Marjorie Adam Team Seller's Guide

We recognize the decision to sell your home is an important, and often stressful one. We have created this guide to answer questions about our team and the home selling 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 sale!

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 the listing 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

We loved working with the Marjorie Adam Team with both buying and selling our first home. Marjorie is experienced, professional, and knowledgeable and we felt that she had our best interest at heart Her team is phenomenal When it came time to sell the home, Marjorie was terrific suggesting the best way to stage the house and providing a market analysis on setting our selling price Jacques did a wonderful job with photos and was incredibly mindful – he even worked around a sleeping baby and our fur babies! Our house was under contract with asking price in five days and we had a pretty smooth closing Any hiccup that came along, Marjorie smoothed out immediately. She and her team really do go above and beyond – for example, they have a truck you can use to help move!

Whitney & Ryan

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

Thank you so much for “going the extra mile” so many times for us The photography and level of service on the house we sold was phenomenal! You helped us quickly find a great home and did a wonderful job walking us through the tumultuous buying process Thank you!

Sidney and Dana

I cannot say enough positive things about my experience with the Marjorie Adam Team. I told Marjorie what I wanted to do with my home, and she made it happen Marjorie is incredibly smart, professional, and fun to work with - what a powerful and perfect combination. While I know she and her team are incredibly busy, the attention I received during the sale of my home made me feel like I was their only client. I will definitely use Marjorie Adam and her team the next time I require the assistance of a Realtor. In my mind, she is the best in the business.

Kendra

Good market research, very professional staging and marketing, responsive team-- all combined to enable us to sell our house in a tough market and in a tough price range Definitely recommend from seller’s perspective.

Jan

WHY SELL YOUR HOME WITH THE MARJORIE ADAM 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 enjoy the best selling experience Our team excels and specializes in the skills of negotiation, pricing, marketing, and client experience

From the time you sign the listing agreement and up until you celebrate your closing, The Marjorie Adam Team will tirelessly represent you and your best interests.

LOCAL HOMES SOLD

THE MARJORIE ADAM TEAM CLOSED OVER $27,000,000 WORTH OF BUSINESS IN 2023 THAT’S MORE THAN 18 TIMES THE AVERAGE AREA REALTOR. * 1600+

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

ON AVERAGE, THE MARJORIE ADAM SELLS JUST 8.

THE AVERAGE AGENT

TEAM SELLS 60 HOMES ANNUALLY. 60 8

WE HAVE A 28 YEAR RECORD OF SUCCESS. PUT US TO WORK FOR YOU.

GET YOUR MONEY’S WORTH. IT DOESN’T COST MORE TO WORK WITH THE BEST!

THE ADAM TEAM & NEST WHY WORK WITH NEST REALTY

NEST REALTY IS #1 LOCALLY

For the TENTH YEAR IN A ROW, Nest Realty is the the NUMBER ONE FIRM in the Central Virginia marketplace.

#1inTOTALVOLUMEin2022,NestAgentssold62%morerealestatethan ourclosestcompetitor.

#1inTOTALTRANSACTIONSin2022,NestAgentshelped69%more happyclientsthanournearestcompetitor.

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 14 vs 23

NEST REALTY MARKET

*Excludesnewconstructionsales

AVG.SALESPRICE/LISTPRICE

102.86%vs100.05%

NESTREALTYMARKET

*Excludesnewconstructionsales

THE MARJORIE ADAM TEAM DIFFERENCE

When you are looking to sell your home, you need a knowledgeable team to help you throughout the process. There are so many moving parts and activities involved in the sale of a home.

Our team focuses on what we do best: getting your home sold as soon as possible and at the best price.

We are excited to work with you and we will ensure that you are informed, comfortable, and as stress-free as possible throughout the process

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. WE PROVIDE OUR CLIENTS:

DETAILED MARKET RESEARCH

PRE-LISTING CONSULTATION

COMPLIMENTARY STAGING

CONSULTATION

PRE-LISTING INSPECTION AS NEEDED

CONTRACTOR ESTIMATES AS NEEDED

COMPARATIVE MARKET ANALYSIS

FULL MARKETING PLAN

QUALITY PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY

PROPERTY DRONE VIDEOS

FULL COLOR BROCHURE

DIGITAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN

SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN

FEEDBACK ON SHOWINGS

UPDATES WHILE LISTED

COMMUNICATION WITH BUYERS AGENTS

NEGOTIATION OF ALL OFFERS

GUIDANCE ON OBTAINING HOA PACKET

NEGOTIATION INSPECTIONS

COMMUNICATION WITH SETTLEMENT AGENT

FACILITATION OF REPAIRS

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

PRE-LISTING APPOINTMENT

To be prepared for our listing appointment, here are a few tips on how to be prepared for our meeting and what we will discuss.

