Doug Francis | Realtor

  • About Doug
  • Services
  • Sell Your Home
  • Case Studies
  • Get Started

About Doug Francis

Getting to here… My story

The pivotal moment came in 2008 when the national economy stumbled and real estate activity in northern Virginia came to an abrupt halt. We were in shock. My client’s jobs were in jeopardy, mortgages were almost all FHA loans, and the stock market had lost almost 40%.

Doug Francis and custom home builder Rob Fisher in 2017

With custom home builder Rob Fisher in Vienna, Ayr Hill project 2017

With almost twenty years of hands-on experience, I decided right then to totally change my business by writing a helpful real estate blog… to show how I was different, informative, and competitive.

Getting feedback from past clients, I uncovered that I had delivered the deeper insights and first-hand community knowledge they were looking for.

I had deep knowledge and experience in Vienna of many aspects including new homes, construction, renovations, costs and financing that I had been publishing in a newsletter for ten years. These topics were the foundation for my new content marketing style because I knew these topics better than anyone in our market.

Clients were also readers who liked researching, who appreciated my focus and first-hand experieince.

Fueled with renewed enthusiasm to share almost 20 years of stories online, I’m still writing in 2018.

Realtor & Lifestyle Director


We research everything these days, and I knew that my articles (blog posts) needed to be informative and helpful. The web was (still is) full of real estate home-search-sites with little, high-value local content.

In essence, I know a ton about local real estate and sharing that hard-earned knowledge is interesting reading for real estate sellers, buyers, and HGTV junkies. That was an edge that most agents haven’t even experienced…

So, I certainly wasn’t going to follow the tired “search for homes” format for a few reasons:

  • If I was moving here then I would want to know what living here was like every day, the sense of community.
  • My clients were already researching listings online, and what they wanted from me were specifics on costs, the negotiation process, and global guidance.
  • I wanted to create something original to reflect my experience, values, observations, and sense of humor.
  • To differentiate me from the other 13,000 agents in the D.C. metro real estate market.
  • And I wanted to meet new clients who see my value-add just from reading my blog.

Results came quickly from buyers who were relocating to northern Virginia from California, Texas, North Carolina, and London.

And unintended results came from local homebuyers who wanted my help, and local owners planning to sell their homes to move into larger homes.

And then…

Money Magazine called to ask me about Vienna, resulting in the Town of Vienna ranking #3 in Best Place to Live issue.

Verisign called to discuss how I used my website for personal branding and then asked if I was interested in being in a commercial.

My Background


I moved here from Boston in 1990 after working downtown for a Fortune 100 company. It was just before the “.com boom“, and I worked on and helped develop a content-rich intranet site for the customer service people at Putnam. It gave me insight into the future value of email and immediate online information. Everything was applicable to real estate in technology-driven Northern Virginia.

I’m married to a Fairfax County Public School teacher, we have two teenagers and a dog named Skipper.

Virginia Real Estate License in 1991 (0225 021708) working in the suburban Washington DC metro area. I’m a Listing Agent when clients are selling a home, and a Buyer’s Agent when a client is purchasing a home.

  • TTR Sotheby’s International Realty 2015 +
  • Washingtonian Magazine Top Agents 2017Doug Francis Washingtonian Magazine selected best 2017
  • Northern Virginia Magazine Top Real Estate Agents 2017
  • RE/MAX agent from 1994 to 2014
  • RE/MAX International Hall of Fame Member
  • Northern Virginia Association of Realtors Million Dollar Club
  • NVAR Life Member Top Producers Club
  • National Association of Realtors Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) since 1995
  • Town & Country Realtors from 1991 to 1994, Vienna Office

Other Interesting Experience:

  • Putnam Investments on High Street in Boston
  • Feron’s Tennis Shop on Newbury Street in Boston (yes, I play tennis too)
  • Boston University, B.A. in History
  • The Gunnery School, Washington CT

Other Background:

