PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
The Key
To Your Success
This issue of Orlando REALTOR®
magazine focuses on two critical
objectives of the REALTOR® organization:
• ensuring that you are aware of the
laws and regulations that govern your
actions; and
• lobbying for or against those very same
laws and regulations because they also
govern your ability to successfully practice
real estate.
First up is a collection of articles that
provides you with a preview of ORRA’s 29th
Real Estate Legal Summit. The summit will
be held September 5, 2019 at the Florida
Hotel and Conference Center. It’s an all-day
affair (worth eight CE credits) that provides
essential and up-to-date information on
today’s pressing legal issues. Registration is
now available through orlandorealtors.org;
sign up as soon as you can.
Next we have a recap article from the
2019 Florida Legislative Session. It was a
banner year for Florida REALTORS®, with a
record number of our supported bills earning
the approval of both the Legislature
and Gov. DeSantis.
However, the real point I want to make
from my soapbox is that while REALTORS®
are expected to adhere to laws and regulations,
being a REALTOR® is just as much
about adhering to the standards of professionalism
set by the REALTOR® Code of
Ethics and, frankly, common decency. For
those reasons, a primary objective of my
presidency has been to improve our members’
professionalism across the board.
Since professionalism starts at the top,
earlier this year we rolled out the new Excellence
in Professionalism - Platinum Key
Certification course. The program is based
on our popular Excellence in Professionalism
– Gold Key Certification course but is
directed toward brokers (broker associates
may also take the class). Already 75 active
brokers have earned the PKC credentials,
joining the 3,200 active members who hold
GKC credentials.
Like GKC, the PKC certification signals
to both consumers and other real estate
practitioners that a broker is dedicated to
practicing the utmost in customer service
and brokerage management. Also like the
GKC structure, an entire real estate office
has the opportunity to become a PKC
certified brokerage and may advertise itself
as such.
PKC and GKC courses are offered
throughout the year; registration is available
through orlandorealtors.org. If you’re
thinking about earning certification, now’s
the time to sign up. Consumers are becoming
more and more vocal about insisting
on professionalism from their real estate
practitioners, and in the upcoming years
we will be using our formidable public
awareness machine to highlight PKC and
GKC as evidence of Orlando REALTORS®’
commitment to professionalism.
Professionalism and quality service are,
without a doubt, the keys to achievement
in our industry. ORRA is here to help you
through each step of the process. I hope
that you take advantage of what we offer,
and that I’ll see you along your path to
success.
Jeffrey M. Fagan
This graphic from ORRA’s “I Am The Key” consumer
awareness campaign reminds homebuyers and
sellers about the value a REALTOR® brings to
the real estate transaction. ORRA members are
welcome to utilize the campaign’s materials in their
own marketing efforts; visit orlandorealtors.org/
consumercampaign.
4 Orlando REALTOR® Summer 2019
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