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Martinsburg, WV Real Estate News

By Aaron Poling, Working to get YOU the BEST Deal!
(Long & Foster)
This is a picture from Long & Foster Foxcroft Avenue Community Day. Our office decided to donate food to a local food bank for our community day. We also donated hygeine products to be handed out at the food bank to those in need. This was a day that I was very proud of. It is important to help those in need and help support our community. As an industry we are struggling in this down economy. There are people that dont have food, shelter and the most basic items. It is a great feeling knowing that you helped someone. my goal is to make community day more than one day per year.   Thanks Aaron Poling Long & Foster 304-283-0214 www.aaronpoling.com www.aaronpolingsblog.com  
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By Aaron Poling, Working to get YOU the BEST Deal!
(Long & Foster)
When I decided to get into real estate I had to take the real estate principles class. It is a 90hr class that was held monday and wednesday nights for three hours a night. I took the class since the market has been bad so a class that would normally be thirty students was only eleven. As you can imagine our class formed a pretty strong bond between the students. After the conclusion of class we all stayed in touch and try to give each other support with our new careers. A few of us started meeting every monday morning to network with each other and help work through potential problems. It was a great idea. Because some of our classmates work other jobs and are starting real estate part time it is difficult for everyone to meet on monday mornings. Tonight we had our first evening meetin...
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By Chris Ross
(Touchstone Realty)
I have seen my fair share of these so called Real Estate reality shows.  From Flip this House, to Flipping out, & MillionDollar Listings.  What concerns me about them is that they make everything look so easy.  Real Estate is not as easy as it looks on TV.  Theseguys buy these so called "steals" and then make tens of thousands of dollars on them.  What they don't show is all the stuff going on in the background that ends up on the cutting room floor.  So the next time you see one of these realty shows with an easy flip think twice before you think it's as easy as it is on TV.
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By Aaron Poling, Working to get YOU the BEST Deal!
(Long & Foster)
I was recently at my Local bookstore and decided to take a look at what  new real estate books were available. To my suprise when I went to the real estate section it was filled with board games. The games section is right beside the real estate section and it had completely taken it over. I couldnt belive it, it made me think Wow is real estate so bad that there is no need for their section in the book store. Then I realized that the real estate books were just moved to the section beside them, the personal finance section. Which makes sense, its personal finance that is so bad. I had to laugh! Its funny that with our economy the priority over real estate and personal finance is board games. Maybe this explains a lot.   Aaron Poling Long & Foster www.aaronpolingsblog.com www.aaronpolin...
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By Aaron Poling, Working to get YOU the BEST Deal!
(Long & Foster)
Next Month cell phone numbers will go public, this means that if you dont want to be bugged with telemarketers calling you at your cell number you have to register. It only takes a minute to register your cell phone number. Call 888-382-1222 and follow the prompts (you have to call from the cell phone you are registering). It takes 30 days to take effect. Please Pass It On!     Thanks Aaron Poling Long & Foster www.aaronpolingsblog.com www.aaronpoling.com  
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By Aaron Poling, Working to get YOU the BEST Deal!
(Long & Foster)
I know most people hate desk duty. I am not too different than those people, but I dont mind it too much. Most incoming calls are just forwarding to other agents voicemail or giving out a phone number. Two weeks ago I recieved a call on the duty desk, it was someone calling in about a listing. After answering a few questions about the listing, it was obvious that the house didnt meet their needs. I asked if I could send them some other listings through email. They told me they didnt have internet access and didnt want to give out personal information. I told them that I understood and I am not a high pressure salesman. I offered to snail mail them listings that fit their criteria and if they didnt want to they never had to call me and I would never contact them. They agreed and gave me ...
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By Aaron Poling, Working to get YOU the BEST Deal!
(Long & Foster)
I am officially taking the weekend off. After working every weekend for a long time, scheduling showings conducting open houses, working marketing, etc... I am going to my girlfriends parents in Clarksburg for her grandmothers 80th birthday. Her parents live right next to the mountain where there is no cell phone reception and dial up internet, so i will truly be able to get away. If I am not forced to I tend to never take a break, this time I wont have a choice. It will give me a chance to get re-energized for next week. i leave tomorrow afternoon and wont be back until Sunday night. Have fun without me. Ill see you next week. Aaron     Aaron Poling Long & Foster www.aaronpolingsblog.com www.aaronpoling.com  
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By Aaron Poling, Working to get YOU the BEST Deal!
