ELEVATING THE ART OF REAL ESTATE
LAURIE HIGGINS
MEET LAURIE HIGGINS
Broker Associate | DRE 01322819
My passion for real estate was given to me at an early age by my grandfather, who was a real estate broker in the Bay Area for over 30 years. I received my real estate license in 2001 and my broker’s license in 2010, and I am continuing my grandfather’s example by providing top-notch service to every client.
I’m proud to say I was born and raised in Lafayette, and I feel my deep roots in the Bay Area contribute to my professional success. I’ve spent many years building connections with clients and businesses, and these connections have enabled me to help my clients to reach their real estate goals. I have a history of insight into the ever changing characteristics of our local real estate market, and love sharing this knowledge with clients, both past and present. As an active member of the California Association of realtors (CAR), the Contra Costa Association of Realtors (CCAR) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR), I stay educated on all government affairs, new legal changes, and financial trends.
Allow me to put my negotiating skills to work for you; you will find that I strive for excellence, as well as a commitment to personal service, a wealth of knowledge, a well-deserved reputation and proven performance in every aspect of the real estate transaction. I understand the complexities of selling or buying a home, and I believe in fighting for every dollar for my clients.
WHAT LAURIE’S CLIENTS ARE SAYING...
Laurie was referred to my husband and I by a family friend, and we are so grateful for that referral. We were first time home buyers with many questions. Laurie took the time to review and explain the complex process of buying a home at all different stages. While house hunting, Laurie always pointed out not only the good but also the bad. She definitely made us feel like she had our best interest at heart. Additionally, She made herself available around our schedule and was always prompt at getting back to us. She helped us through the entire process from beginning to end. She was such a pleasure to work with. Laurie is an EXCELLENT real estate agent who I would recommend HIGHLY.
~ Aaron and Patty Abood
Laurie was such an amazing real estate agent. She was so diligent in making sure the other party followed through with their part. Anytime I had a question, she was there to answer it. She fought hard to make my transaction run smoothly with an agent that wasn’t’ so professional. I would choose Laurie to represent me with all of my real estate transactions. She represents integrity, honesty, hardworking, and very knowledgeable.
~ Caitlynn Awand
Laurie Higgins is the best!!! We bought a beautiful home in Pleasant Hill from her. She listens to our needs and found us our perfect house. Laurie put her negotiating skills to work and got us the price we wanted. The transaction went so smoothly that when it was time to sell my mom’s house I called Laurie. She’s our go to real estate agent whom I’m recommended to many! Thank you Laurie Higgins!
~ Laurie and Camm Johnson
Laurie represented us when we bought our new home and when we sold our old house. We found her to be not only honest, but positive and really fun to work with. We have dealt with a number of realtors in the past and we have not always had that good experience. Laurie made sure that our sale property was marketed for the maximum advertising exposure. Plus, the staging and brochure were lovely. She was truly committed to protecting our interests throughout the entire process of both transactions. We would not hesitate in recommending her to anyone in need of a real estate expert whom they can trust.
~ Karin and Stephen Shields
Laurie Higgins is an extremely professional real estate agent who is 110% committed to her clients. We entered into three separate purchase escrows with her until we found our beautiful home. Laurie held our hands through every inspection, appraisal and step as we regretfully had to pull out of two of the escrows because sellers were not cooperative and forthright. Those lost properties were emotionally very trying but Laurie kept telling us the best was yet to come and they weren’t meant to be… and she was 100% correct! When we found our home the transaction was handled flawlessly and we were kept informed at every stage of the transaction. Laurie even took most of our empty boxes to give to other clients!
Onto the sale of our home of 27 years… Laurie put us in touch with fabulous contractors and helped us stage our property for top dollar. We couldn’t be happier with our results! Laurie is very detail oriented efficient and responsive. You will not regret hiring her to represent you in any real estate transaction!
~ Debbie and Warren Dreher
"Choosing you as our Realtor was the best decision for our family. You have provided us nothing but the best.
We truly can’t thank you enough..."
MORE 5 STAR REVIEWS....
Laurie was exceptional! She was on top of everything from beginning to end. She was professional, knowledgeable and kind. I would highly recommend her for both buying or selling. We were lucky to have her.
~ Renee Swanson
Laurie sold my house in 2 days. She did everything for me. Took such good care of me. Laurie is a beautiful, honest, caring person and has the highest of integrity. Thank you Laurie for helping me through this selling of my house and making it easy for me when I thought it was the end of the world. Thank you doesn’t seem good enough.
~ Lynda L Schroder
Laurie was once again very professional and put our interest first. She is business like yet compassionate and understanding. Laurie understood the new laws and did a great job fact checking all documents. We trusted Laurie and she came through.
