Photograph by Kathy De La Torre

Jeff Barnett is the new president of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors. He is vice president and manager of Alain Pinel Realtors.




Realtor president will focus on technology

By Jean Newton

As Jeff Barnett, vice president and manager of Alain Pinel Realtors, takes the helm as president of the 2800-member Silicon Valley Association of Realtors (SILVAR) for the year 2001, he faces the challenge of a real estate industry in the midst of change. Barnett, who manages two real estate offices in Los Gatos and mentors 160 people while overseeing $1.1 billion in sales, is more than up to the challenge. He also serves on the board of directors for both the California and the National Association of Realtors and is past chairman of the board for R. E. Infolink, the Realtor multiple listing service. His active involvement within the industry combined with sound business acumen and a high energy level gives him the perfect skill set for leadership.

"This promises to be a year of exciting change within our industry," Barnett said. "Technological advances are on the horizon to provide easier access to information for both Realtors and consumers, and we're leading the charge."

According to SILVAR Executive Director Penny Pompei, Barnett's expertise in technology will serve him well during the coming year. "We're very fortunate to have someone like Jeff who is so technologically literate lead our organization through the changes ahead, " Pompei said. "Realtors need to become more savvy than ever before when it comes to technology."

One of the biggest changes impacting the real estate industry in the coming months will be the implementation of the electronic transaction platform that Pompei calls, "one of the biggest paradigm shifts for Realtors."

As real estate transactions become Internet-based, one of the first steps enabling the process will be the ability to retrieve real estate forms online. SILVAR members currently have access to the organization's forms online, but for the first time, the California Association of Realtors will include SILVAR's proprietary forms as part of a software package offered to Realtors. Barnett said the inclusion of SILVAR's forms in the software package was a significant effort spearheaded by PRDS, a subsidiary under SILVAR's umbrella, to provide Realtors with access to forms designed for disclosures that are specific to an immediate area.

Since California has already approved electronic signatures, the wave of the future will likely see Realtors establishing a website for real estate transactions. Buyers and sellers will have special codes to log online to track progress 24/7 and get immediate access to inspection reports, appraisals and other documents.

As the real estate industry embraces the Internet, Barnett said he is especially enthused about the upcoming expansion of the multiple listing service (MLS) to a web-based service that will give Realtors several different kinds of options for wireless access.

"Realtors will be able to access the MLS from anywhere at anytime. It's part of our continued goal to provide excellent professional services and to broaden our efforts to provide information and resources." Barnett said.

During the coming year SILVAR will also introduce new Internet guidelines for Realtors instituted by the National Association of Realtors. The guidelines set rules for information Realtors can put on their websites and will provide, among other things, broker reciprocity requiring identification of listings posted on Internet sites.

Technology isn't the only issue Barnett will tackle during his yearlong tenure as president of SILVAR. With carry-on in hand, Barnett will spend some of his time traveling to Sacramento and Washington, D.C., to monitor bills in the legislature and lobby for consumer and housing issues.

"We take a strong advocacy position for the consumer in a variety of real estate and housing issues," said Barnett. "We also have a very involved political action committee that keeps an eye on local issues, as well."

Silicon Valley Association of Realtors serves Realtor members and affiliate members in offices from Los Gatos, Saratoga, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Mountain View and Los Altos in Santa Clara County to Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Atherton in San Mateo County. The organization provides ongoing educational and training programs for Realtors, but is also a resource for consumers.

With a goal of sharing knowledge and providing enhanced customer service, Barnett would like to broaden community outreach efforts during 2001.

"We will be expanding our web presence for consumers to make it easier to gather information online. We know that approximately 80 percent of folks interested in real estate transactions go to an Internet site to look for information. Then they call a Realtor to help them with the actual transaction. We want everyone to know the real estate industry welcomes consumers and we're here to help them by providing professional expertise."

With past SILVAR president Dave Barca heading up the community outreach committee, Barnett said SILVAR is on track for another successful year of helping others in the community. Last year more than $170,000 was raised through fundraisers and other sources. For example, $70,000 was donated to the Housing Industry Foundation to support families and individuals in danger of becoming homeless. In addition, through SILVAR's nonprofit charitable foundation, community organizations received almost $80,000 in monetary grants and students received $21,000 in much needed scholarships.

Helping others is one of the main reasons Barnett has been so active in the organization.

"They say volunteerism is dead, but not for me. I believe it's important to give something back to the industry and to the community. While we have many issues to deal with in our industry, we also have a responsibility to support our community whenever we can," said Barnett, who lives in Los Gatos with his wife, Kari, and three children, ages 16, 13 and 16 months.

When he isn't working, Barnett spends as much time with his family as he can. His hobbies include gardening, snowboarding and his favorite passion--playing both ice and roller hockey.

A strong commitment is one of the many attributes Barnett brings to the table, along with a spirited enthusiasm that motivates others. His term as president of SILVAR is part of a five-year involvement with the association.

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