(Long & Foster)
As a real estate agent I know that finding leads and clients are the most important thing you should do for you business. The most basic and effective marketing you can do is pass your card to a potential prospect. So that means have your cards with you at all times, not most of the time, all of the time. I am in the process of building myself a new home. I took a day off from real estate to get some things done on my new under construction home. When I left there for the day I stopped by a local covience store to pick up a few things. I ran into a friend that I hadnt seen in a few years. We started talking about what we both have been up too, and I mentioned that I have been busy trying to drum up some real estate sales. A man in front of us turned around and asked if I was a real esta...
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By Aaron Poling, Working to get YOU the BEST Deal!
(Long & Foster)
I held my first open house this past Saturday and Sunday, although not very successful I definetly figured out what I did right and what else I needed to do for next time. This is definetly not a complete list but I made this list during my many hours of waiting for someone to show. I hope it helps someone. Feel free to add to the list. Thanks Aaron Materials Needed  Sign In Sheet/ ink pen Info packet Info Box (for yard sign) Treats Drinks Napkins Directional Signs for major intersecting roads Balloons (to connect to directional signs) Business Cards (Lots of them) PowerPoint Presentation of home (connect to tv if possible) Soothing background music   Open House Advertising Pass our flyers around the neighborhood Mailer for surrounding communities (target rental communities) Ad in News...
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By Aaron Poling, Working to get YOU the BEST Deal!
(Long & Foster)
Its official, I am a e-pro professional. I started the on-line course over the weekend and couldn't stop working on it. I love technology and think its vital to embrace for success in our future. I thought e-pro was the obvious choice for my first designation. I also like that there isn't a yearly fee that has to be paid. The course was entirely on-line so it can be done at your own leisure according to your schedule. You can take up to six months to do it, or you can go my route and refuse to stop until your done. In case you are wondering I do highly recommend this to everyone. Thanks Aaron Poling       Aaron Poling Long & Foster www.aaronpolingsblog.com www.aaronpoling.com  
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By Aaron Poling, Working to get YOU the BEST Deal!
(Long & Foster)
I am sure everyone remembers their real estate priciples class, when eveyone you talked to stressed to pick a broker and office that would provide training. I took their advice seriously, I figured if everyone in the business was telling me the same thing it had to be important. That advice was one of the reasons I chose to work for Long & Foster. When I had first got started I had tons of in office training that really helped. Then they sent me to a training they have called Star Builders. This training takes rookies from several of their offices and have them train together, so it gives the newbies a chance to network with each other. Our trainer was a top producing agent, Carol Harold out of the Foxcroft Ave, Martinsburg WV office. The trainer gives you real world advice and prepares...
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By Aaron Poling, Working to get YOU the BEST Deal!
(Long & Foster)
I just got this picture from one of our Local Real Estate attorneys. Having been a builder for a long time I have been to many closings but always being the buyer or seller. This picture was taken by Amanda Steiner one of the closing attorneys, the picture is of myself and the attorney that conducted the closing, Dave Pill. I consider both attorneys very good friends of mine, which would explain why they had me pose for this picture of me recieving my first check from a real estate closing as a real estate agent. I want to say thanks to Amanda, Dave and everyone at Pill and Pill. In my opinion they have set the mark that all professionals should strive to reach. Their team is second to no one. Thanks Aaron   See How Happy I Look! Aaron Poling Long & Foster www.aaronpolingsblog.com
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By Aaron Poling, Working to get YOU the BEST Deal!
(Long & Foster)
 I have written a few previous posts about online classes that I have taken through Realtor University. I have always been very intrigued by commercial real estate, coming from a background including a lot of commercial construction. Realtor University has just started offering a class entitled Discovering Commercial Real Estate. I decided it was a class I couldn't pass up. The class is not going to make you an expert in commercial real estate but it does give you all the info you need to make an informed decision about whether commercial real estate is for you. After taking the course I am definitely going to persue commercial real estate but I have a better understanding of how to do it and what niche I can fit into. I hope this can help someone! Thanks   Check out the course at:  htt...
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By Aaron Poling, Working to get YOU the BEST Deal!
