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NO-OBLIGATION HOME VALUATION FOR YOUR PROPERTY!
Work With Dwight Morris
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Hire aRealtor
For 18 years my mission has been to help people realize their dreams through the purchase and sale of real estate and to assist them as their goals change through the various stages in their lives. Whether the immediate goal is the purchase of a first home, a larger home to accommodate changing household size, the sale of a home filled with memories prior to retirement, or the building of wealth through real estate investment, I strive to make each client feel as though they are a member of a larger real estate “family.”
On a scale of 1 to 10, I want every client’s experience working with me to be a 20. Because my business is built on referrals, my goal is to serve clients in such a way that they will be delighted enough to refer their friends and family for years to come.
My Expertise
- The National Association of Realtors recognizes me as an Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR), a Seller Representative Specialist (SRS), a Certified International Property Specialist. a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES), a Military Relocation Professional (MRP), a Real Estate Negotiating Expert (RENE), a Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource (SFR) and a GREEN Realtor, whose expertise allows me to help environmentally conscious buyers and sellers analyze the eco-friendly nature of homes they wish to buy or sell.
- The Residential Real Estate Council has awarded me its Luxury Home Certification (LHC), its Residential Divorce Specialist Certification (DSC), and its Residential Listing Certification. I am a member of the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing.
Finally, I have significant relationships with some great contractors in Northern Virginia to get you the plumber, painter, or other professional you need — not just during the transaction, but after as well. Not only am I an expert in our local market, I’m also part of several nationwide networks of top agents in the luxury, seniors, investor, and green real estate spheres — putting you and your referrals in safe hands.
What can youexpect from me
The MarketValue
OF YOUR HOME IS BASED ON A COMBINATION OF FACTORS INCLUDING:
PricingStrategy
plays a key role in the home selling process, and can mean the difference between selling right away or sitting on the market for months.
It's important to understand that the amount you want for your home may not be a realistic price for the market, and the amount of money you have spent on it does not determine the market value.
Fair MarketValue
A home that is priced
AT A FAIR MARKET VALUE WILL ATTRACT MORE BUYERS, AND IS MORE LIKELY TO GET MULTIPLE OFFERS AND SELL FASTER.
Get ReadyTo Sell
process, every step of the way.
Top 5 WaysTo prep your home to sell fast
Homes that are priced strategically from the beginning are much more likely to sell faster than those that are priced too high for the market. Comparing similar homes in your area that have sold and that are currently for sale will help determine a fair market price to list your home.
To make your home feel more spacious, try to minimize as much of your belongings as possible. No clutter around the house lets buyers see your house and not your things. They need to be able to picture your home as their own, so put away the family photographs. Evaluate what you can potentially live without for the next several months and start packing. It all needs to be packed anyway, so you might as well get a head start!
Everyone loves a clean home, so clean yours like you've never cleaned before! Show your home at its best with a spotless kitchen, super clean bathrooms, and shiny floors. You don't have to live like a clean freak forever, but buyers are sure to appreciate your efforts!
Preparing to sell often requires putting some money and work into your home. When buyers see repairs that need to be done, they start looking for what else could be wrong with the house. This could cost you thousands off your asking price or even risk losing the sale. Being proactive and completing home repairs before listing will help selling go smoother and quicker. You can even have a pre-listing inspection done if you want to avoid the possibility of surprises later on.
Showing your home is an important part of the selling process, and being accommodating to showing requests will increase the likelihood of finding a buyer. Keep you home as "show ready" as possible at all times so that you can quickly tidy up on short notice and leave your home (taking your pets with you) before the potential buyers arrive.
TrustedVendors
- ALL
- AC & Heating
- House Cleaning
- Electrician
- Contractor
- Appliance Repair
- Roofing
- Plumber
- Chimney
- Septic
- Landscaping
- Carpet
- Radon
- Home Inspector
- Tree Service
Listing Your Home
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MLS Listing
Your home will be put on the MLS where it can be seen by other real estate agents who are searching for homes for their buyers. Your listing will also be posted on websites like Zillow and Realtor.com where potential buyers will be able to find your home.
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Signage
A For Sale sign will be placed out in front of your home, as well as Open House signs before an open house takes place.
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Lock Box & Showings
A lock box will be put on your door once your home is on the market. It's best for sellers not to be present at the time of showings, and a lock box allows agents who schedule showings to access your home with interested buyers.
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Open House
An open house will be strategically scheduled to attract attention to your home. Open houses are a great way to generate interest and get more potential buyers to see your home.
Marketing
In today’s market, where 97 percent of all buyers start their home search on the internet, I do the following for every listing:
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Professional Photographs & Videography
I hire a professional who knows how to showcase the best aspects of your home through both still pictures and a video tour.
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Virtual Tour
Using Matterport technology, I will create a virtual tour that allows buyers to see your home in more detail and that gives your listing an advantage over other listings. Through this method, I have sold properties without the buyer setting foot in the home.
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Detailed Floorplan
Matterport will also construct a detailed floor plan, complete with room measurements.
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Aerial Photography
Using drone technology, aerial photographs of your home as well as the surrounding area will be taken.
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Web Media
All of the above media will be used in a web-based media campaign, including a dedicated property website, all public home-search websites, my personal website, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
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Networking
Your listing will be shared with my extensive network of real estate agents locally and throughout the county.
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Other
Brochures will be placed in your home. My monthly newsletter will feature your property and postcards will be mailed to your neighbors.
