee VolunteersMembers for Members
TREB is asking for your help in shaping the future of your Association
TREB is assembling a database of volunteer Members to be part of an ongoing survey group which will be used to gauge Member perspectives on a range of issues and initiatives Surveys will be conducted at varying intervals with the goal of receiving immediate feedback on key matters
As a Member-driven Association TREB relies on the input of committed professionals like you in tailoring its offerings to serve the needs of all Greater Toronto REALTORSreg
Please take this opportunity to serve as the pulse of your profession
Get involved Have your say
To register click here
We Need Your Input
Front (left to right) Larry Cerqua Chair Nelly De Breze Peter Antoine Back (left to right) Guido Perciasepe Peter Drabik Esa Para Esananda Sukhwinder Bhaura Absent Laura Baragetti David Esho Gail Reeves Reid Linda Williams
Left to right Prakash Barbhaya Yolanda Johnston Shirley Porter Chair Marisa Roque Eve Leung Shahla Bashar Absent Khalid Javaid Gordana Valois
7
Thank You for Your Service
As a Member-driven Association TREB relies on the input of committed professionals volunteering to serve on focus groups committees and task forces In the
coming months Across The Board will showcase TREB Members serving on our committees
GREEN COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
On March 5 Members gathered at the TREB offices to celebrate the unveiling of a plaque that recognizes all those who have received an award
or served on TREBrsquos Board of Directors since 1987
In unveiling the plaque TREB President Paul Etherington noted the tremendous impact of their efforts
ldquoEach person listed on this plaque has made a lasting contribution to our Association to our profession and to our cityrdquo he said ldquoWithout question we can credit our Associationrsquos volunteers ndash leaders in the real estate community ndash with helping Toronto develop into the outstanding world city we live in todayrdquo
The plaque can be seen outside of TREBrsquos Auditorium near the north entrance doors
It may also be viewed from Stratus From the home page click TREB Facts then select TREB Honoured Volunteers
Past Volunteers Honoured
8
Beginning March 10 searching for listings across Boards became a lot easier The Connect Unified
Search interface is available to all Boards and Associations that are participating in Connect This new map-driven interface draws in listing information from all Boards and presents the search results all together in a single screen in a unified format
Now you no longer need to wonder about which Board a particular property or geo-graphic area is associated with Simply enter your criteria for Price Range Class Status and Address to engage a multi-Board search that focuses on the map area that you select To make things easy the rather flexible Address input box will accept various types of information in-cluding City Street Postal Code or other common place names like Cookrsquos Bay or Rideau Canal for example The active search area that is presented as a result can then be modified as you desire by dragging the map or zooming in and out using your mouse There are also controls for these op-erations as well as a control that provides the capability to switch between Road and Aerial views or a combination of the two
You can click on the map icons to get access to the listing detail reports or alternatively the mapped properties can first be compared in the Grid View where information from the multiple Boards and Associations is presented seamlessly Listing detail reports
can be printed using the provided icons and also in a feature enhancement over regular Connect they can even be emailed in either REALTORreg or Client formats
To search Unified Search
1 Log in to Stratus and in the LINKS menu click Connect
2 Agree to the Connect terms of use
3 On the Connect Listing Search page click Unified Search
4 Enter your criteria and click Search
Note Since Unified Search uses Bing Maps you may have to use Ontario in your search criteria For example when searching for properties in London use Ontario to avoid searching in London England
You can drag the map or zoom in or out to change the search area
The Grid View displays basic listing infor-mation in a one-line report format
The View button will bring up the detail re-port which can be emailed or printed
This Monthrsquos Focus Unified ConnectConnectrsquos Unified Search Simplifies Searching Across Boards
Whatrsquos in Your REALTORreg Toolkit
The Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 was introduced in the Ontario Legislature on
February 26 2015
Currently the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act 2002 (REBBA) prevents real estate salespeople from operating their business through a PREC
Many other regulated professions in Ontario including chartered accountants lawyers health pro-fessionals social workers mortgage brokers architects and engineers can all form personal or professional corporations
The ability to incorporate would allow a REALTORreg depending on their level
of business income to save money on their income tax by taking advantage of the lower corporate tax rate
To help advance this bill OREA launched a call-to-action on the Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 With the support of TREB Members over 2255 emails were sent to local MPPs on this issue
The Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 has not been passed in the legislature and it is not yet in force
TREB will update Members on the progress of this legislation
For more information on Personal Real Estate Corporations click here
Tax Fairness for REALTORSreg
99
Do You Need Stratus One-on-One Help
Do You Need Stratus One-on-One Help
Starting April 24 Members may stop by TREB on Friday mornings between 900 AM and noon A TREB Technology Learning Specialist will be in the computer lab to assist you with Stratus If you prefer you can bring your own laptop or use one of the lab computers
When Friday mornings from 900 AM to 1200 PM
Where TREB offices 1400 Don Mills Road Classroom 2
No registration is required
First-come first-served
You and 399 of your closest friends are invited to
TREB FEST an evening of networking and dancing at Torontorsquos CUBE nightclub on April 29 starting at 900 PM in support of Camp Winston
Admission-only tickets for this not-to-be-missed event are $20 with proceeds directed in support of Camp Winston a registered charitable organization that provides recreational opportunities in the idyllic Muskoka region for children with neurological conditions such as Autism Attention Deficit Hyperactivity and Tourettersquos Disorder
Come see and be seen On April 29 CUBE is the place to connect with many of the Greater Toronto Arearsquos most successful REALTORSreg Ticket holders will be eligible for Door Prize Draws As well attendees will have the opportunity to visit with our onsite lsquoPay to Playrsquo specialty entertainment including an Astrologer a Handwriting Analyst and a Henna Artist
For more information about Camp Winston please visit CampWinstoncom
For more information on CUBE visit CubeTorontocom
To purchase tickets visit the REALTORreg STORE in person call 416-443-8122 (credit card purchases only) or click here to buy online
We encourage everyone to share this great event with your social media net-works and contacts to help to make this the biggest and most successful event yet Click here for instructions on inviting Facebook contacts to TREB FEST 2015
Two Weeks Until TREB FEST Donrsquot Miss This Event
Trainer On Dutystarts April 24NEW
10
If you joined TREB before June 30 1990 or before June 30 1965 and have a total of 25 or 50 TREB membership
years you may qualify for a special membership rate
Requirements
1 Your application must be received by TREB no later than April 25 2015 in order to meet the invoice cycle for July 1 2015 to June 30 2016 TREB annual dues
NOTE Any applications received after April 25 2015 will be processed for the following TREB membership year of July 1 2016 to June 30 2017
2 Your 25 or 50 years of TREB membership must be completed by June 30 2015 to qualify for the July 1 2015 to June 30 2016 TREB annual dues and fees billing period
3 You are a TREB Member in good standing with a total of 25 or 50 years of TREB membership
Applications can be emailed to membershiptrebnetcom or faxed to 416-443-8830 or 416-446-6414
Please click on the appropriate link below complete the application and submit it to TREB by April 25 2015
Click here for the TREB Member for 25 Years + Application Form
Click here for the TREB Member for 50 Years + Application Form
Since 1968 the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers has awarded this prestigious
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB) Designation to help REALTORSreg improve both individual and Brokerage office performance in the competitive world of real estate
These two-day 3 CRB credit courses are presented to a maximum of 25 attendees allowing for an effective and interactive learning environment
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager Designation Courses Launch at TREB
Is This Your Year to Qualify for25 or 50 Year TREB Membership
Sales Leadership That Drives Performance June 2 amp 3 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Position Your Business for Profit June 15 amp 16 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Business Planning for Maximum Results July 13 amp 14 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Real Estate is Risky Business August 24 amp 25 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
The ART of Recruiting Attract amp Retain Talent September 10 amp 11 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
For complete information on earning the CRB Designation click here
The following courses are being held at TREBrsquos Don Mills office in Classroom 3
Toronto Real Estate Board
Member for Years
Years
Toronto Real Estate Board
Member for Years
Years
MEMBER FOR
TORONTO REAL ESTATE BOAR
D
+
MEMBER FOR
TORONTO REAL ESTATE BOAR
D
+
Iremember hearing a great story regarding photographic equipment where a man asks his photographer
friend ldquoWhatrsquos the best camera to userdquo His friend very astutely responded ldquoThatrsquos easy itrsquos the one you have with yourdquo This holds more truth today than ever since most people carry an excellent camera with them everywhere they go That camera is built right into their phone
In the past couple of years camera phones have been progressing rapidly in technology to the point where they now rival most good point-and-shoot single purpose cameras From my experience as a photographer of twenty years I can tell you that these built-in cameras now produce results that can allow you to take extremely high quality photos Even an expert might doubt that the image was created using a smartphone
You can harness the power of the phonersquos camera and greatly improve your real estate photos if you follow some basic tips
When shooting real estate images it is best if you shoot them all in landscape orientation This is how your photos will be uploaded into the listing and keeping all the images consistent will
improve the overall presentation of the property
Pay attention to where the sun is when you are shooting exteriors of the property When the sun is at your back and shining on the property there is a higher level of contrast and less chance of lens flair from the sun shining onto the lens causing your pictures to look washed out As well if there is a blue sky it will look most vibrant with this lighting
When shooting interiors of a property it is best to do so when there is plenty of daylight streaming in This will prevent the image looking too dark and will give
a more inviting feeling to the image You may be tempted to turn on the flash but donrsquot That little flash is not powerful enough to light a room and the quality of light from it is flat and uninteresting
In order to get sharper images you want to be able to have the phone as steady as possible This can be accomplished three ways The first (which is the best bet) is to use a tripod to keep the phone from moving during the exposure The second method to getting sharper images is to brace yourself against a wall or door frame and try and keep your arms close to your body Finally by taking a deep breath and holding it for a few seconds when taking
Tips on Using Your Phonersquos Camera Like a Pro
11
Using Your Phonersquos Camera Like a Pro (continued)
9
Suggestions amp FeedbackIf you have content suggestions for Across The Board or comments about this publication feel
free to email us at acrosstheboardtrebnetcom
GET SOCIAL WITH TREB
the picture you will find you can hand-hold the phone much steadier
Since there is no real cost involved in producing the images such as in the past due to the cost of film and developing shoot many more pictures than you think you need Try various angles including from up high or down low Try shooting the same scene from different locations to get a new perspective Remember in Stratus you can now upload as many as 20 images so take full advantage of this
Look for interesting details about a property After the large rooms and the exterior have been shot from all angles look for small things that a home Buyer may be interested in seeing If a staircase has a beautiful wooden railing take photos of this Maybe a built-in bookcase or a large walk-in closet would help show off the property Look around and think like a Buyer
Here is a simple tip that is often overlooked most phones are stored in our pockets or bags and the camera lens traps dirt lint and dust Before you spend time capturing your images clean the lens with a micro cloth which you can find at a camera store or any store that sells glasses
While a camera on a cell phone will not
replace an experienced photographer with thousands of dollars of professional photographic gear and years of experience many smaller photographic tasks are perfectly suited for your phonersquos camera If you follow the above tips and remember that the best camera you have to use is the one with you you are on your way
