AT THE 33RD ANNUAL REALTOR-BUILDER TRADESHOW, LOCAL REAL ESTATE PROS ARE PREPPING FOR A WINNING SEASON
In Jacksonville, we love our Jaguars. Even though the team has struggled through a tough couple of seasons, it’s entering the 2012 season with a new owner, a new coach and a new attitude.
It’s an attitude shared by real estate professionals, who have also taken some tough hits over the past several years and sense better times ahead.
That’s why the 33rd Annual Realtor-Builder Tradeshow has adopted a football theme and the upbeat slogan “Game On!” Like the Jags, people who build and sell new homes are ready to put up some impressive numbers.
The big event, which is expected to attract about 600 attendees and more than 60 exhibitors, is the largest gathering of its kind in the region, and offers the best opportunity all year for Realtors, builders, trade partners and others to find out about new projects, catch up on marketing trends and, of course, network.
The Realtor-Builder Tradeshow is a joint project of the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors (NEFAR) and the Sales and Marketing Council (SMC) of the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA).
This year, it’ll take place on Thursday, Oct. 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the University of North Florida’s University Center. Parking is free and tickets bought in advance are $10.
As always, practically every booth will be offering giveaways. So make sure you bring plenty of business cards and take every opportunity to win.
Prizes include a $500 cash giveaway, a $250 Tiffany & Co. gift card from Homes & Land magazine, Disney World tickets from Florida Homebuyer Jacksonville magazine, restaurant certificates and more.
Stations serving up complimentary snacks and drinks will be placed throughout the facility. Participants include Edible Arragements, Guiliano’s Italian Restaurant, Flippin Good Cookie and A Time for Wine to name a few.
There’ll also be two educational sessions focusing on technology and the use of tablets and apps to facilitate doing business on the go.
The instructor is Andrew Bell, a Realtor with Watson Realty’s Jacksonville Beach office. The sessions are entitled “Tablets 101” and “There’s An App for That.”
The task force responsible for “Game On!” was co-chaired by David Wakefield, senior loan officer with PrimeLending, and Liz McMahan, broker with Watson Realty Corp.’s South Beach office and president of the Jacksonville Chapter of the Women’s Council of Realtors.
Wakefield, who’s co-chairing the event for the second time, represents NEFBA, while McMahan represents NEFAR.
“If I feel that if I’m able, I’m just one of those guys who likes to step in and help out,” says Wakefield, who’s worked in the mortgage industry for nearly 20 years, the last four with PrimeLending.
Wakefield certainly knows the Northeast Florida market. His family moved to Jacksonville when he was 10 years old and he graduated from the University of North Florida with a degree in marketing. He’s been married for 18 years and he and his wife, Serena, have three children.
McMahan has been affiliated with the Watson Realty’s South Beach office for 21 years and become broker in 2005. She oversees the office’s day to day operations.
“I have a hard time saying no and I’ve been involved with the task force for the past several years doing the decorations and other things,” says McMahan, who was a stay-at-home mom before beginning her successful career in real estate. She and her husband of 30 years, Bill, have three children.
Wakefield and McMahan share philosophies that made them an ideal team. Says Wakefield: “Be tenacious, don’t take no for an answer and don’t give up.” Adds McMahan: “Don’t ever give up. Just when you think things are really bad, give it that one more day and you can be surprised at what can happen.”
“Game On!” sponsorships are still available, and range in price from $800 to $3,500. For more information contact Celeta McClamma at (904) 394-9494, Ext. 1201. She can also be reached via email at cmcclamma@nefar.org.
A handful of booths, priced at $600, were still available at presstime. For more information contact Corey Fountain at (904) 421-0298. She can also be reached via email at cfountain@nefba.com.
Message from the Co-Chairs
What’s more exciting than the beginning of a new football season? Old records are wiped clean and every team, from the winner of the Super Bowl to the conference cellar-dweller, has a spotless record.
This year, we wanted to capture that excitement and expectation through the annual Realtor-Builder Tradeshow, co sponsored by the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors (NEFAR) and the Sales and Marketing Council (SMC) of the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA).
The theme is “Game On!” That means we’re suited up and ready to take the field. And, like the Jaguars, we’re hungry and ready to win.
As co-chairpeople of the task force that pulls together this amazing event, we’d like to thank everyone who helped to make the 33rd annual Realtor-Builder Tradeshow possible. That includes task force members as well as sponsors and exhibitors.
We’d also like to encourage you to attend — not that too much encouragement is needed. The Realtor-Builder Tradeshow always packs the house because it’s fun and informative.
If you build homes, you’ll have a captive audience of the best real estate salespeople in the State of Florida anxious to hear about your projects. If you sell homes, you’ll have access to inside information about what’s new and what’s coming in Northeast Florida’s rebounding market.
So the whistle has been blown. The coin has been tossed. The hot dogs have been served and the teams have taken the field.
What more can we say except: “Game On!”
EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS WILL FOCUS ON HIGH-TECH TOOLS
iPads and other tablets are becoming de rigueur for people who conduct business while on the move, particularly Realtors and site agents.
Of course, many people remain technophobic. Others are simply unaware of all the ways in which new technology can improve their efficiency and effectiveness.
Apps such as Pages and Numbers from Apple, plus the ability to hook up a keyboard via Bluetooth, make a tablet a great computer on the go.
That’s why this year’s Realtor-Builder Tradeshow will offer two educational sessions specifically on tablets and apps ideally suited for real estate professionals.
The instructor is Andrew Bell, a Realtor with Watson Realty Corp. in Jacksonville Beach.
Bring your iPad or Tablet to these hands-on sessions.
Tablets 101
10:00 a.m - 10:45 a.m.
This class, aimed primarily at tablet novices, will offer tips on choosing the right tablet for you and review the differences between the iPad and the Android. There’ll also be a tutorial on setting up your tablet and using it to maximize your business.
There’s an App for That
11:00 a.m - 11:45 a.m.
This class reviews the latest and greatest apps for real estate professionals, including Zillow, Trulia, DocuSign, SugarSync, Real Estate Calc: Mortgage & Home Loan Qualification Calculator, Numbers, Drop Box, Open Home Pro and, a particularly useful one, Find My iPhone, an app that tracks where you left your phone or tablet.
In Brief
What: The 33rd Annual Realtor-Builder Tradeshow
When: Thursday, Oct. 18, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Where: University of North Florida’s University Center. Parking is free.
Who: Presented by the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors (NEFAR) and the Sales and Marketing Council (SMC) of the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA).
Why: To learn, network and educate. Also, enjoy enjoy complimentary food and drink and register to win some impressive prizes.
Tickets and Sponsorships: Admission is $10 per person in advance, $20 at the door. Sponsorships range in price from $800 to $3,500. Contact Celeta McClamma at (904)394-9494, Ext. 1201, or email her at cmcclamma@nefar.org.
Booths: Prices are $600. Contact Corey Fountain at (904) 421-0298 or email her at cfountain@nefba.com.
Buy your tickets in advance online for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate from Ruth’s Chris Steak House:
http://tinyurl.com/rbtradeshow2012