Marjorie Adam Team Buyer's Guide

We recognize the decision to purchase your home is an important, and often stressful one. We have created this guide to answer questions about our team and the home buying process

We continuously strive to improve and enhance the experience we provide to our clients, learning and growing with each opportunity We're ready to put our expertise and specializations to work for your home purchase!

We look forward to meeting with you Thank you in advance for considering our team.

So why the Luna Moth as our logo?

The Luna Moth logo holds a special place in my heart as it was drawn and created by my son, Alex. The Luna Moth stands for the pursuit of knowledge, transformation and new beginnings, which is the perfect visual representation for what we do: making our clients' fresh start in their home buying and selling experience positive and bright.

WHY WORK WITH OUR TEAM?

Our team sets goals high above the standard of most Realtors.

Our priority is to ensure that our clients receive the highest level of service and market specialization Our team boasts an outstanding track record in the skills of negotiating, pricing, market knowledge, and client experience.

My brother, Jacques, and I were raised in Charlottesville, watching our mom, Danielle Devereux, provide attentive, thoughtful service to her Central Virginia real estate clients.

This inspired me to join her in 1996, working together as mother and daughter to help countless families with their real estate needs.

I formed our team in 2005. Since then, The Marjorie Adam Team has grown, not just in size, but also in ability All members of the team play a significant role in your real estate experience.

From the time you sign our buyer’s agreement and up until you celebrate your closing, The Marjorie Adam Team will tirelessly represent you and your best interests. When you work with our team, you can expect far more than what the average Realtor can provide.

We’re not just your real estate advocates we’re also your neighbors and soon-to-be friends. For us, going above and beyond means building lifelong relationships, not just closing the sale This is more than just a job for us It’s our passion

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

The Marjorie Adam Team should simply be named The A Team They are the best During our sales process, they acted like friends, families and during the process, there was not a single moment they did not keep their smile, positive attitude and always helped out. They did a superb job and closed the sale with minimum effort from our side.

Marjorie and Jacques were so helpful in finding our initial rental and then guiding us through all the steps in building our new home in Old Trail. Jacques was so supportive and physically present as we went through our first year new home inspection. Service beyond the norm! We consider Marjorie and Jacques to be our good friends and always look forward to the great social events that they sponsor

Michael and Jackie

Both Marjorie and her brother, Jacques, were extremely knowledgeable about the market and very responsive to particular questions. Additionally, Marjorie’s “back office” team is very thoughtful and takes care of details for you you never thought about. Jacques is very interested in construction details; most helpful. He noticed items at the final walk-through (post home inspection) that needed replacement and his thorough investigation ended up saving me a ton of aggravation, not to mention money because of Marjorie’s negotiation These folks are awesome

Lynn

We worked with the Marjorie Adam Team on three transactions, most recently to sell our Charlottesville home and to relocate to a new home in Western Albemarle. They helped us value our existing home with a mix of local market data and their own extensive experience; prepare our existing home for sale; locate a new home that met the growing needs of our family; and navigate each step in the process with confidence Each time, Marjorie, Jacques, and the rest of the team delivered a first class real estate experience

Chas and Lisa

Christer

THE ADAM TEAM & NEST

HOW DO SALES OF THE “AVERAGE” AGENT COMPARE TO OUR TEAM?

ON AVERAGE, THE MARJORIE ADAM SELLS JUST 8.

TEAM SELLS 60 HOMES ANNUALLY. 60 8 WE HAVE A 28 YEAR RECORD OF SUCCESS.

THE AVERAGE AGENT

PUT US TO WORK FOR YOU.

NEST REALTY IS #1 LOCALLY

#1inTOTALVOLUMEin2022,NestAgentssold62%morerealestatethan ourclosestcompetitor.

#1inTOTALTRANSACTIONSin2022,NestAgentshelped69%more happyclientsthanournearestcompetitor.

