DROdio "Q&A Blog"
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How to Market Your Home to the New Generation of Home Buyers: The Millennials
Yesterday morning, I came across an article on the online version of the USA Today. It wasn’t in the real estate section or investment section. It wasn’t even an article. It was an advice column in the small business section. It answered a concern about how to market to younger generations and what works best [...]
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Did you know? You can indeed break listing or buyer representation agreements before expiration
Many (many) Realtors and their clients think that once a listing agreement (for sellers) or exclusive buyer representation agreement (for buyers) is signed, they are bound to the agreement until it expires. This is, in fact, not true. If you tell this to many Realtors, they won't believe you, but here's why [...]
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Selling in a Down Market: First Tip, People Don’t Want a Fixer-Upper
If you are planning on putting your house on the market, leaving your house “as is” without steeply discounting the price will likely result in very few bites from prospective buyers (after all, there are so many properties on the market, why buy one that's not in good shape?) . At the same time, grand [...]
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Is it really cost effective to remodel my home in order to sell it?
The cost effectiveness of home remodeling in order to sell a home is a topic that can strike fear into the hearts of even the most hearty home owner! Home Sellers know that buyers expect certain key elements in the home that they are looking to purchase and Sellers know that, in general, the cost [...]
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A few things to consider before selling your home short
So you’ve read about short sales, and you’re pretty sure it’s the best way to avoid foreclosure on your home. Still, before you decide to go forward with a short sale, here are a few things to keep in mind:
You’re not necessarily eligible. Even if you’ve discovered that you now owe more on your mortgage [...]
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Want to Save Money and Sell Without a Broker? Probably Not as Sweet as You Think
This past Thursday, I received a news alert article in my email inbox from my U.S. News & World Report. It spoke of how the National Association of Realtors and ForSaleByOwner.com, an internet based company that markets the houses of independent sellers, differed with each other’s data on the percentage of independent sellers for [...]
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What is the HUD-1? And how do I read it?
The HUD-1 is the document used at settlement to account for all the monies in a transaction. It's a federally mandated form, and it also happens to be a very hard document to read, so we're going to help you learn to read it.
The HUD-1 is usually a two-page form (often front & back). [...] -
What does “DOMM” and “DOMP” mean on the MLS listing?
In a listing, you may sometimes see the acronyms "DOMM" and "DOMP".� Here's what they mean:DOMM means "Days on Market, Multiple-List" and it's the number of days on the market for that current listing.DOMP means "Days on Market, Property" and it refers to the entire time the property has been active.So, for example, let's [...]
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What is the “MLS”? (And, how to search like a pro!)
The "MLS" stands for "Multiple Listing Service". It's the big database that all real estate agents use to list homes. Only agents have full access to the MLS, but we've created three websites which pull the MLS data and show it to you in creative ways:
For easy, map-based searching:
www.BirdsEyeSearch.com This site integrates the MLS data [...] -
Can some listing agents really be *that bad*????
The answer is YES!
For example, here's an email exchange between us and a listing agent asking for feedback on a property she was listing. But she only put ONE picture up! It only costs $12 to put 20 photos up, and photos sell houses. Why would she only put ONE photo up on her listing? [...] -
How we sell your home online and traditionally
When we list your home for sale, we'll do "Just Listed" postcards, put your home on the MLS & Realtor.com with 20 photos, and hold open houses, just like a traditional Realtor would. But there's an additional component to our marketing - the online piece - which is just as (or even more) powerful.
If the [...]
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Do I take possession of the property on the day of closing?
A client wrote:
Just checking that we can actually take possession of the house on the date of closing. We're planning to "move in" that afternoon. Any restrictions in DC on that?
Yes, absolutely! Once you sign the settlement papers, the property is yours. You get the keys at the settlement table. You can also learn more [...] -
Why is your company policy not to do “Dual Agency”? What is it anyway?
Virginia, DC & MD state laws surprisingly let Realtors act as "dual agents" when disclosed to all parties (also known as "dual representation").
We feel that dual agency isn't a good idea. In fact, we'd go so far as to say that it's a disservice to our clients, so we don't do it. [...] -
I’m an investor. Can you help me?
Absolutely. We are investors too, and we believe in the integrity & strength of the D.C. Metro real estate environment. We'll be happy to help you through this process.