(Long & Foster)
When i take on a listing, i belive that the mls system is our most powerful tool. I would also like to say that the picure on the mls is the first thing that customer and agents look at. In most cases if there is not a picture the listing will not even get looked at. Below i have listed a few things about listing pictures that i do. 1. Do not submit a listing without a photo. This is something that i cant personally belive that agents do. 2. Post multiple photos. It doesnt take too long to snap a few photos while your already walking a house. Please tell me that  you are walking your listings. 3. Edit your photos. It only take an extra minute to run your photos through Publisher or any number of other photo programs. 4. Take some spring time photos. If the pictures of your listing has s...
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By Debbie Small, REALTOR
(Long & Foster Realtors)
Well, as I am sure many of you will agree, moving is never an easy decision or endeavor. When we opened our satellite office several years ago, we knew that it would be temporary until we took off in the shadow of our well established sister office. Thanks to our success and the support of our corporate office, we have been able to make a strategic move despite the current economic times. This speaks volumes of Long & Foster's confidence in its agents.     For the record:  Founded 1968 Over 200 offices 13,700 Sales Associates Largest independently owned brokerage firm in the Mid-Atlantic region #1 Privately owned real estate company in the nation Offers their sales associates a pertinent cutting edge education on changing trends Need I say more as to why I have been with this company fo...
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By Aaron Poling, Working to get YOU the BEST Deal!
(Long & Foster)
For anyone that put off filing their taxes until the last minute, well this is the last minute. April 15th my personal least favorite day of the year. It used to not bother me, but that was when i worked for someone else and recieved a check. Now that i am an independent contractor, i always have to pay no matter what i do. I just thought i would remind everyone that may have forgotten. FILE YOUR TAXES!!
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By Aaron Poling, Working to get YOU the BEST Deal!
(Long & Foster)
After taking our Real Estate Exams in Charleston, West Virginia, Melissa and I took a trip over to the capital Building. I was amazed at how beautiful it was. The inside is mostly made of marble. Below are a few pictures, hopefully they do justice to my state capital. Across the street from the capital is the Kanawha River, i tried to capture a picture of a coal barge sailing down the river but my picture isnt the greatest. If you have a chance to visit the West Virginia State Capital its worth the Trip!           
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By Aaron Poling, Working to get YOU the BEST Deal!
(Long & Foster)
 If your considering investing in Real Estate, the wait is over. This could be the Best time to Buy. Interest Rates are really low and should remain low through May, while the government is selling bonds for the stimulus plan. There is a huge supply of homes which means prices of real estate is low! The government has also created a eight thousand dollar ($8,000) tax credit for first time home buyers. First time home buyers are defined as those who dont own and havent owned real estate in the last three years. We are also heading into the second quarter of the year, which is one of the busiest times for real estate sales. If you have been waiting for the Best time to Buy, your wait is Over! Thanks Aaron Poling Long & Foster www.aaronpoling.com 304-283-0214  
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By Aaron Poling, Working to get YOU the BEST Deal!
(Long & Foster)
  A few months ago I was finishing up a house for the final inspection. I had a few things to do in the crawl space. I was bent over walking through the crawl space when I tripped over something under the plastic. I pulled up the plastic and was very surprised what I had found. I expected to find some kind of construction debris, a tool left by a subcontractor, or possibly a clump of dirt that somehow didn't get spread out. Instead I found a huge snapping turtle! I was quite freaked out. The crawl space had been sealed up for a long time so I have no idea how he made it down there. I decided to do what any grown man would do, I called my dad to come get it out. I took these pictures of the turtle, please enjoy! Have you found anything interesting in a crawl space or anywhere else? Pleas...
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By Aaron Poling, Working to get YOU the BEST Deal!
(Long & Foster)
I am working for some buyers, and we currently have a home under contract. The home is a bank owned foreclosure. The buyers are getting a great deal. I am a real estate agent but i am also a general contractor that builds and sells new homes. The purchase price of the home is well below the amount it would cost a contractor to build it. That is understandable, it is a foreclosure and the banks want to get it off of their books. The appraisal came in at exactly the purchase price. I had assumed it was going to come in way higher, atleast what it would cost to build. This scares me. If homes are appraising for less than they cost to build, we have a bigger problem than i thought. Part of me thinks that it appraised for that exact amount because the appraiser kept it as low as possible wit...
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