The Power ofPhotography
While everyone has a camera in their hands today, that does not mean the results are appropriate for showcasing your home.
According to popular home search sites, the key driver to increasing website traffic is the number of high-quality photos that exhibit the best qualities of your home. Online traffic turns into foot traffic and showings, which result in offers from buyers.
I work with professionals that turn photos, images, and video into a powerful sales tool. An example—in which the property was sold based on these images alone—is available here.
The Power ofInternet
Gone are the days of people driving around neighborhoods they like, looking for “For Sale” signs. According to the National Association of Realtor’s, over 97 percent of all home buyers use the internet to search for homes.
Making sure your home looks good online is my top priority because that’s the best place to find the person who wants to make your home theirs.
Showings Checklist
Things you can do ahead of the time
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Inside
- Clear off all flat surfaces - less is more. Put away papers and misc. items.
- Depersonalize: take down family photos and put away personal items.
- Clear off the refrigerator: remove all magnets, photos and papers.
- Replace burnt out light bulbs and dust all light fixtures.
- Deep clean the entire house.
- Touch up paint on walls, trim and doors.
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Outside
- Increase curb appeal: remove all yard clutter and plant colorful flowers.
- Trim bushes and clean up flower beds
- Pressure wash walkways and driveway.
- Add a welcome mat to the front door.
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Pro Tip
- Don’t be tempted to shove things inside closets! Curious buyers look in there too.
On the Day
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Kitchen
- Clear off countertops, removing as many items as possible.
- Put away dishes, place sponges and cleaning items underneath the sink.
- Hang dish towels neatly and remove rugs, potholders, trivets, etc.
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Bathrooms
- Remove personal items from counters, showers and tub areas.
- Move cleaning items, plungers and trash cans out of sight.
- Close toilet lids, remove rugs and hang towels neatly.
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In General
- House should be very clean and looking it’s best.
- Lawn should be freshly mowed and edged.
- Move pet dishes, toys and kennels out of sight.
- Make beds, put away clothing, toys and valuables.
- Turn on all lights and turn off ceiling fans.
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Pro Tip
- Before a showing, make sure there are not any lingering cooking aromas, pet odors, or other strong smells. This can be a deal breaker to some buyers.
Factors to Consider Negotiate Offers
Accepting the highest price offer
might seem like the logical choice, but there are many factors to consider when reviewing an offer, and knowing your options allows you to come up with a plan that works best for you.
Some sellers accept a lower priced cash offer over a higher priced loan offer because there are typically less issues that come up, like for example a loan falling through. Consider your timeline and finances to evaluate if it is worth accepting a lower offer for a faster closing and often a much simpler process.
Some buyers may be looking to move in as soon as possible, while others may need more time in order to sell their own house. You may be able to select an offer based on a timeframe that works best for you, or you might have to be more flexible in order to close the deal.
Closing costs fall under the buyer's list of expenses, but buyers may ask the seller to pay for a portion, or all of this expense, as part of the sale negotiation.
A contingency clause is a qualifying factor that has to be met in order for the buyer to move forward with the sale. Contingency clauses often include details of financing, inspections and home sales, and the terms can be negotiated between the parties. The contingency allows the buyer to back out of the contract without penalty if the terms are not met.
Under Contract
Once you and the buyer have agreed
ON TERMS, A SALES AGREEMENT IS SIGNED AND YOUR HOME IS OFFICIALLY UNDER CONTRACT.
Steps Before Closing
In today’s market, where 97 percent of all buyers start their home search on the internet, I do the following for every listing:
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Inspection
Property inspections are done to make sure that the home is in the condition for which it appearst If the property inspector finds any issues, the buyer can decide if they want to back out of the contract or renegotiate the terms of the sale.
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Possible Repair Requests
After an inspection, buyers may have repairs they would like completed before purchasing your home. Typically there is room for negotiation, but some of these items can be deal breakers. It is necessary for both parties to come to an agreement on what will be repaired and what will not, and if there will be a price deduction in order to accommodate for the repairs.
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Appraisal
If the buyer is applying for a loan, the bank will request an appraisal to confirm that the home is worth the loan amount. The appraisal takes into account factors such as similar property values, the home's age, location, size and condition to determine the current value of the property.
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Final Walk Through
Before a buyer signs the closing paperwork, they will come to the home to do a final walk through. This last step is to verify that no damage has been done to the property since the inspection, that any agreed upon repairs have been completed, and that nothing from the purchase agreement has been removed from the home.
Closing Day
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Closing Expenses
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For the seller can include:
- TITLE INSURANCE POLICY
- HOME WARRANTY
- REAL ESTATE AGENT COMMISSIONS
- RECORDING FEES
- PROPERTY TAXES (SPLIT WITH BUYER)
- REMAINING BALANCE ON MORTGAGE
- ANY UNPAID ASSESSMENTS, PENALTIES OR CLAIMS AGAINST YOUR PROPERTY
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Items to bring to closing:
- Government Issued Photo ID
- House Keys
- Garage Openers
- Mailbox Keys
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Congratulations on Selling Your House!
SuccessStories
Easy Exit Strategy
Finally, I am so confident that my work will meet your expectations that I extend to all my clients an “Easy Exit Guarantee.” If at any time you’re not satisfied with my service, professionalism or marketing efforts, you can exit from the listing by calling or emailing me that you want to cancel. No hassle. No questions asked, guaranteed!
While a written listing agreement is required by law, there’s no reason that you have to be locked into a long term listing agreement. My goal is to eliminate the anxiety associated with listing your home.