Your Real Estate Insider: May 2010

I recieved some great training today from Bartles and Associates. Earlier today my broker provided us with Marketing training from Bartles and Associates. It was individual training sessions, custom fit to our personal marketing plans. They were able to look at my current marketing/promotions plan and help me focus it, along with tips on streamlining the process. It made me realize that although I have a marketing plan, with a end goal, I am also too scattered. That makes my plan impossible to achieve. Today's marketing training helped me narrow my marketing message that will make it achievable, and can make it possible to meet my goals. If your business needs a jumpstart or direction, I highly reccomend Bartles & Associates. Check out their website by clicking below. Thanks Aaron

 

Bartles and Associates

 

Aaron Poling

Long & Foster

976 Foxcroft Avenue

Martinsburg, W.V. 25401

304-283-0214

www.aaronpoling.com

www.aaronpolingsblog.com

M.Margie Bartles Broker

 

Next monday is Memorial Day. It is a federal holiday and a great day to visit family, friends and bar be que. Make sure you do not forget what Memorial Day is really about. It is a day to honor men and women who died while in military service. These great men and women are the reason that we live in a free country. Our men and women in uniform put their lives on the line each and every day so we can be free. Don't forget to thank them, especially on Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day

Aaron Poling

Long & Foster

976 Foxcroft Avenue

Martinsburg, W.V. 25401

304-283-0214

www.aaronpoling.com

www.aaronpolingsblog.com

M.Margie Bartles Broker

 

Now is a great time to buy in Martinsburg West Virginia. According to Zillow listing prices for homes are at their lowest point since January 2009. See the chart below. For more information on homes in Martinsburg, West Virgnia, please contact me. Thanks Aaron Aaron Poling Long & Foster 976 Foxcroft Avenue Martinsburg, W.V. 25401 304-283-0214 www.aaronpolingsblog.com www.aaronpoling.com M.Margie Bartles Broker

This weekend come celebrate the 14th annual West Virginia Wine and Arts Festival. This Saturday May 29th and Sunday May 30th. There will be live performances all weekend, come enjoy some wine with your friends and neighbors! It takes place in Martinsburg, at Boydville. Follow the links below for the official site and for directions to Boydville. No pets or coolers will be allowed. Hope to see you there! Thanks Aaron

Wine & Arts Festival

Directions

 

Aaron Poling

Long & Foster

976 Foxcroft Avenue

Martinsburg, W.V. 25401

304-283-0214

www.aaronpoling.com

www.aaronpolingsblog.com

M.Margie Bartles Broker

Long & Foster has a new title partner in West Virginia, and its Crawford and Keller. Tasha Keller Catrow spoke at our sales meeting this morning to kick off the new partnership. Crawford and Keller has two locations, Martinsburg, and Charles town. They will negotiate short sales, this makes it easier for agents to focus on selling, not waiting on hold with a loan servicer. They have been in business for many years and have a great reputation for getting deals closed. I look forward to working with our new title partner. Welcome Crawford and Keller!

 

Aaron Poling

Long & Foster

976 Foxcroft Avenue

Martinsburg, W.V. 25401

304-283-0214

www.aaronpoling.com

www.aaronpolingsblog.com

M.Margie Bartles Broker

I just finished with a closing on one of my listings. It was a short sale, this alone tells you it was not easy. I listed in in August 2009, and had it under contract shortly after that. I then put a backup contract on it. The primary contract was not able to close but tried up until it expired the beginning of April 2010. I then processed the backup and was able to close today. During this listing I have had to work through lots of different things. It changed loan services in between, We had a break in, we were running close to foreclosure, we had five differentshort sale negotiators, I had to do repairs to the house myself to meet appraisal requirement. I had to pay the electric & water bills myself not knowing if I were ever going to make it to closing. I even had to work through two large snow storms. This one was very challenging and now that I got it closed, it is very rewarding. I feel like I can get anything to closing after this sale!

 

Aaron Poling

Long & Foster

304-283-0214

www.aaronpoling.com

www.aaronpolingsblog.com

M.Margie Bartles Broker

In today's world it has become very popular to become more environmentally friendly, and for good reason. It only makes good sense to take care of your surroundings. This means less waste, conserving energy, reusing products and all around better planning. There are lots of ways to do this but many of them are expensive, but could save you money in the long run. If you don't have the money to invest in the more expensive things, there are still tons of things you can do, that are inexpensive. It takes a little more planning but these are easy things to implement in your daily life. Below is a list of a few of them, there are lots more ways. If you know of something not on my list, Let me know.

