REAL ESTATE BOARD TARGETING ILLEGAL OPERATORS Real Estate... · REAL ESTATE BOARD TARGETING ILLEGAL OPERATORS T he Real Estate Board is sounding a warning to per-sons who operate

Volume 16 │ Issue 15 │ JUN 2017

A q u a r t e r l y p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e R e a l E s t a t e B o a r d / C o m m i s s i o n o f S t r a t a C o r p o r a t i o n s

REAL ESTATE BOARD TARGETING ILLEGAL OPERATORS

T he Real Estate Board is

sounding a warning to per-

sons who operate without a

real estate licence - contrary

to the Real Estate (Dealers and

Developers) Act, to desist from doing

so as there is a strong likelihood that

they will be identified and charged.

Section 10 (1) of the Act

states that “A person shall not

engage in the practice of real estate

business or in any branch of such

practice –

(a) In the capacity of a real estate

dealer unless he is the holder of

a valid licence issued under sub-

section (1) of section 20 authoriz-

ing him so to do;

(b) In the capacity of a real estate

salesman unless he is –

(i) The holder of a valid licence

issued under subsection (2)

of section 20 authorising him

so to do; and

(ii) An employee or agent of a

duly authorised real estate

dealer.

There are currently several matters

before the courts and a number of

ongoing investigations regarding

such operators. The most recent

involving a 50-year old male from the

western end of the island who was

found to be involved in real estate

business, despite not being regis-

tered and licenced with the Board

since 2006.

On Tuesday March 28,

inspectors from the Real Estate

Board carried out an operation which

resulted in the suspect being arrest-

ed by an inspector, and subsequently

charged with practicing without a

Real Estate licence. He was taken to

a Police Station in the parish and

placed in custody. He was granted

bail in the sum of $50,000.

“The Board is mandated to

ensure the professional and ethical

conduct of real estate practitioners

and one of the ways we do so is to

monitor the industry in respect of

persons who practice illegally,” noted

Sonia Graham, Manager – Inspec-

torate of the Real Estate Board. “Let

this serve as a deterrent to those

who are practicing contrary to the

law, that we remain vigilant and will

do our part to make sure that perpe-

trators are so identified and brought

before the courts,” Mrs Graham

warned.

“By targeting persons who

practice illegally, we hope to main-

tain public confidence in the industry

and protect the integrity of our

licenced salesmen and dealers,”

explained Board CEO Sandra Watson.

“Unlike illegal operators, licenced

professionals are exposed to the req-

uisite training and as such there can

be greater confidence in the quality

of the service they provide.”

“The Board is mandated to ensure the

professional and ethical conduct of real

estate practitioners and one of the ways

we do so is to monitor the industry in

respect of persons who practice illegally”

Sonia Graham, Manager - Inspectorate

The Real Estate Journal

Local & International Real Estate News

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Real Estate Could be

Be this Funny?


S ince our last issue three

months ago we have seen

a number of developments

in the entity. The final con-

sultant’s report which we covered

last issue is just about due and that

report will inform how we proceed

in amalgamating the entities includ-

ing assuming a new name with an

expanded mandate.

We have advertised five optional

courses thus far as a part of the

Continuing Professional Develop-

ment (CPD) programme for Dealers

and Salesmen. They include

Timeshare and strata-related cours-

es. I would encourage our practi-

tioners to start thinking seriously

about courses they would be inter-

ested in sitting as a part of the CPD

requirement.

I would also like to use this oppor-

tunity to remind our salesmen and

dealers that 20 hours are required

over two years, starting with licenc-

ing period 2018/19 – 12 hours of

optional courses and 8 hours of

compulsory courses. Courses that

are provided by any entity, other

than the Real Estate Board, must

be approved in order for those

hours to be credited toward option-

al course hours. As we add new

courses, they will be advertised in

the print media as well as on our

website and Facebook page.

We are aware that change can be

unsettling and so we thank our

practitioners in advance for their

cooperation as we seek to improve

and expand the collective skillset of

our clients and build customer con-

fidence in the industry.

