ADVANCED ACCESS July 2005 Newsletter

July 2006 Newsletter

“The pessimist may be right in the long run, but the optimist has a better time during the trip.”
- Author Unknown

ADVANCED ACCESS’ Fourth Annual Most Impressive Website Contest
WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

Hundreds of ADVANCED ACCESS Websites were nominated by our valued clients, then scored and reviewed by our celebrity judges. And then YOU voted for your favorites. "You have voted America, and the votes are in!"

Most User Friendly:

1st Place: Matthew Pellerin - www.phoenixhomes.com
2nd Place: Faxson Brown - www.faxsonbrown.com
3rd Place: Steve Brunette - www.stevesellsmaine.com

And the overall winner of the Most Impressive ADVANCED ACCESS Website:

Anne & Tim Wiens...from Roseville, CA - www.youragentanne.com

We extend our thanks to all of you for your participation and congratulate the accomplishments of our esteemed WINNERS!

ADVANCED ACCESS Finalizes Agreement With Indiana Association of REALTORS® (IAR)

ADVANCED ACCESS recently announced that it has completed a final agreement with the Indiana Association of REALTORS® (IAR). The Affinity Marketing Agreement designates ADVANCED ACCESS as the “endorsed provider of Website services” to more than 18,558 IAR members statewide. The Indiana Association of REALTORS® is currently ranked as the twenty-second largest State Association in the country and the agreement now establishes formal strategic partnerships for ADVANCED ACCESS with a total of eight State REALTOR® Associations throughout the country.

Richard Nye, Executive Vice-President of IAR stated “We are very excited about this new service for our members and hope that they take advantage of it to improve their business.”

“ADVANCED ACCESS is very excited about our new relationship with the Indiana Association of REALTORS®”, stated Mark Gilmore, Vice President of Business Development. “We are especially pleased that the Association has selected ADVANCED ACCESS to provide its membership with the most advanced Internet technology and marketing products available. This new Association-provided benefit will ensure that the members are equipped with the technology tools required to remain competitive, and we look forward to a long-term relationship with our newest business partner.”

The Indiana Association of REALTORS® is one of the largest trade associations in the State of Indiana, and its mission in cooperation with national and local associations is to sustain a healthy real estate market throughout the State. IAR represents approximately 18,558 REALTORS® statewide who are involved in virtually all aspects related to the sale, purchase, exchange or lease of real property in Indiana.

Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, the Indiana Association of REALTORS® was founded in 1913, and all members in good standing belong to one or more of the local REALTOR® Associations statewide and the National Association of REALTORS®. As the trade organization of choice for more than 18,558 real estate professionals, the Indiana Association of REALTORS® is committed to providing the resources that its members need to enhance their professional excellence and attain their financial goals. IAR is also dedicated to the protection and preservation of the free enterprise system and the right of the individual to own real property.

ADVANCED ACCESS Finalizes Agreement With Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR)

ADVANCED ACCESS recently announced that it has completed a final agreement with the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR). The Affinity Marketing Agreement designates ADVANCED ACCESS as the “Affinity Partner of Website services” to more than 22,500 MAR members statewide. The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® is currently ranked as the twentieth largest State Association in the country and the agreement now establishes formal strategic partnerships for ADVANCED ACCESS with a total of nine State REALTOR® Associations throughout the country.

Corinne Fitzgerald, MAR’s Vice President of Business Development stated that, “We are very excited that ADVANCED ACCESS has come on board with MAR as our newest Affinity Partner. We believe they will give our members the ability to have a web presence in the marketplace that is informative, easy to use and completely customizable. Being an ADVANCED ACCESS user since 1998, I have been impressed with the continual advances they've made over the years in the flexibility of their design options, creating the ability for unique looking sites while maintaining the very best content available.”

“The entire ADVANCED ACCESS team is very excited about our new partnership with the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS®”, stated Mark Gilmore, Vice President of Business Development. “We look forward to a mutually beneficial and long-term relationship with the Association as well as providing the members with the most effective, cutting-edge Internet Marketing tools available. Because of the quality and versatility of our products and services, this new Association-provided benefit will ensure that the Association’s members will maintain their competitive advantage for many years to come.”

The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® is a professional trade association for licensed real estate practitioners and serves as the parent organization to the state's 16 local REALTORS® associations. Membership in the organization is voluntary and consists of both residential and commercial agents and brokers as well as industry affiliates. MAR's membership currently consists of nearly 23,000 real estate licensees, and only MAR members are authorized to use the trademark term, REALTOR®.

