Aaron Poling

International Referral Program

I just finished another wonderful course from Realtor University. I completed the transnational referral certification (TRC). The TRC is offered through the International Consortium of Real Estate Associations (ICREA). It is a referral system that allows you to send and receive International referrals, using a legal binding set of forms and procedures. The TRC helps ensure professionalism for your clients along with a consistent set of procedures. This is just one more tool that I can use to assist my clients with all of their needs, here at home and now internationally. If you would like to learn more visit www.worldproperties.com, or ask me and I will help!

Thanks

Aaron Poling, Realtor

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 without hurting the deal. Does anyone have an opinion about this or a similar story? If so let me know. Thanks Aaron Poling

My Girlfriend was recently searching for a used car on craigslist. She found what she thought was a great, to good to be true deal, and she was right. When she inquired about the car, that had been advertised locally, she was told that the car was actually in florida. The guy selling the car was stationed in Florida getting ready to be sent to Afghanastan and really needed to get rid of the car. He said he was willing to send the car free of charge to West Virginia, as soon as she sent the money. Just to see his response we replied and said that my father was in Florida and would come pick the car up and drive it back in lieu of flying back. His response was that the car was in some magical ship yard that he had no access to unless he was shipping it across country. After asking around and doing a little research it seems that there are a lot of these scams going on. They may look a little different, but they are all a scam. Just thought i would let you know to be on the lookout. Thanks Aaron Poling

Many homeowners have found themselves as landlords, courtesy of the current real estate market. I have had tons of questions regarding ways of minimizing your duties as landlord. So below I listed some that has helped me over the years.

1. Paint Touch Up: When you are preparing a home for rental use flat neutral color paint. It is easy to use, and makes it easy to touch up later. Most people want to use custom colors and semi gloss paint, they are impossible to touch up and the more colors to keep track of the more work you have made for yourself. I use a product by Olympic paint called Fast Hide, but most brands will have something similar that also works well.
2. Heat Pump Maintenance: Most heat pumps have filters that need changed every three months. As landlord I schedule myself in every three months to change those filters. While your there you can check to make smoke detectors are working properly, and that the batteries aren't being removed to operate the remote. It also gives you a chance to check out the property to ensure its being taken care of.
3. The Leasing Hassle: Too many people that don't understand real estate have found themselves leasing out property. If you don't have the experience and patience let a professional Agent do your leasing. It will save you money in the long run. You still have the final word about everything concerning your property, but you will not have to worry about advertising, meeting with clients, pulling credit, finding a lease, or breaking any fair housing laws, you can let the agent worry about that.
4. Eliminate the Small Things: Add a clause in the lease that puts the tenant in charge of small maintenance items, changing light bulbs, plunging the toilets, t/u paint, caulking, etc... The clause could say anything under $25 or $50 dollars. This will help eliminate a lot of phone calls for the minuscule items.
5. Walk Through List: Have your tenants fill out and sign a walk through sheet, showing what the house was like when they moved in, and take pictures. Give the tenant a copy and it should help them remember how they need to leave your house when they are gone.

I hope this can help someone, that is frustrated with having to rent out their home. Let me know if you have any more ideas that have worked for you.

Thanks

Aaron Poling

Long & Foster

I have been a member of Active Rain for a few months, and have enjoyed everything about it. I have been blogging on a basic membership but i have just decided to take it up a notch. I am starting a Outside Blog, and this is number one. So wish me luck and if there is anyone out there with advice, please please Help!