Sheri Moritz

http://garner.mync.com/site/garner/news%7CSports%7CLifestyles/story/30509/nc-joins-lawsuit-against-dish-network

As real estate agents we have been told a little about the do not call list and have come fear making cold calls. Well there is a good reason for that fear. Large national companies are being sued by the Federal government for violating the Do Not Call list.

Some companies including Real Living inc. have access to the Do-Not Call list and insist that their agents abide by the rules. If you are a brokerage or agent making cold calls as a habit including calling FSBO's and Expired please be sure you know the rules. The penalty is most likely more than the potential commission.

Here is a link to the registry site with more information...https://www.donotcall.gov/

Twitter has a great new user powered directory. As we all know it is important to be listed in as many popluar websurfing places as possible. I have recently found a new addition to that list...

http://wefollow.com/

You can list yourself in 3 different directory titles. With the growing popularity of Twitter it is important for us to be listed in these heavily used directories. The best thing about being listed in this directory has been the number of followers that have found me straight from the wefollow.com site.

I have to admit that everything I needed to know I did NOT learn in kindergarten. I learned a very valuable lesson my freshman year of college as a communications major that has helped me in getting so much free publicity. I have been very fortunate over the past 12 years to have been featured in over 30 magazine articles in addition to the numerous times I have been featured on the local news. Let me first state that not once did the media come looking for me. This is a proactive endeavour:)

The most recent fruit of my labor resulted in the following TV news story on Monday... http://www.news14.com/Default.aspx?ArID=606752&ap=1&Flash as well as a feature story that will be in the local newspaper in the next few days. We had the mayor of our relatively large community as well as over 100 local business owners and community members.

I think that real estate agents and firms overlook the power of a press release all too often. We tend to send the same template release that was written by the corporate office with only making changes in the "agent name" and "office location" section of the release. There needs to be thought and purpose to your release. Why would the media want to contact you or your firm. At least in our market there are new agents joining companies by the dozen so that fact that an agent got a licensed or transferred companies is not news to the media.

Now more than ever the media needs educated, experienced and knowledgeable resources. I am confident that my activerain friends are just that so I want to offer up a few suggestions for a successful press release. Let me first start with the phrase that my teacher embedded into my head. "Media reps have a hard enough time doing their job without having to track down stories ideas and sources" It is the old "you scratch my back and I will return the favor." Media reps love a detailed but straight to the point press release that basically does their job for them.

TIPS FOR A GREAT PRESS RELEASE...

1. Make sure what you are sending in newsworthy. The last thing you want is to look like a junk spammer to the media. They will stop looking at your information as having any value.
2. Make sure your content looks professional in presentation.
3. Make sure your content is relevant in some manner to the local market or trends.
4. Encourage them with catchy headlines. You will be amazed at how many stories titles were verbatim of the title of my press releases. Our most recent TV coverage the writer used my title as the title to their story. This goes back to the point of making their job easy!
5. Follow the local media and offer your assistance on stories.
6. Know the media schedule - Call your media source and ask for their "media kit". Each year publications plan a year in advance for their advertisers to know the focus of each issue. For example the Business Journal in your area may be doing a story on yout section of town in August. Put it on your calendar to send a press release and offering of assistance toward the end of May or early June when they will start working on that issue.
7. Have numerous ways to contact you in the press release... ie, phone, email, web and mailing address, etc.
8. Contact them in the method they prefer to be contacted. Most will have this information posted on their website. Some medias prefer that you fax to the news desk while some prefer that you email.

I have added the press release for the grand opening. Note that I used terms that refer to the current market conditions, an offering of a seminar explaining the timely $8000 tax credit as well as personal and corporate information. Here is also a link to the office your and ribbon cutting event...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tC36iPU_YE&feature=channel_page

CONTACT: Sheri Moritz - Owner FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Real Living Realty Experts

919-387-4100

Sheri.Moritz@RealLiving.com

Despite downturn in the market, Real Living Realty Experts is opening a brand new 3000 sf ft. state of the art real estate office

Garner, North Carolina- (March 14, 2009) - With more than 16 years of local experience helping clients buy and sell their homes Broker/Owner Sheri Moritz announces the opening of Real Living Realty Experts at 915 Vandora Springs Rd. Garner, NC 27529. Real Living Realty Experts is one of the anchor tenants in the Crescent Building along with Crescent State Bank in the newly revamped Forest Oaks Shopping Center.

Despite many large real estate companies closing their local offices, Real Living Realty Experts is forging ahead with the grand opening of their 3000+ sf ft residential real estate sales office. Moritz teamed up with Real Living Inc., one of the nation's fastest growing real estate companies as Real Living's newest real estate franchise location.

Real Living Realty Experts will be celebrating a Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Ice Cream Social with the Garner Chamber of Commerce, mortgage representatives, home inspectors, local business owners, non-profit groups and media representatives on March 23^rd, 2009 from 12pm-3pm. Everyone is invited to attend.

Moritz, a top real estate broker and trainer has been featured in REALTOR magazine for innovative marketing ideas, Top 30 under 30 and Pioneer of virtual offices. In addition, Moritz has been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine for managing and training real estate agents. Prior to acquiring the local Triangle area Real Living franchise Moritz held positions locally as recruitment and training director for RE/MAX and was the owner of a large local independent real estate company.