~ Guy Rognlien
I have worked with Laurie for years. She helped me purchase my home in Walnut Creek in 2016 and when it came time to sell my home there was only one agent I knew I wanted to work with! She is knowledgeable, professional, kind and very responsive. The team she works with from inspectors to the title company are all prompt and a pleasure to work with. I highly recommend Laurie Higgins on both the buy and sell side of real estate transactions. She can help ease concerns and make what can seem to be a very overwhelming process a much simpler one! Thank you Laurie!!
~ Kirsten Rager
My mother recently moved into assisted living and Laurie helped me sell Mom’s condo in Walnut Creek.
Laurie is professional, thoughtful, helpful and knows her business very well.. She collaborated with my contractor to help me create the most value within my budget. She prepared all of the paperwork and advised me when I needed help filling out some of the more complicated information. Her staging team did a fantastic job making the small space look homey and open. She kept us on the timeline needed to get the property on the market at just the right moment and priced it perfectly. We received 6 offers at and over asking in the first week. She helped me sort through them and choose the best one and then managed all of the details to get us smoothly to the signing. I cannot recommend Laurie highly enough.
~ Lisa Holmes
Laurie just sold our home and we couldn’t be happier. She was responsive, proactive and professional throughout the entire process. We had multiple offers within a week, and our home sold for $350,000 over the asking price! We would happily recommend Laurie to anyone looking for a real estate agent.
~ Albert and Lisa Wong
We hired Laurie to help us sell our home. She made suggestions on improvements we should do, which helped it sell fast and for more than we thought! A few months later, she helped us buy. She was responsive and extremely thorough on her walk throughs so there were no surprises when we submitted an offer.
~ Alison Perez
Laurie is the consummate real estate professional! She not only sold our home within the first 24 hours of hitting the market, she was able to help us place the perfect offer on a new home in a very competitive market despite our needing to be contingent, which we thought would be impossible. She has great insight and has a very good pulse on current market conditions. She’s also just a joy to work with! Thank you Laurie for all your hard work on our behalf!
~ Genelle Volhontseff
Laurie Higgins did an excellent job selling my parents house for our family trust. She was prepared, and explained all the processes in depth. With her knowledge and experience she sold the house quickly and with minimum hassles for me.
~ Dona Ray
I have sold a few homes over the years and while most of the Real Estate Agents were fine, nobody was ever in the same league with Laurie Higgins. Her outstanding follow through and performance with all the people involved in the sale of the house was never ending. I would highly recommend Laurie for a trouble free experience.
~ Lee Wampler
Over the years, we’ve hired Laurie twice to help us sell properties. In both instances, we had an offer within one week. Laurie’s experience was instrumental in helping us get the properties ready to sell, and she walked us through the process with expert guidance. She was responsive and available to answer all questions, and made it feel easy. We were extremely satisfied we hired Laurie as our realtor, and recommend her without hesitation.
~ Julie Haymes
Laurie was great in guiding us through the process from start to finish. The house sold quick and she was a big help.
~ Gary Lowe
Laurie was great from beginning to end, professional and hard working. She is a full service hands on real estate agent. She help me with every step from preparing my home to sell, explaining everything to me along the way, always available for me if I had a question or concern. She is very professional and really know the real estate business which made everything easier for me.
~ Marianne Pearson
We have used Laurie twice now. Once to buy a home and once to sell our home. She is the best agent around. Always responds quickly, explains everything clearly and has your best interest at heart. Pick anyone else and you will be sorry!!!
~ The Leonard Family
Laurie did an amazing job representing me in the sale of my home. She went to great lengths to make sure all the deadlines and appointments, the other side was on track, and was always available to answer any questions I had along the way. I will always go to Laurie Higgins for my real estate needs.
~ Caitlynn Wakeman
Buying a house can be very overwhelming and stressful, especially as first time home buyers. Laurie was there every step of the way and went above and beyond to answer every question we had as well as advocating for us with the building developer staff and lender. She definitely put our nerves at ease. Thank you Laurie for helping us get into our dream house!.
~ Amber and Don Davis
DUDUM REAL ESTATE GROUP
Dudum Real Estate Group is an independently owned, thriving brokerage comprised of highly motivated, resourceful, and successful real estate professionals. Formed by Julie Dudum Del Santo, who comes from a long line of Bay Area entrepreneurs, Dudum Real Estate Group is one of the preeminent and finest real estate brokerages in the East Bay. With offices in Walnut Creek, Lamorinda, Danville, Brentwood, and Sierra Tahoe, Dudum Real Estate Group agents work collectively to give their clients the best possible real estate buying and selling experience in the East Bay. At the core of our business philosophy is a commitment to extraordinary service, cooperation, honesty, and communication.
