SELLER’S GUIDE
ABOUT DREW DORAN The Mid-Peninsula of the San Francisco Bay Area sits at the heart of the tech world and offers something for everyone. Its location, climate and access make this area’s real estate market highly desirable. Your success in this market depends on who you choose as your REALTOR ®. They need to be intimately familiar with the San Francisco Bay Area, have extraordinary marketing ability, negotiation skills and handle the thousands of documents mandated by California laws, regulations and traditions. The perfect choice as your REALTOR® is Drew Doran, a 4th Generation Bay Area resident and true Native Son. This legacy made him perfectly suited to make the focus of his business Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Drew entered the real estate sales arena as an entrepreneur rather than a “sales person”. He understood the necessity to deliver World Class client care, not just for service but also to protect and support those clients. He knew that frequently important details were overlooked due to the sheer volume of the paperwork. As a fierce advocate for his clients and with a deep respect for the trust that engendered, he knew that a “Team” approach was critical. Thus was borne “The Doran Team”. Drew Doran built his team with a proactive and knowledgeable assistant, Andrew Arabejo, a former Content Analyst with FaceBook. His skill in marketing assures that Drew’s clients get the maximum exposure with the most current social and print mediums. Organizationally he is always available to answer questions and review the documentation in a transaction. Whether you are selling property or buying property Drew and his team will provide you with the knowledge, care and attention to detail that Drew first envisioned. They provide caring support, accurate and prompt communication and extraordinary market knowledge. They each live up to their slogan – “WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!”
Drew Doran
Cell: 650.766.2080 Office: 650.285.5450 Drew@TheDoranTeamRE.com
ABOUT ANDREW ARABEJO Early on, Drew Doran, the founder of The Doran Team, realized that the kind of World Class service he envisioned would require a special kind of assistant. Someone with marketing background, solid work ethic and social media savvy. Someone who respects people and was keenly aware of the Bay Area’s diverse cultures. He found that person in Andrew Arabejo. Andrew is a Bay Area Native Son who understands what type of marketing is necessary in today’s real estate market. His marketing degree and background with InstaGram and as a content analyst with FaceBook made him perfectly capable of providing clients of The Doran Team with curated videos, neighborhood flyers, and full range of marketing materials. Andrew provides a full week of unique marketing before a property hits the market increasing the value of the property and a faster sale. Additionally, Andrew stands ready to provide clients of The Doran Team with prompt communication, a willingness to help and an oversight of the voluminous paperwork required in a real estate transaction in California. Drew Doran had found the perfect support person for The Doran Team and Andrew stands ready to help you.
Andrew Arabejo
Cell: 650.421.1579 Admin@TheDoranTeamRE.com
5
SELLING WITH DREW PROVEN SUCCESS. PROVEN RESULTS. CHOOSE US FIRST! When you’re looking for a partner to help you negotiate the complexities of selling a home, you’ve come to the right place. The experience, dedication and strong communication you’ll receive here will help ensure the successful and profitable sale of your home: 1. THE LOCAL ADVANTAGE Take advantage of a broad spectrum of technologies and tools to support the sale of your home from start to close. 2. INTERNET ADVERTISING Since the lion’s share of home buyers starts their search on the internet, top placement on search engines is essential. You’ll gain access to placement on Google, Bing, and other websites. This will maximize your exposure and bring a large number of potential buyers to view information about your home. 3. EMAIL CAMPAIGNS It’s important to “work the network.” We can work together to identify the right people to target your home-and get in touch with them by email to drive excitement and interest. 4. PERSONAL TOUCH Of course, technology alone won’t sell your home. Face-to-face interaction provides the advantage to sell your home-and you won’t have to worry about a thing. The details will be handled with care and constant communication, to ensure the marketing and sale of your home go smoothly. RELAX! WE LOOK AFTER THE DETAILS Of course, we will take care of the thousands of details involved with your property sale so you can move forward with your life. We want you to feel confident in knowing everything will go smoothly from start to finish. - Drew Doran (Realtor)
09
MARKETING THE RIGHT WAY THE REAL FACTS Our comprehensive marketing plan will get your home seen by thousands of motivated buyers. Ultimately, our goal is to get your home the most exposure necessary to highlight the best qualities of the home. THE RIGHT PRICE We quickly put together a custom marketing plan with an effective price. A well priced home often generates competing offers and drives up the final sale value. Our market analysis takes into account the most actively searched prices and home values throughout your area, including expired listings and properties still on the market. THE RIGHT EXPOSURE In marketing your home, we also develop a listing that emphasizes its unique and sellable aspects. We then put your home in front of buyers, establishing it on the local MLS® as well as broader ones, new listings sheets, and real estate publications. Our nation-wide network of professional real estate contacts and buyers will also have the opportunity to check out your listing. EFFECTIVE INTERNET MARKETING In addition, we will use the Internet and our innovative website to make your listing highly visible. With more than 80% of buyers checking the web first when looking for a home, this is a part of your marketing strategy that you can’t afford to miss. THE BEST DEAL When you list your home with TDT, you’ll do so at no additional cost. When you start to get offers, we represent you during the emotionally charged negotiating process and ensure that you get the best price, and favourable closing terms that are clearly spelled out. As your professional aides, we also oversee all paperwork related to the sale.
