SELLING YOUR HOME WITH
CONTENTS 2
Welcome
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Meet Your Team
5
9 Ways to Have Your Home Sold in Nine Days
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10 Tips for Selling with DC Home Buzz
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Get Ready to Experience Tailored Real Estate Service
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Full Service, Flat Fee
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Proven Results
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What Others Are Saying
15
In the News
Tailored Service JUST FOR YOU
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WELCOME TO
A NEW KIND OF
Real Estate Experience
I
t is our pleasure to present you with this personalized resource guide to selling your property. We have over 25 years combined experience in the business and we are passionate about making your experience as smooth as possible. That’s why we cover all of the basics and beyond – from developing a comprehensive marketing strategy for your home, providing you with A+ handling and peace of mind, to helping with coordinating movers and contractors for any home repairs prior to listing.
This packet includes: • • • •
Information about our team Our marketing strategy for your listing Information about our Full Service, Flat Fee Personalized home priced analysis
We hope you find this guide most helpful. Sincerely,
The DC Home Buzz Team 2
Meet your team Broker & Owner
Rob Williams
Real Estate Agent
Desmond McKenna
Connie Fisichello
Meche Martinez
Ati is a DC resident, DIY girl, dog-lover, scooterdiva, and real estate master negotiator at your service. She brings a down-to-earth, resultsdriven and honest approach to finding or selling a home. What she offers her clients is simple – expert service, experience, hard work, customer service and exceptional results! She has acquired strong firsthand experiences from the “trenches” and spent years building her own real estate portfolio, attaining detailed knowledge in purchasing rental properties, extensive home renovations, and staging/selling at a great price.
Rob is a DC resident by way of Georgia. He began his career as an Intelligence Officer for the Marine Corps, after graduating from the University of Georgia, where he pursued degrees in psychology, criminal justice and sociology. From there, he worked as a Senior Systems Analyst at EDSI & VNE. Currently, Rob is owner and a real estate agent for DC Home Buzz, a real estate brokerage firm located in Washington, DC. He specializes in home sales, property management consultation, renovation consultations, short sales, REO sales, and real estate investing.
A native of Castleblayney, Ireland, Desmond (Des) brings a hospitable and straight forward approach to the world of Real Estate. Living in DC since 1999 the city has become part of his fabric, translating into an expert eye towards detail and an uncompromising level of customer service that results in clients having a truly positive and memorable journey while buying or selling their home. A lover of architecture and home design Des is able to enjoy a fulfilling duty while living out his passion.
Connie is a DC resident and lover of all things HGTV. She loves all the details that give a space personality - color, pattern and texture. If she could, she would brunch every day, and visit farmers markets and open houses all weekend long. House hunting has always been a passion. She finds it an honor to be able to guide others through the home buying process and the journey exciting along the way. She believes that every space has potential to be the perfect home for someone, and she can’t wait to help find the perfect one for you!
Meche is a Michigan native turned DC resident. She loves all things DIY, HGTV, and exploring the greater Washington, DC area. She is committed to providing home buyers with an opportunity to realize their dream of home ownership by equipping them with the information necessary to make a smart, informed purchase. She uses her knowledge of the DC market to help home buyers identify a property that is the right fit for them and then expertly guide them through the sales process. All while easing fears, anticipating needs and making the experience enjoyable!
Ati Williams
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Real Estate Agent
Real Estate Agent
Real Estate Agent
DCHOMEBUZZ
Krisy Temple
Khadijah Anderson
Carolina Cid
Marketing & PR
Listing Transaction Manager
Krisy is a native to the area and has been living in the DMV almost her entire life. A project girl through and through, she loves all things DIY and on any given day can be found designing herself a new headboard, building industrial shelves, or exposing the brick walls in her apartment in Dupont Circle. With a degree in Civil Engineering, Krisy brings an eye for renovation and refinishing unlike any other and can help clients to see all the possibilities each home has to offer. Her commitment to customer service and her straightforward, honest approach will help you feel at ease while finding your perfect home.
As an Associate, Khadijah helps support three buyers agents from contract to close. Before joining DC Home Buzz, she worked in the valuation department at a commercial real estate company. Khadijah is a DC native who appreciates the uniqueness of the city she’s grown up in as it is constantly evolving each day. She enjoys running in the mornings, eating various cuisine and salsa dancing. On the weekends you can find Khadijah at your local neighborhood festival, hanging out with friends or making new friends at her local Meetup.
