Question 1

Who do I contact with questions about the office or administrative items?

Accepted Answer

Your broker’s assistant or office manager:
 
Kit Fitzgerald’s Licensed Assistant: Whitney Clements, 208-697-0291, whitney@kitfitzgeraldteam.com(mailto:whitney@kitfitzgeraldteam.com?subject=Hi Whitney! I need help...)

Question 2

Who do I contact with questions about real estate contracts and general real estate practice?

Accepted Answer

Your Broker
Boise/Meridian Area - Kit Fitzgerald, Regional Designated Broker, 208-871-5288, kit@kitfitzgeraldteam.com(mailto:kit@kitfitzgeraldteam.com)
 
If you ever cannot reach Kit, please contact Whitney and she will be able to answer your question, point you in the right direction for it, or connect you with a broker quickly.
 
Your broker is happy to support you with questions regarding:
• Contract Review (Listing Agreements, Contract to Buy and Sell, etc.)
• General Contract-specific Questions
• General Real Estate Practice Questions or Advice

Question 3

Who do I contact with questions about Equity processes, services, tools and company information?

Accepted Answer

You can visit our website at www.equitymeridian.com (http://www.equitymeridian.com)to view all of the services and tools provided through Equity Northwest Real Estate under Kit Fitzgerald. We offer these services to agents in other areas but know that some services may be limited. You can reach out to Whitney at whitney@kitfitzgeraldteam.com (whitney@kitfitzgeraldteam.com)with any questions or if you can't find something. 
 
You can also visit www.equityelevateiii.com (http://www.equityelevateiii.com)and log in with your credentials provided when you signed on with Equity to view all of the services and marketing tools provided to you as an Equity agent.

Question 4

Where is our office located?

Accepted Answer

Our Meridian office is a converted home, located at 903 N Main St, Meridian, ID 83642. You can find parking in front of our office, in nearby parking lots and parallel spots, as well as the Generations Plaza lot across the street on the SE corner. We do not have the right to park in the lot behind our office, so please utilize the surrounding spaces.

Question 5

What are the office hours?

Accepted Answer

Our office is set up on a Supra lockbox at the back entrance, so that you can access it anytime you need. Whitney is typically in the office Monday-Thursday 9-5 but that varies based on her duties from day to day. You are welcome to use the office anytime you need, and if you hope to come by to get help with something, just reach out to Whitney first to ensure she will be in at the time you need.

Question 6

How do I access office amenities?

Accepted Answer

Please help yourself to anything you need in the office that is made available to you and your clients.

- Refreshments are in the refrigerator in the kitchen area
- Agent mail/deliveries can be found in the basket hanging under the front window labeled "Agent Mail"
- Wifi & printer information on the shelves in the main conference space. Notebooks next to the printer for assistance with printing, scanning, making copies, etc. 
- Extra paper is located on the shelves in the kitchen area, as well as a paper cutter

Question 7

How do I access and log in to Equity Elevate?

Accepted Answer

Visit www.equityelevate.com,(http://www.equityelevate.com) and log in with your credentials provided when you signed on with Equity.

Question 8

How do I work inside of the Marketing Center in Elevate?

Accepted Answer

This answer has been copy & pasted from Equity Elevate:
 
FIND PREVIOUS MARKETING ORDERS
You can find all of the marketing items you've created by clicking the drop down arrow next to your name near the top right side of the website. You will see “My Marketing” in the drop down menu.
 
HOW DO I SAVE MY MARKETING TEMPLATE?
In the middle of creating an awesome marketing piece and suddenly, you have to go? No problem. Saving your project is easy. For step by step instructions, learn more by clicking here.
 
CAN I EDIT MY TEMPLATE?
Yes! It is possible to edit a template which has been built using our MARKETING system. If you save your project prior to completing it, you can make changes to it once you return to finish it. If you have completed your project, you can use the edit function which you can access via the final proof email. Learn more here.

Question 9

How do I update my address, email address, phone number, account info, etc with Equity Elevate?

Accepted Answer

Visit www.equityelevate.com,(http://www.equityelevate.com) log in with your credentials provided when you signed on with Equity, click on your name in the top left corner of the page, and you should be redirected to a page where you can edit all of your personal information with Equity. If you come across any information you aren't able to edit, please email agentrelations@equity-USA.net (agentrelations@equity-USA.net)for help.