Please gather documents and information related to your sale We will need a copy of your survey and floor plan, if you have them, and payoff information to complete a net sheet for you.

Please prepare a list of the items that will be included in the sale – Make sure to include all fixtures (things like mirrors, light fixtures and curtains) and appliances that remain with the property, and those that will not.

During our listing consultation we will:

Complete a walk-through of your home so I can note features and updates to complete my market analysis and staging plan

Sit down to go over any questions that I have for you and you have for me. Go through recent market statistics to prepare our list price

Go through our marketing plan and strategy to get your home sold.

Go through our listing process to prepare your home for sale, including a staging plan and pre-inspection, if applicable.

Go through our pricing strategy and offer review process

THE ADAM TEAM’S DETAILED MARKET ANALYSIS

We know the trends, inventory levels, and market stats. But, that’s just the start of it. You can be sure that our team is on top of the current local market conditions and that we know how to price your home to sell!

OUR COMPARATIVE MARKET ANALYSIS (CMA) TAKES THE FOLLOWING INTO ACCOUNT:

YOUR PROPERTY’S FEATURES:

Location and lot

Square footage (finished and unfinished)

Standard features like bedrooms and bathrooms

Overall condition

Recent Improvements

ACTIVE COMPETITION:

New and resale

Price, location, features, and condition

Market activity and price changes

Days on the market

RECENT SALES:

Sold price in the past 3-6 months

Price, location, features, and condition

List to Sale price ratios

Days on market

Price changes

MARKET CONDITIONS:

Inventory levels/supply and demand

Macro-and-micro-level economic factors

DETERMINING YOUR PROPER LIST PRICE

Understanding your home’s value is an essential factor in getting your home sold. By combining our local market expertise with a data driven approach, our team will work with you to develop a pricing strategy that minimizes your time on the market

We always recommend a list price that is in line with the current market conditions. It is a process with countless variables In addition, each potential buyer values you property differently because each property has its own nuances It is key to have us analyze the most recent data to help you determine the right list price.

79%

OF HOMES THAT SOLD IN JUST ONE WEEK SOLD AT OR ABOVE LISTING PRICE*.

*SourceNAR

THE FIVE TOP FACTORS THAT AFFECT YOUR HOME'S VALUE:

PRICES OF COMPARABLE PROPERTIES. YOUR LOCATION/NEIGHBORHOOD YOUR HOME'S AGE AND CONDITION UPDATES YOU HAVE MADE OR ARE NEEDED. THE STATE OF THE LOCAL HOUSING MARKET

LISTING PREPARATION AND STAGING FIRST IMPRESSIONS MATTER

HOME CONDITION

In our current market, prospective buyers desire homes that have not only been well-maintained, but also have been properly staged to show the space’s potential. We have years of expertise in working with home owners to prepare their home so that it wows today’s buyers. Working with a licensed professional home stager also sets us apart from the other Realtors!

STAGING

To get top dollar for you home, your home needs to be seen at its very best so that it stands out from similar homes in the marketplace. We want you home to distinguish itself from the competition.

Staging a home means having the home shown in its best light - and we take the time to view you home just as a potential buyer will When you live in your home, you don't always see it the same way as a buyer or Realtor does.

Because a potential buyer will only spend a few minutes in your home, we want to make sure that they remember all the fine details of your home and not just a recollection of your personal items or thoughts about what needs to be done to the home to make it theirs.

OF BUYER AGENTS SAY THEY OFFER MORE MONEY ON A HOME THAT IS STAGED.

44% OF BUYERS HAD AN EASIER TIME VISUALIZING THEIR LIFE IN A STAGED HOME.

83%

LISTING PREPARATION PRE-MARKET SYSTEMS EVALUATION OR INSPECTION

When you list with The Marjorie Adam Team, we will walk through your home to see if there are any recommended repairs or work that should be completed before your home hits the market.