Our team of experts, knowledgeably and competently, cover a wide territory from the Oakland/Berkeley area, continuing east along Highway 24, throughout Lamorinda, the communities along both sides of Highway 680 down to 580, as well as East Contra Costa County, West Contra Costa County serviced by Highway 4, and Sierra Tahoe.
“A client is the most important visitor on our premises, he is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our business. He is part of it. We are not doing him a favor by serving him. He is doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to do so.”
MAHATMA GANDHI
INTRODUCIN G OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
Our experienced executive team provides the strategic direction for the firm and combined with their acute real estate and financial acumen, they offer sound guidance and innovative solutions to our clients. They also inspire our agents to achieve their full potential by giving them the tools they need to be successful.
JULIE DEL SANTO Broker/Owner
LORI LEGLER Regional Vice President
J OHN SEFTON Director of Compliance
TRACEY CASELLA Director of Operations and Relocation
JEN RIES Director of Marketing
OUR ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM
Each member of our administrative management team performs a vital role within our organization. Each of them was hand selected for their amazing expertise and qualities. Cooperating as a team, their support of our agents and our clients is unequaled in the industry.
CHRISTY MOORE
MELISSA BLISS
MARKETING ADMINISTRATION
ASSOCIATE MANAGEMENT
CAITLIN AZEVEDO
SABRINA KYHN
JAMIE
TINA FRECHMAN
OLIVER BROWN
ANNEMARIE ULBRICH
BIANCA ROCHA
WE’RE DIFFERENT
Unlike typical brokerages, we cooperate, instead of compete with each other. We strive for company success as a whole. Ours is an environment that leverages the best of everyone’s skills and knowledge for the ultimate benefit of our clients. We all have a service-focused work ethic, top negotiating skills, and have established similar highly successful track records of excellence. Each agent is independent, yet the energy created by the cooperative spirit results in beyond satisfied clients and smooth transactions for all.
30% TOP
OF BROKERAGES NATIONWIDE
RIS MEDIA: 2023 Power Broker Survey, By Sales Volume
TOP BROKERAGES IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY*
5
When ranked by Units Sold per agent 2020-2023
*Source: TrendGraphix, January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2023
$6.00B SALES VOLUME 2019-2024*
5,908 UNITS SOLD 2019-2024*
*Source: Dudum Real Estate Group records January 1, 2019 - September 6, 2024
BEST PLACE TO WORK 2015-2024
Voted Best by San Francisco Chronicle
TOP 10 BROKERAGES IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY*
Ranked top 10% out of 1152 Brokerages; Total Sales Volume; Ranking by Market Share
RANKED #2 IN LAFAYETTE*
Total Sales Volume; Ranking by Market Share
RANKED #5 IN WALNUT CREEK*
Total Sales Volume; Ranking by Market Share
TOP 10% IN BRENTWOOD & DANVILLE*
Total Sales Volume; Ranking by Market Share
*Source: Trendgraphix, January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023
MORE.
Our agents sell more homes at higher sales prices in a shorter time than the competition.
12%
GREATER AVG. SALES PRICE * Than the brokerage average in Contra Costa County
35%
FEWER DAYS ON MARKET * Than the brokerage average in Contra Costa County
71%
MORE PER AGENT $ PRODUCTIVITY * Than the brokerage average in Contra Costa County
21%
MORE UNITS SOLD * Than the next closest competitor
*Source: TrendGraphix, January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2023
GET TO KNOW DUDUM REAL ESTATE GROUP
This dynamic group equips and educates themselves regularly so that you can always rely on the accuracy of the information given. From continuing education to real estate seminars, legal updates, and negotiation strategy training, this group continuously stays ahead of the industry standard. This allows them the ability to provide their clientele with the latest market insight, information, and quality service in every aspect of a transaction.
Our agents are geographically situated throughout the communities they serve. They utilize their networks, modern real estate tools, and resources to guarantee maximum marketing and exposure of a property, as well as ensuring that their clients gain reliable access to property information throughout the greater East Bay.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE:
Single-family homes
• Condo and townhomes
• Luxury and estate homes
• Worldwide relocation
• Lots and land
• Probate transactions
• Foreclosures and short sales
• Historic properties
• Commercial real estate
• Leasing
YOUR BAY AREA REAL ESTATE TEAM
Opening Doors of Opportunity
OUR KNOWLEDGE BENEFITS OUR CLIENTS
Collectively, our agents have hundreds of years of real estate experience and have successfully closed thousands of transactions. The uniqueness of our agents uniting and working together simply gives our clients a better experience, and has set a peerless standard of practice not often seen in the real estate industry. In the spirit of reciprocity, our agents love to share their knowledge, skills, and talents with each other, all with the paramount goal of providing the highest level of professional service. We take pride in the way we handle a transaction from start to finish, including our skilled and service oriented staff, who are attentive to the details and treat clients with exceptional care.