Question 10

How do I access and log in to Slack?

Accepted Answer

You can download the Slack app on your phone, tablet or desktop, as well as access at www.slack.com. You may be prompted to input a Workspace URL in order to log in, which is kitfitzgeraldteam.slack.com. You should receive an invite to Slack via your Agent Onboarding process with Equity Northwest Real Estate under Kit Fitzgerald.

Question 11

Where can I find our Training Schedule for the brokerage?

Accepted Answer

Visit www.equitymeridian.com and click on Calendar of Events in the Agent Hub menu. This is always being updated when we add or change events. You will see all of our sales meetings, trainings, client appreciation events and more.

Question 12

What kind of marketing materials does Equity provide, and where can I find the options?

Accepted Answer

Equity offers Client Newsletters, Listing & Buyer Presentations, FSBO Presentations, social media posts ready to go, and MUCH MORE on Elevate. Visit www.equityelevate.com,(www.equityelevate.com) log in with your credentials provided when you signed on with Equity, and click the Marketing tab on the main screen. This should redirect you to the Marketing Center, where all of your marketing is already branded to you (as long as you have completed your profile details in Elevate).
 
We also have some in-house marketing materials already created and ready to go in the Resource Library at www.equitymeridian.com. You can consult with Whitney if you have design or marketing needs, as she is a graphic designer and offers la carte services on an as-needed basis.

Question 13

I need business cards. What’s the best way to get them?

Accepted Answer

You can visit www.equityelevate.com,(http://www.equityelevate.com) log in with your credentials provided when you signed on with Equity, and click the Business Cards tab on the main screen. This should redirect you to the Vectrum Graphics store for Equity where you can choose from a large variety of pre-designed business cards from Equity Corporate. You simply input your information and follow the ordering process.

Question 14

I need yard signs. What’s the best way to get them?

Accepted Answer

Check with your broker's assistant if you have a local vendor.
 
You can also visit www.equityelevate.com,(http://www.equityelevate.com) log in with your credentials provided when you signed on with Equity, and click the Signs tab on the main screen. This should redirect you to the Build a Sign store for Equity where you can choose from a large variety of pre-designed yard signs from Equity Corporate. You simply input your information and follow the ordering process.

Question 15

Are there yard signs and riders available at the office to use?

Accepted Answer

We do have a small assortment of signs and riders that can be checked out with your broker’s assistant or office manager. Please be sure to arrange checkout at least 48 hours in advance to ensure enough time to make the sign available. We ask that you return the checked out items within 48 hours of funding & recording on the transaction.

Question 16

How does the 800 number on the signs work?

Accepted Answer

The 800 number on the signs is a lead capture system linked directly to your MLS Agent ID. When people call the 800 number, they’re asked to enter the house number. From there, they’ll hear an automated message with all of the details you’ve listed on the MLS. They can also press option 1 to contact you directly. All you have to do is add your listing to the MLS and the service is synced with your MLS account automatically!

Question 17

When do I submit my broker review?

Accepted Answer

Best practice is to submit your fully executed documents as you receive them via the Broker Review tab in Form Simplicity. After you are through the Appraisal, and have a fully signed Inspection Contingency Notice, you shouldn't have anything else to submit unless an addendum or something similar comes up. If you submit as you go, you will have enough time to fix anything that is noted on your paperwork before closing.

*Please allow 24-48 hours for your submittal to be reviewed by your broker. If it is urgent, please reach out in an email to Whitney and your review can be escalated.

Question 18

How do I submit a broker review?

Accepted Answer

Submitting a Broker Review is quite simple. If you have set up your Form Simplicity Transaction using the pre-set templates we have created for you, you'll simply click on the highlighted name of the Broker Review already in your transaction, just below the transaction data box. Clicking on the name will take you into the platform where you can choose to add, remove, and submit documents in their matching fields. You may also add notes if necessary to help explain something or ask a question to your broker. Be sure to hit "submit" at the bottom so that it will be sent to your broker!

Question 19

How do I know which documents I need to submit to my broker and in which order for a transaction?