to beautiful real estate images that will help prospective Sellers and Buyers see the potential in a property that yoursquore marketing
Cliff Spicer is a professional photographer and a Technology Learning Specialist at TREB
REALTORreg QUEST 2015 starts in three weeks and the focus this year is on professional excellence with the greatest lineup of REALTORreg QUEST speakers ever The conferencersquos Learning Quest component offers an incredible 44 professional development sessions in four different streams
bull condominium bull general interest bull commercial and bull technology
No matter which sessions you choose yoursquore certain to walk away with new tools and information
4
Canadarsquos largest real estate Trade Show features 240 exhibitors showcasing the newest most
advanced products and services tailored specifically to the needs of real estate professionals Pick up some great show specials from many of the vendors
Check out Builder Boulevard hosted by RealNet Here you can meet with new home and condo developers and preview their newest projects
There is free parking at the TCC and a free parking lot shuttle bus to and from the doors
Canadarsquos Largest Real Estate Trade Show
REALTORreg QUEST 2015 for Professional ExcellenceMay 6ndash7 2015 | Toronto Congress Centre
REALTORreg QUEST is Just Three Weeks Away
Drop your business card in the bin for a chance to win a 60rdquo Samsung LED Smart
Television (Bins are located at Hall D and Hall E Trade Show entrances) The winner will be announced at 355 PM on May 7 at Centre Stage (located in Hall D)This Grand Prize Draw is open to REALTORSreg only
WIN A FREE TREB 20152016 MEMBERSHIPAdmission is complimentary with no pre-registration required to Members of TREB BREB and DRAR Scan your TREB eCard to enter REALTORreg QUEST and yoursquoll be automatically entered into the daily draw to win a FREE TREB 2015-2016 Membership Not sure how to access your TREB eCard Stop by the TREB Pavilionrsquos Info Corner
to get help accessing your TREB eCard and enter the daily draw
One winner will be announced at Centre Stage at the end of each day
Proof of TREB Membership is required upon entrance to the event (Stratus Au-thenticatorTREB eCardbusiness cardTREB Membership card)
REALTORreg QUEST 2015 for Professional ExcellenceMay 6ndash7 2015 | Toronto Congress Centre
realtorquestcarealtorquest
5
Promotional brochures are being distributed to all offices You may also click here to view the brochure online
Internationally renowned speaker author and elite business coach Richard Robbins will provide the Keynote Presentation on emerging trends in real estate at TREBrsquos Spring Annual Meeting which takes place on May 6 beginning at 1000 AM in Hall B
REALTORreg QUEST 2015 GRAND PRIZE DRAW
6
Volunteering to serve on a Committee offers you the opportunity to network to
enhance your professional knowledge and to explore and exercise your skills It can also distinguish you with your clients Making a contribution to the advancement of their interests through volunteerism demonstrates to discerning consumers that you are a trusted real estate professional
It is recommended that Committee Volunteers complete OREArsquos Leader-ship 100 course On the Path to Leadership available on the OREA website free of charge
The advancement of your profession depends on you
Committee Volunteer Application forms can be submitted online through the Stratus home page up until May 8 2015 Application forms will also be accepted by faxing 416-443-9153 or by mail
Toronto Real Estate Board Attention Sue Greensword 1400 Don Mills Road Toronto ON M3B 3N1
Click here to print the volunteer form for mailing or faxing
Call for 20152016 Committee VolunteersMembers for Members
TREB is asking for your help in shaping the future of your Association
TREB is assembling a database of volunteer Members to be part of an ongoing survey group which will be used to gauge Member perspectives on a range of issues and initiatives Surveys will be conducted at varying intervals with the goal of receiving immediate feedback on key matters
As a Member-driven Association TREB relies on the input of committed professionals like you in tailoring its offerings to serve the needs of all Greater Toronto REALTORSreg
Please take this opportunity to serve as the pulse of your profession
Get involved Have your say
To register click here
We Need Your Input
Front (left to right) Larry Cerqua Chair Nelly De Breze Peter Antoine Back (left to right) Guido Perciasepe Peter Drabik Esa Para Esananda Sukhwinder Bhaura Absent Laura Baragetti David Esho Gail Reeves Reid Linda Williams
Left to right Prakash Barbhaya Yolanda Johnston Shirley Porter Chair Marisa Roque Eve Leung Shahla Bashar Absent Khalid Javaid Gordana Valois
7
Thank You for Your Service
As a Member-driven Association TREB relies on the input of committed professionals volunteering to serve on focus groups committees and task forces In the
coming months Across The Board will showcase TREB Members serving on our committees
GREEN COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
On March 5 Members gathered at the TREB offices to celebrate the unveiling of a plaque that recognizes all those who have received an award
or served on TREBrsquos Board of Directors since 1987
In unveiling the plaque TREB President Paul Etherington noted the tremendous impact of their efforts
ldquoEach person listed on this plaque has made a lasting contribution to our Association to our profession and to our cityrdquo he said ldquoWithout question we can credit our Associationrsquos volunteers ndash leaders in the real estate community ndash with helping Toronto develop into the outstanding world city we live in todayrdquo
The plaque can be seen outside of TREBrsquos Auditorium near the north entrance doors
It may also be viewed from Stratus From the home page click TREB Facts then select TREB Honoured Volunteers
Past Volunteers Honoured
8
Beginning March 10 searching for listings across Boards became a lot easier The Connect Unified
Search interface is available to all Boards and Associations that are participating in Connect This new map-driven interface draws in listing information from all Boards and presents the search results all together in a single screen in a unified format
Now you no longer need to wonder about which Board a particular property or geo-graphic area is associated with Simply enter your criteria for Price Range Class Status and Address to engage a multi-Board search that focuses on the map area that you select To make things easy the rather flexible Address input box will accept various types of information in-cluding City Street Postal Code or other common place names like Cookrsquos Bay or Rideau Canal for example The active search area that is presented as a result can then be modified as you desire by dragging the map or zooming in and out using your mouse There are also controls for these op-erations as well as a control that provides the capability to switch between Road and Aerial views or a combination of the two
You can click on the map icons to get access to the listing detail reports or alternatively the mapped properties can first be compared in the Grid View where information from the multiple Boards and Associations is presented seamlessly Listing detail reports
can be printed using the provided icons and also in a feature enhancement over regular Connect they can even be emailed in either REALTORreg or Client formats
To search Unified Search
1 Log in to Stratus and in the LINKS menu click Connect
2 Agree to the Connect terms of use
3 On the Connect Listing Search page click Unified Search
4 Enter your criteria and click Search
Note Since Unified Search uses Bing Maps you may have to use Ontario in your search criteria For example when searching for properties in London use Ontario to avoid searching in London England
You can drag the map or zoom in or out to change the search area
The Grid View displays basic listing infor-mation in a one-line report format
The View button will bring up the detail re-port which can be emailed or printed
This Monthrsquos Focus Unified ConnectConnectrsquos Unified Search Simplifies Searching Across Boards
Whatrsquos in Your REALTORreg Toolkit
The Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 was introduced in the Ontario Legislature on
February 26 2015
Currently the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act 2002 (REBBA) prevents real estate salespeople from operating their business through a PREC
Many other regulated professions in Ontario including chartered accountants lawyers health pro-fessionals social workers mortgage brokers architects and engineers can all form personal or professional corporations
The ability to incorporate would allow a REALTORreg depending on their level
of business income to save money on their income tax by taking advantage of the lower corporate tax rate
To help advance this bill OREA launched a call-to-action on the Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 With the support of TREB Members over 2255 emails were sent to local MPPs on this issue
The Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 has not been passed in the legislature and it is not yet in force
TREB will update Members on the progress of this legislation
For more information on Personal Real Estate Corporations click here
Tax Fairness for REALTORSreg
99
Do You Need Stratus One-on-One Help
Do You Need Stratus One-on-One Help
Starting April 24 Members may stop by TREB on Friday mornings between 900 AM and noon A TREB Technology Learning Specialist will be in the computer lab to assist you with Stratus If you prefer you can bring your own laptop or use one of the lab computers
When Friday mornings from 900 AM to 1200 PM
Where TREB offices 1400 Don Mills Road Classroom 2
No registration is required
First-come first-served
You and 399 of your closest friends are invited to
TREB FEST an evening of networking and dancing at Torontorsquos CUBE nightclub on April 29 starting at 900 PM in support of Camp Winston
Admission-only tickets for this not-to-be-missed event are $20 with proceeds directed in support of Camp Winston a registered charitable organization that provides recreational opportunities in the idyllic Muskoka region for children with neurological conditions such as Autism Attention Deficit Hyperactivity and Tourettersquos Disorder
Come see and be seen On April 29 CUBE is the place to connect with many of the Greater Toronto Arearsquos most successful REALTORSreg Ticket holders will be eligible for Door Prize Draws As well attendees will have the opportunity to visit with our onsite lsquoPay to Playrsquo specialty entertainment including an Astrologer a Handwriting Analyst and a Henna Artist
For more information about Camp Winston please visit CampWinstoncom
For more information on CUBE visit CubeTorontocom
To purchase tickets visit the REALTORreg STORE in person call 416-443-8122 (credit card purchases only) or click here to buy online
We encourage everyone to share this great event with your social media net-works and contacts to help to make this the biggest and most successful event yet Click here for instructions on inviting Facebook contacts to TREB FEST 2015
Two Weeks Until TREB FEST Donrsquot Miss This Event
Trainer On Dutystarts April 24NEW
10
If you joined TREB before June 30 1990 or before June 30 1965 and have a total of 25 or 50 TREB membership
years you may qualify for a special membership rate
Requirements
1 Your application must be received by TREB no later than April 25 2015 in order to meet the invoice cycle for July 1 2015 to June 30 2016 TREB annual dues
NOTE Any applications received after April 25 2015 will be processed for the following TREB membership year of July 1 2016 to June 30 2017
2 Your 25 or 50 years of TREB membership must be completed by June 30 2015 to qualify for the July 1 2015 to June 30 2016 TREB annual dues and fees billing period
3 You are a TREB Member in good standing with a total of 25 or 50 years of TREB membership
Applications can be emailed to membershiptrebnetcom or faxed to 416-443-8830 or 416-446-6414
Please click on the appropriate link below complete the application and submit it to TREB by April 25 2015
Click here for the TREB Member for 25 Years + Application Form
Click here for the TREB Member for 50 Years + Application Form
Since 1968 the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers has awarded this prestigious
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB) Designation to help REALTORSreg improve both individual and Brokerage office performance in the competitive world of real estate
These two-day 3 CRB credit courses are presented to a maximum of 25 attendees allowing for an effective and interactive learning environment
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager Designation Courses Launch at TREB
Is This Your Year to Qualify for25 or 50 Year TREB Membership
Sales Leadership That Drives Performance June 2 amp 3 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Position Your Business for Profit June 15 amp 16 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Business Planning for Maximum Results July 13 amp 14 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Real Estate is Risky Business August 24 amp 25 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
The ART of Recruiting Attract amp Retain Talent September 10 amp 11 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
For complete information on earning the CRB Designation click here
The following courses are being held at TREBrsquos Don Mills office in Classroom 3
Toronto Real Estate Board
Member for Years
Years
Toronto Real Estate Board
Member for Years
Years
MEMBER FOR
TORONTO REAL ESTATE BOAR
D
+
MEMBER FOR
TORONTO REAL ESTATE BOAR
D
+
Iremember hearing a great story regarding photographic equipment where a man asks his photographer
friend ldquoWhatrsquos the best camera to userdquo His friend very astutely responded ldquoThatrsquos easy itrsquos the one you have with yourdquo This holds more truth today than ever since most people carry an excellent camera with them everywhere they go That camera is built right into their phone
