Special offer

Do You Take The Garbage Out?

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Executives

Neither Arthur nor I are "photographers".  However, we do want to put our client's best foot forward when we enter photos in MLS or on the internet.

It is not unusual for us to snap away, get home and realize there are unwanted items in the photos such as

  • Garbage cans
  • Hoses laying on the lawn
  • Hoses on a hanger
  • Kids bikes
  • etc, etc.

We do edit out the "garbage"  For example, the top photo was taken recently at the Prince William County Fair.  There is both a bag of garbage and garbage can alongside the vendor's trailer.  As you can see in the photo below they were removed.  This is how we would treat "undesireables" in the photo of a home either inside or out

Photo editing examples

WE DO NOT

  • Alter landscaping
  • Delete high tension wires, etc
  • Modify the home or any other structure

We have all seen photos in the MLS and on the internet that were taken and used without cosmetic treatment.  Arthur and I believe we have a responsibility to our client to present their home as attractively as possible without being dishonest

How do you handle these situations

***********************************************
The Kruschka Team has 33 years full time experience in Prince William County

”Experience Isn’t Expensive – It’s PRICELESS”

NO REGISTRATION NORTHERN VIRGINIA HOME FINDER


Contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-690-6569. Put our record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County or the entire Northern Virginia Area.

Karen Kruschka Business Card

Comments(12)

Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Touching up photos is fine but not with the intention of deception. What good does it do anyway? The person will see it when they actually visit the home and peoples time will have been wasted.

Aug 27, 2009 09:44 AM
Robert Rauf
CMG Home Loans - Toms River, NJ

And Make the darn Bed before you take the darn photo!  Geeze I hate that.

Aug 27, 2009 09:53 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Bill  We don't deceive - we should have taken a picture after the garbage man had been there or after a kid's bike was put away :)  Karen

Aug 27, 2009 09:55 AM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

I like Floyd Wickman's saying about agents who don't put their photo on their business card because they don't think they are good looking.  What are you going to do, surprise them?  When they see you they are going to know you are not good looking.  Same thing with the house, only hopefully they can improve the looks of it when they know they have a showing!

Aug 27, 2009 10:08 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Robert  That is one we don't miss - it is too obvious  Karen

Aug 27, 2009 10:22 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Evelyn  I don't think I made my point well enough - we do nothing to the house - just things that may not be out when they have a showing, but are out of place  Karen

Aug 27, 2009 10:25 AM
Jen Bowman
Keller Williams on the Water - Holmes Beach, FL
Realtor - Anna Maria Island & Bradenton FL

Karen, I just want to know how to edit a photo like that. I agree with you, can't change the basics, but removing a garbage can would be great. That's especially true when we are taking pictures of our local community.

Aug 27, 2009 10:45 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Jen  The software we use is Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 - it is very user friendly  Karen

Aug 27, 2009 10:53 AM
Mike Hogan
The Hogan Group at Keller Williams Realty - Mechanicsville, VA
MBA

Karen-  Its funny- many time those pesky trashcans in a kitchen can be moved. Same with the brooms, mops, dirty dishes etc. Ive seen em in tons of pics. If they cant be moved- some basic cosmetic editing does  the trick.

Aug 27, 2009 01:36 PM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Mike  Sometimes we forget to move them, so we edit, but we do not change anything that is part of thre property  Karen

Aug 28, 2009 12:19 AM
Ann Hayden 636-399-7544
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties-St. Louis Missouri - Des Peres, MO
SelectAnn.com

Karen,

I cannot believe how often junk will be left in the photos.  I like things to be put away and clean.

Ann

Aug 28, 2009 03:12 PM
Art Kruschka
Administrative Manager - Manassas, VA
Manassas Woodbridge Dumfries Real Estate Sevices

Karen I am aware your reports on Woodbridge are an integral part of your market strategy to be current on many facts throughout Prince William County. The obvious goal is to provide your clients with the very best possible representation and blog posting is an excellent method and may include posts about other interesting locations in our area

Sep 27, 2010 09:12 AM