Accepted Answer

If you are working in Form Simplicity, you should be utilizing the Forms Packages available to you for each type of transaction. This will ensure you have all you need to complete your transaction. Be sure to follow the Packet Checklists in the Forms Packages to ensure your documents are in the correct order and you’re not missing anything. You can visit www.equitymeridian.com (http://www.equitymeridian.com)and navigate in the Agent Hub to the Training Videos section to find all of our in-house training videos on our Form Simplicity workflows.

Question 20

Which documents do I need for a Buyer Transaction and which ones do I need for a Listing Transaction?

Accepted Answer

If you are working in Form Simplicity, you should be utilizing the Forms Packages available to you for each type of transaction. This will ensure you have all you need to complete your transaction.
 
You can also download and save a copy of each checklist to ensure you have all of the required forms for reach transaction. These can be found in Form Simplicity's Forms Library, inside the Equity Northwest Real Estate Forms, called Buyer / Listing / or Listing Under Contract Packet Checklist.

Question 21

What is required in order to get paid on my transaction?

Accepted Answer

You must make sure that your payroll lead has received the final wire documents in order to get paid. If Kit Fitzgerald is your branch broker, then Whitney is your payroll lead and needs to be cc'd on the final emails from title containing these documents at whitney@kitfitzgeraldteam.com. These final documents from title DO NOT need to go through Broker Review.
 
Receipt of these documents by your payroll lead is the indicator that you are ready to be paid on a closed transaction. Your broker review will need to be "Locked" and all final closing documents need to be received in order to be submitted to payroll.

Necessary documents needed to be paid:
1. Final Equity Commission Disbursement Form completed on the right-hand side by title with final wire information
2. Wire Receipt or Confirmation
3. Both sides or Combined closing statements
4. Final Packet(s) of documents approved in Broker Review

Question 22

What do I do after my broker review is Locked?

Accepted Answer

If your broker review has been Locked and you have no additional files that need to be reviewed, you can leave it alone until your transaction closes and you're ready to be paid. Make sure the title company has your commission disbursement & wire instructions and then when you receive the final wire documents and closing statements from title after funding & recording, you can send those to your payroll lead if they weren't already included on the emails. Your payroll lead will take it from there and download your Locked file list as a PDF to send to corporate on your  behalf for payout.

Question 23

Do I REALLY need to submit all rejected offers for my client like the Under Contract Checklist and Buyer Packet checklist asks for?

Accepted Answer

YES. We know submitting ALL of your paperwork sounds daunting, however, we only need the first page of the Purchase & Sale Agreement, followed by any fully executed RE-10 Inspection Contingency Notice marked Termination Provision and/or RE-20 Notice to Terminate Contract involved in the transaction.

Question 24

What is our brokerage Tax ID?

Accepted Answer

Here is the Tax ID for Equity Real Estate: 45-0478888

Check General Forms in www.equityelevate.com (www.equityelevate.com)if you need a copy of the W-9.

Question 25

I had a referral fee come in, why haven't I been paid yet?

Accepted Answer

First question: Did your referral fee get wired, or was a check mailed?
Second question: If mailed, did it go to the Corporate office or to our Meridian, ID office?
Third question: Do you have copies of the check or wire receipt, closing statements and referral agreement? We will need these to get things closed out for you.

Depending on how and where the money was sent, your payout may take several days compared to a regular closing. Here are the scenarios and what to expect:

1. The money was wired to corporate. We will need a copy of the wire receipt, closing statements and referral agreement. Your documents will be submitted to corporate similar to a regular closing and can be paid out by the next business day as long as the wire is located.
2. The money was sent to our corporate office in UT via check. We will need a copy of the closing statements, referral agreement, and check (if there is one). We need to give corporate a heads up to be on the lookout for the check, then once it's received there, it will go on a 10 day federal hold before the funds can be deposited to you. 
3. The money was sent to our Meridian, ID office via check. We then will reach out to you for copies of the closing statements, referral agreement, and will make a copy of the check for our files. We will then put the check in the mail to our corporate office in UT, we give corporate a heads up to be on the lookout for the check, then once it's received there, it will go on a 10 day federal hold before the funds can be deposited to you. 
4. IF you ever have a referral between yourself and another Equity agent, anywhere, you do need a referral agreement for clarification purposes, but the payment can be handled internally and nothing needs to be done through title. You would need to complete an Equity Agent to Equity Agent Commission Share Agreement and have it signed by both parties in order to instruct the payroll team to break up the commission accordingly.

