RE/MAX On the River Charitable Foundation

RE/MAX On the River makes Valentine’s Day donations
February 19, 2013, NewburyportNews.com

The Realtors at RE/MAX On the River have established a charitable foundation and each agent contributes a percentage of their commissions from every sale they make to fund the foundation. Since 2010, the foundation has contributed nearly $70,000 to local charities and organizations.

This Valentine’s Day, the RE/MAX agents made a donation to three local charities. Checks in the amount of $2,000 were presented to the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center, Pettengill House and the Boy’s and Girl’s Club of the Lower Merrimack Valley.In addition, the RE/MAX On the River Charitable Foundation recently donated $5,000 each to two local families who were in immediate need of assistance.

The RE/MAX On the River Charitable Foundation has also established an annual High School Scholarship Fund that will offer $2,000 scholarships to four local high schools: Newburyport, Amesbury, Triton and Pentucket. The scholarships will be awarded to graduating seniors who will be selected based on their local involvement or volunteer work focused on giving back to their communities.

Those with questions can contact Craig Holt at 508-633-6366.
The Daily News of Newburyport

Cronin receives Innovator in Marketing Award

November 8, 2011, NewburyportNews.com
Business News in Brief

Sharon Cronin, broker/owner of RE/MAX On the River in Newburyport, was recently awarded the North Shore Association of Realtors’ 2011 Innovator in Marketing Award. She received the award at the association’s annual membership meeting at Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport. The Innovator in Marketing Award recognizes a Realtor who encourages creativity and innovation in promotion and advertising. Cronin was recognized for her bold business marketing move by relocating her office to Newburyport’s centrally located, downtown square. Recognizing the opportunity to greatly improve the visibility of her office, Cronin and her team made the leap and have transformed a historic brick building into a modern, “customer centric” venue. Established in 1998, RE/MAX on the River offers residential and commercial real estate services for buyers and sellers and has offices in Newburyport and Amesbury.
The Daily News of Newburyport

Codes make imprint on housing market

Tech-driven marketing tool making an imprint on local housing market
April 7, 2011, NewburyportNews.com
By Dave Rogers Staff writer The Daily News of Newburyport

NEWBURYPORT — To many, the two-dimensional matrix barcodes known as QR codes may look like the latest in modern art or a psychology test gone haywire.

But to an increasing number of tech-savvy consumers, QR codes — short for Quick Response — are a tool to make their shopping experiences richer and easier.

With a simple scan, consumers who have downloaded a QR reader on their smartphones will be taken directly to a company’s website. Free websites, which will convert URL codes into QR codes, are becoming more plentiful as advertisers come up with new ways to take advantage of this latest trend.

Locally, one of the city’s leading real estate companies, RE/MAX on the River, has embraced the marketing tool. For the past couple of months, the real estate company based in The Tannery Marketplace has been using QR codes to market their properties to potential buyers as well as in its advertising with The Daily News.

When potential homebuyers scan the QR codes on their smartphones, they are whisked to the Web page for the property listing. Instead of one grainy black-and-white photo plus an abbreviated listing that can take some time to decipher, homebuyers can see dozens of photos and a full listing as well as schedule an appointment to visit the property, according to RE/MAX on the River sales and marketing director Steven Babjak.

“We’re trying to obviously serve all our clients and at the same time appeal to the appropriate target audience that are tech-savvy,” said Babjak, who defined the tech-savvy target audience as between 32 and 38 years old.

“They want info when they want it, and they want it right then,” Babjak said.

QR codes, along with text messages, are streamlining the homebuying process, Babjak added, saying that relying on telephone calls and fax machines can unnecessarily bog things down.

“It’s definitely sparked a lot of people’s interest and curiosity,” Babjak said. “With anything, it takes a while for people to get used to it, but it’s been well received.”

The QR codes are being embraced by real estate brokers, too.

RE/MAX on the River broker Kim Weeks, who has 15 years’ experience selling real estate, said she believes every Realtor should adopt the new technology.

“This is certainly the age of the smartphone, and I just think knowledge is key,” Weeks said. “I think everything is technology-driven in today’s consumer world.”

The idea for using the QR codes came during a recent brainstorming session when RE/MAX on the River associates were discussing how consumers are shopping in 2011.

“What’s cutting edge and what are people responding to,” Babjak said. “We want to be on the forefront of it and stay on top.”

