T he GMAR office has opened with COVID-19 precautions

SentriLock lockbox audit - please return any unused lockboxes
SE WI EMERGENCY SUPPORT GROUP ON FOX6
At the start of the pandemic, a Milwaukee area realtor turned to home-cooked meals to help families in need. It is a project that continues to grow.
From the beginning, Rochelle Gamauf just wanted to give back.
"We have one guy that lost his wife, and it's very simple for him to just put the food in his oven, and he's got a meal for him," Gamauf said.

But over the last ten weeks, what began as an idea has evolved into something much larger. Gamauf has assembled the Southeast Wisconsin Emergency Support Group to make the meals and get other things, like groceries, pet food, and even paper towel for families in need. She hopes to register the group as a 501(C)3 nonprofit -- to continue its work after the pandemic.

The Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors has launched a GoFundMe to help the group cover the cost to use a commercial kitchen at the Waukesha County Expo Center -- and not cook out of Gamauf's home .  CLICK HERE   to learn more.

Two ways that you can help:
 
  1. Make a donation on their Go Fund Me page. They’re $3,947 toward their $7,500 goal. Proceeds are being used to upgrade their operation from volunteers’ kitchens to the commercial kitchen at the Waukesha County Expo Center.
  2. Purchase some of the items on this list and take them to one of the drop-off locations:
 
  • GMAR Office, 12300 W. Center Street, Wauwatosa (1 mile west of Mayfair Mall) – 8:30AM to 5:00PM
  • Chiropractic Partners, 1720 Dolphin Dr., Suite E, Waukesha, WI 53186 – 8:30AM to 5:00PM
  • WI State Fair Park & Ride (NE Corner of the Fairgrounds off of 76th Street) – Fridays 10:00AM to 11:00AM
 
Read more about SEWIESG on their Facebook page .
 
Rochelle’s effort exemplifies the “ That’s Who We R ” maxim. And you can too by helping the effort. 
SHOWING INSTRUCTIONS DURING COVID
IS THE SELLERS' CALL
The GMAR has received many reports from listing agents and sellers complaining that showing agents and their buyers are not respecting the sellers’ showing instructions. If the seller requires masks, you must wear a mask. If they require shoe removal or shoe covers, you must adhere to those directives. 

Sellers are watching on cameras. Realtors are also witnessing these infractions as they wait to see a property while waiting for the other showing agents and their buyers to leave.

It’s the sellers’ home and the sellers’ rules. Not following these instructions could result in negative media press and ethics complaints being filed. Sellers do not look favorably on our industry when their rules are not followed.  

If you have any questions or comments on this matter please contact Scott Bush.
GMAR OFFICE HAS REOPENED WITH THE FOLLOWING COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS
The GMAR office has reopened for meetings and other business with the following precautions:

All guests, members, and meeting participants entering the GMAR office will be required to wear a face mask. Please bring a mask with you. If you don’t have one, the GMAR will provide you one, while supplies last.

The GMAR will have hand sanitizing stations in all meetings and throughout the building. Please use them.

All meetings will be physically arranged to accommodate proper social distancing, defined as being at least 6’ apart.

The GMAR will work diligently to maintain a safe and sanitary environment in the interest of member and staff health.

The GMAR may update this policy as recommendations from the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) or Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) change.

The GMAR is committed to doing what we can to keep our members and staff safe.
CAPITOL INSIGHTS: NEW PODCAST SERIES
Capitol Insights delivers the latest real estate legislative developments so you'll stay up to date on legislative and political issues that affect the industry and your business. This new podcast features WRA staffers and members from around Wisconsin who discuss timely, relevant topics of interest. Simply tune in, listen and learn about the latest real estate-related updates at the state capitol.


Tune in to hear what it's like to practice real estate in a state that did not deem home buyers and sellers "essential."
2020 ELECTIONS
Are you interested in being more involved with the 2020 elections? Whether you want to support a candidate at the local, state or national level, consider running that contribution through the Direct Giver Program. It is a tool Realtors have to support a candidate or elected official. 
Click here for more information or contact Marne Stuck by email or call 414-778-4929
THE GMAR IS IN THE MIDST OF A SENTRILOCK LOCKBOX AUDIT
The GMAR is in the midst of conducting an audit of the SentriLock lockbox system. SentriLock has urged us to conduct an audit periodically, because, over time, some agents build up an excess of boxes compared to the number of listings they have had recently.
 
The GMAR has 9,000 lockboxes as part of its SentriLock lease. There are 8,443 in members’ hands, but only 2,785 on listings right now.
 
In order to assure that there are enough boxes to put on upcoming listings, the GMAR will be sending each member an email with the number of lockboxes they currently have in their possession and a request to return any that are not being used at this time.

If you have not yet received an email regarding this matter but you have lockboxes you wish to return, please do so. Our office is open from 8:30am - 5:00pm, Monday through Friday.
 
We are very aware that listings may have slowed recently, and we will make every effort to make sure each member has an adequate number of boxes in the short-term, as well as access to additional boxes in the future.
 
Thank you in advance for your cooperation as we undertake our first SentriLock audit in the next few weeks. If you have any questions, please contact Emily or Alberta .
THURSDAY TAKEAWAYS VIDEO SERIES
Check out the most recent edition of WRA's Thursday Takeaway Video Series!
 
"Sharing One Buyer's Inspection Report with a New Buyer"
With Jennifer Lindsley
Can you share a former buyer's inspection report with a new buyer? If so, how? When? And why?
 
KMC WINE & BEER TASTING POSTPONED
The GMAR Kettle Moraine Council has decided to post pone our 2020 Wine & Beer Tasting event until 2021. We want to thank everyone who has sponsored and participated in the past. We would also like to encourage you to make a donation to the GMAR Youth Foundation this year as all fund raising events have been canceled. We look forward to seeing you next year at this event. 
COVID-19 RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO REALTORS®
HOW CAN YOU HELP DURING THE PANDEMIC?
REAL ESTATE SUPPLY STORE NOW AT
MINUTEMAN PRESS - BROOKFIELD
The real estate supply store is now located ONLY at Minuteman Press - Brookfield location (13680 W. Capitol Drive). Currently, the store will be available for online, email and phone orders only. Please email us with your order the day before. We will select your items ahead of time, email you an invoice, and have them ready for you to pick up at our front door. Pick up time is M-F between 9 AM and 4 PM.
Contact Minuteman Press-Brookfield for more info, (262) 781-9622!
AFFILIATE EVENTS
Keep More of Your Income in 2020: Free Remote Program
Tax-Reduction Strategies for the Real Estate Professional

After this seminar, you’ll have what you need to bring to your tax accountant, so you qualify for thousands of dollars more in deductions.

Friday, June 12, 2020
9:30am - 12:00pm
Hosted by Kelly Clark with Bradford Tax Solutions

THE FOLLOWING GMAR SOCIAL EVENTS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE COVID-19 SOCIAL DISTANCING REGULATIONS
Shredfest
Brewers Bash
Golf Outing
KMC Wine & Beer Tasting
KMC RPAC Auction (will be rescheduled)
In addition to our weekly eNewsletter, the GMAR will be utilizing its social media pages to keep members informed and up-to-date during the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation. Please connect with us through the links to our social platforms below.
Comments, Suggestions or Questions?...
Let us know how the GMAR can improve what we offer to you as members of our organization. Your feedback helps us to make quality improvements to our programs and benefits, so we appreciate it! Click here to e-mail your feedback to the GMAR .