Ideally, having your referral fee wired to corporate or completed via commission share if it's within the brokerage are the best and most efficient ways to get you paid.

Question 26

I closed on my transaction, why haven't I been paid yet?

Accepted Answer

If you are waiting around wondering why you haven't been paid yet, the likelihood is that you either didn't complete one of the steps necessary or there could be a communication/technical issue and you should reach out to your broker's assistant.

You must make sure that your payroll lead has received the final wire documents in order to get paid. If Kit Fitzgerald is your branch broker, then Whitney is your payroll lead and needs to be cc'd on the final emails from title containing these documents at whitney@kitfitzgeraldteam.com. These final documents from title DO NOT need to go through Broker Review.
 
Receipt of these documents by your payroll lead is the indicator that you are ready to be paid on a closed transaction. Your broker review will need to be "Locked" and all final closing documents need to be received in order to be submitted to payroll.

Necessary documents needed to be paid:
1. Final Equity Commission Disbursement Form completed on the right-hand side by title with final wire information
2. Wire Receipt or Confirmation
3. Both sides or Combined closing statements
4. Final Packet(s) of documents approved in Broker Review

Question 27

Where do I submit my Commission Disbursement and Wire Instructions after closing?

Accepted Answer

You must make sure that your payroll lead has received the final wire documents in order to get paid. If Kit Fitzgerald is your branch broker, then Whitney is your payroll lead and needs to be cc'd on the final emails from title containing these documents at whitney@kitfitzgeraldteam.com. These final documents from title DO NOT need to go through Broker Review.
 
Receipt of these documents by your payroll lead is the indicator that you are ready to be paid on a closed transaction. Your broker review will need to be "Locked" and all final closing documents need to be received in order to be submitted to payroll.

Question 28

My transaction “made payroll” today — why haven’t the funds hit my account today?

Accepted Answer

The term “made payroll” means that Equity processed your transaction and submitted your commission via wire to your bank. Unfortunately, wires are not processed in real-time (wouldn’t that be great). Instead, the banks refresh their wires every morning at 6:00am. When you make payroll, the funds will arrive in your account at 6:00am the following business day.

Question 29

What if I make payroll on a Friday — will the funds arrive in my account over the weekend?

Accepted Answer

Possibly. This depends entirely on whether or not your bank accepts wires on Saturdays. If they do, the funds will arrive in your account on 6am on Saturday. However, most banks do not accept wires on Saturdays, and therefore, you’ll see the funds arrive in your account on Monday when your bank refreshes their wire system.

Question 30

How do I update my credit card information with Equity?

Accepted Answer

Reach out to your broker’s assistant or office manager to update your credit card on file for office administration fees.

Question 31

How do I update my direct deposit information with Equity?

Accepted Answer

Visit www.equityelevate.com, log in with your credentials provided when you signed on with Equity, click on your name in the top left corner of the page, and you should be redirected to a page where you can edit all of your personal information with Equity. If you're unable to edit your account information, please email agentrelations@equity-usa.net (agentrelations@equity-usa.net)for help.

Question 32

I recently created an LLC for my Real Estate Business, what do you need from me?

Accepted Answer

Please ask your broker’s assistant or office manager to send you a NEW W9 Form, and include your Business Name and EIN Number when completing that form. In addition, please ensure your Direct Deposit information is correct by updating it inside of your Equity Elevate profile.

Question 33

Should I buy a custom domain for my Real Estate website? And will you set that up for me?

Accepted Answer

YES! You can purchase custom domains from GoDaddy.com for around $10 for 2 years. The purpose is to buy a catchy website domain, such as, “KitFitzgeraldTeam.com”. You want something quick, catchy, and easy to remember so you can promote your website on your business cards, email signature, marketing materials, etc. As for creating your domain, we will not do that for you. Purchasing a domain is very simple, but it’s a personalized process - it’s your domain, not ours! To begin, visit www.GoDaddy.com and start searching for available domain names. When you find one you like, click “purchase domain” and follow the steps! You will then forward your Equity website to your domain under the “Forwarding” section of your GoDaddy.com login.

