Jan 21, 2009

Addressing real issues

MALAYSIAN ANNUAL REAL ESTATE CONVENTION (MAREC 09)

MAREC 09, the brand name for the Malaysian Annual Real Estate Convention, is an annual event organised by the Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents. This year the organising committee has planned the convention with a down-to-earth programme that it hopes will address the real issues affecting the profession and the way the business is being operated.

The theme for the year, “Reinventing the Profession”, is accurate and timely as the country faces new challenges ahead, especially with the expected down cycle of the property market. As the old Chinese saying goes, “A good carpenter will always sharpen his saw”.

With this saying in mind, the institute encourages its members and fellow practitioners to develop themselves continually in order to remain competitive in an ever-changing world. This timely theme is expected to not only address this ever-changing economic situation but also to offer solutions and insights from experts on how to not just meet these challenges head-on but to emerge victorious.

The topics and speakers have been carefully selected to introduce new practices, infuse new ideas in managing the business of a real estate agency, embrace new methods of operations, introduce new marketing methodologies, improve attitudes and aptitudes to manage small firms profitably as well as how to grow small business successfully.

These topics will add value and new dimensions in how practitioners manage their firms. At the end of the convention, it is hoped that practitioners would be able to reinvent not just themselves but also the profession as a whole to meet challenges in the years ahead.

Another highlight of the convention is the introduction of a parallel programme for negotiators who will also be taught and guided on sharpening their knowledge and skills. It is structured not just to impart technical knowledge of the workings of the industry, but to also get negotiators to open their mind and envision the endless possibilities this industry offers them. The negotiators will learn that with discipline and perseverance will come unprecedented success.

Practitioners will also have the opportunity to get first-hand information on how the top producers in the fraternity have made their millions. This will be done at the Million Dollar Producer’s Forum.

Kumar Tharmalingam

The speakers include:

Kumar Tharmalingam

Kumar Tharmalingam is a fellow of the Royal Institution of Surveyors, fellow of the Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (ISM) and a registered real estate valuer and property consultant.

Kumar is president of FIABCI Asia Pacific Real Estate Federation and secretary-general of FIABCI Asia Pacific Secretariat, the International Real Estate Federation headquartered in Paris and a board member of FIABCI International based in Paris and immediate past president of FIABCI Malaysia.

He is currently chairman of Hall Chadwick Asia Sdn Bhd.

Nicholas Brooke

Nicholas Brooke

Nicholas Brooke is chairman of Professional Property Services Limited, which is a specialist real estate consultancy based in Hong Kong.

It provides a selected range of advisory services across the Asia Pacific Region.

He is also chairman of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and chairman of the Hong Kong Coalition of Service Industries.

In 2003/04, he was elected president of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and was the first overseas member to be accorded that honour.

Having spent the last 30 years based in the region, he is a recognised authority and commentator on property related and planning matters and has provided advice in these areas to several Asian governments as well as the US State Department.

K. Soma Sundram

Soma has been actively involved in the real estate industry for nearly 20 years and has had a successful career with several large real estate agencies in Kuala Lumpur.

He now runs his own firm, Soma Sun Realtors.

Sam Gian

He was elected president of the Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents in April 2007.

Sam Gian

Gian is one of the most sought after real estate sales consultants in Singapore.

He is a writer and a professional trainer. Gian has trained over 10,000 agents in CEHA (Common Examination for House Agents) and real estate sales.

Some of the books he has written are Let’s Negotiate, How to Transact Back-to-Back Deals, Million Dollar Closing, Principles of Real Estate Financing and Double Your Listings, Double Your Income.

Dr Teoh Poh Huat

Dr Teoh Poh Huat

Dr Teoh is a registered valuer, property manager and estate agent.

He is also a fellow of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (UK), a member of the Institution of Surveyors, Malaysia and the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK).

Dr Teoh holds an MBA from Heriot-Watt University, United Kingdom and a doctorate from the University of South Australia.

He is part recipient of the Institution of Surveyors Malaysia’s Mohd Shamsuddin Memorial Award.

Stephen Tew

Tew was the president of MIEA from 2001 to 2003. He served as a board member of the Board of Valuers, Appraisers & Estate Agents for four years from 1999 to 2004.

He is principal of Hectares & Stratas and executive director of Axis Reits. Tew has been a real estate agent for 23 years.

Steven Tew

Besides a convention par excellence, participants are also being offered free holidays to several destinations, including Bali and Phuket.

The organisers are also inviting participants to join them at a Valentine’s Day cocktail reception on February 14.

Between now and January 31, early registration discounts are offered for both members and non-members.

There is an optional welcome dinner on February 13 at RM120 per person of both members and non-members.

Sign up now for the Malaysian Real Estate Convention – MAREC 09 to be held on February 14 & 15. For details, please contact MIEA.

*The Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents, Unit C-27-05, Dataran 3 Dua, No. 2, Jalan 19/1, 46300 Petaling Jaya. Tel: 03-79602577 Fax: 03-79603757 Email: secretariat@miea.co.my Website: www.miea.com.my