In the past couple of years camera phones have been progressing rapidly in technology to the point where they now rival most good point-and-shoot single purpose cameras From my experience as a photographer of twenty years I can tell you that these built-in cameras now produce results that can allow you to take extremely high quality photos Even an expert might doubt that the image was created using a smartphone
You can harness the power of the phonersquos camera and greatly improve your real estate photos if you follow some basic tips
When shooting real estate images it is best if you shoot them all in landscape orientation This is how your photos will be uploaded into the listing and keeping all the images consistent will
improve the overall presentation of the property
Pay attention to where the sun is when you are shooting exteriors of the property When the sun is at your back and shining on the property there is a higher level of contrast and less chance of lens flair from the sun shining onto the lens causing your pictures to look washed out As well if there is a blue sky it will look most vibrant with this lighting
When shooting interiors of a property it is best to do so when there is plenty of daylight streaming in This will prevent the image looking too dark and will give
a more inviting feeling to the image You may be tempted to turn on the flash but donrsquot That little flash is not powerful enough to light a room and the quality of light from it is flat and uninteresting
In order to get sharper images you want to be able to have the phone as steady as possible This can be accomplished three ways The first (which is the best bet) is to use a tripod to keep the phone from moving during the exposure The second method to getting sharper images is to brace yourself against a wall or door frame and try and keep your arms close to your body Finally by taking a deep breath and holding it for a few seconds when taking
Tips on Using Your Phonersquos Camera Like a Pro
11
Using Your Phonersquos Camera Like a Pro (continued)
9
Suggestions amp FeedbackIf you have content suggestions for Across The Board or comments about this publication feel
free to email us at acrosstheboardtrebnetcom
GET SOCIAL WITH TREB
the picture you will find you can hand-hold the phone much steadier
Since there is no real cost involved in producing the images such as in the past due to the cost of film and developing shoot many more pictures than you think you need Try various angles including from up high or down low Try shooting the same scene from different locations to get a new perspective Remember in Stratus you can now upload as many as 20 images so take full advantage of this
Look for interesting details about a property After the large rooms and the exterior have been shot from all angles look for small things that a home Buyer may be interested in seeing If a staircase has a beautiful wooden railing take photos of this Maybe a built-in bookcase or a large walk-in closet would help show off the property Look around and think like a Buyer
Here is a simple tip that is often overlooked most phones are stored in our pockets or bags and the camera lens traps dirt lint and dust Before you spend time capturing your images clean the lens with a micro cloth which you can find at a camera store or any store that sells glasses
While a camera on a cell phone will not
replace an experienced photographer with thousands of dollars of professional photographic gear and years of experience many smaller photographic tasks are perfectly suited for your phonersquos camera If you follow the above tips and remember that the best camera you have to use is the one with you you are on your way
to beautiful real estate images that will help prospective Sellers and Buyers see the potential in a property that yoursquore marketing
Cliff Spicer is a professional photographer and a Technology Learning Specialist at TREB
Drop your business card in the bin for a chance to win a 60rdquo Samsung LED Smart
Television (Bins are located at Hall D and Hall E Trade Show entrances) The winner will be announced at 355 PM on May 7 at Centre Stage (located in Hall D)This Grand Prize Draw is open to REALTORSreg only
WIN A FREE TREB 20152016 MEMBERSHIPAdmission is complimentary with no pre-registration required to Members of TREB BREB and DRAR Scan your TREB eCard to enter REALTORreg QUEST and yoursquoll be automatically entered into the daily draw to win a FREE TREB 2015-2016 Membership Not sure how to access your TREB eCard Stop by the TREB Pavilionrsquos Info Corner
to get help accessing your TREB eCard and enter the daily draw
One winner will be announced at Centre Stage at the end of each day
Proof of TREB Membership is required upon entrance to the event (Stratus Au-thenticatorTREB eCardbusiness cardTREB Membership card)
REALTORreg QUEST 2015 for Professional ExcellenceMay 6ndash7 2015 | Toronto Congress Centre
realtorquestcarealtorquest
5
Promotional brochures are being distributed to all offices You may also click here to view the brochure online
Internationally renowned speaker author and elite business coach Richard Robbins will provide the Keynote Presentation on emerging trends in real estate at TREBrsquos Spring Annual Meeting which takes place on May 6 beginning at 1000 AM in Hall B
REALTORreg QUEST 2015 GRAND PRIZE DRAW
6
Volunteering to serve on a Committee offers you the opportunity to network to
enhance your professional knowledge and to explore and exercise your skills It can also distinguish you with your clients Making a contribution to the advancement of their interests through volunteerism demonstrates to discerning consumers that you are a trusted real estate professional
It is recommended that Committee Volunteers complete OREArsquos Leader-ship 100 course On the Path to Leadership available on the OREA website free of charge
The advancement of your profession depends on you
Committee Volunteer Application forms can be submitted online through the Stratus home page up until May 8 2015 Application forms will also be accepted by faxing 416-443-9153 or by mail
Toronto Real Estate Board Attention Sue Greensword 1400 Don Mills Road Toronto ON M3B 3N1
Click here to print the volunteer form for mailing or faxing
Call for 20152016 Committee VolunteersMembers for Members
TREB is asking for your help in shaping the future of your Association
TREB is assembling a database of volunteer Members to be part of an ongoing survey group which will be used to gauge Member perspectives on a range of issues and initiatives Surveys will be conducted at varying intervals with the goal of receiving immediate feedback on key matters
As a Member-driven Association TREB relies on the input of committed professionals like you in tailoring its offerings to serve the needs of all Greater Toronto REALTORSreg
Please take this opportunity to serve as the pulse of your profession
Get involved Have your say
To register click here
We Need Your Input
Front (left to right) Larry Cerqua Chair Nelly De Breze Peter Antoine Back (left to right) Guido Perciasepe Peter Drabik Esa Para Esananda Sukhwinder Bhaura Absent Laura Baragetti David Esho Gail Reeves Reid Linda Williams
Left to right Prakash Barbhaya Yolanda Johnston Shirley Porter Chair Marisa Roque Eve Leung Shahla Bashar Absent Khalid Javaid Gordana Valois
7
Thank You for Your Service
As a Member-driven Association TREB relies on the input of committed professionals volunteering to serve on focus groups committees and task forces In the
coming months Across The Board will showcase TREB Members serving on our committees
GREEN COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
On March 5 Members gathered at the TREB offices to celebrate the unveiling of a plaque that recognizes all those who have received an award
or served on TREBrsquos Board of Directors since 1987
In unveiling the plaque TREB President Paul Etherington noted the tremendous impact of their efforts
ldquoEach person listed on this plaque has made a lasting contribution to our Association to our profession and to our cityrdquo he said ldquoWithout question we can credit our Associationrsquos volunteers ndash leaders in the real estate community ndash with helping Toronto develop into the outstanding world city we live in todayrdquo
The plaque can be seen outside of TREBrsquos Auditorium near the north entrance doors
It may also be viewed from Stratus From the home page click TREB Facts then select TREB Honoured Volunteers
Past Volunteers Honoured
8
Beginning March 10 searching for listings across Boards became a lot easier The Connect Unified
Search interface is available to all Boards and Associations that are participating in Connect This new map-driven interface draws in listing information from all Boards and presents the search results all together in a single screen in a unified format
Now you no longer need to wonder about which Board a particular property or geo-graphic area is associated with Simply enter your criteria for Price Range Class Status and Address to engage a multi-Board search that focuses on the map area that you select To make things easy the rather flexible Address input box will accept various types of information in-cluding City Street Postal Code or other common place names like Cookrsquos Bay or Rideau Canal for example The active search area that is presented as a result can then be modified as you desire by dragging the map or zooming in and out using your mouse There are also controls for these op-erations as well as a control that provides the capability to switch between Road and Aerial views or a combination of the two
You can click on the map icons to get access to the listing detail reports or alternatively the mapped properties can first be compared in the Grid View where information from the multiple Boards and Associations is presented seamlessly Listing detail reports
can be printed using the provided icons and also in a feature enhancement over regular Connect they can even be emailed in either REALTORreg or Client formats
To search Unified Search
1 Log in to Stratus and in the LINKS menu click Connect
2 Agree to the Connect terms of use
3 On the Connect Listing Search page click Unified Search
4 Enter your criteria and click Search
Note Since Unified Search uses Bing Maps you may have to use Ontario in your search criteria For example when searching for properties in London use Ontario to avoid searching in London England
You can drag the map or zoom in or out to change the search area
The Grid View displays basic listing infor-mation in a one-line report format
The View button will bring up the detail re-port which can be emailed or printed
This Monthrsquos Focus Unified ConnectConnectrsquos Unified Search Simplifies Searching Across Boards
Whatrsquos in Your REALTORreg Toolkit
The Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 was introduced in the Ontario Legislature on
February 26 2015
Currently the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act 2002 (REBBA) prevents real estate salespeople from operating their business through a PREC
Many other regulated professions in Ontario including chartered accountants lawyers health pro-fessionals social workers mortgage brokers architects and engineers can all form personal or professional corporations
The ability to incorporate would allow a REALTORreg depending on their level
of business income to save money on their income tax by taking advantage of the lower corporate tax rate
To help advance this bill OREA launched a call-to-action on the Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 With the support of TREB Members over 2255 emails were sent to local MPPs on this issue
The Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 has not been passed in the legislature and it is not yet in force
TREB will update Members on the progress of this legislation
For more information on Personal Real Estate Corporations click here
Tax Fairness for REALTORSreg
99
Do You Need Stratus One-on-One Help
Do You Need Stratus One-on-One Help
Starting April 24 Members may stop by TREB on Friday mornings between 900 AM and noon A TREB Technology Learning Specialist will be in the computer lab to assist you with Stratus If you prefer you can bring your own laptop or use one of the lab computers
When Friday mornings from 900 AM to 1200 PM
Where TREB offices 1400 Don Mills Road Classroom 2
No registration is required
First-come first-served
You and 399 of your closest friends are invited to
TREB FEST an evening of networking and dancing at Torontorsquos CUBE nightclub on April 29 starting at 900 PM in support of Camp Winston
Admission-only tickets for this not-to-be-missed event are $20 with proceeds directed in support of Camp Winston a registered charitable organization that provides recreational opportunities in the idyllic Muskoka region for children with neurological conditions such as Autism Attention Deficit Hyperactivity and Tourettersquos Disorder
Come see and be seen On April 29 CUBE is the place to connect with many of the Greater Toronto Arearsquos most successful REALTORSreg Ticket holders will be eligible for Door Prize Draws As well attendees will have the opportunity to visit with our onsite lsquoPay to Playrsquo specialty entertainment including an Astrologer a Handwriting Analyst and a Henna Artist
For more information about Camp Winston please visit CampWinstoncom
For more information on CUBE visit CubeTorontocom
To purchase tickets visit the REALTORreg STORE in person call 416-443-8122 (credit card purchases only) or click here to buy online
We encourage everyone to share this great event with your social media net-works and contacts to help to make this the biggest and most successful event yet Click here for instructions on inviting Facebook contacts to TREB FEST 2015
Two Weeks Until TREB FEST Donrsquot Miss This Event
Trainer On Dutystarts April 24NEW
10
If you joined TREB before June 30 1990 or before June 30 1965 and have a total of 25 or 50 TREB membership
years you may qualify for a special membership rate
Requirements