“
NANCY - ATTENTION TO DETAIL UNEQUALLED “We are pleased to recommend Drew Doran as an outstanding real estate agent. He had a through knowledge and understanding of our home when showing it to prospective buyers. His eagerness and attention to detail was unequalled. Drew made us feel comfortable and we would not hesitate to ask Drew to represent our home in the future.”
MARKETING PRODUCTS Advertising is important. Exposure is key. Having the right products not only helps define your home, but also helps highlight the great qualities of your home. However, great qualities cannot be highlighted in poor products. They go hand-in-hand. Our premium marketing products meet and exceed the expectations of a luxury property for sale in the Silicon Valley real estate market. These products include: YARD SIGNS: A great way to advertise the availability of your home to people with an interest in your neighborhood or those who are becoming acquainted with your community. A yard sign is one of the best ways to show your home is for sale. The Compass yard sign is one of the most trusted real estate symbols in on the west coast. Compass real estate associates are known for their high quality service and advice. When home buyers see that sign in your yard, they understand that you’re working with a trusted brand and that you are marketing for maximum exposure. BROKER TOURS & OPEN HOUSES: The broker tour opens up your home to agents from other various firms. It is a great, most effective, and most convenient way to expose the great qualities of your home that may be otherwise missed and for other agents to bring their buyers in to see your property. We help show off your home by bringing the best out of your home. PROPERTY BROCHURES & FEATURE SHEETS: We are committed to marketing your home with high quality materials that represents the time and effort you have taken in obtaining and maintaining your home.
TRUSTED ADVICE Did you know that the average agent sells or helps their client buy only 8 homes per year? Did you know that 45% of real estate agents spend less than $500 per year on training and professional development. These are the facts, so how do you know if your agent is an expert when it comes to helping you buy a home?
SALES APPROACH Our team’s sales approach is simple — we do what it takes to sell your home in a timely manner. COMPREHENSIVE: Even though our sales approach is comprehensive, communication is the vital component to my success. We are committed to involving you in every step of the process. Whether it is establishing a sales price, holding open houses, accepting offers, or closing the deal, we will communicate with you on a regular basis. SALES INFO - DAYS ON MARKET: Lowering the number of days on the market is an essential asset to helping you move on with you life efficiently, financially and responsibly. It could be the difference between 10’s of 1,000’s of dollars and can give you the piece of mind and comfort needed while making the next step in your life. SALES INFO - LIST TO SALE PRICE: It’s one thing to close quickly, but most agents who have quick closings usually end up costing you more money and are typically below the market average. However, it takes a dedicated, well organized, well-informed team to close quickly for above average list to sale price. The difference can be thousands of dollars in your pocket.
“
MARY - DREW IS HONEST & TRUSTWORTHY “Drew is a wonderful Realtor. He is honest, truthful & trustworthy. He has assisted us to purchase our ideal home & then sell that home when we were relocating. He understood our desire for the ideal home & worked hard to help us find our home. Drew also worked diligently with us to sell our home in our required timeline. I would recommend Drew to anyone interested in purchasing or selling their home.”
09
13
“
TIM, BETH & MARGE - DREW IS OUR HERO “Drew went so far above and beyond what a Realtor is known for, that I can’t put into words. He sold our family home that we needed to sell badly to help fund my Mothers care . He was able to get a sale price that other Realtors just thought we were Crazy to ask. Drew said, “no problem Tim”, He did what he said, and even went and cleaned up the property on his own time, hauling (garbage) away so that our place looked great. Drew is a Hero to our family and anyone who chooses to use him will have a wonderful agent , and Man in their corner.”