I also wish to thank those who have

signed up and will participate in the

Annual Returns Workshop on June

30 as your participation is evidence

that you are committed to attaining

the competence to meet what is a

basic requirement for strata

maintenance and management.

We cannot over-emphasize the im-

portance of Annual Returns filings

to the harmonious, communal func-

tioning of a Strata property, for the

benefit of all its proprietors.

Our pre-licencing courses are ongo-

ing. Persons interest in the

pre-licencing course for Salesmen,

are asked to indicate to the Board

as soon as possible so that

arrangements can be made to hold

a course once we have met the

quorum to go forward.

As a follow-up to our cover story, I

hope those persons practicing or

considering practicing without the

requisite training and licencing take

heed. The Board, through our

inspectors, utilises a range of

intelligence and surveillance

techniques to increase the likeli-

hood that such persons will be

exposed.

On an internal note, we would like

to thank our Legal Officer, Christo-

pher Henry, Senior Inspector – Pete

Francis and Accountant, Claudine

Ferron for their stay with us and the

indelible impression that they have

made on the organization during

their varying times with us. As they

pursue other personal and profes-

sional opportunities we wish them

well in the next phase of their lives

and trust that they will make

valuable contributions in their new

assignments.

CEO’s MESSAGE

Sandra Watson

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER


Daily updates & posts

Local & International Real Estate News

Photo updates of all activities & events

Real Estate Tips and Quotes

Information for practitioners

Radio & TV Public Service Announcements

Videos

...and much more

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...own a small piece of paradise

Timeshare JAMAICA

The Real Estate Board has responsibility for determining all

applications for Timeshare licences in Jamaica.

Contact us to register your property

http://timeshare.reb.gov.jm | [email protected] | (876)926-9748/9


Timeshare JAMAICA

▲ CSC Inspectorate Manager, Ainsworth Norton answers a

few questions after the Strata Public Forum on Thursday

April 13, 2017 at the Girls Guides Association

▲ Staff members turn out in red for Wear Red Day in support of

the fight against Heart Disease in Women—Friday May 12, 2017

▲ Marketing Manager/PRO, Damian Wilson presents a zone

prize during the Grand Finals of the Junior Debate Internation-

al Competition at the Police Officers’ Club - June 23, 2017

#TeamREB after their participation in

the Guardian Life 5K, May 27, 2017 ►

▲ Inspectorate Manager, Sonia Graham adds her emotional well wishes

to Pete Francis during a send off for the Senior Inspector— June 2, 2017


N on-compliance by strata corporations to the

legislation which governs their functioning, as

well as to the by-laws governing individual

corporations, seems to be linked to the failure

of developers to provide the required basic information

during the initial hand-over to proprietors.

This was apparent during the question and

answer section of a Public Forum put on by the Commis-

sion of Strata Corporations (CSC) on Thursday April 13,

2017 at the Girls Guides Association to address a range

of problematic issues facing strata corporations. One

attendee, who identified herself as being employed to a

well-known local bank, expressed her ignorance as to

whether or not she lived in a strata corporation. A num-

ber of others were not aware of what classified proper-

ties as being a strata corporation.

“The problems faced within most strata corpora-

tions have their roots in a pervasive ignorance on the

part of prospective purchasers of strata properties to

their obligations within the context of communal living,

explained Ainsworth Norton, Manager of the CSC

Inspectorate. “The Commission has therefore commit-

ted itself to increasing public awareness in order to

change the perceptions of both developers and inves-

tors in strata properties.”

According to the Registration (Titles) Act, (the

“Act”) the onus is on the developer of the property to

establish its initial management structure to ensure

effective and sustained management of the property.

The developer should therefore see to it that the first

annual general meeting for the strata corporation is

held within ninety (90) days of registration of the strata

plan at the Office of Titles. At this meeting, a budget

should be presented outlining the proposed mainte-

nance cost apportioned according to unit entitlement

and insurance coverage quotations presented for the

corporation to vote on coverage type and provider.

Minutes should also be taken of this and all general

meetings. As a matter of fact the developer is required

by law to present each potential purchaser with a copy

of the proposed budget and a copy of the by-laws at the

point of purchase of the unit.