Carolina is a DC Resident and currently lives in Columbia Heights. She is committed to implementing the most creative and innovative Marketing and PR strategies to promote your listing! She works with her team to provide our clients with the best and most personalized level of service and communication. She stays current with industry trends to keep our marketing practices, content & collateral fresh. She has previous experience Marketing for Real Estate, working with top producing Residential Real Estate teams and brokerages in DC and Northern VA.
As Listing Transaction Manager, Kristin creates a seamless administrative process, to keep clients and Listing Agents consistently informed and updated during the process from Listing Agreement to Closing. She works closely with our broker, the Director of Marketing and PR and the rest of the team to be a reliable go-to source of information for DC Home Buzz staff and clients. A DC resident via Connecticut, Kristin enjoys going out on the town and getting to know DC all great shopping, dining and excitement it has to offer.
Real Estate Agent
Associate
Kristin Faig
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Ways to have your home sold in 9 days CALL US: Give us a call at 202503-4013 or email your agent to set up your free home evaluation. No gimmicks, no stuffy real estate meetings - just honest conversations about your home. MEET US: We’ll have a detailed consultation and see what work needs to be done before putting your home on the market.
HIRE US: Let’s make this official. Hire us as your agents and we’ll get to work. MAKE IT POP: From coordinating movers and storage arrangements, to contractors suggestions and renovation assistance, we’ll make sure your home is ready for its big debut! STRIKE A POSE: Our professional photography will ensure your home looks like a star. Additionally, we provide complimentary light staging for any final touches.
MAXIMUM EXPOSURE: We will let the world know your home has arrived. Our marketing strategy includes posting it on over a dozen real estate websites, our social media pages and more.
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TAILORED MARKETING: Custom web exposure? Check. Email blast to over 1500 real estate agents? Check. Blog post, virtual tour, social media marketing? Check, check, check!
SHOW IT OFF: During the open house, we’ll be sure to make potential buyers feel at home and provide them with a professional custom brochure of your property. After the open house, we’ll be sure to collect feedback from all attendees to ensure we’re on the right track to getting your home sold.
HANDLE OFFERS: We’ll carefully evaluate each offer to make sure that you’re getting the most money for your home.
Don’t Take It Personally
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You may have fantastic personal style. However, your style isn’t necessarily everyone’s, and we want your home to appeal to a wide variety of buyers. If we recommend certain changes or edits to your current home, it’s not because we don’t like it or think it was a bad choice on your part. Our recommendations are based on our experience dealing with buyers on a regular basis and to appeal to the majority of them, it can sometimes mean editing. For many sellers, home staging will be the first time they realize they’re really, actually moving. If you need to do some emotional processing, we understand. But, keep your eye on the prize: selling your home at the right price, to the right buyers, as quickly and efficiently as possible. If you disagree with some of our suggested edits or staging, remember you’re not the buyer, someone else is!
TIPS FOR SELLING WITH DC HOME BUZZ expert advice for getting your home ready to sell Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is critical. If your home doesn’t look fantastic when agents and buyers pull up to the curb, they may just keep on driving! Buyers equate how well a home appears to how well it’s been maintained. And buyers LOVE a well maintained home. • Make sure the front of your property has clear and well swept pathways, entryways, and porches. • Be sure any exterior light fixtures are cobweb-free and that your front door is clean and inviting. • Weeding all gardens and pathways is essential. Fresh mulch can also make a cheap and easy impact!
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Let There Be Light!
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Lighting is the most effective way to set any room’s mood. • Open up your curtains and blinds and make sure all are fully functional. If not, don’t invest is replacing them, go ahead and remove them all together. Less is more. • Replace any burned out light bulbs throughout the house in the overhead light fixtures.
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Declutter
We want to show off your home, not your other possessions. An overpacked room is a red flag to buyers that your home lacks storage space, which may not even be the case. Pack up unnecessary items and furniture, and move them to a nearby storage facility. Excessive personal items like collections, personal awards, religious statues, electronics and collectibles will make it difficult for buyers to see past your style and could deter a sale. Taking yourself out of
the picture makes it easier for buyers to imagine themselves, and their belongings, in your space. • • • • •
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A Higher Purpose
A room that appears to have a specific purpose sells. You don’t want a buyer to ever feel confused. To avoid this problem, clear away clutter and excess furniture from your spaces. Is it an office? Is it a nursery? Is it a laundry room? Is it a playroom? Make a choice.
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4
Neutralize
Again, potential buyers need to imagine themselves living in your home. Make it easy for them. • Remove all personal items such as family pictures and/or religious statues. • Get rid of any loud paint colors, offensive wall coverings or in-your-face accessories. • Be sure to consult with us before deciding to just go full beige when it comes to paint colors. Often, other colors serve as better neutrals and help compliment warm wood tones while making the architecture of a room pop. • Buyers don’t want to trip over your pet’s water bowl. Tuck away all pet-related items.
