RE Bar Camp Virginia

Dot Loop

Tina Merritt — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:46:31 +0000

one simple solution

Enhanced security, more efficiency and less overhead

The real estate industry has, for the most part, kept pace with the quickening rate of business, but there are still considerable gaps between the technology available and the processes implemented. By far the biggest hurdles have been the negotiation and transaction processes. DotLoop has created one solution to streamline transactions and negotiations by using the Internet to allow agents and clients to collaborate in real time.

DotLoop allows the agent and client the ability to interact on their own terms, dissolving distance and sending fax machines into obsolescence. DotLoop offers a comprehensive solution to the challenges of security, efficiency and overhead costs in today’s real estate industry, creating a 21st century solution for 21st century challenges.

Virtual Tidewater

Tina Merritt — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:37:04 +0000

In real estate, a picture is worth thousands of dollars. Hopefully, your pictures are adding thousands to the value of your property, not subtracting them! Don’t allow first impressions to fall flat! Leave it to the expert, seasoned professional, Rosalind Boyle of Virtual Tidewater! Your clients will thank you…

“Virtual Tidewater is a virtual tour and design company based in Hampton Roads. It was started in 2008 by REALTOR, Rosalind Boyle to provide quality listing photos for Hampton Roads area agents at a reasonable price. Virtual Tidewater serves the entire Hampton Roads area from Virginia Beach to Williamsburg and Gloucester. In addition to property photos and virtual tours, Virtual Tidewater also provides design services from property flyers to business card design as well as website design. Real estate is a fast paced business and Virtual Tidewater always does it’s best to meet their clients scheduling needs and provide quick turn around.“

Nate Brown – Monarch Mortgage

Tina Merritt — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:25:22 +0000

When you see Nate, be sure to thank him for his generous sponsorship toward our pre- and post- event happy hours! Nate’s customer service is second to none…contact him and find out for yourself!

“Nate Brown is a fun, young, enthusiastic and energetic loan officer with Monarch Mortgage. When he’s not busy on the job making his clients and referral partners raving fans of his services, you can catch him with a cold beer, enjoying good company, somewhere close to the beach.”

The Residences at the Westin Town Center

Tina Merritt — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:11:02 +0000

Without the Residences at the Westin Town Center, we would not have a venue for REBCVA. As anyone knows who has organized a Bar Camp, the venue is the most important (and the toughest) part of the un-conference. Dianne Gordon, the site agent, has graciously invited us into her luxurious building and we are honored to be her guests!

Opreie – REBCVA 2011 Sponsor

Tina Merritt — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 03:06:05 +0000

Before I tell you what Opreie is all about, I should share what impressed me most about their site. When I was checking out what Opreie had to offer, a box popped up in the bottom right corner of my screen. It was a chat box, but not a “typical” chat box. The intro read something to the effect, “Hi! I’m a real person, honestly. Let me know if I can help you”. Through that one small effort, I met the guys that run Opreie and found out not only what a great product they have, but also how awesome their customer service is!

Opreie offers web based contact and transaction management for real estate professionals. Their site is free to try! Check them out today and be sure to say “Hi!” to Steve when the chat box pops up!

What’s it All About Alfie?

ricks — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 02:20:46 +0000

That was the title song to a 1966 hit movie starring the then new, young, Michael Caine … of course he’s your grandfathers age now …… What’s it all about??????? That’s a common question by agents and brokers .. what is Rebarcamp?

Well it’s about everything …… real estate … including …. video (movies) …. It amazes me how many agents don’t know about Rebarcamp .. and still have not attended one …. since they are free and often include free food, I figured every real estate agent would have been to one or two by now. This week rebarcamp/Virginia is taking place in Virginia Beach Thursday October 6, so you have your chance to attend. This will be my 6th or 7th I have attended in the last 3 years and won’t be the last ….. so join us …. Oct. 6 at the Westin.

To really explain What it’s all About … I defer to the expert explanation of Ginger Wilcox, because she is one of the pioneers in REBarCamp Movement ….

Ginger ….. “The concept for RE BarCamp came from a technology BarCamp event held in San Francisco. Wikipedia defines a barcamp as:

an international network of user generated conferences — open, participatory workshop-events, whose content is provided by participants.

RE BarCamp is a BarCamp for Real Estate (R.E. BarCamp). What that means- the event is not structured like a typical planned conference. Every session is not planned out in advance. Nobody is paid to deliver a session. Anybody can deliver a session and attendees are strongly encouraged to participate.

How does that happen?

When you arrive at the event, you will have the opportunity to put your name in a slot to facilitate a session. The number of sessions delivered at any given time depends on the venue and number of attendees. After registration is over, a board will be put up (see picture below) that details each session and what room they are located in throughout the day. The length of the sessions varies at each RE BarCamp event.

Photo courtesy of Morgan Brown www.turnhere.com.

If anyone can deliver a session, won’t some of the presentations be terrible?
Possibly, but it it not typical. Some of the best and brightest minds attend these events. They lead sessions and they sit in on sessions. RE BarCamp sessions are group sessions. They are not meant to be presentations by a single individual. Because the audience participates, sessions that may start out a little rocky often adjust and get redirected by the participation and collaboration of the audience. Presentations promoting specific commercial products or companies are discouraged. If you feel like you’re being sold, or if a session is really bad and your participation can’t turn it around, practice the rule of two feet- get up and walk out.

