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The following is an archive of my articles about builders, strategies, home inspections, financing, painting, staging, tips, and skills. Start reading and you can search the archive anytime.

Seller Tip | Paint colors to sell your home in 2023

By Doug Francis

Best paint colors for 2020

Updated for 2023 Okay, this is going to help you out right now... Picking paint colors to sell your home in 2023 isn't going to be as challenging as you are thinking. Really. It's important to know that a fresh coat of paint will return 100+% of your investment. Hiring a professional painter will get it done quickly, and is well worth the Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Seller Tips Tagged With: Home Seller Tips, real estate, Vienna

Tree Donation Fund in Vienna

By Doug Francis

new trees planted Vienna VA

A few years ago I was talking with the former Director of Vienna's Parks and Recreation Department and she told me that they planted about 90 trees a year around town. But, they were removing 110. Planting trees in Vienna, VA With Vienna in the middle of a rebuilding boom where the mature tree canopy is being removed and replaced with younger Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Living Here Tagged With: Vienna Virginia

Considering buying an expanded Vienna rambler?

By Doug Francis

Pop top rambler vienna va

I have looked at a few expanded "pop-top" ramblers in Vienna recently with clients and each had a few quirky issues that you might want to consider too. Just to set the stage, a typical Vienna rambler was built in the late 1950s or early 1960s and has two levels: a basement, and main living floor. Plumbing Structural I-beam Heating Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips Tagged With: Home Buyer Tips, Vienna Virginia

The Value of a Back-Up Offer

By Doug Francis

smart gourmet kitchen design vienna virginia

Deciding to be a back-up offer isn't a buyer's ideal situation, but in a competitive, fast-paced real estate market when offers are reviewed on Tuesday evening, then being #2 really isn't such a bad thing. And sellers, you should feel lucky to have a back-up... just in case. Back-up offers provide home buyers and home sellers unique Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips, Home Seller Tips Tagged With: Home Buyer Tips, negotiating, real estate, Vienna Virginia

How HGTV has helped real estate

By Doug Francis

Living Room

There isn't a buyer client I meet who hasn't watched HGTV. And, that's a good thing! Last week while waiting for my daughter's dental appointment to finish, I got sucked into watching an exciting HGTV show called Flip or Flop. Okay, maybe exciting is a little much for a TV show, but, as a real estate agent, I often see the potential when Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips, Home Seller Tips Tagged With: Home Buyer Tips, Home Seller Tips, real estate

Getting Fios into a New Home

By Doug Francis

You probably expect Internet service in your new home. I know the answer is yes... But it is important to understand, early on, the scope of your post-Settlement "project" especially completing the last 100 feet getting Fios into your new home. Vienna, Virginia is active with construction these days with builders paying high prices to Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips Tagged With: Home Buyer Tips, relocation, Vienna Virginia

Facebook and Real Estate Negotiations

By Doug Francis

Screen capture Facebook

Emotions can run high during real estate negotiations. Super high. Recently, an out-of-area Facebook friend posted that she had bought, The House! There were over 150 Likes and dozens of comments. Then... the topic disappeared from her News Feed. Everyone understands that it is exciting to buy something new, and a house sale is Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips, Home Seller Tips Tagged With: Home Buyer Tips, real estate, Vienna Virginia

Air Conditioning and Air Flow

By Doug Francis

Outside air conditioning unit

The noise didn't bother the home inspector, but the air conditioning system was making far too much noise for a new home. The problem here was too much air flow though an air return vent... and this took place in 2004. You should always take a look at the HVAC system(s) when you are looking at any home you are considering buying. Make note of Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Living Here Tagged With: Home Seller Tips, real estate, Vienna Virginia

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“Doug nailed it! Within days, we had three offers, one of which not only met, but far exceeded all of our goals.”
– R. Pollard

“He truly was a partner integrating us unto the community and made it easy for us to take advantage of all Vienna has to offer.”
– A. D’Eredita

“We are so thankful we found Doug to guide us through the complex home selling and buying processes!”
– Scott and Jennie

About Doug Francis

I am a Realtor with TTR Sotheby's International Realty® just outside Washington D.C. in Northern Virginia. I'm licensed in Virginia with a focus on Vienna, VA real estate since 1991.

That deep knowledge is valuable, especially in today's fast-paced market where advice is critical. Although many of my clients are personally referred, I am available to help you too and am accepting new clients right now.

Feel free to contact me at 703-304-6827 or email me at doug@dougfrancis.com anytime!

Thank you for electing me to the Vienna Town Council!

Doug Francis was elected to the Vienna Town Council

Doug Francis is a Vienna Town Councilmember

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Contact

Doug: (703) 304-6827

TTR Sotheby's International Realty
6723 Whittier Avenue McLean, VA 22101

Office: 703-319-3344

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Note from Legal…

My clients deserve my undivided loyalty and priority scheduling. Therefore, I exclusively serve buyers and sellers with whom I have signed representation agreements.

Click to check out my past sales!

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