Members of the ADVANCED ACCESS Mobile Website Team gathered in July at the Southern California Headquarters for their Annual Sales Meeting in Anaheim, California.

Jane Ellsworth-Purcell, Sr. VP of Sales for ADVANCED ACCESS, once again held intensive two-day meetings for the company's sales representatives to discuss sales, marketing and service strategies for the upcoming year, as well as advanced scheduling that allows ADVANCED ACCESS personnel to attend the various conventions and tradeshows that are held around the country by both local and state organizations.

One of the major topics of emphasis that the team spent considerable time reviewing was Search Engine Optimization, (SEO). With over 1.25 million real estate agents in the United States and competition to be number one in each of the major search engines, Search Engine Optimization has become a necessity, in order to capture the power of Internet Marketing and ultimately more income potential for your real estate business.

Outside Sales Team members were also treated to an evening of professional baseball at nearby Anaheim Stadium, as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hosted the first in a three-game series, referred to as “The Freeway Series” with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Angels were defeated, 6-1, before a packed house of 44,233 in attendance, but managed to win the next two nights to capture the series, 2-1. In addition, a visit to the Downtown Disney® District was also scheduled, where members enjoyed time on a lively promenade that offers unique shopping, dining, as well as nighttime excitement and activities. The events are all part of a series of "team-building" activities that were planned during the two-day meetings held in Orange Country, California.

Jane Ellsworth-Purcell stated, “…It is always an awesome experience when the team gathers to share, learn and laugh together. Discussing industry trends and market position is always a part of our busy schedule. With our Outside Sales Team coming in from Arizona and as far away as Maryland, it was nice to have everyone gather at the home office and update themselves on our various projects. With the various changes happening with the SEO markets, this was an opportune time for the team to gather.”

ADVANCED ACCESS management and staff were saddened to learn that one of our long-time clients, Johnna Snow, of The Snow Team at Century 21 Service Realty, died recently in a boating accident during an annual REALTOR® association meeting in Lake Barkley, Kentucky. Adam Smith of Corbin, Kentucky also died at the scene. Three others were injured in the crash, including Johnna’s husband, Bob Snow, Cobey Slankard, a REALTOR® and Heather Reams, an administrative assistant for the same real estate office.

Funeral services for Johnna Snow were held recently, and her family released the following statement: “There has never been a more thoughtful or unselfish person. We are grieved beyond words and the many phone calls, visits and expressions of kindness remind us that her circle of influence extended much wider than this family. She will be missed by so many.”

We at ADVANCED ACCESS would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of Johnna Snow, along with heartfelt wishes for a swift and complete recovery for the other members of the firm who were involved in the accident.

Leaders of the Kentucky Association of REALTORS® cut short their annual conference after hearing the news of the boating incident.

Registration for NARdi Gras Breaks Records

Advance registration for the 2006 REALTORS® Conference & Expo in New Orleans, November 9-13, is outpacing all previous REALTOR® conventions, including last year’s record-breaking convention in San Francisco and the 2002 convention — the last time it was held in the Crescent City.

With more than four months to go before the convention, some 8,367 people have already registered for the event, nearly one-third of the total expected to attend. The pre-registration rate is 16 percent ahead of the pace a year ago. Some 30,000 are expected to attend the convention, which would make it the largest event to take place in New Orleans this year, and generate some $34 million in revenue.

“REALTORS® are registering for the New Orleans convention at a record rate," says NAR President Thomas M. Stevens from Vienna, Va. "This terrific response is a tremendous vote of confidence for New Orleans and everyone who is working hard to make the convention the best ever. REALTORS® care about communities and we are committed to helping to rebuild this magnificent city.”

Bush, Clinton, Connick

Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, co-chairs of the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, will address the General Session of the 2006 REALTORS® Conference & Expo in New Orleans on Saturday, Nov. 11. The two former presidents, who worked together on relief efforts after the 2004 South Asian tsunami and again after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, are expected to discuss recovery from Hurricane Katrina and the work of their fund. Their rare joint appearance is believed to be the first time they have appeared together at a convention and the first time that any association has hosted two former presidents.

New Orleans’ own popular pianist, singer and bandleader, Harry Connick Jr., will be the featured act at NAR’s Celebrity Concert on Nov. 12.