For the TENTH YEAR IN A ROW, Nest Realty is the the NUMBER ONE FIRM in the Central Virginia marketplace. Stats only matter when they bring you value Once again, on average, NEST AGENTS SELL HOMES FASTER AND CLOSER TO LISTING PRICE THAN THE COMPETITION

AVG. DAYS ON MARKET

NESTREALTYMARKET

NESTREALTYMARKET

*Excludesnewconstructionsales

THE MARJORIE ADAM TEAM

MARJORIE ADAM Team Leader/Associate Broker/ABR/CRS

Graduate of Susquehanna University with a degree in photojournalism. Became a Realtor in 1996, an Associate Broker and real estate coach in 2014, and has sold well over 1500 homes locally

Strengths are negotiation, strong communication, thorough local market knowledge and expertise

Consistently ranks among the top 1% of Realtors in the local market

Married to her husband Philippe and has two children, Alex and Lucas, as well as three rescue dogs

JACQUES GATES Realtor/Home Inspector/Buyer Specialist

Graduate of the University of Virginia and Penn State, with a degree in psychology, while also focusing on art and graphic design

Joined the Marjorie Adam Team in 2005

Became a licensed Home Inspector in 2022 after years of attending hundreds of home inspections with clients

Strengths are working with buyers, with a focus on the condition of the home, inside and out.

Married to his wife Kate and has two daughters, Emilie and Chloe, as well as their 2 rescue cats

TAYLOR GOFF Marketing Director

Graduate of Longwood University, with a degree in education. Joined the Marjorie Adam Team in 2022

Strengths are creation and implementation of marketing projects to best reach our current and potential clients

Manages the team's social media and all marketing

Married to her husband Rob and has a beloved cat, Archie, and minature schnauzer, June Bug

At The Marjorie Adam Team, we have a plan that works, turning hesitation into excitement, for a truly enjoyable real estate experience!

Let's get started!

GETTING PRE-APPROVED

Regardless of the market we are in, you will need a pre-approval letter to include when we submit an offer on a home A pre-approval goes beyond a prequalification, as there are more steps and documentation to obtain this letter, including credit checks and verification of income and debts. A pre-approval is taken much more seriously, as a prequalification is a quick series of questions with no verifications

Your lender will need certain documents and information from you to prepare this pre-approval letter. This will include:

Pay stubs from the past 30 days, or more Checking and saving account statements, investment account statements, etc. from at least the past 60 days

Federal tax returns from the past 2 years

W2 or other income statements from the past 2 years

Any documentation on any properties you currently own A credit report to review-they will pull this with your permission

During this process, the lender will explain different loan options, monthly payments and down payment and closing cost needs. This allows us to set a budget for our search, including the price point that allows for a comfortable monthly payment

INITIAL CONSULTATION OUR PROCESS

We will meet in person or over Zoom to go over the home buying process and any questions you may have prior to visiting homes This is vital to prepare us to find you the right home in the right time frame for you.

During our initial consultation we will:

Explain agency and how we work for you

Discuss the current market and what qualifies as a competitive offer

Discuss your timeline to make a move and your ideal scenario

Answer your pre-approval and financing questions

Walk you through the home buying process and answer any questions you have

Go over our team and how we will find your home and take care of all of your needs until closing

Discuss your wish list of wants and needs to set up a search

Discuss home showings and next steps

Discuss preparing an offer and negotiation tactics

The wish list for your home is what we need to be clear on before we start looking at homes. When thinking about your ideal home, create a list of features and goals. This is the time to be clear on your wants versus your needs.

WANTS include things like new appliances and hardwood floors throughout the home. These things can be changed.

NEEDS include things like the number of bedrooms the home must have, location or radius from work or schools, and things that the home must have for you to want to purchase that home. If having a garage is a must, then we will not look at homes that do not have one.

This is a big part of our initial meeting, before we set up the search and begin looking at homes

HOME SEARCH

WE ARE YOUR GUIDES

After our initial consultation and your pre-approval is set, we will begin looking at homes! We will discuss your work and other schedules to determine when it will work best for you to visit homes When a home comes on the market, it may be available for a showing immediately, or it could be listed as a "Coming Soon" home. In that case, showings will start on a certain day. Most homes require an appointment. We will work together to set a showing time that works well for both you and the home owner

Searching for homes is exciting, and at the same time, it can be frustrating. When a home pops up on our saved search, we will make an appointment to go see it in person This is when we focus on the major systems of the home and changes or improvements you may want, or need, to make.