RELOCATION: CONNECTED LOCALLY AND BEYOND
Years of combined work in real estate has connected us to professional agents all over the world and allows us to assist clients in buying or selling a home anywhere in the United States, or across the globe. Our established international relocation network, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, ensures that clients can find or sell a home anywhere and still experience the same standard of care we would give locally. It is through our relocation services that each referred agent is hand selected and pre-screened to ensure the best match to fit the needs of each client.
RESOURCEFUL AND RELIABLE
Buying or selling a home usually involves a crew of different people, from plumbers, painters, and roofers to fence menders, house cleaners, and pet sitters. Whatever the need is, we have a full list of trusted service providers that we can refer so the buying or selling process goes that much smoother. This golden list of dependable providers continuously improves as Dudum Real Estate Group agents discover new and extraordinary businesses, all to make your transition as seamless as possible.
REPRESENTING THE EAST BAY’S HOME BUYERS
& SELLERS
Dudum Real Estate Group represents a wide variety of clients in the East Bay who work in many fields including banking, finance, healthcare, government offices, professional athletics, higher education and technology. We view our clients as our partners and we work both diligently and intelligently with them to ensure that their real estate needs come first and are met — effectively and with results.
REALTOR ® SERVICES
As your REALTOR®, I will handle the complexities of the transaction documents, escrow, inspections, marketing and the important art of skilled negotiation so you enjoy the peace of mind that the sale of your home will be smooth, efficient and satisfying. Here is a look at the professional duties I will perform on your behalf.
PRESALE ACTIVITIES
1. Initial consultation to determine needs, priorities, and timeline.
2. Research and determine market value.
3. Prep the professional comparative market analysis (CMA) and provide market updates to the valuation range that is accurate, strategic, and dependable.
4. Determine possible net proceeds.
5. Prepare all documentation for signatures.
6. Review agency relationships.
7. Discuss pricing and marketing strategies unique to your property.
8. Sign listing agreement.
9. Prepare initial timeline calendar for important presale activities.
10. Order pre-sale home warranty with seller’s coverage.
11. Schedule consultation with stager.
12. Coordinate and confirm pre-listing inspections.
13. Prepare pre-sale disclosure packages.
14. Refer attorney and/or CPA for legal and/or tax advice, if needed.
15. Advise seller to confirm zoning and building restrictions. This will inform buyers who may want to rent out the home or add an Accessory Dwelling Unit.