1 Your application must be received by TREB no later than April 25 2015 in order to meet the invoice cycle for July 1 2015 to June 30 2016 TREB annual dues
NOTE Any applications received after April 25 2015 will be processed for the following TREB membership year of July 1 2016 to June 30 2017
2 Your 25 or 50 years of TREB membership must be completed by June 30 2015 to qualify for the July 1 2015 to June 30 2016 TREB annual dues and fees billing period
3 You are a TREB Member in good standing with a total of 25 or 50 years of TREB membership
Applications can be emailed to membershiptrebnetcom or faxed to 416-443-8830 or 416-446-6414
Please click on the appropriate link below complete the application and submit it to TREB by April 25 2015
Click here for the TREB Member for 25 Years + Application Form
Click here for the TREB Member for 50 Years + Application Form
Since 1968 the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers has awarded this prestigious
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB) Designation to help REALTORSreg improve both individual and Brokerage office performance in the competitive world of real estate
These two-day 3 CRB credit courses are presented to a maximum of 25 attendees allowing for an effective and interactive learning environment
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager Designation Courses Launch at TREB
Is This Your Year to Qualify for25 or 50 Year TREB Membership
Sales Leadership That Drives Performance June 2 amp 3 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Position Your Business for Profit June 15 amp 16 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Business Planning for Maximum Results July 13 amp 14 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Real Estate is Risky Business August 24 amp 25 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
The ART of Recruiting Attract amp Retain Talent September 10 amp 11 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
For complete information on earning the CRB Designation click here
The following courses are being held at TREBrsquos Don Mills office in Classroom 3
Toronto Real Estate Board
Member for Years
Years
Toronto Real Estate Board
Member for Years
Years
MEMBER FOR
TORONTO REAL ESTATE BOAR
D
+
MEMBER FOR
TORONTO REAL ESTATE BOAR
D
+
Iremember hearing a great story regarding photographic equipment where a man asks his photographer
friend ldquoWhatrsquos the best camera to userdquo His friend very astutely responded ldquoThatrsquos easy itrsquos the one you have with yourdquo This holds more truth today than ever since most people carry an excellent camera with them everywhere they go That camera is built right into their phone
In the past couple of years camera phones have been progressing rapidly in technology to the point where they now rival most good point-and-shoot single purpose cameras From my experience as a photographer of twenty years I can tell you that these built-in cameras now produce results that can allow you to take extremely high quality photos Even an expert might doubt that the image was created using a smartphone
You can harness the power of the phonersquos camera and greatly improve your real estate photos if you follow some basic tips
When shooting real estate images it is best if you shoot them all in landscape orientation This is how your photos will be uploaded into the listing and keeping all the images consistent will
improve the overall presentation of the property
Pay attention to where the sun is when you are shooting exteriors of the property When the sun is at your back and shining on the property there is a higher level of contrast and less chance of lens flair from the sun shining onto the lens causing your pictures to look washed out As well if there is a blue sky it will look most vibrant with this lighting
When shooting interiors of a property it is best to do so when there is plenty of daylight streaming in This will prevent the image looking too dark and will give
a more inviting feeling to the image You may be tempted to turn on the flash but donrsquot That little flash is not powerful enough to light a room and the quality of light from it is flat and uninteresting
In order to get sharper images you want to be able to have the phone as steady as possible This can be accomplished three ways The first (which is the best bet) is to use a tripod to keep the phone from moving during the exposure The second method to getting sharper images is to brace yourself against a wall or door frame and try and keep your arms close to your body Finally by taking a deep breath and holding it for a few seconds when taking
Tips on Using Your Phonersquos Camera Like a Pro
11
Using Your Phonersquos Camera Like a Pro (continued)
9
Suggestions amp FeedbackIf you have content suggestions for Across The Board or comments about this publication feel
free to email us at acrosstheboardtrebnetcom
GET SOCIAL WITH TREB
the picture you will find you can hand-hold the phone much steadier
Since there is no real cost involved in producing the images such as in the past due to the cost of film and developing shoot many more pictures than you think you need Try various angles including from up high or down low Try shooting the same scene from different locations to get a new perspective Remember in Stratus you can now upload as many as 20 images so take full advantage of this
Look for interesting details about a property After the large rooms and the exterior have been shot from all angles look for small things that a home Buyer may be interested in seeing If a staircase has a beautiful wooden railing take photos of this Maybe a built-in bookcase or a large walk-in closet would help show off the property Look around and think like a Buyer
Here is a simple tip that is often overlooked most phones are stored in our pockets or bags and the camera lens traps dirt lint and dust Before you spend time capturing your images clean the lens with a micro cloth which you can find at a camera store or any store that sells glasses
While a camera on a cell phone will not
replace an experienced photographer with thousands of dollars of professional photographic gear and years of experience many smaller photographic tasks are perfectly suited for your phonersquos camera If you follow the above tips and remember that the best camera you have to use is the one with you you are on your way
to beautiful real estate images that will help prospective Sellers and Buyers see the potential in a property that yoursquore marketing
Cliff Spicer is a professional photographer and a Technology Learning Specialist at TREB
6
Volunteering to serve on a Committee offers you the opportunity to network to
enhance your professional knowledge and to explore and exercise your skills It can also distinguish you with your clients Making a contribution to the advancement of their interests through volunteerism demonstrates to discerning consumers that you are a trusted real estate professional
It is recommended that Committee Volunteers complete OREArsquos Leader-ship 100 course On the Path to Leadership available on the OREA website free of charge
The advancement of your profession depends on you
Committee Volunteer Application forms can be submitted online through the Stratus home page up until May 8 2015 Application forms will also be accepted by faxing 416-443-9153 or by mail
Toronto Real Estate Board Attention Sue Greensword 1400 Don Mills Road Toronto ON M3B 3N1
Click here to print the volunteer form for mailing or faxing
Call for 20152016 Committee VolunteersMembers for Members
TREB is asking for your help in shaping the future of your Association
TREB is assembling a database of volunteer Members to be part of an ongoing survey group which will be used to gauge Member perspectives on a range of issues and initiatives Surveys will be conducted at varying intervals with the goal of receiving immediate feedback on key matters
As a Member-driven Association TREB relies on the input of committed professionals like you in tailoring its offerings to serve the needs of all Greater Toronto REALTORSreg
Please take this opportunity to serve as the pulse of your profession
Get involved Have your say
To register click here
We Need Your Input
Front (left to right) Larry Cerqua Chair Nelly De Breze Peter Antoine Back (left to right) Guido Perciasepe Peter Drabik Esa Para Esananda Sukhwinder Bhaura Absent Laura Baragetti David Esho Gail Reeves Reid Linda Williams
Left to right Prakash Barbhaya Yolanda Johnston Shirley Porter Chair Marisa Roque Eve Leung Shahla Bashar Absent Khalid Javaid Gordana Valois
7
Thank You for Your Service
As a Member-driven Association TREB relies on the input of committed professionals volunteering to serve on focus groups committees and task forces In the
coming months Across The Board will showcase TREB Members serving on our committees
GREEN COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
On March 5 Members gathered at the TREB offices to celebrate the unveiling of a plaque that recognizes all those who have received an award
or served on TREBrsquos Board of Directors since 1987
In unveiling the plaque TREB President Paul Etherington noted the tremendous impact of their efforts
ldquoEach person listed on this plaque has made a lasting contribution to our Association to our profession and to our cityrdquo he said ldquoWithout question we can credit our Associationrsquos volunteers ndash leaders in the real estate community ndash with helping Toronto develop into the outstanding world city we live in todayrdquo
The plaque can be seen outside of TREBrsquos Auditorium near the north entrance doors
It may also be viewed from Stratus From the home page click TREB Facts then select TREB Honoured Volunteers
Past Volunteers Honoured
8
Beginning March 10 searching for listings across Boards became a lot easier The Connect Unified
Search interface is available to all Boards and Associations that are participating in Connect This new map-driven interface draws in listing information from all Boards and presents the search results all together in a single screen in a unified format
Now you no longer need to wonder about which Board a particular property or geo-graphic area is associated with Simply enter your criteria for Price Range Class Status and Address to engage a multi-Board search that focuses on the map area that you select To make things easy the rather flexible Address input box will accept various types of information in-cluding City Street Postal Code or other common place names like Cookrsquos Bay or Rideau Canal for example The active search area that is presented as a result can then be modified as you desire by dragging the map or zooming in and out using your mouse There are also controls for these op-erations as well as a control that provides the capability to switch between Road and Aerial views or a combination of the two
You can click on the map icons to get access to the listing detail reports or alternatively the mapped properties can first be compared in the Grid View where information from the multiple Boards and Associations is presented seamlessly Listing detail reports
can be printed using the provided icons and also in a feature enhancement over regular Connect they can even be emailed in either REALTORreg or Client formats
To search Unified Search
1 Log in to Stratus and in the LINKS menu click Connect
2 Agree to the Connect terms of use
3 On the Connect Listing Search page click Unified Search
4 Enter your criteria and click Search
Note Since Unified Search uses Bing Maps you may have to use Ontario in your search criteria For example when searching for properties in London use Ontario to avoid searching in London England
You can drag the map or zoom in or out to change the search area
The Grid View displays basic listing infor-mation in a one-line report format
The View button will bring up the detail re-port which can be emailed or printed
This Monthrsquos Focus Unified ConnectConnectrsquos Unified Search Simplifies Searching Across Boards
Whatrsquos in Your REALTORreg Toolkit
The Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 was introduced in the Ontario Legislature on
February 26 2015
Currently the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act 2002 (REBBA) prevents real estate salespeople from operating their business through a PREC
Many other regulated professions in Ontario including chartered accountants lawyers health pro-fessionals social workers mortgage brokers architects and engineers can all form personal or professional corporations
The ability to incorporate would allow a REALTORreg depending on their level
of business income to save money on their income tax by taking advantage of the lower corporate tax rate
To help advance this bill OREA launched a call-to-action on the Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 With the support of TREB Members over 2255 emails were sent to local MPPs on this issue
The Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 has not been passed in the legislature and it is not yet in force
TREB will update Members on the progress of this legislation
For more information on Personal Real Estate Corporations click here
Tax Fairness for REALTORSreg
99
Do You Need Stratus One-on-One Help
Do You Need Stratus One-on-One Help
Starting April 24 Members may stop by TREB on Friday mornings between 900 AM and noon A TREB Technology Learning Specialist will be in the computer lab to assist you with Stratus If you prefer you can bring your own laptop or use one of the lab computers
When Friday mornings from 900 AM to 1200 PM
Where TREB offices 1400 Don Mills Road Classroom 2
No registration is required
First-come first-served
You and 399 of your closest friends are invited to
TREB FEST an evening of networking and dancing at Torontorsquos CUBE nightclub on April 29 starting at 900 PM in support of Camp Winston
Admission-only tickets for this not-to-be-missed event are $20 with proceeds directed in support of Camp Winston a registered charitable organization that provides recreational opportunities in the idyllic Muskoka region for children with neurological conditions such as Autism Attention Deficit Hyperactivity and Tourettersquos Disorder