Moritz chose Real Living because of the innovative tools for potential clients and customers and agents as well as the business philosophies of the company. Moritz states "When I was researching the different franchise options I found the atmosphere and environment of Real Living combined with the business center platform will set it's agents apart from other brands. The web 2.0 interactive home search for buyers and seller offered through Real Living finally gives buyers and sellers the ability to be interactive with and customize their personal home search site.

Real Living Realty Experts will be hosting a free 1^st time home buyer's seminar with details on the new $8,000 tax credit. In addition, Real Living will be offering a free homeowner seminar for those in risk of or in the process of foreclosure with a focus on short sale and loan modification.

Sheri may be reached at 919-520-7205, Sheri.Moritz@RealLiving.com, or at our Web site, www.HomesByRealLiving.com

About Real Living, Inc.

The largest independently-owned, residential real estate firm in the Midwest and the fifth-largest in the country, Real Living boasts nearly 5,000 sales associates and employees, nearly $9.1 billion in combined annual sales, and more than 130 offices throughout the Midwest, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. Real Living also offers a full range of affiliated business services, including home financing, title, relocation, corporate relocation management, auctions and home warranties. For more information, or to learn more about Real Living Realty Experts visit www.HomesByRealLiving.com

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Below is the email I got from congressman David Price on the new legislation that has been passed recently. Instead of explaining it I thought I would just let you read it yourself and get the details...

Thank you for contacting me regarding efforts to stabilize the nation's housing markets and the foreclosure crisis. I am pleased to hear from you.

Like you, I understand that the housing crisis has damaged the U.S. economy and left far too many families in desperate situations, and I am committed to working with the Obama Administration to restore stability to the housing market and the broader economy. As you may know the Obama Administration recently announced its comprehensive Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan, which is designed to help 7 to 9 million responsible homeowners who are struggling to make their mortgage payments, restructure or refinance their home loans to avoid foreclosure. The plan provides for refinancing for 4 to 5 million families with mortgages (issued or guaranteed by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae) who owe more on their house than its current appraised value. In addition, the Homeowner Stability Plan will reach 3 to 4 million at-risk homeowners, with new incentives for lenders to work with borrowers to modify loan terms to bring them more in line with current housing market conditions. Only owner-occupied homes will qualify, and no home mortgages larger than the FHA conforming limit of $729,750 will be eligible. The program is aimed exclusively at homeowners willing to make payments to stay in their home - it will not aid speculators. We know that foreclosed properties reduce surrounding property values, reduce property tax collections, and contribute to increased crime. The foreclosure crisis is having a major detrimental effect on our economy, and stabilizing the housing market is a key component to restoring overall economic growth.

The House recently took action to put in force President Obama's housing plan, by passing the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act (H.R. 1106), with my support. The bill will offer new incentives for lenders to negotiate loan modifications with borrowers, and reduce fees that have discouraged lenders from participating. The bill also allows courts to modify the terms of mortgage loans for families as part of a Chapter 13 bankruptcy repayment plan, in the same manner as owners of vacation homes or multiple houses, real estate speculators, and corporations have been able to do for years. This provision is limited to existing mortgages, requires the homeowner to first work with the lender on restructuring the mortgage terms outside of bankruptcy, and ensures that the lender shares in any increase in property value if the house is sold within five years following the court modification. By setting up a homeowner-lender negotiating process that begins well before bankruptcy, this provision is designed to keep more families out of bankruptcy, and out of foreclosure. The measure is under consideration by the Senate.

In other action aimed at stimulating the economy and stabilizing the housing market, Congress recently enacted, with my support, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1), which will save and create 3.5 million jobs, provide 95 percent of American workers an immediate tax cut, increase renewable energy and invest in science and technology. Among its provisions, the bill increases the first-time homebuyer's tax credit to $8,000 on homes purchased between January 1 and December 1, 2009, and removes the current repayment requirement. For 2009, the measure also increases the FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loan limits back up to the 2008 levels and gives the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development discretion to set higher limits in subareas. The bill was signed into law (P.L. 111-5) on February 17, 2009.

As the House considers legislation related to the economic recovery and housing during the 111th Congress, I hope you will stay in touch regarding your perspective. Thank you again for contacting me.

Ok, as a thank you to the organization that I use to get my media attention and my belief that the most intellegent, knowledgable and experienced agents are members of ActiveRain I am going to share this wonderful invaluable tool with all my fellow activerainers. I have been sourced or featured in 30+ magazine, tv, and other print medias in the past 10 years. My most recent feature stories came as a direct result of my FREE affiliation with HelpAReporter.com. I will be featured in the National Home Builder magazine in May for a story on builder and Realtor relationships. I will also be in REALTOR magazine for a story on brokerages using social media in June. Along with these great opportunites I have also been sourced for a published home staging book, a blog on social media uses as well as a personal story about us adopting a dog for Christmas.

Friday, March 20th, marks one year since the first HARO went out. They went from 0 to almost 70,000 members in 12 months. Every day HARO.com sends 3 emails with requests from reporters for stories. There are requests for everything that you can imagine but almost every day there is a request for national real estate stories as well as area specific story requests. This is an excellent way to make yourself an area expert and gain credibility with customers and clients.

All you have to do is go to HelpAReporter.com and sign up to get the requests. In the 3 daily emails there will be a LOT of story requests. Few will pertain to your business, so be sure to stay focused on your area of expertise.

Good luck in getting published and I wish all my activerain friends lots of PR opportunites.