Realtor solidarity urged to help resolve barrier height issue of new bridge

Photo by QUENTIN ROUX, Staff

Don Farmer makes a point during his dual presentation with wife Chris Curle.

Photo by QUENTIN ROUX, Staff

Chris Curle talks to the gathering at the Realtors membership luncheon.

Photo by QUENTIN ROUX, Staff

Linda Sandlin enjoys a lighter moment during the luncheon talk by Don Farmer and Chris Curle.

It came quite deep into the presentation, but the developing ruckus over the new Jolley Bridge’s barrier heights was the biggest attention getter at the latest monthly gathering of the Marco Island Area Association of Realtors.

Guest speakers and Eagle columnists Don Farmer and Chris Curle brought up the subject, with Farmer acknowledging that sometimes Realtors have to be diplomatic on civic issues.

“But,” he said, “it’s important for a group like this, because Realtors know that the view coming across the bridge is a great sales tool.”

To that end, he urged Realtors to lobby their council members on the issue.

Realtor and Realtor’s Support Network member Keith Dameron agreed, saying he understands the argument that drivers should be looking straight ahead.

But, he pointed out, passengers — or in this case, potential home buyers — could be alerted to the view that is said to have swayed so many people to fall in love with Marco in the past.

Farmer and Curle — both former TV news correspondents and network anchors — also spoke about the media, and how important it is for newspapers in particular to keep their Web sites fresh and informative.

“The Internet has been newspapers’ worst enemy ... but maybe now their salvation,” he said of the push for web traffic.

Curle said that makes sense because one in three Americans now use cell phones to catch up on the news.

The twosome also gave some advice for Realtors wanting to have their business news published, saying editors love receiving complete packages that are well-written, and that correctly identify people in attached photos.

“That way, you’re likely to end up at the top of the in box, so to speak,” Farmer said.

Farmer had a little fun with the blogging phenomenon, acknowledging that short, sharp communications can be helpful and informative, but noting that on the flip side: “It’s also been said that bloggers have enough time or narcissism to document every tedious bit of minutiae filling their uneventful lives,” he said to the accompaniment of chuckles from the audience.

Also at the monthly membership luncheon, President Susan Ackerson announced the first-ever statewide Open House weekend to be held April 10 and 11.

Marco will be in the mix as well, she said.

The initiative comes just before the April 30 deadline for the federal home buyer tax credit. Homes need to be under contract by April 30 and closed by June 30 for buyers to be eligible for up to $8,000 in tax credits, according to a Florida Association of Realtors communique.

Realtors were urged to begin scheduling their open houses immediately, were asked to visit the floridarealtors.org/aboutfar/openhouse/index.cfm Web site for more information on spreading the word.