Come see and be seen On April 29 CUBE is the place to connect with many of the Greater Toronto Arearsquos most successful REALTORSreg Ticket holders will be eligible for Door Prize Draws As well attendees will have the opportunity to visit with our onsite lsquoPay to Playrsquo specialty entertainment including an Astrologer a Handwriting Analyst and a Henna Artist
For more information about Camp Winston please visit CampWinstoncom
For more information on CUBE visit CubeTorontocom
To purchase tickets visit the REALTORreg STORE in person call 416-443-8122 (credit card purchases only) or click here to buy online
We encourage everyone to share this great event with your social media net-works and contacts to help to make this the biggest and most successful event yet Click here for instructions on inviting Facebook contacts to TREB FEST 2015
Two Weeks Until TREB FEST Donrsquot Miss This Event
Trainer On Dutystarts April 24NEW
10
If you joined TREB before June 30 1990 or before June 30 1965 and have a total of 25 or 50 TREB membership
years you may qualify for a special membership rate
Requirements
1 Your application must be received by TREB no later than April 25 2015 in order to meet the invoice cycle for July 1 2015 to June 30 2016 TREB annual dues
NOTE Any applications received after April 25 2015 will be processed for the following TREB membership year of July 1 2016 to June 30 2017
2 Your 25 or 50 years of TREB membership must be completed by June 30 2015 to qualify for the July 1 2015 to June 30 2016 TREB annual dues and fees billing period
3 You are a TREB Member in good standing with a total of 25 or 50 years of TREB membership
Applications can be emailed to membershiptrebnetcom or faxed to 416-443-8830 or 416-446-6414
Please click on the appropriate link below complete the application and submit it to TREB by April 25 2015
Click here for the TREB Member for 25 Years + Application Form
Click here for the TREB Member for 50 Years + Application Form
Since 1968 the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers has awarded this prestigious
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB) Designation to help REALTORSreg improve both individual and Brokerage office performance in the competitive world of real estate
These two-day 3 CRB credit courses are presented to a maximum of 25 attendees allowing for an effective and interactive learning environment
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager Designation Courses Launch at TREB
Is This Your Year to Qualify for25 or 50 Year TREB Membership
Sales Leadership That Drives Performance June 2 amp 3 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Position Your Business for Profit June 15 amp 16 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Business Planning for Maximum Results July 13 amp 14 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Real Estate is Risky Business August 24 amp 25 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
The ART of Recruiting Attract amp Retain Talent September 10 amp 11 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
For complete information on earning the CRB Designation click here
The following courses are being held at TREBrsquos Don Mills office in Classroom 3
Toronto Real Estate Board
Member for Years
Years
Toronto Real Estate Board
Member for Years
Years
MEMBER FOR
TORONTO REAL ESTATE BOAR
D
+
MEMBER FOR
TORONTO REAL ESTATE BOAR
D
+
Iremember hearing a great story regarding photographic equipment where a man asks his photographer
friend ldquoWhatrsquos the best camera to userdquo His friend very astutely responded ldquoThatrsquos easy itrsquos the one you have with yourdquo This holds more truth today than ever since most people carry an excellent camera with them everywhere they go That camera is built right into their phone
In the past couple of years camera phones have been progressing rapidly in technology to the point where they now rival most good point-and-shoot single purpose cameras From my experience as a photographer of twenty years I can tell you that these built-in cameras now produce results that can allow you to take extremely high quality photos Even an expert might doubt that the image was created using a smartphone
You can harness the power of the phonersquos camera and greatly improve your real estate photos if you follow some basic tips
When shooting real estate images it is best if you shoot them all in landscape orientation This is how your photos will be uploaded into the listing and keeping all the images consistent will
improve the overall presentation of the property
Pay attention to where the sun is when you are shooting exteriors of the property When the sun is at your back and shining on the property there is a higher level of contrast and less chance of lens flair from the sun shining onto the lens causing your pictures to look washed out As well if there is a blue sky it will look most vibrant with this lighting
When shooting interiors of a property it is best to do so when there is plenty of daylight streaming in This will prevent the image looking too dark and will give
a more inviting feeling to the image You may be tempted to turn on the flash but donrsquot That little flash is not powerful enough to light a room and the quality of light from it is flat and uninteresting
In order to get sharper images you want to be able to have the phone as steady as possible This can be accomplished three ways The first (which is the best bet) is to use a tripod to keep the phone from moving during the exposure The second method to getting sharper images is to brace yourself against a wall or door frame and try and keep your arms close to your body Finally by taking a deep breath and holding it for a few seconds when taking
Tips on Using Your Phonersquos Camera Like a Pro
11
Using Your Phonersquos Camera Like a Pro (continued)
9
Suggestions amp FeedbackIf you have content suggestions for Across The Board or comments about this publication feel
free to email us at acrosstheboardtrebnetcom
GET SOCIAL WITH TREB
the picture you will find you can hand-hold the phone much steadier
Since there is no real cost involved in producing the images such as in the past due to the cost of film and developing shoot many more pictures than you think you need Try various angles including from up high or down low Try shooting the same scene from different locations to get a new perspective Remember in Stratus you can now upload as many as 20 images so take full advantage of this
Look for interesting details about a property After the large rooms and the exterior have been shot from all angles look for small things that a home Buyer may be interested in seeing If a staircase has a beautiful wooden railing take photos of this Maybe a built-in bookcase or a large walk-in closet would help show off the property Look around and think like a Buyer
Here is a simple tip that is often overlooked most phones are stored in our pockets or bags and the camera lens traps dirt lint and dust Before you spend time capturing your images clean the lens with a micro cloth which you can find at a camera store or any store that sells glasses
While a camera on a cell phone will not
replace an experienced photographer with thousands of dollars of professional photographic gear and years of experience many smaller photographic tasks are perfectly suited for your phonersquos camera If you follow the above tips and remember that the best camera you have to use is the one with you you are on your way
to beautiful real estate images that will help prospective Sellers and Buyers see the potential in a property that yoursquore marketing
Cliff Spicer is a professional photographer and a Technology Learning Specialist at TREB
Front (left to right) Larry Cerqua Chair Nelly De Breze Peter Antoine Back (left to right) Guido Perciasepe Peter Drabik Esa Para Esananda Sukhwinder Bhaura Absent Laura Baragetti David Esho Gail Reeves Reid Linda Williams
Left to right Prakash Barbhaya Yolanda Johnston Shirley Porter Chair Marisa Roque Eve Leung Shahla Bashar Absent Khalid Javaid Gordana Valois
7
Thank You for Your Service
As a Member-driven Association TREB relies on the input of committed professionals volunteering to serve on focus groups committees and task forces In the
coming months Across The Board will showcase TREB Members serving on our committees
GREEN COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
On March 5 Members gathered at the TREB offices to celebrate the unveiling of a plaque that recognizes all those who have received an award
or served on TREBrsquos Board of Directors since 1987
In unveiling the plaque TREB President Paul Etherington noted the tremendous impact of their efforts
ldquoEach person listed on this plaque has made a lasting contribution to our Association to our profession and to our cityrdquo he said ldquoWithout question we can credit our Associationrsquos volunteers ndash leaders in the real estate community ndash with helping Toronto develop into the outstanding world city we live in todayrdquo
The plaque can be seen outside of TREBrsquos Auditorium near the north entrance doors
It may also be viewed from Stratus From the home page click TREB Facts then select TREB Honoured Volunteers
Past Volunteers Honoured
8
Beginning March 10 searching for listings across Boards became a lot easier The Connect Unified
Search interface is available to all Boards and Associations that are participating in Connect This new map-driven interface draws in listing information from all Boards and presents the search results all together in a single screen in a unified format
Now you no longer need to wonder about which Board a particular property or geo-graphic area is associated with Simply enter your criteria for Price Range Class Status and Address to engage a multi-Board search that focuses on the map area that you select To make things easy the rather flexible Address input box will accept various types of information in-cluding City Street Postal Code or other common place names like Cookrsquos Bay or Rideau Canal for example The active search area that is presented as a result can then be modified as you desire by dragging the map or zooming in and out using your mouse There are also controls for these op-erations as well as a control that provides the capability to switch between Road and Aerial views or a combination of the two
You can click on the map icons to get access to the listing detail reports or alternatively the mapped properties can first be compared in the Grid View where information from the multiple Boards and Associations is presented seamlessly Listing detail reports
can be printed using the provided icons and also in a feature enhancement over regular Connect they can even be emailed in either REALTORreg or Client formats
To search Unified Search
1 Log in to Stratus and in the LINKS menu click Connect
2 Agree to the Connect terms of use
3 On the Connect Listing Search page click Unified Search
4 Enter your criteria and click Search
Note Since Unified Search uses Bing Maps you may have to use Ontario in your search criteria For example when searching for properties in London use Ontario to avoid searching in London England
You can drag the map or zoom in or out to change the search area
The Grid View displays basic listing infor-mation in a one-line report format
The View button will bring up the detail re-port which can be emailed or printed
This Monthrsquos Focus Unified ConnectConnectrsquos Unified Search Simplifies Searching Across Boards
Whatrsquos in Your REALTORreg Toolkit
The Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 was introduced in the Ontario Legislature on
February 26 2015
Currently the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act 2002 (REBBA) prevents real estate salespeople from operating their business through a PREC
Many other regulated professions in Ontario including chartered accountants lawyers health pro-fessionals social workers mortgage brokers architects and engineers can all form personal or professional corporations
The ability to incorporate would allow a REALTORreg depending on their level
of business income to save money on their income tax by taking advantage of the lower corporate tax rate
To help advance this bill OREA launched a call-to-action on the Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 With the support of TREB Members over 2255 emails were sent to local MPPs on this issue
The Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 has not been passed in the legislature and it is not yet in force
TREB will update Members on the progress of this legislation
For more information on Personal Real Estate Corporations click here
Tax Fairness for REALTORSreg
99
Do You Need Stratus One-on-One Help
Do You Need Stratus One-on-One Help
Starting April 24 Members may stop by TREB on Friday mornings between 900 AM and noon A TREB Technology Learning Specialist will be in the computer lab to assist you with Stratus If you prefer you can bring your own laptop or use one of the lab computers
When Friday mornings from 900 AM to 1200 PM
Where TREB offices 1400 Don Mills Road Classroom 2
No registration is required
First-come first-served
You and 399 of your closest friends are invited to
TREB FEST an evening of networking and dancing at Torontorsquos CUBE nightclub on April 29 starting at 900 PM in support of Camp Winston
Admission-only tickets for this not-to-be-missed event are $20 with proceeds directed in support of Camp Winston a registered charitable organization that provides recreational opportunities in the idyllic Muskoka region for children with neurological conditions such as Autism Attention Deficit Hyperactivity and Tourettersquos Disorder
Come see and be seen On April 29 CUBE is the place to connect with many of the Greater Toronto Arearsquos most successful REALTORSreg Ticket holders will be eligible for Door Prize Draws As well attendees will have the opportunity to visit with our onsite lsquoPay to Playrsquo specialty entertainment including an Astrologer a Handwriting Analyst and a Henna Artist
