Bulletins – Hawaii Information Service

Have you recently had your home painted, replaced your solar water heater, bought a new fridge, had your carpets cleaned, or done anything else to your home?  While this is may just be general maintenance to you, they are great occasions for a blog post as well!  Whether your experience was a good or a bad one, these are definitely the types of things worth blogging about.

Positive Experiences:  If you are like me, you are always looking for great referrals from the people you trust – and what better person to get home tips from than your trusted realtor?  Not only will your family, friends and clients appreciate the inside information, so will the people and businesses you are referring them to.  Just make sure to include contact information/details so that your readers can truly benefit from your insight.  Also, when you post the entry to your blog, don’t hesitate to forward the link along to whoever it is you wrote about – people always love to hear positive feedback, and who knows, maybe they will be a new source of referrals to you sometime in the future!

Negative Experiences:  Let’s face it, not everything in life turns out just as we would have hopped.  While no one wants to fill their blog (or their lives for that matter) with negative thoughts and feelings, it is just as important to share the not so great experiences you’ve had as well.  As is the case with any negative confrontation (direct or indirect) it is important to be tactful, non-emotional, and stick to the facts.  This will allow you to get your point across without it reflecting poorly on you.  Lastly, try not to end on a negative note – offer a solution or a suggestion as to how your readers can avoid/address the issue in their own homes in the future.

Either way it goes, know that your readers will greatly appreciate the tips, tricks and suggestions you have to offer.  Happy blogging!

We are happy to see/hear that the new online training classes are popular and effective with many of our users.  But, as with anything new, there is always a learning curve.  Here are answers to the FAQ’s we’ve been asked regarding the new online training.  Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact our customer service department via e-mail at CustSvc_Technical_assistance@hawaiiinformation.com or by phone at (808) 599-4224 (Oahu) or Toll Free at (800) 628-312.  Also, after taking the new classes please share your feedback about your experience so we can continue to improve our training program!

• Q:  Can I take any of the classes or just those being taught on my island/area?
• A:  Because they are online, you can participate in any class being offered, however be aware that the trainers usually use area specific examples depending on where they are located.

• Q: Which classes cover the Condo Guide?
• A: The Condo Guide is covered in the Searching and Formatting classes.

• Q:  Can I take the class from any computer, even if I am traveling?
• A:  Yes, the online classes can be taken from any computer so long as you have registered, have the link and/or webinar # sent to you after you register, and have access to the internet. 

• Q:  Do you need a video camera/microphone on your computer to participate?
• A:  You will need a microphone if you want to speak to the teacher, otherwise you can type your questions.  In order to listen to the class you will need either speakers or headphones that plug into your computer, or you may use the telephone after joining the webinar (you will receive instructions on how to do this after signing up).  There is no need for a video camera.

• Q:  Is there a course description detailing what the classes are about?
• A:  Yes, under the Training tab on the REsearch website you will find a link below the log-in area that says “View Class Curriculum” where you can go to see a detailed description of what is covered in each class.  Here is the link to the Training page: http://www.hiinfo.net/REsearch/IDX/mlsHawaii/Training.asp 

Online Training Classes
 
We’re excited to move forward with our much anticipated new training format and schedule.  With the use of our fantastic trainers and online webinars, you, our members, will be able to access up to date training when and where it is most convenient for you.
 
We have scheduled the first round of online classes for the next three weeks.  To sign up immediately, simply click on the links below.  Space is limited so please RSVP soon!  If you are going to participate/watch as a group, only one person needs to sign up.
 
 
May 4th – 8th, 2009
1. Monday, May 4, 2009 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. — Basics with Andrea
 
2. Tuesday, May 5, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. — Basics with John
 
3. Thursday, May 7, 2009 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. — Basics with Carl
 
4. Thursday, May 7, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. — Searching and Formats with Carl
 
5. Friday, May 8, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. — Searching and Formats with John

May 11th – 15th, 2009
 
1. Tue, May 12, 2009 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM – Customizing and Downloads with John
 
2. Thu, May 14, 2009 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM – Update, CMA, Farming & Labels with John
 
3. Thu, May 14, 2009 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM – Customizing and Downloads with Carl
 
 
May 18th – 23rd, 2009
 
1. Tuesday May 19, 2009 from 9:30AM to 11:00AM — Update, CMA, Farming & Labels with Carl
 
2. Tuesday May 19, 2009 from 1:00pm to 2:30PM — Prospecting, Contacts & Calendar with Carl
 
3. Wednesday May 20, 2009 from 1:00pm to 2:30PM — Prospecting, Contacts & Calendar with John
 
4. Saturday, May 23, 2009, 2:00 to 3:30 pm HST: Searching & Formats with Andrea
 
 

May 25th – 29th, 2009

1. Tuesday, May 26, 2009 3:00 to 4:30 pm HST – Customizing & Downloads with Andrea

2. Thursday, May 28, 2009 9:30AM to 11:00AM HST – Maps with Carl
 
Instructions on how to register for the above webinars: 

• To register, please click onto the applicable link located below the class.  The link will then take you to the registration site.
• Please complete all the required fields marked by a red asterisks (First Name, Last Name, Email Address, Phone, Organization AKA Office Name). 
• Click “Register Now” to complete the registration process.  Once registered a confirmation email will be sent to your email address to confirm your registration along with a unique web ID number and instructions on how to login to the session on that day. 
• If you need login assistance, please feel free to contact our Customer/Technical Support team at (800) 628-3121, press # and then 457.
   

System Requirements

• PC-based attendees – Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista
• Macintosh®-based attendees – Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer
   
   
  Questions? Comments?  Please feel free to e-mail me at erin@alohaliving.com or call directly at (808) 748-8759.

Happy May Day!  We have made a few changes/improvements to the following forms within REsearch:

• Purchase Contract
• Commercial Real Property Purchase and Sales Agreement
• Upgraded/Updated HAR forms

Have a great weekend!