MARKETING PLAN
1. Coordinate updates and improvements.
2. Obtain bids on repairs, if needed.
3. Coordinate home repairs, as needed.
4. Stage property (if applicable).
5. Schedule housekeeping, window washing, carpet cleaning, landscaping.
6. Have property professionally photographed; create virtual tour.
7. Order “For Sale” sign and appropriate riders.
8. Install lockbox at home.
9. Input listing on Multiple Listing Service, which syndicates to over 25,000 brokerage and Realtor websites.
10. Determine showing availability; communicate to other agents.
11. Host broker’s open house.
12. Host public open house(s).
13. Offer twilight tour.
ADVERTISING, COLLATERAL & SOCIAL MEDIA
1. Create custom color property brochure.
2. Create single property website, i.e., www.123mainstreet.com.
3. Enter property listing on 100+ websites: Dudum.com, Zillow. com, Realtor.com, Redfin, my site and many more.
4. Mail open house invitation to neighborhood, my SOI, and to other prospective buyers.
5. Create e-Blast and email to 4,000+ local agents and brokerages.
6. Create and post social media designs to Facebook, Instagram, and other news media avenues (Linkedin, etc.)
7. Create and submit newspaper and/or magazine ads, including open house ads.
NETWORKING
1. Promote to my agent network; announce at sales meetings.
2. Promote listing to out of area, out of state and out of country buyers via our relocation network.
3. Promote to my SOI, prospective buyers and my networking groups.
4. Promote at weekly marketing meetings.
5. Promote within neighborhood.
ONGOING
1. Schedule and show to potential buyers.
2. Communicate updates regularly; share activity and feedback.
3. Track results of market conditions, sharing results, discussing competition.
4. Respond quickly to all buyer inquiries.
5. Revise marketing plan and pricing strategy, as needed.
6. Provide social media updates: number of online views, hits, click-throughs of online and social media advertising.
NEGOTIATE OFFERS/ACCEPTANCE
1. Schedule offer presentation with you.
2. Present offer(s).
3. Explain ramifications and/or benefits relating to terms and conditions of contract(s).
4. Negotiate best terms on your behalf.
5. Negotiate actual occupancy.
6. Coordinate actual close date.
7. Complete contractual paperwork to execute chosen agreement.
8. Organize and facilitate copies of offer, counter offers and addendums to appropriate parties for ratification.
9. Coordinate opening of escrow.
FACILITATE AN ESCROW
*Much of the following is done with the assistance of a Transaction Coordinator:
1. Coordinate communications effectively amongst all parties including the buyer’s agent, closing title company and any additional third parties.
2. Deliver completed contract to both parties, to title company and lender and/or appraiser, when necessary.
3. Confirm title company is in receipt of buyers’ earnest money deposit within 3 days of offer acceptance.
4. Disclose new or additional information concerning property to buyers, through proper paperwork, beyond that in original disclosure package.
5. Coordinate and confirm inspection appointments.
6. Receive and review title report.
7. Negotiate any post inspection findings.
8. Resolve challenges relating to property condition or buyer’s concerns.
9. Coordinate appraisal appointment.
10. Meet appraiser with applicable comparable sales.
11. Negotiate any negative impact relating to appraisal, should discrepancy arise.
12. Arrange home warranty policy for buyer’s coverage.
13. Complete ongoing necessary transaction paperwork
14. Facilitate contingency removal.
15. Coordinate and attend final signing, in preparation for the closing.
16. Work with you on organizing utility shut-off.
17. Work with you to finalize moving plans, warranty transfer, and other needs.
18. Arrange and attend buyer’s final walk through.
19. Work to resolve any challenges that arise.
20. Confirm loan funds and remaining buyer money has been deposited into escrow, if applicable.
21. Verify that the deed has been transferred and recorded; escrow is closed.
22. Facilitate the delivery of keys, access codes, garage door openers, and equipment and appliance manuals to new owners.
23. Call you with CONGRATULATIONS!
AFTER CLOSING
1. Provide final HUD and final closing flashdrive keychain with all supporting home sale documents for tax purposes.
2. Provide service provider list to seller to confirm cancellation of all utilities.
3. Help you find your next home, or assist you with relocation services if needed.
4. Work with you to ensure the transition to new residence is seamless.
5. Provide a list of trade professionals and resources, to help with repairs or upgrades needed on your new home.
6. Serve as a community resource and great REALTOR® to your friends and family, for all of their real estate needs.
7. Check in periodically.
8. Add you to gift and mailing campaign.
9. Invite you to client parties such as Shredfest, Sundae Sunday, Client Appreciation Party, and Santa Party.
10. Follow up with market updates!
DIABLO MAGAZINE
Covering topics ranging from travel, culture, and personalities to entertainment, recreation, and food, Diablo Magazine is the only monthly publication written specifically for the San Francisco East Bay market. With locally driven editorial, beautiful photography, and resource listings, Diablo Magazine is a unique celebration of the area we call home.
TRADITIONAL ADVERTISING
While most real estate advertising has moved online, we still believe in advertising in traditional media outlets such as newspapers and magazines including Homefolio, Homes & Land Magazine, 110° Magazine, and several others.
DUDUMLIVING.COM
Dudumliving.com is our innovative blog which provides clients and prospects with cutting-edge trends, information, and statistics on the local real estate market and beyond. Clients can sign up to learn about off-market and coming soon listings, open houses, invitation only events, research, market updates, and more.
DIRECT MAIL & EVENT MARKETING
We employ an aggressive direct mail campaign strategy to advertise your home. Resident letters are also sent to advertise your property to neighbors who may know someone looking to relocate to your area.
In addition to Saturday and Sunday open houses, we also hold brokers tours, twilight tours, and occasionally special receptions, showings, and invitation-only events.
PROPERTY FLYERS & BROCHURES
Professionally designed and meticulously crafted, our property marketing collateral is designed by our in-house marketing department who have decades of real estate marketing experience.
Our company standard is to always use professional photography and printing. The quality of these photographs, print, and layout enhance a buyer’s perception of value and help create a strong impression for your property.
PRESS & PUBLIC RELATIONS
Dudum Real Estate Group and its agents have been featured in Diablo Magazine, East Bay Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, Realtor Magazine, Walnut Creek Magazine and more throughout the years. We work with our clients to design and implement a tailored, fullservice marketing approach utilizing our relationships with traditional and new media outlets to ensure maximum exposure for every property.
