CAR Advocates Beyond Public Policy

Tyrone Adams CEO of the Colorado Association of REALTORS®

Advocacy is one of the most critical functions of trade associations, and it plays a critical role in advancing the interests of Colorado REALTORS®. It can be a powerful force for change and is one of the most effective tools as part of our value proposition. Yet so many members don’t think of advocacy this way, but why? Maybe it’s because it is not your typical tangible benefit until it impacts your business and interests.

First and foremost, as a trade association, our primary goal is to serve our members. We exist to support your interests and help you succeed in your respective businesses.

Political advocacy is one of the most effective ways we can help you. We make sure that policymakers understand the needs and concerns of our members and your clients so hopefully they will take them into account when making decisions.

Did you know that CAR’s Legislative Policy Committee and Government Affairs team have reviewed and taken position on over 80 housing-related bills this legislative session? And we are not talking about one- or two-page bills, some of them are over 100 pages long!

There are often threats to our industry on an annual basis, whether it's new legislation, regulations, or other factors. Advocacy can help us be proactive with solutions to housing challenges, push back against those threats against our industry, and protect the interests of our members.

By engaging with policymakers and other stakeholders, we can make sure they understand the importance of our industry and the potential consequences of policies that could harm it.

But this isn’t the only way we advocate at CAR on Colorado REALTORS’® behalf. We advocate through:

Public Relations: We use our public relations expertise to share factual data on the housing market from local communities to statewide and raise awareness of issues affecting the real estate industry. This includes issuing press releases, speaking to the media, and philanthropy efforts.

Consumer Awareness: We deploy a public awareness campaign that tells consumers “Make Sure Your Agent is a REALTOR®” and the shares with them the benefits of using one.

Professional Development: We provide professional development and training to our leadership and members to help them reduce their risks by staying up to date on industry regulations, trends, and best practices. This includes videos, virtual, and in-person courses and events.

Leadership: We provide opportunities to enhance their leadership skills and help grow our leadership pipeline that is essential to CAR sustaining its effectiveness for Colorado REALTORS®.

Finally,

Building Relationships: Relationships are critical in any industry, and advocacy is an excellent way to build them. We do this through serving on multiple coalitions and providing opportunities for our members and leadership to get together through our Association Executive meetings and Spring and Fall business meetings.

We hear the rumblings that even non-members take advantage of our advocacy efforts. This is something we cannot deny or control as an Association.

The question we have for you: If CAR went away, who would advocate for Colorado REALTORS® and your clients? There is not a national, state, or local association to advocate for homeowners to the degree we do.

In conclusion, we understand advocacy is a critical function for CAR. It is essential for representing the interests of our members and their clients, protecting the interests of our industry, creating a sustainable and formidable leadership pipeline, and building relationships.

We are here to serve. Thank you for being a member!