Small things, like paint, flooring, light fixtures and cabinet colors, are easy to change We do not focus on those things What we are looking for are the more major systems to deal with or that we do not want to have to deal with, such as foundation issues, age of major systems like the roof, electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling.

We will work with you to assess what may need to be done, and potential costs to do so.

HOME SEARCH TYPES OF HOMES WE HELP YOU PURCHASE

NEW CONSTRUCTION

If you are looking to buy a new home, we have helped hundreds of clients from start to finish We have established relationships with local builders, and we keep up-to-date on all new construction projects in the area. We are involved in every stage of the building process and know how to help guide you through the many decisions that accompany buying a new home, including, the negotiation of the contract, selection appointments, inspections, and final walkthroughs.

ALL RESALE HOMES

We have sold more than 1600 homes. We are experts in our local market and are confident we will find the right home for you We will show you any home regardless of the name on the for sale sign. The agents listed on the sign represents the seller, not you, the buyer Always call us when you find a home that you’d like to see.

FOR SALE BY OWNER

Call us if you see a “For Sale by Owner” sign, and we will contact the owner on your behalf and arrange the showing. These are not listed in the MLS and will not show up in our search.

OFFER AND NEGOTIATION AN EXPERT IN YOUR CORNER

When it comes to tough negotiations, Marjorie is the Realtor you want on your side On top of having over two decades of experience in real estate locally, Marjorie is a real estate coach, coaching Realtors nationwide. In doing this, she stays ahead of the national trends and issues Realtors are seeing across the country With this additional experience, you can be confident that you are working with a Realtor who is constantly learning and evolving her skills and knowledge. Given these additional resources, Marjorie will sell your home more efficiently than the average Charlottesville Realtor

SO WE’VE FOUND THE RIGHT HOME...NOW THE REAL WORK BEGINS!

Not all offers are created equally! Upon finding your perfect home, Marjorie will work with you to prepare a competitive offer, considering all details and variables. Price is a major factor, but we also must look at:

• How much will you be putting down?

• What (additional) inspections should we consider?

• Are there unusual contingencies necessary to add?

• What are the current negotiating trends?

• What is the seller's ideal closing date?

• Do we have to pay over asking price?

• How do we make a competitive offer in this market?

• How much earnest money do we have to put down?

HOME AND OTHER INSPECTIONS

A home inspection is a key component to the contingency period in a contract

The inspection is meant for you to learn about a home's structural components, such as the roof, exterior and foundation, mechanical components, such as the heating, cooling, electric and plumbing systems, and systems, such as the appliances, windows, etc It is not meant to go back to ask the seller to paint, replace carpets or floors to deal with cosmetic issues, or for the seller to address every item found in the inspection report

Once you make an offer on a home, a home inspection will be scheduled

One of our team members will attend the home inspection with you, or in your place, if you cannot attend It is always worth it to attend to learn more about the house whenever possible. The inspection will last approximately 3 hours for most homes and is conducted generally Monday through Friday in the morning

After the inspection is conducted and we all receive the inspection report, we will go through the inspection findings with you. We are here to guide you through the process of either creating a list of repairs to deliver to the seller to remedy, focusing on the more major or important findings, or the decision to cancel the contract and not continue with the purchase of the home due to the inspection findings The average cost of this inspection is $500-700 and will depend on the size of the home.

WHAT ABOUT RADON?

During your inspection period, you have the option to conduct a radon test. While the action levels established by the EPA are conservative as far as health concerns, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. This test can give you a snapshot in time of the levels that exist in the home so that if the level comes in above the EPA acceptable limit of 4.0, we will ask the seller to remediate the radon prior to closing The average cost of this inspection is $150 and it is paid at the time of the inspection. The average cost of radon mitigation is $1,800, paid by the seller. Once mitigated, the level is guaranteed to remain below 40 for a period of 10 years

WHAT ABOUT SEPTIC INSPECTIONS?