HOW BUYERS BEGIN THEIR HOME SEARCH
FRIEND: 6%
YARD/OPEN SIGN: 7%
HOME BUILDER: 5%
OTHER: 3%
REALTOR®: 28%
ONLINE: 51%
Understanding where buyers come from allows Dudum Real Estate Group professionals to market your home more effectively. While the expertise of a real estate professional remains vital to the home buying process, the internet serves as a tool for all generations of home buyers. That is why it is so important for Dudum Real Estate Group to offer a powerful combination of expert real estate reputation and a dominant web presence.
• 97% of all homebuyers used the internet in their home search
• Across generations, real estate agents remain the most frequently used source of information in the home search, followed by mobile search devices
Our agents are equipped with the latest in mobile technology and are ready to respond
DUDUM.COM
We maintain a strong online presence through Dudum.com which has powerful searching tools, community reviews, marketing resources, and listing alert capabilities. Our website and blog attract over 20,000 unique visitors annually.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media is a powerful way for us to reach savvy buyers and sellers throughout the East Bay. From placing listings on Facebook to posting virtual tours on YouTube, social media is a great way to reach a designated group of loyal followers and instantly expose your property to a multitude of target prospects. By implementing a comprehensive social media campaign using Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube and more, our goal is to increase the impact and visibility of your home to garner the widest exposure from the start.
BRINGING YOU THE POWER OF OUR NETWORK
As a member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World,® our company is a global — not just local — real estate company working on your behalf. LeadingRE provides world-class marketing and resources, allowing us to provide the very best services. Our invitation-only network was responsible for $282 billion in annual home sales volume among the top 500 U.S. real estate firms in 2023.
OUR GLOBAL NETWORK
550 COMPANIES
4,800 OFFICES
70+ COUNTRIES
2023 U.S. HOME SALES VOLUME AMONG THE TOP 500 U.S. REAL ESTATE FIRMS.
LARGE GLOBAL NETWORK
Dudum’s by-invitation-only membership with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® offers our agents the ability to join with the leading real estate organization that has affiliates in over 70 countries around the world.
Throughout the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® network, Dudum Real Estate Group has an office in London as well as high-quality agencies from Hong Kong, Paris, and Johannesburg to Buenos Aires, Christchurch, and Nassau, bringing you a truly global perspective.
POWERFUL LEAD GENERATION
Additionally, agents have privileged access to the industry’s strongest broker-to-broker referral network, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, generating almost 20,000 referrals a year with an impressive 60% conversion rate.
LeadingRE also owns a growing relocation management company, RELO Direct®, Inc., another lead generation source that provides corporate relocation referrals as well as national and global website traffic.
CONSISTENT TOP PERFORMERS
$26,722,144 Volume & 37 Units in Outgoing Referrals in 2023
$5,415,000 Volume & 5 Units in Incoming Referrals in 2023
HIGH TECH & HIGH TOUCH
Dudum Real Estate Group agents leverage the latest technology to reach the widest audience of homebuyers. We are committed to keeping pace with how customers are searching for homes and to making your listing highly visible and accessible to buyers.
REALSCOUT
RealScout is an award-winning listing alert platform utilizing computer-vision powered home search and revolutionary buyer data driven listings tools. Our agents can look at real buyers for your listing and contact agents with quality buyers!
MYTHEO
myTheo provides the most accurate and up-to-date property information at the touch of a screen! Access important property information including price, features, photos, and more! Search and share listings in a neighborhood instantly.
LISTHUB SYNDICATION
ListHub provides a platform for real estate brokers to manage their most important asset, your listing, in today’s most important marketplace, the internet. We syndicate your listing worldwide on over 25,000 websites to achieve maximum exposure.
HIGHLY VISIBLE
At a time when most real estate companies were unwilling or unable to reinvest in their brands, Dudum Real Estate Group saw an opportunity to further improve their client experience. We introduced new logos, colors, upscale design, luxury collateral, video, social media, and high touch technology to increase the visibility of our company and the homes we represent. In addition, our agents draw from an expansive library of professionally designed marketing materials as well as have a fully staffed marketing and creative department for any custom materials.
THE DUDUM REAL ESTATE GROUP EXPERIENCE...
CONCIERGE SERVICES
RE | CONCIERGE
Our full-service RE | CONCIERGE program facilitates ROI-driven, designer-curated home improvements with 100% of the cost deferred until the close of escrow.
