Accelerate Your August, with these Member Benefits

For you to be the best in the business, you need the proper tools, tips and coursework to guide you. That’s where the Chicago Association of REALTORS® comes in. Make the most of your membership by taking advantage of all the benefits designed to make your job easier and your clients happier. From classes and events to articles and resources, here’s what you should get involved with this month to advance your career.

Make Sure You Have the Newest Forms & Contracts

We all know how essential forms, contracts and paperwork are to our business. Our Form & Contracts page is consistently updated to make sure you and your clients are in compliance with the city and state requirements. In the last couple of months, we’ve added or replaced the Lead-Based Paint Disclosure, the Exclusive Rental Listing Agreement, the Suburban Lease Agreement and more. Take a few moments to download the latest Forms & Contracts for your files!

Invest & Win!

Let’s play a game – or two! On August 22nd, we’re hosting our first-ever RPAC Game Night Fundraiser. On August 22nd, kick back, relax, have fun and network at Lagunitas Brewery. Plus, what’s a game night without prizes? Come and see if it’s your lucky night while showing your support for CAR’s advocacy initiatives.

Build Your Financial Wellness Plan

As REALTORS®, you help your clients accomplish goals and make important financial decisions. However, when was the last time you stopped to think about your own future and financial well-being? The National Association of REALTORS® designed the Center for REALTOR® Financial Wellness to help you save for retirement and create a succession plan for your business. Learn financial lingo, get a breakdown on savings account options and use the financial calculator to begin managing your finances today!

Get Savings on Your Next Staging Project

According to a study by the National Association of REALTORS ®, 72 percent of brokers say staging increased the sales price of their listings. So what are you waiting for? If you don’t know where to buy furniture or aren’t sure what will catch potential buyers’ attention, you need to learn about Inhabitr – a Chicago-based company that offers innovative staging packages and solutions. As a CAR member, you’re eligible for a special discount on your Inhabitr purchases. Read Inhabitr’s tips on staging, and learn more about your CAR-member discount.

Protect You and Your Clients from Cyber Crime

Phishing emails and hackers have cost consumers and businesses a lot of time, money and peace of mind. Right now, there’s a trend of scammers targeting homebuyers who are in the final stages of their transactions. To help protect you and your clients throughout the buying and selling process, take a look at these tips from CAR and NAR:

• Your Brokerage’s Greatest Risk for Cyber Crime: You
• Data Privacy and Security
• Data Security and Privacy Toolkit
• Internet Security Best Practices
• REALTOR® Safety Network
• REALTOR® Safety Articles
• Combat Real Estate Cyberthreats
• Wire Fraudsters Targeting Real Estate Transactions
• Protecting Your Business and Your Clients from Cyberfraud
• Webinar: Are You & Your Data an Easy Target?
• Webinar: Social Media & Cyber Safety

Tell the World Who You ‘R’

The National Association of REALTORS® recently launched its “That’s Who We R®” campaign, which showcases why, as REALTORS®, you aren’t just an average real estate practitioner. Inspired by the REALTOR® Code of Ethics that guides your business every day, this campaign features multimedia elements that show consumers, aspiring real estate professionals and competitors what it means to work with a REALTOR®. You can be a part of this national campaign by sharing your story. Head over to NAR and submit your career story for the opportunity to be featured. We’re also collecting stories! Fill out this form to tell your REALTOR® story.