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Not just another real estate search site

As I was doing some dougfrancis.com performance maintenance over the summer, I started reading through some of the older blog posts deep inside this blog. Part of my effort was to clean up issues that Google Webmaster Tools told me were causing Crawl errors… but, anyway, it forced me to read through some of my older blog posts.

This little exercise helped me see that my blog is unique, and not like the other 99,000 real estate web sites that simply give you a gateway to the MLS home-search info. Yes, you can search for homes here (see the Search Real Estate page) using two excellent home search tools if you want, but, I was doing something more. Much more.

dougfrancis.com covers my day-to-day real estate business

I discovered a subtle theme here that I really liked. This little blog covered the day-to-day, street level, gritty local Vienna VA real estate action that I have experienced in a rather challenging market. And the goal of most posts is to give readers insight into what my real estate clients were going through getting a mortgage, understanding their home inspection, comparing Zestimates with reality or negotiating traffic.

I didn’t start this post just to toot my own horn, but to encourage readers or other bloggers to take a minute and read a little. Writing about the real estate business is easy because there is virtually an endless supply of material that other home sellers or home buyers can appreciate when they are faced by similar situations. It challenging, but there is a lot of fun in it!

What do you think?

A Zillow.com Poll?

Jeepers! I go out of town for a family vacation (as most of DC does in August) and come back to get an e-mail from Zillow.com (yes, that Zillow.com) that I am included in their D.C. REALTOR Blogger poll?

Vote for DougFrancis.com right now

Now, this might just add a little sunshine to my day if you take a minute and give me the “thumbs-up”. Thanks for your vote.

By the way… my primary purpose is still selling real estate in Northern Virginia!

A Quote in MSN Money

I was surprised the other day to get a Google Alert that there was a quote attributed to me on the MSN Money site in an article by Marilyn Lewis. Back in May, I wrote a post warning home buyers to refrain from adding new credit lines before they actually “closed” on their new home. Since mortgage lenders are now running a second credit report just prior to closing (did you know that?), home buyers innocently buying new furniture before “closing” may negatively impact their credit ratios, possibly defaulting on their sales agreement with the home seller.

The consequences may cost you your Earnest Money Deposit and more.

Really, the main purpose of writing my blog is to inform my real estate clients in Northern Virginia about issues that will impact them selling a home, buying a home, getting a mortgage, having a home inspection or removing an oil tank. Yes, getting mentioned on a big-time web site like MSN.com is a thrill, but also indicates to me that I am on the right track giving advice that is informative. What do you think?

If you are planning to buy or sell a home in Northern Virginia, please read through the buyer or seller tip sections and then give me a ring so we can discuss your plans.

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• Saw this on MSN Money today (mytotalmoneymakeover.com)

A Quick Blood Donation… Now a Vacation

As I get prepared for my annual summer vacation trek up to Maine and Rhode Island, one of my things-to-do is to stop by the INOVA Blood Donor Center on Woodburn Road in Annandale, VA. For the past few years, planning to go away has been a good reminder that I should walk in and spend an hour with some of the most dedicated people in the medical field.

Have you donated blood this year?

This year, I want to encourage everyone to spend an hour donating a pint of blood. Did you know that more than half the population is excluded from donating blood? Read through this article from INOVA.

To make an appointment with INOVA Blood Donor Services read more here and make an appointment for sometime this week. Someone is going to be needing it very soon!

Now you can go on vacation…

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