Connick and another New Orleans jazz great, Branford Marsalis, are honorary chairs of the Habitat’s Operation Home Delivery effort, which includes 81 Habitat homes for displaced musicians and a community center, the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music. Connick and NAR were among the first responders to assist the city following Hurricane Katrina.

54 Habitat Homes

In addition, NAR, state and territorial associations of REALTOR® will sponsor 54 Habitat homes in the Gulf Coast area, including the seven in the Musicians Village, as part of the REALTOR®–Habitat Partnership for Gulf Coast Recovery program. For the past six years, NAR has sponsored Habitat builds in each of the cities hosting its annual conference.

NAR members contributed $5.6 million from more than 13,700 donors to Katrina victims through its REALTORS® Relief Foundation. Earlier, NAR also provided $1.7 million in housing relief to those left homeless in South Asia due to the December 2004 tsunami. During the convention, you can volunteer to participate in a variety of rebuilding and renovation efforts in the residential areas devastated by Katrina. Full and partial day activities will be available starting Tuesday, Nov. 7, through Tuesday, Nov. 14.

New Orleans is Ready for Us

With 103 of 140 metropolitan area hotels open, there are more than 38,000 hotel rooms in New Orleans. NAR has 29 official conference hotels contracted, including properties of major national chains, all-suite hotels, contemporary boutique hotels and one-of-a-kind luxury hotels.

Following Katrina last year, NAR decided to keep its commitment to convene in New Orleans. NAR will be the largest convention to be held in New Orleans this year, bringing as much as $34 million in convention revenues and 30,000 visitors, and demonstrating REALTORS®’ commitment to rebuild the city.

The NAR convention is called “NARdi Gras — a Celebration of REALTORS® coming together to ‘REnew, REconnect, and REenergize their careers and the city of New Orleans.’” The meeting will feature more than 200 conference sessions, more than 600 exhibitors, and thousands of real estate professionals from the United States and 60 nations.

To learn more about the convention and to register, visit the For more information and online registration, visit the NARdi Gras Web site.

Joel Hawk, (www.joelhawk.com) was born in San Antonio, Texas, and served a total of 24-years in the United States Navy. Joel is the oldest of five children with four boys and one girl, and will always be a “Texan,” although he lives here in California. He enlisted right out of high school for 11-years, and during that time earned his Bachelor of Science Degree with honors in the field of Professional Aeronautics. The last 13-years he spent in the Navy as an Aerospace Maintenance Officer, stationed throughout the world. Finally in the mid 1980’s, Hawk settled here in California, and once he arrived in San Diego, he “dropped anchor” and made the beautiful seaside community his ultimate home.

“…It was sometime in 1985, and I drove by an office open house, and they were looking to hire some agents. I popped in, and went through their hour-long orientation. At that time, I could not work as an agent because I was still commissioned in the Navy,” Joel recalled. He continued, “…when my naval obligations were completed, I visited a large local real estate office, and said, here I am and I’m interested In considering a real estate career,” he concluded.

Joel was well decorated during his career in the military, but was far too modest to discuss his awards. He did, however, want to mention about his current life’s passion. “…I simply love to serve my clients! Plain and simple, it’s really what I enjoy doing these days!” His 24-years of military service have certainly added to his background and experience, and as he mentions, has a great deal to do with his overall success of his business still today!

“My career in the military has certainly added quite a bit of regiment to my work ethic, and has honed the skills necessary to be a successful real estate broker. I am an agent who is committed to detail, contract law, teamwork, continuous education, and ultimate negotiation skills, Joel continued. “All of these qualities although separate and unique from the real estate industry, are a major part of my personality. I bring these qualities to my real estate practice daily, and started with a very specific five-year plan,” he added.

Starting in 2000, and with a definite five-year plan, Joel only served two years as a sales person. He fondly recalls, “…it seems like a long time, and only six-years have passed. My first year I wanted to get established and learn as much as I could; by my third year I wanted to earn my broker license, and by year five, wanted to own my own company. But I was fortunate enough to earn my broker license after only two-years, and after my third-year started my own company. The plan was pretty much the same, but I was able to “fast-track” and reach some goals and objectives a little quicker than I had anticipated.”

In 2003, he opened, owns and operates San Diego Real Estate – Joel Hawk, Inc. “I ultimately love what I do for a living, and what I do for people gives me an incredible feeling and a great sense of accomplishment and achievement! I am absolutely honored to serve my clients, and from my heart I cherish the opportunity to help them and serve them in this unique way.” Joel has a wonderful sense of humor, as he states “…I can also boast loudly that I am the Top Producing Agent in my company!”

