New Weapon in War for Control Over Real Estate Inventory
Worldwide ERC®, in response to member requests, is in the process of publishing an updated Broker’s Market Analysis and Strategy Report form that will help in the war to reduce home inventory costs. The best way to control these costs is through effective marketing of transferees' homes to get them sold before they ever enter inventory. The new form will help agents to more accurately estimate the value of properties in this challenging market, provide better marketing strategies, and present information in an easy to understand manner. The form will be available to Forms Portal subscribers beginning November 12. To help agents and those who review these reports prepare for the release of the new form, a workshop will be offered twice in Washington, DC, immediately prior to the Global Workforce Symposium® on Tuesday, October 28, and Wednesday, October 29, 2008. Choose the date that fits your schedule, and encourage the real estate professionals you work with to attend. Note: attendance at the Symposium is not a requirement for attendance at this valuable workshop. Enroll for the workshop today using the 2008 Global Workforce Symposium® registration form.
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Upcoming Webinar: The Worldwide ERC® Coalition Presents; Understanding Property Assessments in Today's RE Market
Join us for our live one-hour web seminar taking place at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, September 9, where our panel of experts will discuss trends in today's real estate market and will provide information on the impact of short sales, disclosure issues, the timing of assessments and more. Also, find out about the Worldwide ERC® Inspection Report which was changed and is now named the Worldwide ERC® Property Assessment. Learn how this change impacts you and the transferring employee and why this report should not be used as a consumer home inspection.
Bring your questions to ask our speakers:
Myron Sonkin, President, GlobeSpec
Edward E. How, III, CRP, General Counsel, U.S. Inspect, LLC
Register Now
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A Tale of Two Industries: Assessing Today’s RE Market and its Effects on Employee Mobility
Tough economic times often require organizations to provide incentives to encourage critical employees to accept assignments. Today’s downturn in the real estate market not only is forcing current employees and critical new hires to reconsider career changes, but also pushing companies to reevaluate hiring and relocation policies. Writing in this month’s MOBILITY, Walter R. Hall, Jr., maintains that in an effort to recruit, retain, and/or advance the talent needed to increase or just maintain their bottom line—as well as to ensure no loss of productivity—employers are using creative relocation strategies. Read Hall’s article in the August issue of MOBILITY.
dog-ear (noun): To turn down the corner of (your MOBILITY magazine), to make worn or shabby from overuse (and frequent reference by you and your colleagues). In case you’d like to have a pristine copy of MOBILITY to keep for your collection, or to give to your colleague who is notorious for dog-earing your copy, you can order additional subscriptions for only $48 per year- Click here
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Remember the Foundation in Your United Way Workplace Campaign
Help the Worldwide ERC® Foundation for Workforce Mobility reach a little farther in its education and charitable outreach… from the comfort of your desk! Beginning this fall, you can designate the Foundation as a full or partial beneficiary of your workplace United Way donation. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization, and qualifies as a United Way selection, so if your company conducts a workplace campaign, you and other Worldwide ERC® members can help us gather significant contributing power this year! Help make a difference around you... and around the world. To choose the Foundation for your United Way Workplace Campaign, just use EIN #75-3138889 and “Worldwide ERC® Foundation for Workforce Mobility” when you make your donation and select your charity(ies) this year. You’ll need our address, too: 4401 Wilson Blvd., Suite 510; Arlington, VA 22203 USA. And don’t forget to ask if your company offers a matching gift program, which can double your Foundation donation! Questions about the United Way Workplace Campaign and matching gift policies can likely be answered by your company's human resources, community relations, or charitable giving department.
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Break Out the Bounty!: Foundation Silent Auction
The Worldwide ERC® Foundation for Workforce Mobility is getting ready for its fifth annual Silent and Online Auction, to be held up to and during the 2008 Global Workforce Symposium® October 29-31, in Washington, DC. The Foundation has contributed more than $150,000 to organizations such as Give Kids The World, Habitat for Humanity International, The Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Project Hope. The Foundation also supports major global workforce mobility research and conducts an annual scholarship program! Please help enrich the Foundation's work by donating an item to the 2008 Auction. Popular bid items include jewelry, VIP tours, sports equipment, gourmet foods and wines, high-tech toys, golf outings and getaways... Use your imagination to put a great gift together from your company! Auction items are now being accepted online through our cMarket online venue. To contribute, click here for details.
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You Shall Not Foreclose!
Similar to when wizard Gandalf tells the Balrog (a nasty fire demon) “You shall not pass!” in the “Lord of the Rings,” state legislatures are finding ways to block foreclosures as they rise across the nation. Rushing emergency legislation through the state government, Maryland is giving borrowers a 150-day moratorium to clear their defaults; that’s a bit sweeter than the Illinois moratorium of 60 days or the Massachusetts one of 90. However, Minnesota kicks it up a notch by requiring lenders to accept borrower pleas for 12-month deferments. Still, the most drastic move might be Ohio, which has hired 1,000 lawyers to help borrowers stave off foreclosures. The gray wizard would be proud. To keep up to date on this and other state developments, watch your inbox for the latest edition of the Coalition’s Grassroots NetNews this Thursday August 27.