That sounds like chaos. How is that productive?
It can be a little chaotic, but some of the best ideas and invention are derived out of chaos. If you go in looking for a very structured day, you will be disappointed. What you get out of an RE BarCamp event is what you put into it.

What topics are covered in the sessions?
This depends completely on who volunteers to lead a session. The sessions are frequently related to technology usage in real estate but cover any topic from mortgages, to photography to philanthropy. If you want to hear a specific session, facilitate it!

Who runs the RE BarCamp events?
RE BarCamps are run completely by unpaid volunteers.

How much does it cost?
RE BarCamps are typically free events because of generous donations from sponsors.

How do I maximize my RE BarCamp experience?
1. Pick sessions of interest to you.
2. Participate, ask questions.
3. If you hear someone speak about something interesting, find them later and connect in the hallway.
4. Spontaneous sessions happen- embrace them! I attended RE BarCamp OC. I was standing outside looking at the session board with some fellow attendees. None of the sessions on the board looked appealing to me at that point in time. A group of us were looking for a more advanced session. On the fly, we grabbed a group and did a spontaneous session on the beach. We literally sat on the sand and held a fantastic and memorable session.

What if I don’t want to lead a session?
You don’t have to! Some people like to lead, other people like to listen, but don’t hesitate to ask questions.

You own your RE BarCamp experience. Make it a great one! “

~Compiled by @gingerw

This unstructured event is company selling and company branding free! (except for paid sponsors ) Please leave your company name tags and company logo shirts at home …. this is a day of sharing, learning and unbranded participation where everyone is on a level playing field of learning and participating.

What IS RE Bar Camp?

Tina Merritt — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 01:47:47 +0000

Wondering what REBC is all about? Let Mike Mueller (aka Mr. AreWeConnected.com) explain it in his own words!

And here is a video from REBC East Bay:

Pre-Event Happy Hour Announcement!

Tina Merritt — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 01:11:44 +0000

When: Wednesday, October 5th, 5pm-8pm

Where: Croc’s 19th Street Bistro, Virginia Beach

Who: All REBCVA attendees!

Why: Meet your fellow attendees, pick up your badges, hang out…why not?

Drink specials, free appetizers – come on down to Croc’s!

View Larger Map

Thank you to Rick Sterling for setting this up!

REBAR Camp Returns to Virginia Beach!

terryg — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:48:59 +0000

REBAR Camp Virginia returns to Virginia Beach as part of the VAR Real Show on October 6th from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at The Westin in the heart of Virginia Beach’s Town Center. Registration is free and can be done at http://rebarcamp.com/virginia/. Okay – those are the stats. But why should you go? Why am I so excited about REBAR again?

Well, it’s all because Tina Merritt (and friends like Damien Steiner Smith and others), one of the luminaries of technology, social media and real estate has decided to return REBAR Camp to its roots. A turn away from instructor-led Power Point presentations and one-way conversations…back to what REBAR has always stood for. The opportunity to network, to exchange ideas with the best and brightest thought leaders who can help answer the questions: “What are you working on right now?” and “What are the challenges you are facing today?”.

REBAR Virginia Beach promises to be raw. To get down to the actionable items and not just skim the surface. But you’d better come prepared. Prepared to have your conventional thinking challenged. Prepared to participate. Prepared to attend the after-party and really get to network with your peers and some of the industry’s finest. Is that a lot to ask? Maybe so if all you had planned to do was to come by and enjoy the finest views in the Commonwealth from the 30th floor of Virginia’s tallest building. Granted, the venue alone is worth the price of admission. But your time and expertise is worth a helluva lot more than that. So come. Spread the word. Be open. Share. The return will be immeasurable.

Speaker – John Daly – Managing Broker Rose and Womble Virginia Beach

damien — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:26:25 +0000

John Daly, VAR’s 2011 Treasurer

John Daly is the managing broker at Rose & Womble Realty in the Virginia Beach area and has distinguished himself as a proponent of the real estate industry for more than a decade.
John has been a volunteer at the local level since becoming a REALTOR® in 1989. He served as a Virginia Peninsula Association of REALTORS® board member from 1998-2003 and as President in 2004 and Treasurer in 2006. John has also served as the VPAR MLS Chairman in 1996, as well as on the REIN MLS board of directors from 1996-1998. John has won several awards from his peers, including VPAR Manager of the Year in 2003 and VPAR REALTOR® of the Year in 2005. He has also received recognition from his firm for his consistent best practices, accepting the GSH Excellence in Management Award from 2001-2007. John has been involved in countless committees, with responsibilities ranging from Ways and Means to Grievance and Professional Standards, from Strategic Planning to Budget and Finance.

John began volunteering at the state level in 2003, serving on the Public Policy Advocacy group. He broadened his level of involvement by participating in the Virginia Real Estate Education Foundation work group, which actively supports real estate education throughout the state. John has also been an elected member of VAR’s Board of Directors since 2005 and an RPAC Trustee since 2007-2009. He was elected by fellow Policy Board members to the position of Treasurer for the 2009-2010 leadership term, and was re-elected for a 2011-2012 term.

John currently serves at the national level on The Business Issues Committee and has served since 2008.

John is passionate about real estate education, taking an active interest in the development of his agents. John has been a technology instructor since 2005 within the GSH Real Estate firm. He holds certification as a Post Licensure and Continuing Education Instructor.

While John devotes much of his time to volunteering on behalf of the real estate industry, he also makes time to enjoy spending time with his family, animals and to pursue his hobbies, including wine tasting, scuba diving and several variations of martial arts.