Special offer

Digitally Enhanced Listing Really Looks Like Garbage In Person..... GO FIGURE

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Compass 0524642

My buyer was really excited about seeing a local house. Under agent remarks (not viewable by the public) it reads: Photos have been digitally enhanced to better visualize the amazing possibilities!

The "photo's" on the MLS have been digitally altered with furniture, paint, lamps, carpet. wood trim and repairs. NONE OF WHICH have been done in real life. The listing agent is working with some digital home stager to create an appearance of what they think the home MIGHT look like if you were to spend the money.

Under the digitally altered photo's it says this: Digitally enhanced photo! Isn't it Amazing what your decorating talents can really do!

The listing agent and the digital stager or "virtual stager" both need to put down the sniffing glue and realize that their enhanced photo's are really just ILLUSIONS.

In person, the house looks like hell. The carpet is disgusting and the walls have dents, scrapes and broken mini-blinds. The kitchen sink had a rotten watermelon in it.

It's wiser to post actual photo's in my opinion. This home needs to be advertised as a rehab or "in need of extensive work." You shouldn't be trying to "paint" something better than it is. Nobody likes deception, smoke screens and charades when house hunting.

I might add that ALL 16 pictures on the MLS were altered. This left NO real pictures for the consumer. I can only imagine what the online profiles of these two professionals must read........

 

"Worlds most respected & sought after Realtor"

"As seen on the Phil Donahue Show"

"Can bench press 800 pounds while checking my email and making flyers."

Posted by
Greg Nino
Realtor
RE/MAX Compass 
Direct & Text 7 days a wk: 832-298-8555 
 
 
Realtor since 2004
Mediator & Arbitrator for the TX Assoc. of Realtors
Member of the Professional Standards Committee for the TX Assoc. of Realtors
Arbitrator for the Comptroller's office for the State of TX for Arbitration of Property Tax Values

 Member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame & Platinum Club

 

The information contained in this blog is believed to be reliable and while every effort is made to assure that the information is as accurate as possible, the author of this blog, and its comments disclaim any implied warranty or representation about it's accuracy, completeness or appropriateness for any particular purpose. All information is copywritten and the property of Greg Nino.  

Comments (276)

Terry Chenier
Homelife Glenayre Realty - Mission, BC

Greg,

I would have thought his to border-line fraud. An the board allows this?

Aug 16, 2010 05:26 PM
Bob & Bonnie Horning
Mount Joy, PA

As a great man named Paul once said, "all things are allowed, but not all things are beneficial!" These fads will only hurt those who use them. Your buyers are still capable of buying something else... and most likely will never forget the agent's name who perpetrated this.... and probably tell 100 others about them. Especially now... that it's going nationwide. Yea AR.

Aug 17, 2010 03:24 AM
Doug Patterson
Park Place Real Estate, Broker-In-Charge - Winston-Salem, NC
CRS, ABR, Broker-In-Charge

Greg,  Great Post!  I made an appointment recently for a vacant foreclosure and the photographs were beautiful.  No furnishings, just great looking photographs.  The agent told me...."I take great photographs and the property does need some work."   My clients and I went to see the property, and "Whew!"  was he right.  It was disgustingly dirty....downright filthy...and beat up very badly as well.  Nothing could be used in that home without either replacing it or ....well.....replacing it. 

When will our industry learn that deception is just not appreciated...

Aug 17, 2010 03:25 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Greg, I love this!  It's amazing that the market has spawned a new profession - virtual stagers!

Aug 17, 2010 03:26 AM
Jon Boyd
Home Buyer's Agent of Ann Arbor - Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor Real Estate Buyers Agent

I can't quite prove it, but in our office we were looking at a house photo that seemed to have the powerlines behind it removed.

If it wasn't altered the photographer must have found the one exact angle that hid the towers from view.

Aug 17, 2010 03:31 AM
Sharon Paxson
Sharon Paxson, Realtor® EQTY Forbes Global Properties - Newport Beach, CA
Newport Beach Real Estate

Hi Greg, you are professional for not sharing the actual listing. I agree that digitially enhancing photos will make the property look completely different and not represent it in in true light.

Aug 17, 2010 03:39 AM
Lisa Hickling
Brampton, ON

The listing agent should have posted as-is photos to complement the enhanced ones. No doubt about that. However, I have to recognize the creativity in marketing a fixer upper. With the popularity of shows like "Hidden Potential" on HGTV, there  can be no doubt that some buyers will appreciate "artist's concept" type illustrations of less than stellar properties as long as they are aware of what they are actually getting.

That said, I can't imagine why you wouldn't want to list the actual photos as well. You can't sell an after picture without the before. Otherwise, I like Greg and everyone else, would question your motive, peg you as dishonest and most importantly, walk away from further interest.

Lisa H.

Aug 17, 2010 03:50 AM
Debi Braulik
www.roundrealestate.com - Maple Valley, WA
Selling Maple Valley to Fife WA Homes For Sale

I'm comment #272. Unfortunately I only had time to read the first 80 comments.... If I had come across this property I would have been so frustrated. Talk about false advertising and bait and switch.  I understand doing this with maybe one or two photos but EVERY photo? That crosses the line.

