Your Real Estate Insider: May 2009

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

 

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

 

 

Open House, This Weekend, Saturday and Sunday 1pm -4pm, Stop In and check out this Great townhome located at the Fairways of Stonebridge!

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

 

Not that I think anyone has noticed but i havent blogged or posted in a few days. Its not that I havent wanted too but i have been pre occupied. A few days ago I started the epro certification class. I am almost complete with module 3, and wow i have already learned a lot. I belive that every real estate agent should take the epro class. New technolgoies are replacing the old at a dramatic rate, and we need to stay on top of it or we are going to loose business. The class breaks down everything in its simplest forms so anyone on any technology skill level can learn from it. If anyone wants to know anything about the epro process, just let me know. If you are an epro and want to give me any advice, please do. Thanks Aaron

 

Aaron Poling

Long & Foster

www.aaronpolingsblog.com

www.aaronpoling.com