According the Commission’s CEO, Sandra Wat-

son, developers are expected to take the lead in assist-

ing in educating unit purchasers on their rights and

responsibilities when purchasing these types of proper-

ties. “Developers are creating not just shelters, but

active and dynamic communities and should therefore

take the lead in ensuring that the prevailing by-laws,

whether crafted by the developer and registered or

those contained in the First Schedule and Second

Schedule of the Act, are communicated to prospective

purchasers well in advance of the hand-over of the

units,” Mrs. Watson reasoned.

Public Forum confirms basic information lacking among Strata Proprietors

Ainsworth Norton (left), Manager-Inspector, Commission of Strata

Corporations and Sandra Watson (right), CEO of the CSC address

attendees at a Public Forum at the Girls Guides Association on April

13, 2017

Continued on next page


The issues of by-laws and maintenance fees gener-

ated substantial discussion where again many persons

were unaware of the standard by-laws included in the Act,

or if a modified set of by-laws were in place for their proper-

ty. The First and Second schedules of the Act establish

basic by-laws which apply to all corporations. However,

individual corporations can make changes to the First

Schedule by-laws with the agreement of three-quarter of

the proprietors while changes to the Second Schedule by-

laws require a majority vote.

The payment of contributions in the form of maintenance

fees is one of the main ongoing costs associated with own-

ing a strata property and is informed by an agreed budget.

It was clear based on the questions and comments of some

attendees, that such a budget was never presented or

agreed to in many cases.

The non-submission of Annual Returns to the Com-

mission has also been a vexing issue for some time,

Mr. Norton explained in his presentation. “Less than 22%

on average of all strata corporations file their annual re-

turns over the years. Of those that do file approximately

40% are compliant. This means that the compliance rate

within the industry is approximately 8% over a three year

period,” he confirmed.

The question of pets and the right to keep such in a

strata unit was also a recurring question. This is addressed

in the Section 1 (c) of the Second Schedule which states

that a proprietor should not keep any animals in his strata

unit or common areas, having been given notice to remove

same.

Developers are cre-

ating not just shelters, but

active and dynamic

communities and should

therefore take the lead in

ensuring that the prevail-

ing by-laws, whether craft-

ed by the developer and

registered or those

contained in the First

Schedule and Second

Schedule of the Act, are

communicated to prospec-

tive purchasers well in

advance of the hand-over

of the units

The Re al Estate Jo urnal

President of the Guardian Life Limited, Eric Hosin

G uardian Life Limited (GLL) will launch its first

real estate development project in mid-June, a

$6-billion initiative intended to speed up

investment returns for the life insurance

company, according to president Eric Hosin.

The residential development will be done in two

phases over three years on property owned by Guardian

Life at Musgrave Avenue in Kingston.

The company is building 238 residences target-

ed at the middle-income market.

Hosin declined to share the projected return on

investment, but said the housing project promised high-

er returns than those currently being garnered from

insurance.

Last year, New Kingston-based Guardian Life

which ranks number two in the insurance market with

$66 billion in assets, registered declining net profit. The

company made $3.8 billion compared to $4.6 billion

the year before. Its net results from insurance activities

fall from $3.65 billion to $2.6 billion at year ending

December 2016.

Guardian closed out 2016 with a cash hoard of

$3.4 billion, down from $5.4 billion the year before.

As observed by Hosin in a letter describing the

planned real estate project, "the Jamaican investment

landscape has changed significantly over the last five

years, making it more difficult for businesses like

Guardian Life to make reasonable returns from tradi-

tional sources".

That prompted the company to seek out more

lucrative fields for investment.

"We have identified the real estate market,

specifically development of residential property, as an

avenue for improving investment returns in the medium

term," Hosin stated.

Guardian's biggest competitor, Sagicor Group

Jamaica, operates a real estate investment fund which

has $44 billion in assets and a well-established proper-

ty services arm that executes real estate projects for

the group.