For more information about Camp Winston please visit CampWinstoncom
For more information on CUBE visit CubeTorontocom
To purchase tickets visit the REALTORreg STORE in person call 416-443-8122 (credit card purchases only) or click here to buy online
We encourage everyone to share this great event with your social media net-works and contacts to help to make this the biggest and most successful event yet Click here for instructions on inviting Facebook contacts to TREB FEST 2015
Two Weeks Until TREB FEST Donrsquot Miss This Event
Trainer On Dutystarts April 24NEW
10
If you joined TREB before June 30 1990 or before June 30 1965 and have a total of 25 or 50 TREB membership
years you may qualify for a special membership rate
Requirements
1 Your application must be received by TREB no later than April 25 2015 in order to meet the invoice cycle for July 1 2015 to June 30 2016 TREB annual dues
NOTE Any applications received after April 25 2015 will be processed for the following TREB membership year of July 1 2016 to June 30 2017
2 Your 25 or 50 years of TREB membership must be completed by June 30 2015 to qualify for the July 1 2015 to June 30 2016 TREB annual dues and fees billing period
3 You are a TREB Member in good standing with a total of 25 or 50 years of TREB membership
Applications can be emailed to membershiptrebnetcom or faxed to 416-443-8830 or 416-446-6414
Please click on the appropriate link below complete the application and submit it to TREB by April 25 2015
Click here for the TREB Member for 25 Years + Application Form
Click here for the TREB Member for 50 Years + Application Form
Since 1968 the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers has awarded this prestigious
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB) Designation to help REALTORSreg improve both individual and Brokerage office performance in the competitive world of real estate
These two-day 3 CRB credit courses are presented to a maximum of 25 attendees allowing for an effective and interactive learning environment
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager Designation Courses Launch at TREB
Is This Your Year to Qualify for25 or 50 Year TREB Membership
Sales Leadership That Drives Performance June 2 amp 3 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Position Your Business for Profit June 15 amp 16 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Business Planning for Maximum Results July 13 amp 14 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Real Estate is Risky Business August 24 amp 25 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
The ART of Recruiting Attract amp Retain Talent September 10 amp 11 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
For complete information on earning the CRB Designation click here
The following courses are being held at TREBrsquos Don Mills office in Classroom 3
Toronto Real Estate Board
Member for Years
Years
Toronto Real Estate Board
Member for Years
Years
MEMBER FOR
TORONTO REAL ESTATE BOAR
D
+
MEMBER FOR
TORONTO REAL ESTATE BOAR
D
+
Iremember hearing a great story regarding photographic equipment where a man asks his photographer
friend ldquoWhatrsquos the best camera to userdquo His friend very astutely responded ldquoThatrsquos easy itrsquos the one you have with yourdquo This holds more truth today than ever since most people carry an excellent camera with them everywhere they go That camera is built right into their phone
In the past couple of years camera phones have been progressing rapidly in technology to the point where they now rival most good point-and-shoot single purpose cameras From my experience as a photographer of twenty years I can tell you that these built-in cameras now produce results that can allow you to take extremely high quality photos Even an expert might doubt that the image was created using a smartphone
You can harness the power of the phonersquos camera and greatly improve your real estate photos if you follow some basic tips
When shooting real estate images it is best if you shoot them all in landscape orientation This is how your photos will be uploaded into the listing and keeping all the images consistent will
improve the overall presentation of the property
Pay attention to where the sun is when you are shooting exteriors of the property When the sun is at your back and shining on the property there is a higher level of contrast and less chance of lens flair from the sun shining onto the lens causing your pictures to look washed out As well if there is a blue sky it will look most vibrant with this lighting
When shooting interiors of a property it is best to do so when there is plenty of daylight streaming in This will prevent the image looking too dark and will give
a more inviting feeling to the image You may be tempted to turn on the flash but donrsquot That little flash is not powerful enough to light a room and the quality of light from it is flat and uninteresting
In order to get sharper images you want to be able to have the phone as steady as possible This can be accomplished three ways The first (which is the best bet) is to use a tripod to keep the phone from moving during the exposure The second method to getting sharper images is to brace yourself against a wall or door frame and try and keep your arms close to your body Finally by taking a deep breath and holding it for a few seconds when taking
Tips on Using Your Phonersquos Camera Like a Pro
11
Using Your Phonersquos Camera Like a Pro (continued)
9
Suggestions amp FeedbackIf you have content suggestions for Across The Board or comments about this publication feel
free to email us at acrosstheboardtrebnetcom
GET SOCIAL WITH TREB
the picture you will find you can hand-hold the phone much steadier
Since there is no real cost involved in producing the images such as in the past due to the cost of film and developing shoot many more pictures than you think you need Try various angles including from up high or down low Try shooting the same scene from different locations to get a new perspective Remember in Stratus you can now upload as many as 20 images so take full advantage of this
Look for interesting details about a property After the large rooms and the exterior have been shot from all angles look for small things that a home Buyer may be interested in seeing If a staircase has a beautiful wooden railing take photos of this Maybe a built-in bookcase or a large walk-in closet would help show off the property Look around and think like a Buyer
Here is a simple tip that is often overlooked most phones are stored in our pockets or bags and the camera lens traps dirt lint and dust Before you spend time capturing your images clean the lens with a micro cloth which you can find at a camera store or any store that sells glasses
While a camera on a cell phone will not
replace an experienced photographer with thousands of dollars of professional photographic gear and years of experience many smaller photographic tasks are perfectly suited for your phonersquos camera If you follow the above tips and remember that the best camera you have to use is the one with you you are on your way
to beautiful real estate images that will help prospective Sellers and Buyers see the potential in a property that yoursquore marketing
Cliff Spicer is a professional photographer and a Technology Learning Specialist at TREB
8
Beginning March 10 searching for listings across Boards became a lot easier The Connect Unified
Search interface is available to all Boards and Associations that are participating in Connect This new map-driven interface draws in listing information from all Boards and presents the search results all together in a single screen in a unified format
Now you no longer need to wonder about which Board a particular property or geo-graphic area is associated with Simply enter your criteria for Price Range Class Status and Address to engage a multi-Board search that focuses on the map area that you select To make things easy the rather flexible Address input box will accept various types of information in-cluding City Street Postal Code or other common place names like Cookrsquos Bay or Rideau Canal for example The active search area that is presented as a result can then be modified as you desire by dragging the map or zooming in and out using your mouse There are also controls for these op-erations as well as a control that provides the capability to switch between Road and Aerial views or a combination of the two
You can click on the map icons to get access to the listing detail reports or alternatively the mapped properties can first be compared in the Grid View where information from the multiple Boards and Associations is presented seamlessly Listing detail reports
can be printed using the provided icons and also in a feature enhancement over regular Connect they can even be emailed in either REALTORreg or Client formats
To search Unified Search
1 Log in to Stratus and in the LINKS menu click Connect
2 Agree to the Connect terms of use
3 On the Connect Listing Search page click Unified Search
4 Enter your criteria and click Search
Note Since Unified Search uses Bing Maps you may have to use Ontario in your search criteria For example when searching for properties in London use Ontario to avoid searching in London England
You can drag the map or zoom in or out to change the search area
The Grid View displays basic listing infor-mation in a one-line report format
The View button will bring up the detail re-port which can be emailed or printed
This Monthrsquos Focus Unified ConnectConnectrsquos Unified Search Simplifies Searching Across Boards
Whatrsquos in Your REALTORreg Toolkit
The Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 was introduced in the Ontario Legislature on
February 26 2015
Currently the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act 2002 (REBBA) prevents real estate salespeople from operating their business through a PREC
Many other regulated professions in Ontario including chartered accountants lawyers health pro-fessionals social workers mortgage brokers architects and engineers can all form personal or professional corporations
The ability to incorporate would allow a REALTORreg depending on their level
of business income to save money on their income tax by taking advantage of the lower corporate tax rate
To help advance this bill OREA launched a call-to-action on the Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 With the support of TREB Members over 2255 emails were sent to local MPPs on this issue
The Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 has not been passed in the legislature and it is not yet in force
TREB will update Members on the progress of this legislation
For more information on Personal Real Estate Corporations click here
Tax Fairness for REALTORSreg
99
Do You Need Stratus One-on-One Help
Do You Need Stratus One-on-One Help
Starting April 24 Members may stop by TREB on Friday mornings between 900 AM and noon A TREB Technology Learning Specialist will be in the computer lab to assist you with Stratus If you prefer you can bring your own laptop or use one of the lab computers
When Friday mornings from 900 AM to 1200 PM
Where TREB offices 1400 Don Mills Road Classroom 2
No registration is required
First-come first-served
You and 399 of your closest friends are invited to
TREB FEST an evening of networking and dancing at Torontorsquos CUBE nightclub on April 29 starting at 900 PM in support of Camp Winston
Admission-only tickets for this not-to-be-missed event are $20 with proceeds directed in support of Camp Winston a registered charitable organization that provides recreational opportunities in the idyllic Muskoka region for children with neurological conditions such as Autism Attention Deficit Hyperactivity and Tourettersquos Disorder
Come see and be seen On April 29 CUBE is the place to connect with many of the Greater Toronto Arearsquos most successful REALTORSreg Ticket holders will be eligible for Door Prize Draws As well attendees will have the opportunity to visit with our onsite lsquoPay to Playrsquo specialty entertainment including an Astrologer a Handwriting Analyst and a Henna Artist
For more information about Camp Winston please visit CampWinstoncom
For more information on CUBE visit CubeTorontocom
To purchase tickets visit the REALTORreg STORE in person call 416-443-8122 (credit card purchases only) or click here to buy online
We encourage everyone to share this great event with your social media net-works and contacts to help to make this the biggest and most successful event yet Click here for instructions on inviting Facebook contacts to TREB FEST 2015
Two Weeks Until TREB FEST Donrsquot Miss This Event
Trainer On Dutystarts April 24NEW
10
If you joined TREB before June 30 1990 or before June 30 1965 and have a total of 25 or 50 TREB membership
years you may qualify for a special membership rate
Requirements
1 Your application must be received by TREB no later than April 25 2015 in order to meet the invoice cycle for July 1 2015 to June 30 2016 TREB annual dues
NOTE Any applications received after April 25 2015 will be processed for the following TREB membership year of July 1 2016 to June 30 2017
2 Your 25 or 50 years of TREB membership must be completed by June 30 2015 to qualify for the July 1 2015 to June 30 2016 TREB annual dues and fees billing period
3 You are a TREB Member in good standing with a total of 25 or 50 years of TREB membership
Applications can be emailed to membershiptrebnetcom or faxed to 416-443-8830 or 416-446-6414
Please click on the appropriate link below complete the application and submit it to TREB by April 25 2015
Click here for the TREB Member for 25 Years + Application Form
Click here for the TREB Member for 50 Years + Application Form
Since 1968 the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers has awarded this prestigious
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB) Designation to help REALTORSreg improve both individual and Brokerage office performance in the competitive world of real estate