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Make It Work The key with the interior of
your home is that is feels lived in and well loved. • Repair squeaky or illfunctioning doors, often common with closets. • Touch-up any chipped or smudged paint • Repair any broken fixtures and fittings that you may have neglected.
Be sure all closets are neat and tidy. Matching space hangers and color coordinating goes a long way. The amount of storage each one has should be showcased as much as possible. Get rid of any superfluous items that detract from the rooms. Hide figurines; recycle junk mail, newspapers and magazines; file disheveled papers; and put clothes, shoes, laundry and the like out of sight. Remove anything hanging on the backsides of doors throughout the home. Remove anything that you may have hanging on your refrigerator. Clear the countertops of as much as possible. Even small appliances should be tucked away if exposed.
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Sparkle!
Product Placement
Think hotel clean: mop, dust, vacuum, wash windows, and baseboards too. Some buyers will actually look in your cupboards, under your sinks and in your closets. Remember: • Fresh towels and linens make a difference. • Hand soaps and toilet paper are essential for open houses.
Buyers don’t need to see your loofah hanging in the shower or your toothbrush on the vanity. Any and all personal products should be tucked away from surfaces throughout the house. • Remove all personal products from shower and bath interiors. • Tuck away all items from bathroom vanities and shelves. • Don’t forget those nightstands too!
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What’s That Smell?
Unpleasant pet odors won’t win over buyers. At DC Home Buzz, we’re pet-friendly, but unpleasant pet odors can make a negative first impression. • Be sure to get rid of old carpet that can trap offensive smells. Replace it with fresh new carpet in a neutral color. We realize that some of our suggestions may require you to spend money • You might even consider consultin order for them to happen. However, in making improvements and uping a neutral nose by having a dates to your home, your listing price will increase. This makes your home friend come by for a smell more valuable, and makes you more money! 8 test.
Spend Money to Make Money
Get ready
to experience tailored real estate services. Every home is different, so why would we apply form marketing?
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Staging Consultation
Our professional stager will provide suggestions for how to get your home ready to list.
Professional Photography
We’ll make sure your home shows its very best!
Advertising Your Listing
Your listing will be featured on our website, other top real estate websites (Zillow, Trulia, etc.), and social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram).
Email Marketing We’ll send out an email featuring your listing to our list of thousands of real estate brokers and potential home buyers.
Securing media mentions: We’ll submit your listings to all of the local blogs and local media to court attention from our target audiences to your property. While we cannot guarantee we will get media coverage we will make every effort to get your property as much PR as possible.
Neighbor’s Open House
You’ll be the envy of the block. We’ll send open house invitations to your neighbors, increasing your visibility!
Day of the Open House
We’ll provide a professionally designed brochure of your property to potential buyers.
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Full Service, Flat Fee INTRODUCING OUR NEW LISTING SERVICE
We’re pleased to introduce full service, flat fee listings. This first-of-its-kind service for the DC Metro area is exclusive to homeowners who list their homes with us. Traditional agencies would take a few pictures, dutifully post them on the MRIS and other home websites, and hold an open house. After a buyer is found and papers were signed, they’d take 6% of the listing price and split it 50/50 with the buyer’s agent. This would total $24,000 for a $400,000 sale. The Full Service, Flat Fee Difference With the introduction of Full Service, Flat Fee listings, we’re throwing that old model out the window. You will get the royal treatment, with complimentary staging assistance and a comprehensive marketing plan, which includes: • • • • • • •
Post cards featuring your listing to hundreds of prospective buyers Virtual tour and professional photography session Email blast that goes out to thousands of real estate professionals Spotlight posts on our social media sites Blog posts for your open house announcements Homepage coverage on our website Coverage on over a dozen of the top real estate websites
Most importantly, you’ll have access to the infinite knowledge bank of our real estate team, who will keep you posted on exactly where things are. We have a track record of top-notch client service and genuinely care about every transaction we take on. When the transaction is over, we’ll only charge $12,500 plus 2.5-3% paid to the buyer agent, instead of taking 6% of your hard earned money – whether your listing is $450,000 or $1,000,000. This translates into savings from $1,000 to $20,000.
SAVING HOMEOWNERS
Thousands
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To see your exact savings breakdown, please consult your realtor.
Besides our tailored marketing and attentive realtor team, DC Home Buzz is setting the standard in real estate. Effective immediately, we’re offering our sellers cash back when they list with us through our set fee alternative. Instead of paying outrageous commission fees, you’ll only pay $12,500. This fee includes tailored marketing, complimentary staging and a dedicated agent. The chart below explores your savings based on a variety of home values.
