Problem with dropdownlist.items.findbyValue(value)

Hello all,
 
I am trying to use
cboHomeStyle.Items.FindByValue(strHomeType).Selected = True cboStatus.Items.FindByValue(strStatus).Selected = True cboDevelopment.Items.FindByValue(strDev).Selected = True cboSchoolDistrict.ClearSelection()
with values I get from a database but I am getting Object reference not set to an instance of an object. 
 
Any thoughts? 
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