These two-day 3 CRB credit courses are presented to a maximum of 25 attendees allowing for an effective and interactive learning environment
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager Designation Courses Launch at TREB
Is This Your Year to Qualify for25 or 50 Year TREB Membership
Sales Leadership That Drives Performance June 2 amp 3 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Position Your Business for Profit June 15 amp 16 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Business Planning for Maximum Results July 13 amp 14 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Real Estate is Risky Business August 24 amp 25 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
The ART of Recruiting Attract amp Retain Talent September 10 amp 11 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
For complete information on earning the CRB Designation click here
The following courses are being held at TREBrsquos Don Mills office in Classroom 3
Toronto Real Estate Board
Member for Years
Years
Toronto Real Estate Board
Member for Years
Years
MEMBER FOR
TORONTO REAL ESTATE BOAR
D
+
MEMBER FOR
TORONTO REAL ESTATE BOAR
D
+
Iremember hearing a great story regarding photographic equipment where a man asks his photographer
friend ldquoWhatrsquos the best camera to userdquo His friend very astutely responded ldquoThatrsquos easy itrsquos the one you have with yourdquo This holds more truth today than ever since most people carry an excellent camera with them everywhere they go That camera is built right into their phone
In the past couple of years camera phones have been progressing rapidly in technology to the point where they now rival most good point-and-shoot single purpose cameras From my experience as a photographer of twenty years I can tell you that these built-in cameras now produce results that can allow you to take extremely high quality photos Even an expert might doubt that the image was created using a smartphone
You can harness the power of the phonersquos camera and greatly improve your real estate photos if you follow some basic tips
When shooting real estate images it is best if you shoot them all in landscape orientation This is how your photos will be uploaded into the listing and keeping all the images consistent will
improve the overall presentation of the property
Pay attention to where the sun is when you are shooting exteriors of the property When the sun is at your back and shining on the property there is a higher level of contrast and less chance of lens flair from the sun shining onto the lens causing your pictures to look washed out As well if there is a blue sky it will look most vibrant with this lighting
When shooting interiors of a property it is best to do so when there is plenty of daylight streaming in This will prevent the image looking too dark and will give
a more inviting feeling to the image You may be tempted to turn on the flash but donrsquot That little flash is not powerful enough to light a room and the quality of light from it is flat and uninteresting
In order to get sharper images you want to be able to have the phone as steady as possible This can be accomplished three ways The first (which is the best bet) is to use a tripod to keep the phone from moving during the exposure The second method to getting sharper images is to brace yourself against a wall or door frame and try and keep your arms close to your body Finally by taking a deep breath and holding it for a few seconds when taking
Tips on Using Your Phonersquos Camera Like a Pro
11
Using Your Phonersquos Camera Like a Pro (continued)
9
Suggestions amp FeedbackIf you have content suggestions for Across The Board or comments about this publication feel
free to email us at acrosstheboardtrebnetcom
GET SOCIAL WITH TREB
the picture you will find you can hand-hold the phone much steadier
Since there is no real cost involved in producing the images such as in the past due to the cost of film and developing shoot many more pictures than you think you need Try various angles including from up high or down low Try shooting the same scene from different locations to get a new perspective Remember in Stratus you can now upload as many as 20 images so take full advantage of this
Look for interesting details about a property After the large rooms and the exterior have been shot from all angles look for small things that a home Buyer may be interested in seeing If a staircase has a beautiful wooden railing take photos of this Maybe a built-in bookcase or a large walk-in closet would help show off the property Look around and think like a Buyer
Here is a simple tip that is often overlooked most phones are stored in our pockets or bags and the camera lens traps dirt lint and dust Before you spend time capturing your images clean the lens with a micro cloth which you can find at a camera store or any store that sells glasses
While a camera on a cell phone will not
replace an experienced photographer with thousands of dollars of professional photographic gear and years of experience many smaller photographic tasks are perfectly suited for your phonersquos camera If you follow the above tips and remember that the best camera you have to use is the one with you you are on your way
to beautiful real estate images that will help prospective Sellers and Buyers see the potential in a property that yoursquore marketing
Cliff Spicer is a professional photographer and a Technology Learning Specialist at TREB
The Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 was introduced in the Ontario Legislature on
February 26 2015
Currently the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act 2002 (REBBA) prevents real estate salespeople from operating their business through a PREC
Many other regulated professions in Ontario including chartered accountants lawyers health pro-fessionals social workers mortgage brokers architects and engineers can all form personal or professional corporations
The ability to incorporate would allow a REALTORreg depending on their level
of business income to save money on their income tax by taking advantage of the lower corporate tax rate
To help advance this bill OREA launched a call-to-action on the Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 With the support of TREB Members over 2255 emails were sent to local MPPs on this issue
The Tax Fairness for Realtors Act 2015 has not been passed in the legislature and it is not yet in force
TREB will update Members on the progress of this legislation
For more information on Personal Real Estate Corporations click here
Tax Fairness for REALTORSreg
99
Do You Need Stratus One-on-One Help
Do You Need Stratus One-on-One Help
Starting April 24 Members may stop by TREB on Friday mornings between 900 AM and noon A TREB Technology Learning Specialist will be in the computer lab to assist you with Stratus If you prefer you can bring your own laptop or use one of the lab computers
When Friday mornings from 900 AM to 1200 PM
Where TREB offices 1400 Don Mills Road Classroom 2
No registration is required
First-come first-served
You and 399 of your closest friends are invited to
TREB FEST an evening of networking and dancing at Torontorsquos CUBE nightclub on April 29 starting at 900 PM in support of Camp Winston
Admission-only tickets for this not-to-be-missed event are $20 with proceeds directed in support of Camp Winston a registered charitable organization that provides recreational opportunities in the idyllic Muskoka region for children with neurological conditions such as Autism Attention Deficit Hyperactivity and Tourettersquos Disorder
Come see and be seen On April 29 CUBE is the place to connect with many of the Greater Toronto Arearsquos most successful REALTORSreg Ticket holders will be eligible for Door Prize Draws As well attendees will have the opportunity to visit with our onsite lsquoPay to Playrsquo specialty entertainment including an Astrologer a Handwriting Analyst and a Henna Artist
For more information about Camp Winston please visit CampWinstoncom
For more information on CUBE visit CubeTorontocom
To purchase tickets visit the REALTORreg STORE in person call 416-443-8122 (credit card purchases only) or click here to buy online
We encourage everyone to share this great event with your social media net-works and contacts to help to make this the biggest and most successful event yet Click here for instructions on inviting Facebook contacts to TREB FEST 2015
Two Weeks Until TREB FEST Donrsquot Miss This Event
Trainer On Dutystarts April 24NEW
10
If you joined TREB before June 30 1990 or before June 30 1965 and have a total of 25 or 50 TREB membership
years you may qualify for a special membership rate
Requirements
1 Your application must be received by TREB no later than April 25 2015 in order to meet the invoice cycle for July 1 2015 to June 30 2016 TREB annual dues
NOTE Any applications received after April 25 2015 will be processed for the following TREB membership year of July 1 2016 to June 30 2017
2 Your 25 or 50 years of TREB membership must be completed by June 30 2015 to qualify for the July 1 2015 to June 30 2016 TREB annual dues and fees billing period
3 You are a TREB Member in good standing with a total of 25 or 50 years of TREB membership
Applications can be emailed to membershiptrebnetcom or faxed to 416-443-8830 or 416-446-6414
Please click on the appropriate link below complete the application and submit it to TREB by April 25 2015
Click here for the TREB Member for 25 Years + Application Form
Click here for the TREB Member for 50 Years + Application Form
Since 1968 the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers has awarded this prestigious
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB) Designation to help REALTORSreg improve both individual and Brokerage office performance in the competitive world of real estate
These two-day 3 CRB credit courses are presented to a maximum of 25 attendees allowing for an effective and interactive learning environment
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager Designation Courses Launch at TREB
Is This Your Year to Qualify for25 or 50 Year TREB Membership
Sales Leadership That Drives Performance June 2 amp 3 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Position Your Business for Profit June 15 amp 16 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Business Planning for Maximum Results July 13 amp 14 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Real Estate is Risky Business August 24 amp 25 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
The ART of Recruiting Attract amp Retain Talent September 10 amp 11 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
For complete information on earning the CRB Designation click here
The following courses are being held at TREBrsquos Don Mills office in Classroom 3
Toronto Real Estate Board
Member for Years
Years
Toronto Real Estate Board
Member for Years
Years
MEMBER FOR
TORONTO REAL ESTATE BOAR
D
+
MEMBER FOR
TORONTO REAL ESTATE BOAR
D
+
Iremember hearing a great story regarding photographic equipment where a man asks his photographer
friend ldquoWhatrsquos the best camera to userdquo His friend very astutely responded ldquoThatrsquos easy itrsquos the one you have with yourdquo This holds more truth today than ever since most people carry an excellent camera with them everywhere they go That camera is built right into their phone
In the past couple of years camera phones have been progressing rapidly in technology to the point where they now rival most good point-and-shoot single purpose cameras From my experience as a photographer of twenty years I can tell you that these built-in cameras now produce results that can allow you to take extremely high quality photos Even an expert might doubt that the image was created using a smartphone
You can harness the power of the phonersquos camera and greatly improve your real estate photos if you follow some basic tips
When shooting real estate images it is best if you shoot them all in landscape orientation This is how your photos will be uploaded into the listing and keeping all the images consistent will
improve the overall presentation of the property
Pay attention to where the sun is when you are shooting exteriors of the property When the sun is at your back and shining on the property there is a higher level of contrast and less chance of lens flair from the sun shining onto the lens causing your pictures to look washed out As well if there is a blue sky it will look most vibrant with this lighting
When shooting interiors of a property it is best to do so when there is plenty of daylight streaming in This will prevent the image looking too dark and will give
a more inviting feeling to the image You may be tempted to turn on the flash but donrsquot That little flash is not powerful enough to light a room and the quality of light from it is flat and uninteresting
In order to get sharper images you want to be able to have the phone as steady as possible This can be accomplished three ways The first (which is the best bet) is to use a tripod to keep the phone from moving during the exposure The second method to getting sharper images is to brace yourself against a wall or door frame and try and keep your arms close to your body Finally by taking a deep breath and holding it for a few seconds when taking
Tips on Using Your Phonersquos Camera Like a Pro
11
Using Your Phonersquos Camera Like a Pro (continued)
9
Suggestions amp FeedbackIf you have content suggestions for Across The Board or comments about this publication feel
free to email us at acrosstheboardtrebnetcom
GET SOCIAL WITH TREB
the picture you will find you can hand-hold the phone much steadier
Since there is no real cost involved in producing the images such as in the past due to the cost of film and developing shoot many more pictures than you think you need Try various angles including from up high or down low Try shooting the same scene from different locations to get a new perspective Remember in Stratus you can now upload as many as 20 images so take full advantage of this