We will discuss if professional contractors or experts should evaluate any systems further or if a a pre-listing inspection is something to consider. This is just one of the many services that you will receive when you list your home with us

When a buyer shows interest in your home, we want you to be confident that your home not only looks good on the surface, but also that it is sound within We recommend knowing, prior to going on the market, that your home’s systems and structure are in proper working order

Our walkthrough, or a home inspection if necessary, prior to listing will guarantee that your home is fit from the peak of the roof to the concrete of the foundation

We will work with you to understand the systems in your home prior to putting your home on the market to determine what, if anything, needs to be repaired or investigated before your home sells and the buyers inspection occurs.

Often home sellers are concerned about what a home inspection will reveal and what the buyers will ask to have repaired or replaced prior to closing. We take that stress away before you go on the market so you can be confident you will not have issues during the inspection period

MARKETING PLAN SHOWCASING YOUR HOME

When you work with the Marjorie Adam Team, you can rest assured that your home will be promoted effectively and correctly.

The key to any successful real estate marketing strategy is to create maximum exposure both to potential buyers, as well as their agents. Our marketing plan is built upon a combination of strategies that are based on measurable market trends.

A study by The Wall Street Journal found that homes with great photography:

$300,000

INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF SELLING FOR HOMES ABOVE $934$116,076

SOLD FOR ANYWHERE FROM MORE THAN HOMES WITHOUT GREAT PHOTOS

61% RECIEVED MORE VIEWS ONLINE THAN COMPETING HOMES

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY

One of the foundations for our marketing campaigns is professional photography We know that your home’s first showing is online Quality photos are vital to help generate excitement about your home.

MARKETING PLAN WEB AND MOBILE

The internet’s role in real estate is undeniable: The National Association of Realtors’ studies have shown that 9 out of 10 home buyers used the web in their home search.

Our website, MarjorieAdamTeamcom incorporates Internet Data Exchange (IDX) and syndicate your property listings throughout the internet. IDX listing syndication enables us to broadcast your property to over 50 of the most well-known real estate websites in the world. IDX also allows your home to be shared and displayed on the websites of other local and regional real estate brokerages

MarjorieAdamTeam.com

OUR ONLINE FOCUS

MARKETING PLAN

NEST REALTY WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA

MARKETING PLAN OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND DIGITAL MARKETING

OUR BROAD AND TARGETED APPROACH

SOCIAL MEDIA

We create a variety of eye-catching social media posts to draw a broader audience to your home. We also rely on our years of experience working with other agents to send targeted emails featuring your home to the agents who we know sell in your area—just another way to keep your home top of mind.

PROFESSIONAL DRONE VIDEO

Video creates a great opportunity to educate, inform, and connect with potential buyers for your home Our videos are well known for their content and clarity Each shoot is scheduled to allow the time to capture the proper lighting and incorporate the most admirable features of your home. The use of a drone also allows us to give a more birds eye view of your property and surrounding area

MARKETING PLAN CUSTOM BROCHURES AND FLOOR PLANS

We create a custom trifold brochure of your home that is professionally printed Each brochure features a selection of photos, property description, and quick-glance details These brochures are left at your home for potential buyers to take after they visit.

Not all homeowners have copies of their floor plans, yet all buyers as for them. Our professional photographer generates floor plans of you home with software that scans your home from their cameras Floor plans help potential buyers understand the layout of your home and the way they could potentially use the space.

YOUR HOME SHOWINGS WHAT TO EXPECT

Once your home is staged, photographed and listed on the MLS, it is time for buyers to walk through. It’s important for you to be prepared for showings. The buyers need privacy and time in your home, so they need to be alone for viewings with their Realtor. Most showings take 20-45 minutes, and an appointment will be made in advance.

Showings are scheduled through ShowingTime. ShowingTime is a showing management and feedback service which provides Realtors a single place to call or use the app to make appointments to view your home. You will stay informed and will be able to confirm appointments by email or text. You will be notified of showings automatically, see feedback from potential buyers, and can view all activity on your home during the sales process.