For RE/MAX on the River, the investment is a sound one considering it costs them nothing to generate QR codes and the printing costs for newspaper advertising are no greater than traditional real estate ads.

So far, it seems, RE/MAX on the River has met its goal of being at the local forefront of this advertising tool. Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce executive director Ann Ormond said she hasn’t yet noticed QR codes spreading throughout the business community.

But Ormond said as a whole, mobile/text marketing is gaining traction. That means it’s only a matter of time before QR codes pop up in unexpected places. T-shirts are just one latest example.

Hemlock Ink of Somerville, which prints logos and designs on T-shirts and other clothing for clients across the country, recently delivered a large order of T-shirts with QR codes for the Boston-area company iZotope. The shirts were distributed during a San Francisco gaming conference with the hope they would direct traffic to the audio-technology company’s website.

“Obviously, it’s pretty cool because you’re taking the print medium and you’re kind of making it interactive, so that kind of makes it valuable to our clients,” Hemlock Ink co-owner Neal Cadogan said.

Hemlock Ink clients include Puma North America, nationally known musical acts and even a New Jersey dodgeball league.

RE/MAX on the River has yet to see any home sales resulting specifically because of the QR codes. But Babjak said it’s only a matter of time before they seriously catch on. Soon, the QR codes will be included on the company’s “for sale” signs.

“We’ve gotten calls from it, and we’re actually seeing not only the clients using, but, obviously, our sales associates are using it to have more information,” Babjak said. “I definitely think it’s the wave of the future.”
The Daily News of Newburyport

RE/MAX On the River Charitable Foundation

A true way of giving – Family and friends come together at Murphy’s Riverside Fundraiser
January 29, 2011, NewburyportToday.com
Note – this article was submitted by Karen Holt, who works with Nathanel’s mother, Deidre McCarty, at John Farley Clothiers in Newburyport.

In December, you may have seen news of a former Amesbury native, Nathaniel Bibaud, who was seriously injured in a head on collision on the island of St. Croix. After being med-flighted to Mass General Hospital in Boston, he was diagnosed with a broken vertebra and a dislocated spine, and underwent emergency spinal surgery. With enormous support and love from family and friends, Nathaniel has overcome many obstacles that were once said to be unattainable. His next step is at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital where he is continuing this challenging recovery with courage. Nathaniel turned 26 recently and went off his father’s health insurance. During December, the Nathaniel Bibaud Recovery Fund was established at the Provident Bank in Amesbury, where many donations have been pouring in to help with the escalating medical bills.

The first recovery fundraiser event was held at Murphy’s Riverside in downtown Amesbury on Thursday, January 20. A tribute to Murphy’s owners, Glenda Gotcsik, Richard Gehrlein, and in particular, to Rachel Jones, Sarah Goodridge, Sarah Burke, and Ali Ross, who organized the worked the event. Other staff members, Caitie Johnson, Kristin Ward, Bonnie Griffin and Jack Greene did not know Nathaniel, but volunteered their time and tips and wanted to help make a difference. The crowd at Murphy’s was shoulder-to-shoulder, packed for the cause. The biggest surprise was when Nathaniel arrived from Boston’s Spaulding Rehabilitation for a few hours. The cheers could be heard all the way down Main Street! The event was widely advertised thanks to Funny Bones, of Salisbury, who donated a custom made banner. Dawn Kingston of 439 Photography, volunteered to photograph the event, and Ben Sargent and Chris Clifford entertained the crowd with their live music.

Hundreds of raffle tickets were sold, as well as T-shirts, designed by Ali Ross, with Nathaniel’s picture and tag line of his local hockey team the Cheefs ‘Heal to the Cheef.’ Ali is collecting orders for the Ts to benefit his recovery fund. The silent auction table was busy, thanks to help from Ali, Michael Jones and Jake Goodridge, offering hundreds of donated services, products, and gift cards of restaurants, including autographed sports prints, jewelry, custom fishing rod, a GPS, food gift baskets, tickets to Bruins, Red Sox, and Celtics games to name a few. All mentions of donations, people and organizations to thank were posted by Nathaniel’s mother, Deidre McCarty on facebook. Everything was greatly appreciated!

Murphy’s Riverside donated a portion of food and beverage sales from the evening to Nathaniel’s fund, and 100% of the staff’s tips were donated as well. Together with the proceeds of the raffle, auction, the event brought in over $20,000 for Nathaniel’s recovery fund.