Look for interesting details about a property After the large rooms and the exterior have been shot from all angles look for small things that a home Buyer may be interested in seeing If a staircase has a beautiful wooden railing take photos of this Maybe a built-in bookcase or a large walk-in closet would help show off the property Look around and think like a Buyer
Here is a simple tip that is often overlooked most phones are stored in our pockets or bags and the camera lens traps dirt lint and dust Before you spend time capturing your images clean the lens with a micro cloth which you can find at a camera store or any store that sells glasses
While a camera on a cell phone will not
replace an experienced photographer with thousands of dollars of professional photographic gear and years of experience many smaller photographic tasks are perfectly suited for your phonersquos camera If you follow the above tips and remember that the best camera you have to use is the one with you you are on your way
to beautiful real estate images that will help prospective Sellers and Buyers see the potential in a property that yoursquore marketing
Cliff Spicer is a professional photographer and a Technology Learning Specialist at TREB
10
If you joined TREB before June 30 1990 or before June 30 1965 and have a total of 25 or 50 TREB membership
years you may qualify for a special membership rate
Requirements
1 Your application must be received by TREB no later than April 25 2015 in order to meet the invoice cycle for July 1 2015 to June 30 2016 TREB annual dues
NOTE Any applications received after April 25 2015 will be processed for the following TREB membership year of July 1 2016 to June 30 2017
2 Your 25 or 50 years of TREB membership must be completed by June 30 2015 to qualify for the July 1 2015 to June 30 2016 TREB annual dues and fees billing period
3 You are a TREB Member in good standing with a total of 25 or 50 years of TREB membership
Applications can be emailed to membershiptrebnetcom or faxed to 416-443-8830 or 416-446-6414
Please click on the appropriate link below complete the application and submit it to TREB by April 25 2015
Click here for the TREB Member for 25 Years + Application Form
Click here for the TREB Member for 50 Years + Application Form
Since 1968 the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers has awarded this prestigious
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB) Designation to help REALTORSreg improve both individual and Brokerage office performance in the competitive world of real estate
These two-day 3 CRB credit courses are presented to a maximum of 25 attendees allowing for an effective and interactive learning environment
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager Designation Courses Launch at TREB
Is This Your Year to Qualify for25 or 50 Year TREB Membership
Sales Leadership That Drives Performance June 2 amp 3 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Position Your Business for Profit June 15 amp 16 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Business Planning for Maximum Results July 13 amp 14 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
Real Estate is Risky Business August 24 amp 25 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
The ART of Recruiting Attract amp Retain Talent September 10 amp 11 2015 from 900am ndash 500pm
For complete information on earning the CRB Designation click here
The following courses are being held at TREBrsquos Don Mills office in Classroom 3
Toronto Real Estate Board
Member for Years
Years
Toronto Real Estate Board
Member for Years
Years
MEMBER FOR
TORONTO REAL ESTATE BOAR
D
+
MEMBER FOR
TORONTO REAL ESTATE BOAR
D
+
Iremember hearing a great story regarding photographic equipment where a man asks his photographer
friend ldquoWhatrsquos the best camera to userdquo His friend very astutely responded ldquoThatrsquos easy itrsquos the one you have with yourdquo This holds more truth today than ever since most people carry an excellent camera with them everywhere they go That camera is built right into their phone
In the past couple of years camera phones have been progressing rapidly in technology to the point where they now rival most good point-and-shoot single purpose cameras From my experience as a photographer of twenty years I can tell you that these built-in cameras now produce results that can allow you to take extremely high quality photos Even an expert might doubt that the image was created using a smartphone
You can harness the power of the phonersquos camera and greatly improve your real estate photos if you follow some basic tips
When shooting real estate images it is best if you shoot them all in landscape orientation This is how your photos will be uploaded into the listing and keeping all the images consistent will
improve the overall presentation of the property
Pay attention to where the sun is when you are shooting exteriors of the property When the sun is at your back and shining on the property there is a higher level of contrast and less chance of lens flair from the sun shining onto the lens causing your pictures to look washed out As well if there is a blue sky it will look most vibrant with this lighting
When shooting interiors of a property it is best to do so when there is plenty of daylight streaming in This will prevent the image looking too dark and will give
a more inviting feeling to the image You may be tempted to turn on the flash but donrsquot That little flash is not powerful enough to light a room and the quality of light from it is flat and uninteresting
In order to get sharper images you want to be able to have the phone as steady as possible This can be accomplished three ways The first (which is the best bet) is to use a tripod to keep the phone from moving during the exposure The second method to getting sharper images is to brace yourself against a wall or door frame and try and keep your arms close to your body Finally by taking a deep breath and holding it for a few seconds when taking
Tips on Using Your Phonersquos Camera Like a Pro
11
Using Your Phonersquos Camera Like a Pro (continued)
9
Suggestions amp FeedbackIf you have content suggestions for Across The Board or comments about this publication feel
free to email us at acrosstheboardtrebnetcom
GET SOCIAL WITH TREB
the picture you will find you can hand-hold the phone much steadier
Since there is no real cost involved in producing the images such as in the past due to the cost of film and developing shoot many more pictures than you think you need Try various angles including from up high or down low Try shooting the same scene from different locations to get a new perspective Remember in Stratus you can now upload as many as 20 images so take full advantage of this
Look for interesting details about a property After the large rooms and the exterior have been shot from all angles look for small things that a home Buyer may be interested in seeing If a staircase has a beautiful wooden railing take photos of this Maybe a built-in bookcase or a large walk-in closet would help show off the property Look around and think like a Buyer
Here is a simple tip that is often overlooked most phones are stored in our pockets or bags and the camera lens traps dirt lint and dust Before you spend time capturing your images clean the lens with a micro cloth which you can find at a camera store or any store that sells glasses
While a camera on a cell phone will not
replace an experienced photographer with thousands of dollars of professional photographic gear and years of experience many smaller photographic tasks are perfectly suited for your phonersquos camera If you follow the above tips and remember that the best camera you have to use is the one with you you are on your way
to beautiful real estate images that will help prospective Sellers and Buyers see the potential in a property that yoursquore marketing
Cliff Spicer is a professional photographer and a Technology Learning Specialist at TREB
Iremember hearing a great story regarding photographic equipment where a man asks his photographer
friend ldquoWhatrsquos the best camera to userdquo His friend very astutely responded ldquoThatrsquos easy itrsquos the one you have with yourdquo This holds more truth today than ever since most people carry an excellent camera with them everywhere they go That camera is built right into their phone
In the past couple of years camera phones have been progressing rapidly in technology to the point where they now rival most good point-and-shoot single purpose cameras From my experience as a photographer of twenty years I can tell you that these built-in cameras now produce results that can allow you to take extremely high quality photos Even an expert might doubt that the image was created using a smartphone
You can harness the power of the phonersquos camera and greatly improve your real estate photos if you follow some basic tips
When shooting real estate images it is best if you shoot them all in landscape orientation This is how your photos will be uploaded into the listing and keeping all the images consistent will
improve the overall presentation of the property
Pay attention to where the sun is when you are shooting exteriors of the property When the sun is at your back and shining on the property there is a higher level of contrast and less chance of lens flair from the sun shining onto the lens causing your pictures to look washed out As well if there is a blue sky it will look most vibrant with this lighting
When shooting interiors of a property it is best to do so when there is plenty of daylight streaming in This will prevent the image looking too dark and will give
a more inviting feeling to the image You may be tempted to turn on the flash but donrsquot That little flash is not powerful enough to light a room and the quality of light from it is flat and uninteresting
In order to get sharper images you want to be able to have the phone as steady as possible This can be accomplished three ways The first (which is the best bet) is to use a tripod to keep the phone from moving during the exposure The second method to getting sharper images is to brace yourself against a wall or door frame and try and keep your arms close to your body Finally by taking a deep breath and holding it for a few seconds when taking
Tips on Using Your Phonersquos Camera Like a Pro
11
Using Your Phonersquos Camera Like a Pro (continued)
9
Suggestions amp FeedbackIf you have content suggestions for Across The Board or comments about this publication feel
free to email us at acrosstheboardtrebnetcom
GET SOCIAL WITH TREB
the picture you will find you can hand-hold the phone much steadier
Since there is no real cost involved in producing the images such as in the past due to the cost of film and developing shoot many more pictures than you think you need Try various angles including from up high or down low Try shooting the same scene from different locations to get a new perspective Remember in Stratus you can now upload as many as 20 images so take full advantage of this
Look for interesting details about a property After the large rooms and the exterior have been shot from all angles look for small things that a home Buyer may be interested in seeing If a staircase has a beautiful wooden railing take photos of this Maybe a built-in bookcase or a large walk-in closet would help show off the property Look around and think like a Buyer
Here is a simple tip that is often overlooked most phones are stored in our pockets or bags and the camera lens traps dirt lint and dust Before you spend time capturing your images clean the lens with a micro cloth which you can find at a camera store or any store that sells glasses
While a camera on a cell phone will not
replace an experienced photographer with thousands of dollars of professional photographic gear and years of experience many smaller photographic tasks are perfectly suited for your phonersquos camera If you follow the above tips and remember that the best camera you have to use is the one with you you are on your way
to beautiful real estate images that will help prospective Sellers and Buyers see the potential in a property that yoursquore marketing
Cliff Spicer is a professional photographer and a Technology Learning Specialist at TREB
Using Your Phonersquos Camera Like a Pro (continued)
9
Suggestions amp FeedbackIf you have content suggestions for Across The Board or comments about this publication feel
free to email us at acrosstheboardtrebnetcom
GET SOCIAL WITH TREB
the picture you will find you can hand-hold the phone much steadier
Since there is no real cost involved in producing the images such as in the past due to the cost of film and developing shoot many more pictures than you think you need Try various angles including from up high or down low Try shooting the same scene from different locations to get a new perspective Remember in Stratus you can now upload as many as 20 images so take full advantage of this
Look for interesting details about a property After the large rooms and the exterior have been shot from all angles look for small things that a home Buyer may be interested in seeing If a staircase has a beautiful wooden railing take photos of this Maybe a built-in bookcase or a large walk-in closet would help show off the property Look around and think like a Buyer
Here is a simple tip that is often overlooked most phones are stored in our pockets or bags and the camera lens traps dirt lint and dust Before you spend time capturing your images clean the lens with a micro cloth which you can find at a camera store or any store that sells glasses
While a camera on a cell phone will not
replace an experienced photographer with thousands of dollars of professional photographic gear and years of experience many smaller photographic tasks are perfectly suited for your phonersquos camera If you follow the above tips and remember that the best camera you have to use is the one with you you are on your way
to beautiful real estate images that will help prospective Sellers and Buyers see the potential in a property that yoursquore marketing
Cliff Spicer is a professional photographer and a Technology Learning Specialist at TREB