Having served a major portion of his life in the United State Navy, Joel has a deep appreciation for the military branches of our country. “I have two sons, Clayton and Jacob, and also fortunate enough to have one grandson, Cameron, who are all located in the San Antonio area. Both of my sons served a tour each in Iraq, both in the Army – Clayton was in Airborne Defense and Jacob was an Army Medic.”

“I am very proud they kept their heads down and returned stateside safe and sound,” he stated. But his next words came with some emotion as he stated, “…as proudly as I talk about my two children who have safely returned from their service in honor of our country, I have a great sense of loss and overall respect for those families who have made the ultimate sacrifice and who have lost a loved one in service of this country’s mission.” Hawk continues, “…as pleased and happy as I am personally to have my wonderful kids return safely, I am deeply saddened for those less fortunate that did not return as they left their families here in the United States. Our thoughts, prayers and gratitude will always be with them where ever they go!”

Joel has only been in the real estate industry since ‘2000, and for the most part is still a newcomer and “rookie” in the industry as compared to some of the others agents and brokers who have worked in the industry much longer. However, his short time in the industry underscores the overall success along with his goals and accomplishments, in one of the most demanding real estate markets anywhere throughout the country. His exciting and remarkable success is a testament to this work ethic and his utilization of modern technology as “tools of his trade.”

“The market has certainly changed over the past few years, and has changed from those days when you simply stabbed a sign in the ground in front of a piece of property,” Hawk states. “Today’s agents really do have to work, very hard, and much of my work -- and I underscore the word “work,” is generated from referrals. Some folks in the industry don’t realize that you have to work to gain the confidence of your clients or a potential lead from the Internet, who will often return a referral if satisfied, to use your expertise and guidance. Anyone that is a working professional real estate agent is going to do well over the next few years. But to succeed, they need to have a well-established Internet presence; they will need to have the proper tools, continue their education in the real estate industry, and finally, have faith that if you serve your clients properly your business will ultimately succeed.”

Joel continues, “…I’m pretty much a one-man shop. The next five year plan is to add staff and add some agents to my roster. At the moment, I enjoy the flexibility to be able to “run away” for a few days here and there. If you happen to be the “Broker of Record,” you can never completely run away for that extra day or two of vacation or a holiday. During the next five years, I will be looking for a very capable office manager who I will put a great deal of faith in. Hopefully, I will be able to concentrate on growing my business and increasing my volume of clients. With added clients, any broker or agent worth their salt will know if they continue to provide quality service, their business is going to survive, thrive and grow!

Joel and his San Diego Real Estate office, serves the communities and surrounding areas of Greater San Diego, La Jolla, and San Diego County. His office and team take great pride in their motto…“Where San Diego and the World Comes for Real Estate Information!”

He is a Past-President of the Mission Bay Real Estate Association, and has served on a number of panels and committees with the San Diego Association of REALTORS®.

“The world is a continuously evolving entity. When I first started in the real estate industry, a friend of mine, Rick DeLuca, introduced me to ADVANCED ACCESS. I respect him and he is a great role model. He told me, “If you don’t use ADVANCED ACCESS, you have to get some type of Internet presence to enhance your real estate reputation.” “That was great advice. After looking at some of the other competition that was out their in the marketplace, I decided that ADVANCED ACCESS was the very best choice for me, and since that time have continued to be satisfied and impressed with their products, programs, and services.”

“I learned a lot from my initial “Webmasters,” and based on my original set-up by Angie Cummings and Kristina Davis; they were and are very professional and took great care in walking me through the initial stages of my Website set-up. In a very short time, I could manage the Website, change it, improve it, add to it, and basically get a feel for what I needed to do to my site. ADVANCED ACCESS continues to improve their products, programs, and services, and I love the options that they provide. They continue to be far superior to anything else on the market today, and their add-ons enhance their Websites. The Intellicards™ is phenomenal, and I don’t even come close to using it to its full capacity. I also love the forums! Everyone who participates enjoys helping anyone who seems to need some guidance, and if you have questions or any unique problems, all of the participants are always willing to help you out. ADVANCED ACCESS is at the top of the game, and I really don’t feel the need to go with anyone else,” Hawk concluded.