Guardian will initially develop a six-storey struc-

ture comprising 66 housing units on a 1.32 acre lot at

9 Musgrave Avenue.

Phase two will encompass another 172 residences

spanning two buildings that will rise to seven and nine

storeys on 3-acre property. That development at 2-4

Musgrave Avenue will include a jogging trail, among

other amenities befitting what the company describes

as the 'contemporary Caribbean lifestyle'.

GLL itself will launch its real estate initiative

company-owned property, which it proposes to develop

in two phases over the next three years.

Hosin declined to disclose the selling price of

units saying that all the information will be given at the

ground-breaking ceremony for the project on June 14

but noted the target demographic for both develop-

ments as “young professionals, small families, expatri-

ate, upper-income investors along with pension and

property funds”.

The Guardian Life head said the three-year

project is expected to create 230 jobs for skilled and

semi-skilled workers over the construction period.

Published: Wednesday June 7, 2017 | The Gleaner

Avia Collinder

Guardian Life to Pump

$6B into Real Estate

“We have identified the real estate mar-

ket, specifically development of residen-

tial property, as an avenue for improving

investment returns in the medium term,” - Eric Hosin


H omebuyers and homeowners saw a rip in the

ever-rising interest rate continuum last week

and jumped right in.

Interest rates fell last week to the low-

est level since November, and the seasonally adjusted

mortgage volume jumped accordingly, up 7.1 percent,

according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Still,

volume was 16 percent lower than the same week a

year ago, when rates were lower. .

The average contract interest rate for 30-year

fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances of

$424,100 or less decreased to 4.14 percent, from 4.17

percent, with points increasing to 0.34 from 0.32,

including the origination fee, for 80 percent loan-to-

value ratio loans. As a reference point, mortgage rates

jumped from 3.77 percent to 4.16 percent in the two

weeks following the election of Donald Trump last

November. .

"Purchase application volume increased to its

highest level since May 2010. Refinance activity

bumped up as well in response to moderating rates, but

remained generally subdued," said Joel Kan, an MBA

economist. .

Loan applications to purchase a home jumped

10 percent from the previous week, seasonally adjust-

ed, and now stand 5.5 percent higher than one year

ago. Purchase volume has been decidedly weak this

spring, as home prices overheat due to the tight supply

of homes for sale. .

Affordability, clearly an issue, shows up in the

types of loans borrowers seek. Applications for fixed-

rate loans are down 18 percent from a year ago, while

applications for adjustable-rate loans, which offer lower

interest rates, are up 26 percent. .

The refinance market got a little boost from low

rates as well last week, increasing 3 percent. Refinanc-

es are extremely rate-sensitive, and rates were below 4

percent last year. Refinance volume remains 34 per-

cent lower than one year ago. .

Mortgage rates continued to slide this week,

and Thursday's much-anticipated hearing on Capitol

Hill, where former FBI Director James Comey is sched-

uled to testify, could either accelerate that slide or

reverse it. .

"The potential shock is the unknown outcome of

Comey's congressional testimony. It might not hit mar-

kets during business hours, and it might not hit markets

at all," said Matthew Graham, chief operating officer of

Mortgage News Daily. "But there is a chance that it

could cause a very big movement for better or worse."

Diana Olick

CNBC.COM | Posted: Wednesday June 7, 2017

Mortgage applications jump 7.1% as lowest rates since election send home-buyers rushing to lock in

The Organisation said goodbye to three

members during the quarter

including Pete Francis (page 5)

Farewell to three great employees. Your hard work and dedication were an important part of our team. As you turn the page in your life's story, we join together in wishing you every success in all your future endeavours.

Claudine FERRON, Accountant

Christopher HENRY, Legal Officer

Pete FRANCIS, Senior Inspector


Why is CDP necessary for practitioners, many of whom

have been practicing for many years?

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) has been

introduced for three main reasons:

Firstly, the proposed Amendments to the Real Estate

Dealers and Developers Act which governs the practice

of real estate in Jamaica will mandate CPD for real

estate professionals.

Secondly, CPD is an international best practice

among real estate professionals, and is practiced in

several other professions. A number of countries

mandate CPD including Canada, New Zealand … Sever-

al states in United States including Florida, California,

New York, Georgia, Texas, Ohio etc. also mandate CPD

for their practitioners.

