Martinsburg, WV

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 estate agent. He said he was an investor that purchased and managed multi family projects and was looking for someone in the area to work with. I jumped right on it and told him all about what I could do for him. It was going great until he asked for my card. I was in work clothes and wasnt planning on doing any business so I didnt have my card holder with me. I was extremely embarrassed. I was able to get his number in my cell phone and give him mine, so it may still work out. i still feel like a great situation was not as effective because of the most basic rule that i chose to ignore. So Remember Always Carry Your Business Card! Thanks Aaron

Aaron Poling

Long & Foster

www.aaronpolingsblog.com

www.aaronpoling.com

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 Newspaper

Let everyone in your office know about it

Drop flyers off at other offices

Fax a flyer or email to offices you don't drop flyers off too

Things for the Homeowner to do

Clean and organize the home

Turn on A/C or Heat to comfortable temperature

Give them flyers to pass out at any organizations they are involved with

Plan an activity for the day and not be home

Aaron Poling

Long & Foster

www.aaronpolingsblog.com

www.aaronpoling.com

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

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 you for both sides of a real estate transaction, from start to after closing, because the agent is a very successful active agent you are getting "real life" scenarios thrown at you. The course also covers how to build your business, technology, how to find business with prospecting and farming, how to prepare yourself for business, etc... I feel so much more prepared for the real estate industry after completing Star Builders. I have to thank Long & Foster for caring about their agents, my manager Margie that made me enroll in class, and definetly Carol Harold my instructor who is willing to share her knowledge and help other agents, in and out of the classroom. Thanks Aaron

Aaron Poling

Long & Foster

www.aaronpolingsblog.com

www.aaronpoling.com

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