Congrats on the ABC interview.

Aug 17, 2010 04:16 AM
Melissa Hailey
North Texas Top Team, REALTORS (Plano, Murphy, Wylie) - Plano, TX
Collin County Realtor-Lucas, Murphy, Plano, Parker

I read an article in Realtor Magazine recently about virtual staging.  The article questioned if virtual staging was ethical or not.  I have to say that using enhancements such as making the grass greener should be ok....or maybe even adding furniture to a vacant house.  HOWEVER, VIRTUAL REMODELING is NOT OK!  There is a lender in town that does 203k rehab loans and they will provide before and after photos that are digitally remodeled and he uses it to show people how it "could" look after the rehab loan, I think that is an appropriate use of this technology.  BUT USING THIS VIRTUAL REMODEL AS PHOTOS FOR A LISTING THAT IS NOT REMODELED IS LYING, UNETHICAL, AND JUST PLAIN WRONG!!!

Aug 17, 2010 05:55 AM
Peter Doane
Realty Check Inspection Service - Olympia, WA
Olympia Wa Home Inspector

I agree Greg.  But, its an old gimmick!  Brought over from the food industry no doubt.  i.e. HEY! My hamburger doesn't look like the picture on the menu.  We've all been there and it can be disappointing with food, but frustrating when your trying to find your clients that "perfect" home.

Aug 17, 2010 06:17 AM
Jan Mullins
First Credit Union - Chandler, AZ

There's a comedy routine in this situation somewhere, but in the meantime, the poor deceived people looking at the pictures of this listing!

Aug 17, 2010 07:11 AM
Bernice Dubon
RE/MAX First 403-607-9117 - Calgary, AB
Calgary Alberta Realtor
Well the listing Agent certainly did everything they could to sell the property, but I can just imagine what kind of offers might result when the buyer walks in expecting one thing, and is faced with the real property. This kind of marketing may attract attention (good and bad), but I wouldn't think it would result in the best price.
Aug 17, 2010 09:29 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

whew what a lot of comments and discussion.  Pat yourself on the back and give me my 25 points... thanks.

Aug 17, 2010 09:39 AM
Anonymous
Jay Schmidt

This is a tough one because I know that buyers do lack imagination.  I think if the agent represented it correctly and let his clients know that the property will not look anything like the photos if they view it, it might work out. 

On the other hand, it might be a big waste of time since most buyers dont believe it unless they see it. 

If you're dealing with an investor, they're used to using their imagination so I'd think this would work fine for them.

Aug 17, 2010 02:21 PM
#278
Edith Schreiber
Luxury Homes, Move Up Buyers, 1st Time Homebuyers, New Construction - Frisco, TX
Dallas Area Real Estate

It all reminds me of one of the most important things I learned when I first got into this RE biz......DISCLOSE, DISCLOSE, DISCLOSE!

Some people just don't get it....???

Aug 18, 2010 01:15 AM
Steve Sandoval
Hacienda Heights, CA

#64, Great tip on the 10mm super wide angle lens Tom.

#81, Laurie, I still can't believe you are not with us, it was a pleasure to serve the same city with you.

 Rest in peace good soul.

Sep 01, 2010 11:28 PM
Greg Nino
RE/MAX Compass - Houston, TX
Houston, Texas

Well said Edith!

Sep 02, 2010 06:41 AM
Michael Meyer
Better Homes and Gardens- Bighill East - Reynoldsburg, OH

I agree that digitally enhanced photos even if they are labeled as such are wrong.

However, I am wondering what everyone would think of a new build that is not built yet? I have a new build scheduled to be built as soon as I find a buyer. Instead of using a redering or drawing of the floor plan and elevation I have chosen to use pictures of the model home this new build will be based on. I have clearly indicated this in the remarks sections as well as the agent to agent and even in some of the pictures. The last thing I want is a call for a showing on a home that hasn't been built yet. I have strict instructions for any showing calls on this type of MLS listing. I'd appreciate everyones thoughts on this practice. (Please be constructive and nice if you don't agree).

Here is an example of an ad I currently have: 5610 Knollwood Dr Columbus Ohio 43232

 

 

Nov 15, 2010 03:14 AM
MaryBeth Mills Muldowney
TradeWinds Realty Group LLC - Braintree, MA
Massachusetts Broker Owner

Totally false advertising!  Almost as bad as some agents using their high school graduation pictures of themselves! False Advertising!  What ever happened to presenting  lower expectations  and delivering more!

Apr 13, 2011 02:42 AM
Matt Robinson
Professional Investors Guild - Pensacola, FL
www.professionalinvestorsguild.com

I'm with you.  I think digitally enhanced photos DO NOT paint an accurate picture in one's advertising, and are a violation of the code.  I understand taking different angles, or using a wide angle lens, or REALLY staging...but if a pic is altered...it should have to have a huge watermark on the photo disclosing that it's not a real pic.

May 20, 2011 05:37 AM