YOUR HOME’S WORTH HOME EVALUATION One of the most important question most people looking to sell their home have is: “What will my house sell for in today’s market?” We have a very dynamic real estate market. Prices can change due to local, regional, national and international economic conditions, net migration to the city, political sentiment and of course inventory levels determined by supply and demand. You need to have a real estate professional like me to give you a comprehensive look at properties that have sold in your neighborhood in the recent past. This is critical! Factors that determine what your home is worth: - area above grade and total number of bedrooms - recent renovations, upgrades and/or updating - basement development with a bedroom and/or a suite plus walkout - number of garage parking stalls - location in the community: quiet or busy street, cul-de-sac, across from a park, views, etc. Another important factor is the opinion of value. Properties priced too high will sit on the market and become “shop worn.” Ideally, the property should be priced at Comparable Market Value. Studies continue to show that a property listed at 15% over market value has a 20% probability of sale; 10% over market value has a 30% probability of sale; 5% over market value has a 50% probability of sale. Properties priced at market value have a 95% probability of sale. The method most often used in evaluating single family homes is the Comparable Method. A property is worth what the buyer is willing to pay for it and this is determined by the basic laws of supply and demand. These two factors are evaluated by comparing the home with similar homes that have sold within the market area, with appropriate consideration given to location, amenities lot size, condition, and financing terms.
13
YOUR COMPASS MARKETING
G & NEGOTIATING SPECIALIST
PRICING YOUR HOME There are many factors involved that lead to the successful sale of your home. However, two very key components stand out from the rest. These components are an essential part of the process. FIRST: Pricing your home correctly is so important. An overpriced home can be detrimental in the end, while an undervalued property certainly doesn’t always generate the buzz it needs. Pricing your home properly takes an experience team that understands the market and has a track record of success. The last thing you want is for your home to stay on the market longer than expected. At that time, interest starts to diminish and perception of the home could go from positive to negative. Below shows the best time to sell and your window of opportunity. By taking advantage of these models, you can price your home properly, create a buzz and gain traffic to your home. SECOND: Attract buyers immediately. Sellers and agents tend to experiment with price by starting high and dropping it over time. This rationale is not the best approach. A listing gets the most attention on its debut. As the WALL STREET JOURNAL reports, the week that a listing goes on the market, we estimate that it gets nearly four times more visits on real estate websites than it does a month later, which is when most sellers will initiate a price reduction.
“
WE WERE IN GOOD HANDS WITH DREW “We had lived in the only home we’d ever owned for nearly 50 years and were a little intimidated by the process of selling it. From day one of meeting Drew we knew we were in good hands. He took so much time to explain everything we needed to do each step of the way. He checked in with us often and if we called and left a message for him, he would call back within an hour or less every time. He was always available to answer our questions. We thought selling our house would be a daunting task, but Drew’s professionalism, his knowledge of the market in our area, his attention to every detail, his skill in negotiating, and his caring concern for us made us feel so at ease. We highly recommend Drew Doran for any of your real estate needs.”
09
19
“
ANGELINA - SMOOTH SAILING WITH DREW “Drew represented us as we sold our house in San Carlos , he did a great with job advertising ,and helping us to lightly stage and present our house at its best . He found us a terrific buyer and the process all went very smooth.”
PREPARING YOUR HOME HOME PREPARATION - EXTERIOR • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
House number should be easy to read Lights on timers to ensure house is lit up after sunset Eaves troughs, and down spouts in good repair Garage/car port clean and tidy Litter picked up Cracked or broken window panes replaced Doorbell and door hardware in good repair Touch up trim paint on doors, window frames, fascia, etc. Mow, edge and weed the lawn frequently until the home is sold Overgrown shrubbery be cut back to show as much of the exterior as possible A low-cost investment in seasonal flowers or ground cover will add a personal touch Inspect the roof for necessary repairs and any visible broken shingles or tiles Stucco water stains can be repaired using a mild bleaching agent Fences should be mended and painted
HOME PREPARATION - INTERIOR • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Lights should be on and drapes left open during daylight hours Heat set at a comfortable temperature Fresh flowers/plants in various rooms Chipped plaster and paint touched up and repaired Doors and cupboards properly closed Leaky taps and toilets repaired Burned out light bulbs replaced Squeaky doors oiled Mirrors, fixtures, and taps cleaned and polished Seals around tubs and basins in good repair Floors cleaned, garbage containers emptied Inside of closets and cupboards neat and tidy Valuable property, out of reach, out of sight, or locked away Pets absent, where possible, or contained during showings All torn screens should be repaired or replaced