Question 34

I purchased my domain name, how do I link it with my Equity website?"

Accepted Answer

You received an email from us when you joined Equity informing you that your Pro Agent Website is active! In that email, there are step by step instructions (and even a video) that walks you through the domain linking process. If you’re still having trouble, contact GoDaddy’s support desk (480-505-8877) and they can link your website to your domain in a matter of seconds!

Question 35

How do I update my address, email address, phone number, etc with Equity Elevate?

Accepted Answer

Visit www.equityelevate.com,(www.equityelevate.com) log in with your credentials provided when you signed on with Equity, click on your name in the top left corner of the page, and you should be redirected to a page where you can edit all of your personal information with Equity. If you come across any information you are unable to edit, please email agentrelations@equity-usa.net (agentrelations@equity-usa.net)for help.

Question 36

I am new to social media. Where do I begin?

Accepted Answer

Regardless if you're new to real estate or not, diving into the world of social media can be extremely overwhelming if you're not already dabbling in it. Social media is an everchanging concept, so always remember that what you think you know today, may not be relevant a month from now. We try to stay as up to date on what's current, but sometimes, Google knows best.
 
A good place to start is making sure you have a general understanding of what platforms are right for you, and what type of content you should be working to create. This will help you decide what you have the time and resources for, and from there you can decide on a marketing strategy that works for you.
 
Try reading this guide by Sprout Social for some ideas on where to start: How to Effectively Use Social Media for Real Estate(https://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-for-real-estate/)

Question 37

Where can I find Real Estate Marketing Content & Ideas?

Accepted Answer

There are so many places out there to find ideas for content to post, and even ready to go content that can be posted right away. Try some of these places:
 
www.houselogic.com (http://www.houselogic.com)- Ideas & blog posts
 
www.equityelevate.com (http://www.equityelevate.com)- login & navigate to the Marketing Center for branded content
 
www.NAR.REALTOR (http://www.NAR.REALTOR)- Real estate topics & blog posts
 
www.canva.com (http://www.canva.com)- Free resource for creating social media posts
 
www.buffer.com (http://www.buffer.com)- Free resource for scheduling social media posts

Question 38

How do I create a Facebook Business Page?

Accepted Answer

Click here (https://www.facebook.com/business/pages/set-up)to find out how to create a new business page or convert a current one into a business page.

Question 39

How do I create an Instagram Business Page?

Accepted Answer

Click here (https://business.instagram.com/getting-started)to find out how to create a new business page.

Question 40

How do I create a LinkedIn Business Page?

Accepted Answer

Click here (https://business.linkedin.com)to find out how to create a new business page.

Question 41

How do I create a Pinterest Business Page?

Accepted Answer

Click here (https://help.pinterest.com/en/business/article/get-a-business-account)to find out how to create a new business page.

Question 42

How do I get a Tour Factory account with Equity?

Accepted Answer

You just need to be set up by your broker's admin. Let your broker's admin know that you'd like an account and you will be added to the unlimited tour package.

Question 43

My file in Form Simplicity won’t “show up” in Broker Review. What should I do?

Accepted Answer

This means you need to "flatten" the document. Follow these videos below to learn to flatten the document depending on the type of computer you have:
 
Flattening PDF Documents for a Mac: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMFqEdl9OIM(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMFqEdl9OIM)
 
Flattening PDF Documents for a PC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxpnDHkpnwk(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxpnDHkpnwk)
 
Once the document has been successfully flattened, you'll need to upload it again to your Files section in Form Simplicity, remove the old document in your Broker Review and replace it with the flattened one.

Question 44

I was told to "flatten" my PDF documents. What does that mean?

Accepted Answer

This means you basically need to remove the security from the document. Follow these videos below to learn to flatten the document depending on the type of computer you have:
 
Flattening PDF Documents for a Mac: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMFqEdl9OIM(undefined)
 
Flattening PDF Documents for a PC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxpnDHkpnwk(undefined)
 
Once the document has been successfully flattened, you'll need to upload it again to your Files section in Form Simplicity, remove the old document in your Broker Review and replace it with the flattened one.

Frequently Asked Questions