Finally, developments within the real estate

industry move at such a pace that no professional

should be content to rest on the knowledge and skills

gained through their education, training and experience

in the past. Dealers and salespersons must keep their

knowledge up to date, be familiar with the relevant

guidelines, government policies and procedures and

the latest developments taking place in the industry.

The public expects no less from the real estate profes-

sionals whom they engage; to be knowledgeable and to

provide timely, accurate, comprehensive and reliable

advice.

What are the additional/potential benefits of CPD?

New areas will be offered such as Timeshare and

(updated) Strata Management courses. In the case of

the Timeshare, anyone who does all the courses on of-

fer in this area, will be able to have it added to his or

her licence.

Will persons be allowed to renew their licences for

2018-19 if they have not started or completed the

required 20 hours.

Persons are encouraged to make every effort to identify

courses they are interested in, and take the necessary

steps to complete these courses. The onus is on the

applicant to show evidence that he or she has started

the necessary courses, when applying for renewal. If no

effort has been made to sit the courses which were/are

offered, a written explanation will have to be given and

a decision will be made on a case-by-case basis. How-

ever for the 2019-20 licencing period and beyond, the

Board will be less lenient towards non-compliance.

When will new courses be added?

The new courses that have recently been publicized are

all elective courses.

New courses will be added periodically, consid-

ering the time and space available at the Real Estate

Training Institute, which also offers on-going courses for

Salesmen, Dealers and Property Managers, AML Train-

ing and Local Land Law and The Proceeds of Crime Act

Examinations.

Continuing Professional

Development


As new courses are added, practitioners will be notified

via email, the website, social media and print media.

You may also contact us periodically to ascertain if any

new courses have been added.

Where the courses are mandatory the industry

will be advised accordingly. These will then contribute to

the eight (8) hours of mandatory courses required.

Will courses be offered online or via distance educa-

tion?

There are no immediate plans to offer these courses

online or via a distance education medium. While we

are cognizant of the challenges some of our practition-

ers may face in participating in these courses at the

current location, we must consider other factors in

order not to compromise the integrity of the delivery of

the courses. This is a situation we will continue to

assess, in the best interest of the Board and its clients.

How is registration done?

Persons may register for these courses in the same way

they register for courses at the Real Estate Training

Institute. That is – by completing the form which is

available at the Real Estate Board, the Training Institute

and on its website. Fees may be paid online via NCB or

Scotia online and providing proof of payment, or paying

at the Real Estate Board or Training Institute via credit/

debit cards or managers’ cheques.

Will any exemptions be considered?

Exemptions are completely at the discretion of the

Board. These will only be considered where proof can

be provided of having participated in such courses that

are approved by the Board and relevant information on

the scope and nature of the courses. These courses

must show some level of equivalency with the courses

provided as well as relevance to the profession/

industry. The number of exempt hours will also be con-

sidered based on the number of in-house hours which

will be accepted for CPD.

Are there approved institutions whose courses will be

approved by the Board for CPD hours?

The Real Estate Training Institute is the sole provider of

CPD Courses at this time. However enquiry may be

made to the Board as to whether a particular course

from another institution will be accepted. A body may

also seek to have their course(s) approved by submit-

ting the necessary course information to the Board.

Visit the ‘COURSES’ section of www.reb.gov.jm for course dates & times, course requirements, deadlines & registration date

THE REAL ESTATE TRAINING INSITUTE Now offering: Local Land Law and POCA Exams, Pre-licencing Courses and

Continuing Professional Development Courses

The Re al Estate Jo urnal

How would your friends describe you?

Fun-loving, thought-driven, attentive to detail, and pos-

sessing an appreciable sense of humour

What schools have you attended?

Hagley Park Preparatory, Kingsway High, Northern Carib-

bean University, and the University of Sydney

Tell us about your past jobs.

After spending a few years in the private sector working

in Fraud and Revenue Assurance/Business Risk, I spent

the next 10 years in the child protection sector focusing

on the areas of statistics, research, policy analysis and

development, and strategic planning. I have also en-

gaged in facilitating adult learners at the tertiary under-

graduate level.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

Completing my graduate degree by way of a full scholar-

ship at a university ranked among the top 50 tertiary

institutions across the world.