Here are a few tools, tips & tricks we think you'll like:Watch our video tutorials on:
How to buy foreclosure homes (and we also have an FAQ on [...]
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Do you really loan out a free GPS machine?
Yes, absolutely.
Here are the really easy steps to getting our GPS loaner:Talk to your DROdio agent and have them check the schedule to see if the unit is available on the days you want it (we loan the unit out for 3 days at a time). If you don't yet have a [...]
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I’m not sure I need a Realtor. What would you say to that?
Not sure you need a Realtor? Read this...
Dear Buyer, If you're wondering exactly how a Realtor can help you find a home, you'll probably enjoy this whitepaper from our owner, Daniel R. Odio:I was wondering the exact same thing when I bought a home (before I was a Realtor) from Pulte. What I found was [...]
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Do you have any video tutorials?
Yes, here are our video tutorials:
Making a lowball offer on a home: Learn our successful strategy that requires you to modify your behavior as much as it requires us to negotiate the deal!
How to buy a bigger house but pay the same monthly mortgage: The difference between a 30 year fixed rate loan, and a [...] -
What happens at Closing / Settlement?
Closing (also referred to as "settlement") is a mysterious thing for most buyers & sellers, especially if they've never been through the process before. Here's a little primer:
The settlement company is an independent 3rd party that coordinates everything for settlement. They are the "quarterback" in the process. They do many things behind the scenes, including [...] -
Why do you suggest not closing on a Friday or a Monday?
We suggest you do not close on a Friday because, if for some reason something delays closing for a day, you'll actually be delayed over the weekend until Monday.
And we don't suggest you close on Monday because you'll need to get a certified check from a bank, and we'll have to do a walkthrough inspection, [...]
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Buying A Home
All About Home Financing & Loans (51 Q&A blogs)
Wondering how the lending process works? Wondering if you should pay any 'points'? Jump in for the answers.
All the questions you were afraid to ask (108 Q&A blogs)
If you're a first-time home buyer, indulge yourself with answers to all the questions you were afraid to ask!
Client Testimonials (18 Q&A blogs)
Read some glowing Testimonials from clients who have used our services to buy a home!
Contract Questions (21 Q&A blogs)
Contracts can be scary things! But after you read through this section, you should be much more comfortable with the process, and we're always just a phone call away!
Learn About the Area (31 Q&A blogs)
Curious to know about certain areas? Find your answers here. This is especially useful if you are buying from out of town.
Negotiation Techniques (13 Q&A blogs)
One of the things that makes DROdio agents so special is our strong emphasis on negotiation. Many Realtors (especially the "weekend warriors") aren't too good at negotiating you a stellar deal. We'll reveal some of our secrets here. If you're a Realtor from competing company and you're reading this section, you should be ashamed of yourself! Then again, maybe you really need the help, so read on...
REO Foreclosure Listing Q&A (4 Q&A blogs)
Our firm sells REO foreclosure properties from multiple banks. This section is dedicated to common questions & answers from both buyers and REALTORS representing buyers in these transactions.
Tax Questions (14 Q&A blogs)
Aaaaahhhhh, taxes. Our favorite. Here are tips & tricks to minimize your tax burden. Note: we are not CPA's, so these are just general observations from our experience. But *please* speak to your CPA to discuss your specific tax situation.
The Buying Process (66 Q&A blogs)
How exactly does the buying process work? What should you expect? Whether you're a first time home buyer or you've done it several times, you'll find plenty of gems of information squirreled away in this section.
Selling A Home
All the questions you were afraid to ask (23 Q&A blogs)
If this is the first time you've considered selling your home, you probably have lots of questions that you're afraid to ask. Fear not, your answers are here!
Client Testimonials (1 Q&A blogs)
Read some glowing Testimonials from clients who have used our services to sell a home!
Contract Questions (3 Q&A blogs)
This time we'll address contract questions from the seller's point of view. What makes a contract strong vs. weak? How do contingencies work, and which ones are dangerous? These questions and many more are answered in here, so come take a look!
The Selling Process (18 Q&A blogs)
When should you list your home? How do you price it right? How do you get maximum exposure? Find answers to life's questions here... well, at least when it comes to selling your home!
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