When you leave your home for showings, don’t forget to turn on the lights, open the blinds, and make sure any alarms are also switched off. It's always good to tidy up any outdoor areas too, such as patios or gardens. Keep the lawn mowed and trim any bushes to keep your home looking neat and inviting.

Once the showing is complete, we will reach out to the buyer’s agent for feedback.

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 you home more efficiently than the average Charlottesville Realtor

SO WE’VE RECEIVED AN OFFER...NOW THE REAL WORK BEGINS!

Not all offers are created equally! Upon receipt of the offer on your home, Marjorie will work with you to go through all of the details and all of the variables to consider to prepare our acceptance or counter offer Obviously price is a major factor, but we also must look at:

Are the purchasers pre-approved?

How quickly does the purchaser want to close?

What are the purchasers financing needs?

How much are they putting down?

What inspections are the purchasers asking for?

Are there unusual contingencies in the offer?

Do the purchasers have a home to sell?

What are the current negotiating trends?

HOME SALE CLOSING PROCESS

CONTINGENCY PERIOD

OFFER NEGOTIATED

BUYERS MORTGAGE APPLICATION

HOME INSPECTION/RADON

TERMITE/WELL/SEPTIC INSPECTIONS

ATTORNEY/TITLE COMPANY PREPARATIONS

SELLER PROVIDES REPAIR RECEIPTS

CLOSING TRANSFER OF TITLE

MOVING DAY

CONTRACT SIGNED

HOA PACKET ORDERED

APPRAISAL

UNDERWRITING

APPROVAL

REPAIRS NEGOTIATED SELLER MAKES REPAIRS

TITLE EXAM, MORTGAGE PAYOFF, DEED PREPARATION

BUYERS FINAL WALKTHROUGH

HOME AND OTHER INSPECTIONS

A home inspection is a key component to the contingency period in a contract. The inspection is meant for the buyer 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 you to paint, replace carpets or floors to deal with cosmetic issues, or to address every item found in the inspection report

After the inspection is conducted, and the buyer creates a list of repair requests, we will go through the inspection findings with you. We are here to guide you through the list and what repairs to agree to

WHAT ABOUT RADON?

During the buyers' inspection period, they will 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 gives a snapshot in time of the levels that exist in the home If the level comes in above the EPA acceptable limit of 4.0, the buyer will ask you to remediate the radon prior to closing The average cost of radon mitigation is $1,800 and once mitigated, the level is guaranteed to remain below 4.0 for a period of 10 years.

WHAT ABOUT SEPTIC INSPECTIONS?

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

FROM CONTRACT TO CLOSE

WE ARE BY YOUR SIDE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY

Once you have negotiated and signed a 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 and showing stage

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

YOUR HOME CLOSING PROCESS

As part of the closing process, buyers will complete a final walk-through This is done to ensure that all repairs and upgrades promised by you are complete prior to signing the papers. During this walk-through, buyers will assess whether items noted on their home inspection report that you agreed to remedy have been repaired to their satisfaction. Additionally, buyers can inspect the home for any changes that may have arisen since they last visited the property

If there are any unsatisfactory repairs or unfinished projects, buyers may not sign closing documents until all agreed upon repairs are complete, or they may ask for a credit or escrow for repairs to be completed after closing

The final walk-through is often done the day before, or the morning of closing, and will be attended by the buyers and the buyer’s agent. Buyers use this time to visually inspect each room, paying close attention to appliances, fixtures, carpeting and wall coverings

Closing the sale of your home is an exciting time, but it can also be complicated. To ensure that everything goes smoothly, it's important to understand the process and the steps involved in closing on your home

These closing documents will include a title commitment, which proves that you hold clear title to the property; deed documents, which transfer legal ownership from you to the buyer; and a closing statement, which outlines all of the financial details related to the sale.

Your closing attorney will handle closing paperwork. This includes completing any paperwork required in accordance with state law and providing documents to banks or other financial institutions if necessary.

The last step in the process is the signing of closing documents, which occurs at your attorney's office This includes the buyer and you signing the deed to transfer ownership, as well as any other applicable documents After that, all that remains is for the funds to be distributed and keys exchanged.

With all of these steps in mind, we will continue to keep you informed and make sure your home sale closes smoothly!

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, if staying locally, 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 - if leaving the area.

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.

OUR CLIENT COURTESY TRUCK

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 sale. 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

SELLING 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