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Bad MLS Photos Are Stealing Your Sellers' Equity!

By
Real Estate Agent with Comey & Shepherd Realtors

When you peruse through real estate listings on various web sites, do you really look at the interior photos?

(I'd love to show you some examples, but I'm not permitted to 'copy and paste' other agent's listing photos.)

Some sellers are losing thousands of dollars or even outright sales on their homes.

Why?

Because agents aren't telling their sellers what they need to do to make their photos show off their properties in the best light!

If you go online and look at a few homes, you'll quickly see what I mean:

~ too much furniture shrinks a room
~ un-made beds
~ cluttered counter tops and pantries
~ garage full of 'stuff'
~ toys all over the floor
~ dated wallpaper and unflattering paint colors
~ over-sized plants blocking a view
~ and on and on....


So, help your sellers out and don't take photos when the rooms aren't properly prepared.

Personally, if certain rooms in a home don't show well, I won't take photos in those rooms.  But I do the most I can to make a room show at its best.

With more agents taking interior and exterior photos on their own now that (our) MLS doesn't do it anymore,
please realize that buyers may be eliminating your listings from consideration because of the photos.

Posted by

Dan Weis
Real Estate Consultant since 1985
Comey & Shepherd Realtors

Cell/Text: 513.615.1890
dan@danweis.com
www.CincinnatiRealEstateGuy.com

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Comments(13)

Donna Harris
Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com - Austin, TX
Realtor,Mediator,Ombudsman,Property Tax Arbitrator
I completely agree, Dan!  I went to list a house on Aug 1.  The seller had been getting it ready since April.  He said he was now ready.  I walked in the door and told him I couldn't list it.  He asked why and I told him I couldn't take pictures because it wasn't show-ready.  He had me come back on Monday.  He had done "most" of everything in the house, but the main feature was the pool and golf course view, and the pool had massive amounts of algea growing and looked horrible.  I told him to try again.  I finally listed it yesterday, and it looks great!!  Check out my blog to see the pictures.
Aug 10, 2007 07:02 AM
Dan Weis
Comey & Shepherd Realtors - Cincinnati, OH
Cincy Real Estate Advisor
~ Donna, now that's a well-showcased home.  Great photos!
Aug 10, 2007 07:06 AM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate
Dan - you hit the nail on the head on this one. This is a big pet peeve of mine. I see so many homes that have poor quality pictures. I always think to myself "Man this agent could be doing a much better job with marketing" In real estate pictures are the most important means of attracting buyers.
Aug 10, 2007 07:06 AM
Dan Weis
Comey & Shepherd Realtors - Cincinnati, OH
Cincy Real Estate Advisor

Bill, you're right.  How many times do you see blurred photos, dark photos, too bright photos, etc? 

With digital cameras, you can take tons of photos and then why not have the seller select the photos they like best (with some recommendations from you).

Aug 10, 2007 07:08 AM
Chris Varoga
Varoga Realty Group - Gilbert, AZ
Right on with the comments - pictures sell the home (or at least get the Buyers in it :)
Aug 10, 2007 07:14 AM
Richard Parr
ADT Security Services - Slidell, LA
Home Security Specialist - Greater New Orleans, Louisiana
I think the worst is when there are no photos at all.  Some agents still wait for the MLS to take the front picture.  When the auto-searches send out the listing to prospective buyers, there are no pics for 7-10 days.   I can't believe with all of this technology an agent can't get a digital pic in the MLS.  While your at it, how hard is it to take the interior shots?
Aug 10, 2007 07:33 AM
Donna Harris
Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com - Austin, TX
Realtor,Mediator,Ombudsman,Property Tax Arbitrator
Thanks, Dan!
Aug 10, 2007 07:42 AM
Yolanda Hoversten
Self Employed - O'Fallon, IL
Referrals for O’Fallon, IL & the Metro East

Hello, Dan!  Thanks for bringing this up.  If the interior isn't ready, I take lots of pictures of the exterior and use those until I can take decent interior pictures.  I also take tons of pictures so that I can choose the best shots and publish those.

It's even amazing when a listing doesn't have any pictures at all for days on end. 

Aug 10, 2007 07:47 AM
Pattie Cordova - Time Defenders
Time Defenders - Mission Viejo, CA

I agree.  When we purchased our home, we skipped right over all of those that did not have multiple pictures.  We wanted pictures of every room, and if there wasn't one, we figured the seller/realtor was too lazy to post them.  Bad lighting can also ruin a good picture.  I'd take pictures during different times of the day to ensure that the lighting is appropriate. 

 

Time DefendersPattie Cordova

Time Defenders

(949) 331-3236

Aug 10, 2007 09:11 AM
Lynn Pineda
eXp Realty - Boca Raton, FL
Real Estate Promises delivered in SE Florida
Dan, I couldn't have said it better myself.  I'm absolutely amazed when I'm searching the MLS and will find homes without any photos or photos like you described.  These Realtors are demanding 6% too and can't even be bothered to take a good photo.  I'm speechless and what's worse the client has no idea how they're home is being marketed or should I say "not" marketed.  Then they wonder why they're not getting any showings. Don't they know there are Realtors that would market their homes effectively????
Aug 10, 2007 01:44 PM
Lizette Fitzpatrick
Lizette Realty - Richmond KY - Lexington, KY
Lizette Realty, Lexington KY MLS - Kentucky Homes
Dan, I agree with you. I've seen some crazy stuff. It's easy to use photoshop to repair pics or make them sharper, etc. If it is difficult to lad pics or take them...get some instruction.
Aug 10, 2007 02:24 PM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

Amen Dan! I wrote an article that adresses this same issue called The Virtual Buyer - it is so important in today's market to have photos and tours on the internet.

Aug 10, 2007 03:15 PM
Lizette Fitzpatrick
Lizette Realty - Richmond KY - Lexington, KY
Lizette Realty, Lexington KY MLS - Kentucky Homes
Isn't that the truth! Sometimes there are no inside shots at all. I can only suspect that the inside is horrible or overstuffed with crappy furniture and personal items.
Aug 13, 2007 01:38 PM