Dudum Real Estate Group has access to four different concierge services, each with its own unique offerings that your agent can discuss to help navigate you through the process. In order to provide you with a range of options, we are affiliated with Zoom Casa, Curbio, Revive, and a local contractor/vendor.
Our proprietary platform of professional vendors, including contractors and stagers, undergo our vetting process to ensure they are licensed as required by law and carry prudent insurance coverage(s), including traceable workers’ compensation insurance if the vendor has employees who may enter your home.
FORWARD
Unlock your equity today. Buy before you sell with conventional financing. No credit application, no interest, no hidden fees, no hassle.
THE BEST WAY TO BUY BEFORE YOU SELL.
Buy your dream home with a non-contingent offer without rushing to sell first We handle preparing your old house for sale while you enjoy your new home
• Our listings sell for 5.3% more and twice as fast as the broader market
• Avoid the cost and complexity of moving twice and paying two mortgages
• Qualify for conventional financing on your new home
STAGING
PUTTING YOUR HOME’S BEST FACE FORWARD
According to the National Association of REALTORS®, staged homes sell 80% quicker and for up to 11% more money than non-staged properties. At Dudum Real Estate Group, we believe buyers tend to gravitate toward a home based on curb appeal and its first impression. That’s why we’ll work closely with professional stagers to ensure that your home is best prepared and ready for sale before potential buyers see it. From creating an appealing walkway to the removal of furniture, or even renovating a room, staging will help transform your home, as needed, in order to give you the best advantage for a quick sale at the highest possible price.
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY
More than 90% of today’s home buyers use the Internet to search for properties, making professional photographs more important than ever.
At Dudum Real Estate Group, we know that great photography can draw in a buyer. A talented photographer always shows a property at its very best. Working with distinguished photographers throughout the East Bay, we create a look that showcases your home to ensure it comes across as beautiful online and in print as it is in real life.
PRICING YOUR PROPERTY
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE PRICE YOUR HOME PROPERLY FROM THE START, WHILE BUYER INTEREST IS AT ITS HIGHEST.
Pricing your home is a complex task that requires the expertise of an experienced real estate professional. Consider the following:
If the listing price is set outside of the proper parameters, potential buyers may be deterred from considering your home
Arriving at the optimal price requires evaluation and understanding of current marketing conditions, the marketable features of your home, and recent trends in the real estate market
• The closer your home is priced to fair market value when it first comes on the market, the more likely it will sell quickly at the highest price
The higher your home is priced above market value, the smaller the number of available buyers
Your Dudum Real Estate Group agent will advise you of the following factors when assisting you to determine a listing price for your home:
• What have buyers recently paid for similar properties? Will this price attract enough attention from buyers to generate showings and acceptable offers?
• Which properties are competing for the attention of your buyers right now?
• Which properties have not sold, indicating what prices buyers are unwilling to pay under current market conditions?
BUYER INTEREST OVER TIME
A property attracts the most excitement and interest from the real estate community and potential buyers when it is first listed; therefore it has the highest chance of selling for the highest possible price when it is new to the market.
EFFECTS OF OVERPRICING
“You never get a second chance to make a first impression. It’s extremely important not to miss the mark from the get-go. Once the gates open, all systems and marketing should be accurate and ready to go.”
— Julie Del Santo, Broker/Owner
Overpricing your home will attract fewer potential buyers and may cause it to sit on the market for longer than desired. To the buyer, too much time on the market indicates an overpriced property and often is perceived as an opportunity to negotiate a lower price than the market might typically bear.
Pricing your home competitively at the start will create more activity among brokers and buyers, decrease the time it takes to sell, and ultimately yield the highest possible price.
MARKET VALUE STRATEGIES
STATISTICS HAVE SHOWN
Pricing is extremely important in the real estate market. The diagram on the opposite page illustrates the importance of placing your property on the market at a competitive price from the very beginning.
95% of buyers will want to see your home if priced at fair market value
• 50% of buyers will try to view your home if priced at 5% over market value
• 30% of buyers will make an effort to see your home if priced only 10% over market value
20% of buyers will be interested in your home if priced at 15% over market value
PRICE MATTERS
You want to price your home to allow for the most exposure possible, in order to get the most buyers in the door, and get your property the highest possible price!
ESCROW TIMELINE
It is essential to understand that selling a home is a step-by-step process that should begin with the selection of an agent who will skillfully guide you through the entire transaction. Below is a sample of the typical buyer/seller transaction, and what to expect.
DOCUMENTATION
It is essential that the seller prepare all paperwork required before a buyer can put together their best offer. This can include the following:
DISCLOSURES
We will provide and facilitate all the necessary documents to complete a full disclosure packet for your property. This can be done either manually or digitally, based on your preference and needs. We will be there every step of the way should you have any questions. Please note: it is a requirement that the seller completes said documents themselves to the best of their knowledge.
