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How important are photos on the MLS listing?

How important are photos on my MLS listing? Well to me they are of the utmost importance. Almost daily I speak with or email with clients looking for a home. Those clients are saving a listing or rejecting the listing due to the photos online.

I recall when we used to preview more homes, most agents still preview many homes in a month but in an area as large as Austin Texas, we can not view each one. When we have previewed a home the agent can tell a client, well, I saw that home and the photos online are not doing that home justice, its much nicer, I would like you to see it. Or we can say, that home is as the photos show, immaculate.

The downside is when we do not know that a client has rejected a home due to the poor photos or the lack of photos. I understand poor photos, the lighting is bad, the listing is not in good shape, many reasons, what I do not understand and can not explain to my clients is the lack of photos.

The Austin MLS allows a realtor to place up to 25 photos in the listing. It used to be much less, something like 12, the limit has been increased this year. SO.... if you are allowed to post up to 25 photos surely you would do one of the main living areas, the front curb appeal, the backyard, and the kitchen, and the master bedroom/bath. To me those would be the minimums. Yet, daily I see listings with one photo. Which in our MLS is required, 1 photo. Come on folks, give your home sellers listing a fair shot and let the buyers see it, they ARE judging the listing on those photos.

I am not saying each listing needs a $450 video tour and professional photographer. I am saying give us something to go on. Remember who is looking at your photos, buyers, and prospective homebuyers, this is your first impression of the home you have for sale. Show it in its best light.

If you are looking for a home in Austin Texas, Dripping Springs, South Austin, Kyle or Buda, give me a call and I can help you find the home right for you. Call me on my mobile, 512-217-9482, or shoot me an email, gailnttexas@gmail.com Gail Tassey, Realtor®, Sky Realty Austin, http://www.austincomeshome.com

Posted by South Austin Real Estate Blog, on 09/01/2009 08:24 AM

Comments (17)

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17 Comments on How important are photos on the MLS listing?

SEP

I wish our MLS would let us post 25 photos! we have only 8, but we make up for it with the virtual tours

If you want to sell a listing they are ciritcal.

The main photo is used by so many to scan listing it is critical!

your friend in Charlottesville Virginia!

Thanks Gail, "Some of the best things in Life we learned in K-garten"...Dah...like "a Picture is worth a 1000 words"! It is frustrating for many of us who look to professionalism throughout our 100's of RE tasks, to encounter those that appear to be the anti-thesis of even caring. I put then in my mental list of those to stay away from, if possible, in forming a deal. Our Profession carries plenty of bad reputation due to the actions of a few over the years, so I always enjoy Posts such as yours and the other PROFESSIONALS.

Thanks for the Inspiration!

Jim-In-Paradise (www.paradiseJim.com)

Assuming that Buyers pass over homes with poor photos, as a Buyers' Agent, you can bring value by previewing listings with few and/or poor photos and bringing those homes to your Buyers' attention.

Gail,

We can do 30 here in Maryland and sometimes its a bit difficult to get 30 pictures in when the listing is a 2 BR, 1 BA condo.

Inexcusable to just have one photo though when they're free.

Rich

Bad photos are my pet peeve. On the internet sites, that main pic could bring the buyer in or push him on to the next listing.

Pictures that are blurry, dark, or show the house with snow on the ground when it's the summer hurt the listing and the seller. I take 100s of pics for my listings (we can post 16) and I am very picky about which ones get posted. If the house has a shadow on it, I go back at a different time of the day and take more until I get it right.

The seller gets a copy of the listing with all the pictures for approval. I want to make sure they're happy with house their house is presented.

I was told by one person that they didn't want interior photos because thieves would know the layout of their house and where stuff was. (I didn't take that listing)

Todd Clark - www.LivingBeaverton.com

Gail,

I agree pictures are very important. I wish our association would allow 25 pictures, we are currently at 10.

No photo, no show... It always makes me wonder what is being hidden.

Hi Gail, Our MLS allows 16 photos and I hate it when there is only one photo.

I think they are somewhat important but not the most important thing. I take good pictures but have my listings expired to only have poor pictues taken by the next and have them sold. It helps I think to have good pictures but certainly needs more then that.

Hi Gail... I am amazed that in this day and age that we still have to discuss this topic, but sadly we do. In an age wher we can buy a decent digital camera for less than $100, there is no reason not to have pictures in MLS. Period.

SEP

The photos (in some respects) ARE the listings.

SEP

HI Gail, speaking from a buyer's perspective... if the first photo was not appealing or worse yet non existent I passed lickity split to the next listing!

Good photos can make or break a listing. The prettiest house can look like doo doo if the photos are poor. I am now using tour factory for all my photos. They are fast economical and even give you panoramic shots with a virtual tour for just over $100.