19 3
ACCEPTING THE OFFER THE PRICE IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT “The higher the price, the better the offer.” Do not let yourself be fooled by this popular misconception. Price is not always the determining factor when accepting an offer for several important reasons: the initial offer is usually not final, and there are a number of terms and conditions that may influence the final outcome of a price. You can trust TDT to help you thoroughly evaluate every proposal without compromising your marketing position. NEGOTIATING THE RIGHT WAY We take the ethical responsibility of fairly negotiating contractual terms very seriously. It is our job to find a win-win agreement that is beneficial to all parties involved. You may even have to deal with multiple offers before ratifying the one you judge to be the most suitable for you – and as your representatives, we guarantee a thorough and objective assessment of each offer to help you make the right choice. THE INITIAL AGREEMENT AND DEPOSIT An effective agreement is a legal arrangement between a potential purchaser and the property’s seller. Laws vary, but in order to be a legally binding agreement, the agreement may require consideration. This consideration (initial and additional deposit) is to be held in trust pending the fulfilment of conditions or contingencies in the effective agreement. KEEP WRITTEN RECORDS OF EVERYTHING For the sake of clarity, it will be extremely useful to transcribe all verbal agreements including counter-offers and addendums, and convert them to written agreements to be signed by both parties. We assist you in drafting all the paperwork for your sale and make sure that you have copies of everything. STICK TO THE SCHEDULE Now that you have chosen your offer, you and the buyer will be given a timeline to mark every stage in the process of closing the real estate contract. Meeting the requirements on time ensures a smoother flow of negotiations and also ensures that each party involved is not in breach of their agreements. During the process we will keep you constantly updated so you will always be prepared for the next step.
09
21
“
MAYO - DREW WENT OVER & ABOVE “Drew is Enthusiastic Eager and Energetic professional. He’s also Charming and Competent at his role as real estate professional. Three E’s is just what you want! The reason I chose him was because an acquaintance was just beginning her preparation for the sale of her home. She was hit while driving and her car was totaled. She was hospitalized and out of commission. He did probably did the majority of deferred work on the home to prepare it that for sale. His Compassion impressed me... now that’s 3 C’s! He helped a lot but I didn’t need so much. He worked beyond my obvious needs to ready me, a single woman, prepare for the sale.
BUYERS? WHERE ARE THEY? WEB SYNDICATION Our team uses the Internet and all online tools to help sell your home. With most buyers checking the web, getting online is the most effective and efficient way to connect with potential buyers. Our web presence and online network helps us show your home to thousands of buyers online. Most people search for a home using three main search engines. We make sure to connect with as many potential buyers and agents with buyers as possible on these platforms. More than half of all homebuyers search online first when looking to purchase a home. It is vitally important that your home receives the exposure it needs in order to sell. Our web syndications show your home on high-traffic websites as well as our own.
WHERE BUYERS COME FROM These are the first steps buyers take when looking for a home.
51% - INTERNET (HOME SEARCHES & RESEARCH) 34% - REALTORÂŽ 4% - Call on yard sign 4% - Friend/relative/neighbor 4% - Open House 2% - New Builder 1% - Local newspaper & magazines 1% - Knew the seller
19
“
AWESOME TO WORK WITH “Drew helped me purchase my home in East Palo Alto in 2013. He made that process very easy, so when I was selling in 2019, he was my obvious choice. Drew’s knowledge of the local market is extensive. He knew the best time and strategy for listing the house. He created beautiful and effective marketing materials. He advised me on changes I should make to the house before listing, and even managed the work with the contractor. He is a skilled negotiator, and leveraged multiple offers to get an outstanding price. I would highly recommend Drew.”
“
ALISON - DREW LISTENS “II liked Drew right away. He was down to earth, excited about the business, and went out of his way to make the home buying and selling experience positive for all parties. Drew really listened to what we wanted and worked with us as a team to make it happen. He got things done quickly and went out of his way to accomodate all of our questions and requests with knowledge and a smile. In the end, we got a better result that we ever expected and give Drew Doran our highest recommendation.”
“
DREW HAS A TRUE PASSION FOR HIS CLIENTS “Drew was both our listing agent for our previous home and our buying agent for our current home. You won’t go wrong with Drew. He has true passion for his clients and really takes the time and puts his clients first. He is very knowledgeable, honest and a true professional. I would recommend Drew in a heartbeat to anyone who is looking for a great real estate agent”
C: 650.766.2080 170 6 El Cam ino Real # 220 Me n lo Park , CA 94027 d rew@drewdora n.com
DREWDORAN.COM