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Brokers: Renew Your 2009 Worldwide ERC® Membership Today!
In our current housing market, there is an increasing demand for experienced relocation real estate professionals. Relocation business continues in tight or robust economies, so now, more than ever, you need the training, the relationships and the visibility provided by your membership. Perhaps that’s why 95% of the top 100 real estate broker companies in America are members of Worldwide ERC®.
The sooner you enroll for your 2009 Worldwide ERC® membership, the greater your savings. Make the most of membership, consider these optional services:
- Enhanced listings in the print Directory,the go-to relocation industry reference
- A link from our online Global Workforce Services Directory directly to your website
- Additional listings for each city your serve
If you have any questions or need an application, e-mail membership@WorldwideERC.org or call Worldwide ERC®’s Membership Department at +1 703 842 3410.
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Mecca of Training and Education
Our new online training and education page is the most comprehensive listing of Worldwide ERC® training opportunities we’ve ever assembled! This easy-to-use table brings all of our training opportunities together in one place. Whether you’re trying to find a specific course title you’ve heard about or a course that counts for CRP® or GMS™ credit; your search will be easy because the new training and education table allows you to search through all of the opportunities by the following categories: title, global interest, US domestic interest, CRP® credit, GMS™ credit, course format, length of time and cost. Worldwide ERC®'s training is affordable and convenient, with so many options--many online—we’ve made it easy for you to stay committed to your professional development. Check out the new training page!
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New to the Workforce Mobility Industry? Join the Network!
If you’ve been in the workforce mobility industry for fewer than five years, you should be a member of the Worldwide ERC® New Professionals Network! Sign up today and you’ll receive updates specific to industry newcomers and invitations to upcoming New Professional networking events. Visit our newly expanded webpages and join the Network today!
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Post Your Resume in our Career Center for Free…There is No Catch, We Promise!
The Worldwide ERC® Career Center is one of the most popular pages on the Worldwide ERC® site. It’s updated with new job opportunities and candidate resumes weekly. Even if you’re not actively applying for jobs or hiring employees, it can’t hurt to peruse this week’s posted jobs or resumes.
Post Your Resume: Member Special. All Worldwide ERC® members can post a resume on the Career Center for FREE! There is no catch, we promise! Don’t want your current boss to see? Post anonymously, and we’ll forward inquiries to the e-mail box you provide. Click here to post your resume for free.
Post a Job: When you post a job on our Career Center it will be seen and read. Each post is listed for four weeks! Posters even have the option to upgrade their post so it’s featured front-and-center on the Career Center main page AND in four issues of Express; see this issue’s Featured Job at the top.
Click here to post a job.
Visit the Worldwide ERC® Career Center.
Questions about the Career Center? Please e-mail: CareerCenter@WorldwideERC.org
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Days-on-Market Reflect Current Real Estate Market Realities
The average number of days transferees’ homes are held in inventory in corporate homesale programs jumped nearly 21 percent (from 115 days to 139 days) between 2005 and 2007, according to a new study released by Worldwide ERC®. Other key findings include:
- The average purchase price of employee homes taken into inventory rose 30 percent between 2005 and 2007.
- The average amount paid to employees who experienced a loss on the sale of their home in 2007 ranged from $22,907 (BVO transactions) to $24,847 (appraised value transactions) to $27,343 (amended value transactions).
- Depending on the type of homesale transaction, the average dollar amount paid to employees suffering a loss on the sale of their home jumped between 77 percent and 98 percent from 2005 and 2007.
- The average direct operating expenses (excluding amounts for employee loss-on-sale assistance and employee homesale bonuses) for homes taken into inventory increased from 17 percent of the average purchase price to 23.6 percent over the three-year period.
The survey analyzed data from a three-year period and covered 44,131 appraised value transactions, 76,168 amended value transactions and 67,920 BVO transactions. The survey represents the most comprehensive survey of homesale program cost data ever conducted. For more information about the survey, e-mail: research@WorldwideERC.org, or call +1 703 842 3400.