CONDOMINIUM OR CO-OP DOCUMENTS
If your property is a condominium, loft, or co-op, it will be necessary to provide the CC&Rs, By-Laws, Articles of Incorporation, budget, homeowners’ association meeting minutes for the previous 12 months, and any other information relevant to the homeowners’ association. (This is typically coordinated with the escrow company once the property has gone under contract).
TENANT-OCCUPIED PROPERTIES
If your property is tenant-occupied, all information relevant to the tenancy such as rental agreement(s), notice(s) of change in tenancy, notice(s) of rent increases, and recent correspondence with tenants should be gathered as well.
CLOSING COSTS: WHO PAYS WHAT?
Closing costs are the various fees charged by the lender, title company, real estate agents, and other service providers in order to complete a real estate transaction and are paid through escrow. Which party pays for specific closing costs can be negotiated between the buyer and seller.
Broker compensation (per agreement)
• Title insurance premiums
Escrow fee
• Document preparation, if applicable
• Notary fees
Recording charges for all documents in buyers’ names
• Tax proration (from date of acquisition)
All new loan charges (except those required by lender for seller to pay)
• Appraisal fee
Interest on new loan from date of funding to 30 days prior to first payment date
• Assumption/change of record fees
• Beneficiary statement fee
Pro-rated HOA dues, if applicable
• Inspection fees (roof, pool, property inspection, pest, geological, etc. when applicable)
Home warranty (according to contract)
• City transfer tax (half of city transfer tax, if applicable)
Fire insurance premium for first year
Broker compensation (per agreement)
• Document preparation for deed
• Documentary transfer tax and half of city transfer tax, if applicable Payoff of all loans against property
• Interest accrued on loans being paid off, reconveyance fees, and repayment penalties
Inspection fees (roof, pool, property inspection, pest, geological, etc. when applicable)
• Home warranty (according contract)
• Any judgment or tax liens against seller
Property tax proration
• Prorated HOA dues, if applicable
HOA fee for providing all updated homeowner’s documents, if applicable
• Bonds or assessments
Delinquent taxes
• Notary and recording fees
• Third party Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement & California Tax Disclosure Report
Pre-sale inspection fees
• Negotiated credits to buyer, if any
Negotiated repairs, if any
RISK MANAGEMENT & LEGAL SUPPORT
Research shows that 1 out of every 100 transactions in California results in litigation.
At Dudum Real Estate Group we are committed to avoiding such an outcome and to providing the highest level of risk management by working to ensure that all sales are handled appropriately from beginning to end. You can be confident that the sale of your home will take place in full compliance with California real estate law and with a level of integrity consistent with the National Association of Realtors’ strict code of ethics.
To this end we provide regular legal updates and training to our agents to help them stay current on the latest legal developments and the most current versions of the standard paperwork used in the process of buying and selling real estate. Further, our management team supervises our agents’ work and, if problems are noted, works with those agents to ensure that best practices are followed.
A major part of any real estate transaction is the paperwork. At Dudum Real Estate Group we work hard to be sure all files are complete and accurate. From listing to closing, transaction files are regularly audited by our file review team. Our file reviewers work to ensure that each file is in compliance with strict state and brokerage requirements.
We also have the legal support of two well-known and highly-respected local real estate law firms. One of these is the Shannon B. Jones Law Group. Ms. Jones, along with her associates, has a long and successful history of risk management in the Bay Area. Shannon was even selected by the California Association of Realtors as a member of its Strategic Defense Panel. We have also retained the firm Broker Risk Management, whose principals Bill Jansen and Shannon Jones have many years of combined Bay Area real estate law experience.
With this expertise on the part of our agents, management, and legal team we do everything we can to make each transaction as problem-free as possible.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE SERVE
Dudum Real Estate Group is grounded deeply in the core values of the communities in which we serve. We are committed to giving back and lending a helping hand wherever possible. Whether property or philanthropy, we strive to improve upon these relationships and give back to the community that has given us so much.
Several of the organizations we support appear here.
THE POWER OF COMMITMENT
Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality. It is the words that speak boldly of your intentions. And the actions which speak louder than words. It is making the time when there is none. Coming through time after time, year after year. Commitment is the stuff character is made of, the power to change in the face of challenges. It is the daily triumph of integrity over skepticism. Once one commits, providence happens, and things are able to fall into place. Here at Dudum Real Estate Group, we are committed to you!
OPENING DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY
It’s what we do.
We look forward to opening doors for you!
