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Is A School Part of Your Home Search Criteria?

March 23, 2011 By Doug Francis

Image via Wikipedia

Did you enter a specific school into your search criteria and still missed that hot new listing last weekend? Aren’t those “search sites” supposed to make it easy for the consumer you?

So, last weekend I was checking the MRIS database and noticed a Vienna VA real estate listing that didn’t have any schools identified. Since I keep an eye out for my clients, I immediately recognized that it fed into a specific elementary school that some clients really wanted… but there haven’t been any houses available. (really)

Adding school info is optional

To make a long story short, we met up and took a look on Sunday. On Monday we met to put together an offer and beat another offer that also came in on Monday (not on price but an “X-factor“).

Back to the school issue.

Public School information is added by the listing agent in our MLS (MRIS)… only if they choose to. Surprised? Well if you were the seller and knew that the elementary school was highly sought after, then wouldn’t you insist that your real estate agent leverage that fact. Isn’t that why they have SOL tests? Don’t those test scores help increase property values, if you are a buyer?

But my train of thought was interrupted when a Twitter friend responded to my tweet for input yesterday, and tweeted back that she rarely adds school information because, where she works in Fredericksburg VA, they change the boundaries almost every year. Well, there goes my theory about the SOL tests!

Her reasoning is simple: if the school boundaries are changed then the buyers may be upset because their home is no longer in the Harvard ES district. Well then, I guess that I can understand her point because I wouldn’t want that buyer’s lawyer calling me up either.

Another Twitter friend, Jeremy Hart, tweeted back that his MLS in Blacksburg VA requires members to enter the public school information for each house. Well, that make sense to me too.

Home buyers need to do school research themselves

  • What County School System is the home in?
  • For example, Google “Fairfax County Public School Boundaries”.
  • At the school system web site, enter the property address.
  • Contact the school if there is a question about changes.

So what are Northern Virginia real estate agents supposed to do? Maybe just list the price, items that convey, add some photos and hope everyone will figure it all out on their own. But what does a real estate agent do about that client who insists on adding “walking distance to Harvard ES” to the listing?

Easy… add a disclaimer: “Information provided is believed to be accurate…”

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Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips Tagged With: buyer agent, doug francis, Home Seller Tips, Northern Virginia, Single-Family, Vienna VA Homes

About Doug Francis

A Realtor specializing in unique and new homes around Vienna, Virginia, Doug started writing a first-hand blog about his everyday real estate experiences a decade ago. In depth, helpful and fun has always been the objective. Outside real estate, he "starred" in a tech commercial for Verisign's "Where the World Clicks" campaign, and was quoted in Money Magazine's Best Places to Live article on Vienna. He's a Boston University graduate who feels morning coffee is non-negotiable.

Being able to guide my clients through many real estate sales, either moving out, moving in, or just across town, has been a rewarding experience that helps when discussing a plan with a future client.

Being able to help them focus and understand our proven sales plan always eases their anxiety of this looming personal task. And, putting it into bite-sized steps always helps them get where they really want to be.

My background… I’ve been an active licensed agent in Virginia for 25 years, work at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty in McLean, and sell homes in all price ranges. I donate to the town tree replacement fund, participate in a neighborhood citizens association, and try my best to stay in shape.

Questions? Email doug@dougfrancis.com or call me at (703) 304-6827 to discuss your plans. Cheers!

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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 elite clientele has been attracted to my results-oriented strategy for years, and I am accepting new clients now.

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