During the fundraiser, RE/MAX On the River made its’ first donation of $5,000 to aid Nathanial in his recovery. This RE/MAX On the River Charitable Fund was established in January of 2010 to make a difference for those individuals and charitable organizations locally. Each RE/MAX On the River agent pledged a certain percentage from each real estate sale to fund this charitable endeavor. Agents Craig Holt along with Ann Olmstead and Jay LeClerc presented the donation to the family.

A wonderful evening! A true way of giving from family and friends, who are proud of Nathaniel’s courage for the road ahead.

Donations to “The Nathaniel Bibaud Recovery Fund” can be sent to the Provident Bank, 5 Market Square, Amesbury, MA 01913.

To see photos of this meaningful event, see the facebook page ‘Nathaniel Bibaud Recovery Fundraiser’

http://www.newburyport-today.com/2011/01/27/true-giving-family-friends-murphys-riverside-fundraiser

Deb Hamilton, Agent, RE/MAX On the River

Take a walk in the park or up a hill with WWWWW
by Jennifer Solis, Correspondent, The Daily News of Newburyport
November 8, 2010

WEST NEWBURY — Deb Hamilton, a local Realtor, equestrian and open space enthusiast, is organizing a weekly walking group for people interested in exploring nature’s beauty by going on easy to moderate hikes in local spots in and around West Newbury.

Hamilton has dubbed her new group WWWWW (Women Who Walk Without Whining) — but quickly adds that men are also welcome to join.

“My focus is on getting local people out using and enjoying the beautiful open spaces that look so different on foot — or horseback — than they do from a car. I believe we all could be firmer and fitter, and walking briskly is a great way for anyone who wants to feel better in the skin they’re in,” she said.

A member of the Board of Directors for the Essex County Trail Association and an Essex County Greenbelt member, Hamilton has walked and ridden along local trails for 35 years. Still, she says, there are plenty of places she has never traversed. “One of Massachusetts’ 100 Best Places is Crane Pond in West Newbury — and I can’t say I’ve spent much of any time out there, so I’m looking for folks who have other favorite trails and places they’d like to share.”

Hamilton did add one caveat to her invitation — “I’m a fair-weather walker, however, so we’ll cancel if it stinks.” She plans to post each walk — or cancellation — to an e-mail list of people interested in participating and will also send the schedule to the ECTA website and Rheebo.com. Hikes where dogs are permitted to come along will be listed on the posted schedule.

The group will walk for about an hour or so and participants should wear “hiking boots or sturdy shoes that don’t mind a bit of mud,” Hamilton said. “We may switch to cross country skis or snowshoes in a couple months.

“Who’d guess that you can walk from Page School to the top of the highest hill in town — Archelaus Hill — or follow along the Indian River to the Merrimack River on mapped, marked and inviting trails? Or that there are parallel trails behind the soccer fields at Pipestave Hill that offer easy walking, are home to lots of wildlife and allow for easy loop trails so you don’t have to retrace your steps?

“By now, I’d have thought that everyone would have walked both the Newburyport and Salisbury rail trails, but surprisingly few people have done so.

“It just seems that enjoying the miles of trails and country roads in the area beats walking on a treadmill in a smelly gym, so if you feel the same way, but have been afraid of getting lost, please come join us,” Hamilton concluded.

To sign up to get regular e-mail notifications about the new walking group, contact Hamilton at deb@deborahhamilton.com

RE/MAX On the River achieves professional award

by GHS, Amesbury News
Posted Apr 13, 2006

RE/MAX On the River was recognized during the RE/MAX of New England Awards Gala at the Marriott Copley Plaza in Boston held March 11 with the Children’s Miracle Network Award. The award is presented to the office who has contributed overall enthusiasm, time, money and support for the Children’s Miracle Network in New England.

‘To win this award is very exciting,’ Sharon Cronin, RE/MAX On The River broker/owner said. ‘This award to me is more important than winning Broker/Owner of the Year award.’

RE/MAX On the River has been associated with the Children’s Miracle Network for almost five years. Agents in the office donate a portion of each transaction to CMN, and last year the office took part in the RE/MAX of New England ‘Spring Cleaning’ yard sale event that benefited Children’s Miracle Network. The office is also active in other charitable events, such as co-sponsoring a blood drive and taking part in Our Neighbors Table.

RE/MAX On the River is affiliated with RE/MAX of New England and RE/MAX International.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/amesbury/news/x668813377