Switch to Flourescent light bulbs: This can be somewhat expensive but start with a few bulbs in the main use areas, and add the others when you have a burnout. Before long your whole house will have been switched

Recycle: I am avid at recycling, the only thing I don't understand is why everyone doesn't do it. It is usually free, you just have to separate items. Many areas have pickup for recycling. My area doesn't but it does have several recycling centers close by.

Hot water: If you are building a new house or replacing your hot water heater, switch to a tank less. If you aren't then invest in a hot water heater blanket. It helps keep the heat inside so the electricity runs less. You can also invest in a timer for your hot water heater, so it only runs when you will need hot water.

Car pool: This is an oldie but a goodie. Work out ways to carpool, to work, to kids soccer practice, church, shopping, etc... This one actually saves you money, you dont have to buy as much gas.

Install ceiling fans: If you use ceiling fans it can greatly reduce the amount of air conditioning needed.

Change air filters: If you change your airfilters every few months (you are supposed to do this anyway) It will help airflow into your HVAC system. Your system won't have to work as hard and you will save the electricity.

Programmable Thermostat: You can set your temperature to kick on when you need it and off when you don't automatically. So you won't be heating and cooling a house with no one in it.

Thes are just a few common sense, inexpensive things, That we should all do. Thanks Aaron

Aaron Poling

Long & Foster

304-283-0214

www.aaronpoling.com

www.aaronpolingsblog.com

M. Margie Bartles Broker

 

 

Apple Knolls Estates

Martinsburg, W.V. 25403

 

Apple Knolls Estates, located in North Martinsburg, West Virginia is a detached single family home subdivision. It consists of ranchers and two story colonial homes. Nestled in the mountains but only minutes from shopping, restaurants, and Interstate 81, you can live in a perfect location. This is a great community for someone wanting to move up in housing, or someone wanting to move to Martinsburg and commute to a surrounding city. If you would like more information about this Apple Knolls Estates, please contact me.

 

Street Names

            Crushed Apple Drive, Braeburn Drive, Cranberry Court, Juicy Grape Court, Bright Cherry Court,     Prune Lane

Builder

            Gemcraft Homes, CBS Builders

 

House Types

            Ranchers, Two Story Colonials

 

School District: Martinsburg

 

Approximate Distance

  

            Cities                                                   Miles               Travel Time

            Winchester, VA                                  25.46               30 minutes

            Fairfax, VA                                         86.32               1 hour 38 minutes

            Fredrick, MD                                      44.81               50 minutes

            Hagerstown, MD                                21.88               26 minutes

            Baltimore, MD                                    93.84               1 hour 40 minutes

            Washington, DC                                 92.10               1 hour 45 minutes

 

            Landmarks

            City Hospital                                       1.79                 4 minutes

            Post Office                                          3.59                 7 minutes

            Grocery Store                                      3.59                 7 minutes

            Movie Theatre                                     4.54                 7 minutes

            Pharmacy                                            3.59                 7 minutes

            Library                                                4.23                 10 minutes

            Charlestown Races & Slots                   19.58               27 minutes

 

Mountain Views

 

 

           

           

Aaron Poling

Long & Foster

304-283-0214

www.aaronpoling.com

www.aaronpolingsblog.com

 

 

Note: All information has been gathered by Aaron Poling from various sources, this should be used as a guide but all information should be verified.

 

           

           

If you live in Berkeley or Jefferson Counties of West Virginia, you can easily keep track of your real estate and personal property taxes. Even if your taxes are paid out of escrow from your mortgage company, it is a good idea to make sure they are paid, even the morgage company can make a mistake. If your property is your primary residence it should be listed as class 2. If it is not a primary residence it will be listed as class 3, which is double the tax rate as class 2 ( yeah, I dont like it either but its just the way it is!) Use the links below to check your taxes. Thanks Aaron

 

Berkeley County Tax Search

Jefferson County Tax Search

 

Aaron Poling

Long & Foster

304-283-0214

www.aaronpoling.com

www.aaronpolingsblog.com

 

In keeping true that Long & Foster is a full service Real Estate Company, they now offer property management in West Virginia. This is a great way to be able to continue working with your favorite Long & Foster Agent to lease your property out, but after that you can continue getting great service with the property management department. The property management department is being run by Les Gallipo out of the Charles town office. Les is a very experienced agent, who played a vital role in bringing property management to West Virginia. Anyone that has worked with Les, knows that he is the man for the job. If you have any questions about Leasing your property or property management, give me a call.

Thanks Aaron

 

Aaron Poling

Long & Foster

304-283-0214

www.aaronpoling.com

www.aaronpolingsblog.com