Transaction Value
$450,000 $500,000 $750,000 $800,000 $900,000 $1,000,000
Listing Agent Flat Fee Commission
$12,500 $12,500 $12,500 $12,500 $12,500 $12,500
Buyers Agent Commission (3%)
$13,500 $15,000 $22,500 $24,000 $27,000 $30,000
Your Savings
$1,000 $2,500 $10,000 $11,500 $14,500 $17,500
YOU DO THE MATH! Your DC Home Buzz realtor approved home value
$
Multiply by 0.06 (6% commission for buyers & sellers agents, paid by seller)
Divide that number by 2 & subtract 12,500
$
YOUR SAVINGS 12
SOLD IN
4
DAYS
$100,500 ABOVE ASKING
FLAT FEE VS COMMISSION
WE CHARGE A FULL SERVICE, FLAT FEE OF $12,500
$42,900 $66,000
$23,100
WHAT THEY PAID (WITH FLAT FEE) WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE PAID (WITH SELLER COMMISION) AMOUNT OUR CLIENTS SAVED 10% SAVINGS ACCOUNT
WHAT YOU COULD DO WITH
$23,100 13
40% VACATIONS 25% FOOD & DRINKS 25% ENTERTAINMENT
IT’S YOUR TURN TO SAVE.
“DC Home Buzz helped my fiancée and I sell our condo. I had used them to purchase my condo, but they went above & beyond with the sale. DC Home Buzz guided us through this process with ease, helped us prepare the condo for sale, and helped us sort through the multiple offers above list. In a line of business where trust is everything, DC Home Buzz was crystal clear and went above and beyond. I can’t recommend them enough!” - Steve G.
“100 percent likely to strongly recommend! We had a fantastic experience with DC Home Buzz to sell our NW DC house — under contract in a week, well over list price. Everything was professional and smooth from start to finish, Ati negotiated a great deal, took care of some last minute things when we were out of town and generally made selling a home far easier and less stressful than we had imagined. Bonus points for the good photography, staging, and marketing. Highly recommend.” - Sarah K.
“I first read about DC Home Buzz in the Washington Post. From the first interview with who became my broker, Ati Williams, I felt confident I was in good hands. They handled everything from staging the home to holding my hand through settlement with just the right mix of professionalism and understanding of my emotions. They sold my home in 5 days so need I say more? I can recommend them without reservation.” - Cindy Freeman
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A Scrappy Real Estate Broker Stakes Her Business on Flat Fees
Readers Choice Awards WCP Voted Best Real Estate Group - 2015 “I’ve worked with Carolina in the past, and if the rest of the agency is anything like her, they deserve best real estate group!”
“While other real estate agencies have tried offering flat-fee commissions, they tend to be discount brokers who offer minimal service. Full-service agents, on the other hand, say they offer expertise and a range of services — including staging a house for visual appeal – that justifies the 3-percent commission. Few agencies have tried marketing themselves as both flat-fee and full-service, which is what Ms. Williams’ company is doing.”
IN THE
NEWS A Spectrum of service models is changing the way we sell homes “The couple hired Atieno ‘Ati’ Okelo Williams, owner of DC Home Buzz, a real estate agency in Washington, to sell their home after interviewing several other companies. They hired her for two reasons: DC Home Buzz — a boutique brokerage with six licensed real estate agents and four staff members who provide staging, marketing and transaction support — lists and sells homes for a flat commission fee. And the Stephenses were confident that her marketing strategy would work quickly to get the result they wanted. It did: Their home received four offers and they sold it in one day for a price slightly above the list price. In listing with a broker offering the flat fee, the Stephenses saved approximately $20,000.”
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Spring Real-Estate Guide: Where to Expect a Bidding War “In 2013, these five neighborhoods had a sale-to-list ratio of more than 100 percent. What’s that mean? Lots and lots of homes sold for more than their asking price. Boutique condos, restored rowhouses as well as fixer-uppers, single-family homes along Rock Creek Park—this Zip code seems to have it all. There’s also a burgeoning nightlife scene along 11th Street, Northwest, two Metro stations, and prices that are still lower than in downtown neighborhoods such as Logan Circle. Pair all of this with a severe shortage of inventory and you have one of the most competitive markets in the city. ‘I saw 23 offers on a house in Mount Pleasant,’ broker Ati Williams says. ‘And it needed a lot of work.’ ”
DC Home Buzz DCHOMEBUZZ.COM PHONE: 202.503.4013 FAX: 202.403.0520