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Cris Collie Says to Create Change Before it Creates You
Prominently located before the table of contents in the August issue of MOBILITY, Worldwide ERC®’s CEO Cris Collie’s Perceptions article reminds readers “If you don’t create change, change will create you.” Collie says “We’re not just change agents, we’re change experts.” Appropriately, Worldwide ERC® will host internationally heralded innovation and change strategist, Dr. Vijay Gonvindarajan as the keynote speaker for the 2008 Global Workforce Symposium®. Gonvindarajan has guided companies like Sony, Boeing and J.P. Morgan Chase to help them execute breakthrough global strategies while simultaneously sustaining excellence in their core business. Following the keynote address, Symposium attendees have the opportunity to attend the high-level Executive Education Certification Program led by Gonvindarajan. The program entitled: Strategy as Changing the Rules of the Global Game will be a rare opportunity to learn from this prominent strategy leader in a private interactive classroom setting. Space in this program is limited and separate registration is required. Find out more
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Cris Collie Tribute Events
He has given us his best for 36 years, and we want to show him how much he’s loved and respected! Join us for the 2008 Global Workforce Symposium® as we celebrate Cris’ legacy of excellence and partnership throughout the meeting. Following the Symposium, consider staying over to attend a special Tribute Dinner on Saturday, November 1, 2008, at The Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. The evening event will be a warm and gracious gathering of the wonderful friends Cris has made through the years, and we hope to welcome you there. If you haven’t yet registered, you can still reserve tickets for the Tribute Dinner (and for the golf tournament preceding it, if you’d like!) by clicking here.
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Shouldn’t You Be in DC in October?
The leaders in global workforce mobility will be networking, strategizing and sharing ideas for thriving in the global work environment at the 2008 Global Workforce Symposium® this October in Washington, DC. As a specialist in workforce mobility solutions, you will have access to a number of outstanding educational sessions that will address your most pressing issues while providing solutions that you can take back and implement right away.
You can plan your own program to fit your specific needs. Don’t miss this tremendous opportunity to learn from the people at the forefront of the global workforce challenge. For more information on these sessions and the entire program- click here. Don’t delay - registration discounts are still available!
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Enhance Your Relocation Training Skills
Knowing that education and professional training are crucial in today's market, many real estate licensees are exploring ways to build specialized and/or develop new skills that may help them expand their client base. If you or your organization offers such training, be sure to add Worldwide ERC®'s "Relocation 101" to your course catalogue. For a one-time license fee of $995, you can have access to a turn-key, three-hour training package, complete with student and instructor texts and a PowerPoint presentation. Put the quality assurance of a program developed by the trusted experts on employee mobility to work for you, and offer your agents unique content that gives them enough information to better prepare them for encountering relocation transactions. For more information, visit here.
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CRP®s Don’t Forget to Check the Expiration Date!
Did your Certified Relocation Professional (CRP®) designation expire at the end of July? Did you complete all of your continuing education credit hours? If not - don't delay - get those credit hours in TODAY! Remember: 10 out of the 30 required credit hours must come from Worldwide ERC® related events/materials. For Worldwide ERC® credit ideas – visit the Training & Education page at: www.worldwideerc.org/training_education.shtml
Don't let your designation expire!
Questions about your CRP®? When does yours expire? How many more credits do you need? E-mail CRP@WorldwideERC.org or call the Professional Development Department at +1 703 842 3430.
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The Best Cities for Relocating Families
A multitude of factors determines the success of an employee transfer, but relocating a family adds an entirely different set of needs affecting children, spouses, and even grandparents. Working closely with Bert Sperling of Sperling’s BestPlaces, each year Primacy Relocation and Worldwide ERC® identify the Best Cities for Relocating Families™ among large, medium, and small US metropolitan areas. To learn which cities rank at the top of this year’s list read the article in this month’s issue of MOBILITY by Michelle Vallejo, SCRP, GMS.
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| A Word from our Sponsors... |
First Books
Since 1988, First Books has published the best-selling Newcomer’s Handbooks for most major US cities, London and China. We also produce Welcome Packages, the premier relocation and onboarding service for organizations worldwide. Our invaluable relocation content is digitally available through www.newcomersweb.com. Family relocation resources include the award-winning Moving Book: A Kids’ Survival Guide, Max’s Moving Adventure: A Coloring Book for Kids on the Go, and The Kids’ Moving Kit.
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US Appraisal Group
US Appraisal Group offers the first customizable solution for the relocation appraisal process. Our unparalleled system of appraiser selection, quality control, appraisal review and reconciliation was designed specifically for the unique needs of the relocation industry. Our account managers work directly with your counselors to ensure they have accurate and relevant information to discuss with the transferee. Your counselors are also updated during every step of the process through our online order tracking system. Our services let you focus on your core business, strengthen relationships with your clients, save valuable time, and reduce appeals. http://www.usappraisalgroup.com/.
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No One Else Manages Worldwide Relocation like Graebel
One can only control what one owns – only Graebel owns and controls:
- Worldwide full-service relocation and move management company
- Transcontinental van line
- Nationwide moving and storage centers
- International forwarding company
This undivided ownership and control makes us one-of-a-kind in the world.
Because we control service, you’re assured excellence everywhere on the planet. Your company will keep moving ahead, when employees are willing to relocate again and again!
The world’s leading companies also count on Graebel for:
- 24.7 highly-personalized worldwide customer service
- Unmatched expertise and service delivery on every continent
- Best-in-class technology featuring accurate, real-time reports
- Best possible, fully-disclosed pricing – no surprises!
For unparalleled, controlled relocations – call us today! 800.723.6683
Graebel Relocation Services Worldwide: Peace of Mind. Worldwide.™
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