  • Native Rhode Islander, enjoy sailing and spending time in Narragansett
  • Dunes Club Member
  • Doug Francis Vienna VA Lacrosse U13 Boys CoachVienna Arts Society – Advisory Board Member
  • Coached Vienna Boys U13 lacrosse team
  • Volunteer in North East Vienna Citizens Association
  • Past PTA Volunteer at Wolftrap Elementary School in Vienna
  • Vienna Woods Swim and Tennis Member
  • 5+ gallon blood donor (they keep track at Inova, you should donate too!)
  • Quoted in Money Magazine’s article “Best Places to Live” ranking Vienna VA #3
  • Profiled by Verisign Inc. in their small business success story video project
  • WordPress, StudioPress and Content Marketing Consultant
  • Can be seen on the W&OD Trail walking Skipper, our six-year-old Cairn Terrier or sitting at a table in Caffè Amouri enjoying a mocha latte.

A donation is made to the Tree Vienna Fund after each sale to provide additional funding to the Vienna Parks and Recreation Department to buy new trees to plant around town.

Here’s how I can help you


Doug Francis real estate agent Vienna VirginiaArticles

I have written articles on this site for eight years and covered a ton of topics. Go ahead and search the site and read the blog (see Local Stories at the top). It is broken down for seller or buyers, but there are many tips like buying tear-downs, mortgage financing, offers and negotiations, painting and staging.

New and Custom Homes

Navigating the teardown and new home experience is complex. And it isn’t just topics like setbacks and lot coverage, but the finished quality, workmanship, and value. I talk with builders about upcoming projects so often my clients are first to know. I have helped clients buy new homes from the “better builders” in Vienna, McLean, Oakton, Falls Church, Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun Counties.

Yes, I go far beyond the Vienna real estate market.

Hilary Farr Interior Design Tips

Hilary Farr ~ HGTV

Staging, Marketing, and Listing

It often takes thirty days to get a home ready to sell, and that project requires teamwork.

Meeting with clients at their house helps establish a timeline of what needs to get done, helping everyone get on the same page. It is a team effort, and having a marketing strategy and plan to follow is key.

I have a list of modern colors that sell, and know there is a lot of hard work ahead to help your house have the “wow or it factor” that appeal to today’s buyers are secretly searching for.

And I have assembled a team of painters, home stagers, professional photographers and specialists to help you achieve the best market value.

The digital marketing strategy targets where buyers are looking, can be marketed to, and motivate them to call their agent to put together an offer.

Going beyond Apps

Home search apps are tools, but often train buyers into a really narrow focus. For example, over the years I have met clients who are on the verge of insanity waiting for an app to “ding” with a new listing.

This troubling reward training may cause anxiety, panic, and a feeling of powerlessness. I talk to clients about this… it’s classic FOMO.

Besides providing stability, I look at homes every day and often help clients find ideal homes that online looked terrible or had a typo which put it outside the search area. This happens a lot more than you would expect.

And then there is analysis and offers. Having negotiated hundreds of real estate transactions, I help you craft a winning offer.

Talk with Me

I enjoy talking on the phone, as long as I’m not driving or talking with a client. Try me at 703-304-6827 

If you have read this far, thank you!

Contact Me


You can contact me right now for more information. Promise to get back to you in a reasonable time!

Doug Francis Realtor TTR Sothebys International Realty703-304-6827 or doug@dougfrancis.com  

 

Main Office Address:

Doug Francis, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty

6723 Whittier Avenue

McLean, VA 22101

703-319-3344

“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 have been a full-time Realtor licensed in Virginia since 1991, and cover a big territory specializing in the Vienna real estate market and custom homes for sale.

I have unique knowledge of digital real estate marketing, and my marketing starts here. My clients have been attracted to my results-oriented strategy for years, and I am accepting new clients for 2023 right now.

Thanks for reading, and feel free to contact me at 703-304-6827 or email me at doug@dougfrancis.com anytime!

Search for a subject

Contact

Doug: (703) 304-6827

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

Office: 703-319-3344
Why do people hire me?

Search for homes in Vienna

Vienna Real Estate Guide

Doug Francis Vienna Real Estate 2021
This material can only be used with written permission.

Equal Housing Opportunity

 

Copyright © 2023 Doug Francis · Minimum Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in