Joel offered some statistical proof of just how important his ADVANCED ACCESS Website has been to his overall success. “As a result of my ADVANCED ACCESS website since starting my career in the real estate industry, I have been fortunate enough to complete over 46 transactions, totaling over $17.8 million of sold and purchased real estate property during the last six-years. At the present moment, I am serving over 950 buyers who are receiving property information from me on a daily basis. Who could possibly do that without the technical advances and tools ADVANCED ACCESS provides?” With approximately 113 total transactions during that same time period and over $45.5 million of total sales, that equates to about 40% his business in the greater San Diego real estate market that originates with his increased Internet presence.

Joel offers these final words “…as we continue to evolve, technology, along with humans all continue to evolve, we find we are relying more and more on the Internet. Without question, if you are to survive and continue to grow in the industry, you will need to improve and exist on the Internet.”

“I am responsive and proactive, I try to learn what the consumer needs are and what they are looking for. I listen to my clients, and I respond almost immediately. I’ve learned if a client does not get a rapid response, they move on. We as professionals need to continue to provide sound real estate advice, and we need to be able to provide this valued advice and counsel in a timely and accurate manner.”

“So what we are talking about are delivery systems that will help a REALTOR® accomplish this. The Internet has become one of the most important tools in a REALTORS® tool box. A company like ADVANCED ACCESS has all the tools that a successful REALTOR® needs to be successful on the Internet.”

Hawk concludes with “…You can have the best Website in the world, but if you don’t let other people know about, it’s not going to do you any good! You have to market it, and that’s what ADVANCED ACCESS teaches us the most!”

The Annual Kaiser Business Center Tenant Appreciation Luncheon was held on Thursday, June 22nd, 2006, and members of the Senior Management Team and staff members for ADVANCED ACCESS attended the luncheon that was held in the North parking lot of the ADVANCED ACCESS Headquarters.

The luncheon is held annually and hosted by Kilroy Realty Corporation, based in nearby Irvine, California, which is the office management company who serves as the landlord for the giant office complex located in Anaheim Hills. The luncheon was held outside on a warm and sunny day, and allows other tenants to take a few moments out of their hectic schedules to meet and relax with other staff members from various companies that are housed in the Kaiser Business Center.

The ADVANCED ACCESS Senior Management Team and staff members would like to offer their sincere and heartfelt "thanks" for a wonderful luncheon event, and for the cooperation and assistance that the Kilroy Realty Corporation and their staff offers throughout the year.

We are proud to feature Nick Durment from our Inside Sales team this month. Nick is a valued member of the team and has been the top producing Inside Sales Representative three months in a row and counting!

Nick was born in Torrance, CA and has lived in Corona, CA for most of his life. He grew up with his two sisters; one older and one younger. His older sister now has two children, and his younger sister is working on her degree at UC Riverside. Nick graduated from Corona High School in 1998 where he especially enjoyed the computer aided drafting and architecture courses.

In addition to his duties at ADVANCED ACCESS, Nick holds a California Real Estate license and is a REALTOR^®part-time. He is also the proud owner of an ADVANCED ACCESS website which generates several leads per week. Nick remarked, "This has given me an incredible insight to working with agents as an employee of this company. I can give first hand experience to the benefits of having an ADVANCED ACCESS website." When asked about what he enjoys about his position at ADVANCED ACCESS, Nick said that he loves the positive environment and that he can stand by an excellent product. He also said that he's a fan of the wonderful Christmas parties we have each year.

Perhaps Nick's greatest accomplishment and joy is his lovely daughter, Rilyn. Nick adores Rilyn and calls her the "center of his universe". Nick also has a passion for music. He enjoys playing his guitar and songwriting. And of course, he can be spotted at the occasional employee poker game, but he jokes that the other players are usually glad when he doesn't show up because they don't lose so much!

Casey Griswold, Director of Inside Sales stated, "Being a licensed REALTOR^®himself, effectively using the product he is representing, and his ability to help his clients feel comfortable with a complex decision are just a few of the reasons Nick is our top salesperson." We are grateful to have a team member with such a diverse collection of talents.

On the Lighter Side...
From Reader’s Digest “Joke Central - Virtual Hilarity”

My husband, Mark, was planning to attend a conference and was looking at airline schedules on the Internet. As he checked different combinations of flights, he mistakenly keyed in a return time that was before the departure time, only to see this message appear on the computer screen: "Sorry, time travel is not permitted."