TL Photo / SHELLEY HANSON PAULL ASSOCIATES The staff of Real Estate Ohio celebrates the opening of their new office in St. Clairsville. From left to right: Lee Paull III and his wife, June; Sonya Olaka, Ohio office manager and agent; and Jennifer Paull and her husband, Lee Paull IV, the broker of the new office.
ST. CLAIRSVILLE – A longtime West Virginia real estate agency is tackling a new market – Ohio.
Paull Associates Real Estate Ohio hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house Friday at their new office, located at 118 W. Main St., St. Clairsville. The front of the office is easy to find – it’s located across from WesBanco Bank, DiCarlo’s Pizza, and the Belmont County Courthouse.
Lee Paull IV, the broker for the new office, said that for many years, the real estate agency for the Wheeling-based company – Paul Associates Insurance / Real Estate – referred clients looking for property in Ohio to d other Buckeye State agents.
“We get monthly calls from clients and friends saying, ‘Show us this property in St. Clairsville’, and we weren’t licensed in Ohio.” Paull said. “Over the years, we thought about opening this office… and we decided it was natural to open this office. We will be able to serve our customers better. It’s 10 minutes from Wheeling.
Paull Associates’ insurance / real estate office in Wheeling opened in September 1981. The new Ohio office began operations in January and staff are now looking for new real estate agents to join their office. team.
In addition to Paull, Sonya Olaka is the office manager and an agent. She noted that they have already interviewed a few agents for positions in the St. Clairsville office, but that more people are encouraged to apply. Olaka said she can help guide people who don’t yet have their Ohio real estate license to the right school to get one.
The agency has already carried out several sales closings since it opened at the start of the year.
“We know the region very well. We are also in the insurance business, so we also have a lot of customers here ”, Paull added. “We think there is a market here for us. We know the market. We understand what sellers want and we understand what buyers want. We think we know how to value property fairly well and how to sell property. We understand the market conditions. Too many properties have been on the market for months because they are poorly valued.
Paull said it is important for agents to know the wants and needs of their buyers and sellers. This speeds up the process.
“We know how to stage a property and sell it. When we represent buyers, we sit down with each buyer and find out what their needs are. I think what people miss the most is knowing what the buyer wants and what they are looking for in a property. Too often, agents don’t show the buyer what they want to see. We can also help people serve people in this way.
For more information about the new office or to apply for an agent position, call 740-296-5387. The website is www.paullassociates.com.
The St. Clairsville Area Chamber of Commerce participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony. It was the first day on the job for new chamber manager Wendy Anderson. Anderson said she was excited about her new role, adding that she had previously served on the chamber board.
“I was born to do this” Anderson said. “I am a sociable person and I love the retail business. “
House Speaker Meagan Cook and House Board members Steve Fortunato and Jennifer Gerevics also attended the ceremony, along with many members of the Paul Associates team.