When you purchase a resale home, it is important to know when the septic tank was last pumped and inspected. In general, if it has been more than 2-3 years, we recommend that our buyers conduct this inspection during the inspection period, at their expense, to avoid unwanted costs for issues buried beneath. The average cost for this inspection is $600-$800 and it is paid at the time of the inspection. The average cost to repair a distribution box for a septic tank, which is the most common issue, is $1,800.

HOME PURCHASE CLOSING PROCESS: THE NEXT STEPS

Once you have negotiated and signed your contract, our next job is to stay on top of each and every step of the process to ensure your sale closes successfully. There are countless details and loose ends to handle, and you can be confident that we will be as proficient during the post-contract stage as we were during the marketing phase

We stay on top of all contingency deadlines, and we handle all the essential communication within the transaction. Most importantly, we will keep you informed every step of the way We want you to have confidence that everything is being taken care of.

OFFER NEGOTIATED

CONTRACT SIGNED

FORMAL MORTGAGE APPLICATION

APPRAISAL

HOME INSPECTION/RADON/OTHER

SELLER TERMITE/WELL/SEPTIC INSPECTIONS

ATTORNEY/TITLE COMPANY PREPARATIONS

SELLER PROVIDES REPAIR RECEIPTS CLOSING TRANSFER OF TITLE

MOVING DAY

REPAIRS NEGOTIATED

(BY SELLER IF APPLICABLE)

UNDERWRITING

HOA PACKET PRESENTED APPROVAL

SELLER MAKES REPAIRS

TITLE EXAM DEED PREPARATION

FINAL WALKTHROUGH DONE

FROM CONTRACT TO CLOSE

WE ARE BY YOUR SIDE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY

THE FINAL WALK-THROUGH

Just before closing we will set up the final walk-through We will use this time to confirm that any required repairs have been completed, and that no damage has occured during the seller's move out We will also check all systems and appliances to be sure they remain in working order.

YOUR CLOSING

The time has come - it's closing day! We suggest blocking off several hours for the final walk-through and to sign closing documents. We attend your closing appointment with you to answer any questions You will need to bring your ID, and your funds will be wired before we sit down to sign

MOVING CHECKLIST

DON'T FORGET TO

Cancel or transfer deliveries, newspaper, garbage collection, etc. and transfer gas, electric, water and sewer to your new home, so as to avoid lapses in service and extra restart expenses.

Check on personal items that might be in a bank safe deposit box, a neighbor’s house, at a dry-cleaner, etc

Make arrangements for transporting your plants and pets.

Transfer insurance policies or arrange for new policies.

Gather all valuables, jewelry, important papers (birth certificates, deeds, documents) to take with you personally.

Have the car serviced for the trip.

Pack an arrival kit of necessities (prescriptions etc) just in case you arrive before the mover

Purchase moving insurance. Your mover’s liability for lost or damaged goods will not equal their replacement cost.

Appraise valuable items, such as antiques, art pieces, etc.

Check with your attorney about updating, if necessary, your will if crossing state lines.

Ask us for professional referrals if available. (Doctor, accountant, etc.)

Notify these for change of address: credit card accounts, subscriptions, national and alumni organizations, church, mail order clubs, past employer in order to receive your W-2 form.

OURCLIENTCOURTESYTRUCK

Our Client Courtesy Truck is another example of how we go above and beyond to serve our clients’ needs By offering the use of our complimentary truck, we help our clients create a smoother home purchase We help alleviate some of the added stress and expense that can surround the logistics involved in the moving process. When it is time to move locally for closing, our truck can be used in addition to, or instead of a local moving company Beyond this, you may have some items you need to move into storage, bring to a friend’s house, or donate, and we have our truck that you can use to help accomplish this

BUYING WITH US: OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY

We are very much part of this community and donate from every home purchase and sale. Additionally, we have donated our time as a team to the local food bank and donate to many other charities individually

OUR PROMISE TO YOU:

We know how important a home is to a person, and it is our commitment to you, our client, to ensure that you find just the right fit It’s not about the sale It’s about finding the right house that you can call home.

-THE MARJORIE ADAM TEAM