What is your favorite game or sport to watch and play?

Basketball; though I am much better at watching than I

am at playing it.

What two radio stations do you listen to in the car the

most?

The ones with the least amount of talking. Music is life!

What kind of music do you listen to and is your favorite

artist(s).

My taste is quite diverse, so I enjoy the usual gospel,

reggae, R&B. However, I also enjoy country, neo soul,

jazz, and the ‘oldies but goodies’. I won’t even attempt

the favourite artist part of the question…too many to sift

through.

Have you ever had a nickname? What is it?

Not officially…but my wife [alone] calls me “Baba”.

*smile*

If money was no object, what would you do all day?

Travel the world and experience different cultures.

Randell Bailey

Corporate Planning Analyst


Let’s Meet…(Continued from previous page)

What are your hobbies?

Photography, travel (both domestic and foreign), and, of

course, listening to music.

Aside from food, water, and shelter, what one thing could

you not go a day without?

Okay, last time…Music!

List two pet peeves.

Spoilt children and, by extension, ill-mannered adults

What's your favorite animal?

Birds

What's your favorite fast food chain or restaurant, and what

would you normally order?

Island Grill. My order will likely depend on the time of day or

night that I’m there.

What is your favorite childhood memory?

This may be somewhat odd, but I remember the abundance

of fried chicken and fruits that resulted from the passing of

Hurricane Gilbert. Electricity was out for weeks following the

storm so preserving meat and fresh produce was near im-

possible; and allowing them to go to waste would be such a

crime!

What was your favorite subject in school?

Physics; though I could never pass it at the CXC/GCE level.

Just shameful…

Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

Introvert by nature; extrovert by necessity.

Who was your favorite teacher in school (at any level) and

why?

Mrs. Evadne Barrett had the most motherly approach to her

functions as teacher and school administrator; but she also

had the most mesmerising command of Spanish as a sec-

ond language that I had ever encountered.

What three things do you think of the most each day?

My goals, what it will take to achieve those goals, and how I

can be the best version of my present self.

Who knows you the best?

Jesus! Lol Then my older brother, Sheldon.

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I t is safe to assume that most persons have at

some point heard the phrase “change is

inevitable”…or some derivative of it. It is one

of those perennial life lessons that we are

reminded of even when we prefer not to be

because “any change, even a change for the

better, is always accompanied by drawbacks

and discomforts” (Arnold Bennett, 1973). None-

theless, embedded in the certainty of changes

and the discomforts that accompany them is

the awesome opportunity for better. Please note

that I said “opportunity” and not “guarantee” as

the possibility for good outcomes following

change is largely dependent on how the

change is implemented, and how those affect-

ed by it respond.

Much of the scholarly dialogue regarding

change, particularly in organisations, is focused

on what steps the implementers just cannot

afford to miss. They are encouraged to

communicate, solicit buy-in, never forget the

‘human element’, be mindful of culture, and the

list goes on! Of course, these are all critical in the

process of effecting change; however, they are

focused on saving management from as many

of the possible pitfalls as they can. So what’s

there for those that will have to deal with the

changes, including the implementers them-

selves?

Interestingly, while change management

and other such topics are addressed at great

lengths by publications such as the Harvard Busi-

ness Review, and Business Insider the matter of

coping with changes is largely undertaken by

Psychology Today and others akin to it. It is

certainly true that the aforementioned strategies

(i.e. communicate, solicit buy-in, etc.) are

consistent with the idea that there is an undenia-

ble link between business performance and

psychology. However, it seems as though deal-

ing with change is thought by some to be a task

that should be undertaken on a personal level,

and is to be dealt with in a different space from

organisational change. Do not ‘buy-in’ to that

notion!

