By Laurie Cadigan

One of the best kept secrets and easiest ways to build your business is with professional networking. We network with clients, customers, attorneys, and lenders every single day. But it’s easy to get wrapped up in our little world and miss networking with each other for the betterment of our businesses, our industry, and the Realtor® association.

I challenge us all this year to look beyond our office doors, our list of tasks, and our small communities. Welcome and avail yourselves to the association resources and opportunities to make contacts with those who can improve your business. We’re entering the spring market and anticipating a prosperous season, but we remain in a challenging era with many obstacles in our way. I invite you to utilize all the industry assistance available to help meet those challenges and increase profit.

Imagine going to a local association meeting and securing a referral from a Realtor® practicing a few towns from you. Then take it a step further and attend a state association event like the MAR Conference and Tradeshow or Realtor® Day on Beacon Hill scheduled for June 8—or even a class at MAR—and network with Realtors® from the opposite end of the state. Imagine what might happen.

I know from experience that you’ll share ideas about your marketplace, you’ll learn about a new app, or a new loan program or vendor, or you might meet someone who has a seller relocating to your area of the state.

The association can even help from the national level. In late 2010, NAR recognized the challenges facing Realtors® and launched the Home Ownership Matters campaign. Through various mediums,lawmakers, and outreach programs, NAR is providing the public and us with valuable information on the importance of preserving home ownership. On realtor.org in the Home Ownership Matters section, you’ll find a listing of the positive publicity NAR has garnered on the value of home ownership, data and statistics citing why now is a good time to buy, and facts about the benefits of owning long-term. NAR even created a free Mortgage Interest Deduction calculator application for iPhones, which estimates the taxsavings value of home ownership.

There are countless resources available through NAR’s campaign to share with your clients or community. Download flyers, videos, widgets, buttons, and more. These tools can help inform your sellers and ignite your buyers to help them experience the American Dream. Step away from your “day-to-day” and schedule some professional networking this year... and capitalize on the resources your membership provides. You’ll see your success skyrocket!