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Do Home Buyers Look for a Fenced Yard?

By Doug Francis

Carter Fence Vienna VA

Our decision to get a dog was the final reason to install a fence in my back yard. I always liked the free-flowing yards we had which allowed the kids to run or sled from yard to yard but, I have to admit, the yard looks good with the new fence. Is a backyard fence going to add value when I sell my Vienna VA home? After helping hundreds of people Continue Reading

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

Realtor Tip of the Week | Think CLEAN

By Doug Francis

Annette Bening American Beauty

If you are planning to sell your home anytime in the future then you should start cleaning right now. In the old days we used to say... give it a "white glove test" but most people under forty wouldn't automatically understand that reference. People want to buy clean homes! It seems that many people miss this one point when they are putting their Continue Reading

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

Home Selling Tips: The “Coming Soon” Sign

By Doug Francis

Real Estate Coming Soon signs Vienna VA

When a Vienna VA real estate client asked recently about putting a Coming Soon sign in her yard, I adamantly told her that this would be a huge mistake. In fact, such an act would squander her best marketing opportunity and alienate the exact people she needed to attract. Don't alienate home buyers Giving home selling tips about properly Continue Reading

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

Your Home has too much Wallpaper

By Doug Francis

wallpaper

When the "listing agent" of a home for sale in Oakton, VA gave me a call recently hoping to get some feedback, I told her that my clients were totally turned off by the floral wallpaper and had ruled out her IMPRESSIVE listing. You are probably nodding your head in agreement right now because you have seen homes that were wallpapered in the Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Seller Tips Tagged With: Home Seller Tips, Oakton

So, what is my home worth?

By Doug Francis

Vienna va real estate sales chart

One of the most important benefits an experienced real estate agent brings to the table is the ability to recommend an "asking price" to a home seller. Unlike cars, each home is totally unique depending on condition, how it sits on the lot,  location, and many other important factors. Has the Northern Virginia real estate market stabilized? The Continue Reading

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

Yes, it’s your Second Showing

By Doug Francis

When a home buyer decides to look at a home again, agents will call this a "second showing". Sometimes a third or fourth showing might be needed before a home buyer makes the decision to write up an offer, but it is important for you (Mr./Ms. Home Seller) to understand the new "first showing" concept. There was a time when real estate agents Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Seller Tips, Video Blogs Tagged With: Home Seller Tips, Northern Virginia, real estate, Vienna Virginia

Is A School Part of Your Home Search Criteria?

By Doug Francis

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 Continue Reading

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

Yes, Reviews are Relevant

By Doug Francis

Doug Francis REALTOR Reviews

After a few real estate clients found me online, I asked how they stumbled across me or my Northern Virginia Real Estate Blog. Often it was a top Google result when they asked a question or one of my home listings showed up on one of the 10,548 "home search/IDX" sites that are out there. And when they drilled down, they found that my real estate Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips, Home Seller Tips Tagged With: buyer agent, Home Seller Tips, McLean, Oakton, real estate, Reviews, Vienna Virginia

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A little background story…

Doug Francis

Considering selling your home?

https://youtu.be/0ZSodCtsfkY

Just Sold!

Plum Street home with swimming pool

Looking for a house with a pool in Vienna, VA?

Sold!

https://vimeo.com/1003798838?loop=0

Planning to sell your home?

Real examples of before and after real estate work by Doug Francis

Case Studies

My step-by-step guidance | before and after pics Continue Reading

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Homeowners: Add a level of privacy

name withheld by request

Privacy: Hiding your name

Looking for testimonials?

Read through a collection of client comments originally posted on Zillow, Google and Trulia. See what my clients say...

Looking for a Custom Home?

Insights into New Homes in Vienna VA
Termite in 2x4

A required termite inspection in your sales contract?

Updated for 2025 Yes, a termite inspection clause is part of the standard Northern Virginia real estate sales contract. You need to keep in mind, this inspection needs to be done within 90 days prior to Settlement. Last week, I received a question via email from an upset seller who had just been told that […]

“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

Search for homes in Vienna

Vienna Real Estate Guide

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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