Organisations are about people – clients

and staff combined; and our response to chang-

es largely determines the success of the business-

es with which we are connected. So then, we

should all ask the question, “Am I more interested

in the success of my organisation or the extent to

which things will be [at least initially] uncomforta-

ble?” In the words of General Eric Shinseki, “if you

don't like change, you will like irrelevance even

Corporate Planning Analyst, Randell Bailey explores the

issue of Change and Change Management against the back-

ground of the pending amalgamation of the Real Estate

Board and the Commission of Strata Corporation, into a

single real estate regulatory authority

Change is Inevitable;

Success is Not!

See our new

full-page

Timeshare Ad

& Advertorial

in the June

2017 issue of

Jamaica

Experiences.

The Magazine

is available at

leading hotels

and The Club

VIP lounge of

the local

international

airports


Why is Purpose Important

When you understand your job’s wider purpose you are

happier, more engaged and more creative. Purpose is

important because it helps you see your role from an

organizational perspective; you work harder, use your

initiative more and make sensible decisions about your

work. In turn, the company operates more efficiently,

staff turnover reduces and productivity rises. The positive

effects are felt from the CEO to the customers.

Finding your Purpose

It is essential to realize that your job provides a service to

someone else and keeping this in mind will help motivate

you to work harder, better and with more satisfaction.

Having a positive attitude towards your work is one of the

building blocks of resilience; that is: having the ability to

cope with stress and being strong during the tough times.

Connecting with the Goals of the Organization

Reflect on how you can connect with the goals of the

organization by using the organization’s mission state-

ment to write your own vision statement. This will help

you identify customers’ needs and ways in which the

organization will meet them, and how the successes will

be measured.

Using the 5 Whys Technique can help you

through the process. You can start by simply asking “why

am I a part of this team or department”, follow up with

the whys until you uncover the deeper purpose behind

your work.

Build a positive work environment

A positive working environment brings out the best in

everyone. It is therefore important to socialize before

meetings or outside of work to help build good working

relationships. A work environment that is uplifting and

supportive makes it easier to connect to the deeper

purpose of your work.

Having some autonomy over your work will also

promote values such as integrity, honesty and humility.

When you understand the deeper purpose behind your

work you are likely to be satisfied and more productive.

Use feedback to boost positivity

Positive feedback is a highly effective motivator. It

reminds you that your work is being noticed and is

making a difference. Additionally, positive feedback from

customers is a powerful way to inspire you and keep you

connected with the people you are helping. When you

know that your work has meaning it helps you to feel

more confident and secure about your life.

Finally, it is important to realize that your work is

meaningful and really does make a difference. This

realization will help you feel a greater sense of personal

satisfaction.

Angela Williams

Human Resource Officer (Acting)

HUMAN RESOURCE Finding Purpose & Meaning

in your Work


Could be this funny!

The Devil & the Agent

“The Devil tells a Real Estate Agent,

“Look, I can make you richer, more

famous, and more successful than any

Real Estate Agent alive. In fact, I can

make you the greatest agent that ever

lived.” .

“Well,” says the Real Estate

Agent, “what do I have to do in re-

turn?” .

The Devil smiles, “Well, of

course you have to give me your

soul,” he says, “but you also have

to give me the souls of your children,

the souls of your children’s children

and, as a matter of fact, you have to

give me the souls of all your descend-

ants throughout eternity.” .

“Wait a minute,” the Real

Estate Agent says cautiously,

“What’s the catch?”

Wait Until the Signs are Right

“A small real estate broker was dis-

mayed when a brand new real estate

franchise much like his own opened up

next door and erected a huge sign

which read BEST AGENTS. He was

horrified when another competitor

opened up on his right, and

announced its arrival with an even

larger sign, reading LOWEST

COMMISSIONS. The small real estate

broker panicked, until he got an idea.

He put the biggest sign of all over his

o w n b r o k e r a g e - i t r e a d …

MAIN ENTRANCE.”

▲ How much are they asking for your rent

now? Oh, about twice a day.

▲ My buyers went through debt consolidation.

Now they have only one bill they won't pay.

Documents

REAL ESTATE BOARD TARGETING ILLEGAL OPERATORS Real Estate... · REAL ESTATE BOARD TARGETING ILLEGAL OPERATORS T he Real Estate Board is sounding a warning to per-sons who operate