home search

A secret buyer agent search strategy for a home in Vienna, Virginia

Yes, another buyer agent secret search strategy for a lucky client living in Vienna, Virginia

When I meet with buyer clients, I like to discuss how our home search is going to involve a multi-pronged effort in order to be successful. The client will use the resources of the Internet with sites like Homesdatabase.com,  Realtor.com, Trulia or Zillow, and a few other super secret strategies. Yes, I will have the MRIS/MLS along with a network of successful agents that I have cultivated over the years and a few clever old school ideas.

But a few weeks ago when some clients were being extra specific, I drilled down through the Fairfax County tax records to look for old-timers who may be getting ready to move. You know, the old “come on lady, move out now while you can still walk” strong-arm strategy, similar to the training tape we just watched last week featuring Alec Baldwin.

But seriously, I found some folks who had been in their home 20+ years and sent them a compelling letter with followed up phone calls. As fate would have it, one guy who was just starting the pre-listing process and received a letter called his agent asking if my letter “was for real”.

“Who is it from?” she asked.

“Some guy named Doug Francis with Remax real estate” he responded.

“Well, I have known Doug for 17 years, so I feel it’s legit” she said.

So we saw the house, made an offer that was accepted, and now just have to wait for the appraisal to get finished. A successful home search, even in Vienna, Virginia, needs more than one strategy to get the job done.

Old school!

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home search

Home search sites are all over, but gimme some help…

There are MLS home search sites all over, but the new Homesdatabase.com looks really sharp and easy to use. And my blog adds more too. Should I just add this link to the blog? These are my thoughts on IDX too, as I try to decide to pay for IDX or link to the free site that my clients already seem to like?

I understand that finding the house is the easy part… it’s putting together the contract offer where my client’s really benefit. Yeah, more in the blog…

So why not compare… this site to this site and give me some feedback!

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