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WHAT WOULD YOU TELL A SELLER WHO DOES NOT WANT ANY PICTURES TAKEN OF THEIR HOUSE?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Godzyk Real Estate Services NH License 033394

I met with a potential seller who was dead set against any pictures taken of teh inside of their house. I tried to find out their reasoning but they would not hear anything. I let them know a great deal of marketing includes pictures. Pictures say more than a million words. Good quaility and clear pictures are the best way to market a property to potential buyers. A picture can make or break the decision of a buyer even wanting to see a home for sale.

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL A SELLER WHO DOES NOT WANT ANY PICTURES TAKEN OF THEIR HOUSE?

Blog Updated Nov. 14, 2010

Blog Written by;

Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Realty Group

www.ScottSellsNH.com

Copyright 2010, All rights reserved

Comments (11)

Richard Willard
Asset Realty Group - Bellevue, WA
Richard Delane Willard

I'd have to seriously question their motivation to sell, since they just cut the legs out from under your marketing.  I wouldn't take the time to go look at a house with no visual marketing, would you?  They are wasting your time, unless they will intentionally let you underprice it and you add comments that are compelling! 

Nov 14, 2010 11:05 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

You really need to get to the bottom of their concerns.  Go back to them again with some specific questions of your own.  Have them heard a horror story of someone casing houses?  Do they have valuable collections in the home that they don't want shown?  Can you talk them into just key rooms such as the kitchen or a standout feature like hardwood floors?  Keep working it until you get to the bottom of the issue.

Nov 14, 2010 11:08 AM
Eric Kodner
Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Twin Cities Homes - Minnetonka, MN
Wayzata Lakes Realty: Twin Cities, Madeline Island

That's a tough one. I agree with Cindy that you might be able to figure out what their real issue is, but I'd be prepared to take a walk if they continue refusing to let you market the property.

Nov 14, 2010 11:13 AM
Vito Boscaino
Parker Realty Associates - Dublin, OH

It just depends on the price point.  If they are priced agressively, all other things being equal, they will still get traffic.  Look at how many bank-owned REO's are liste without interior pictures.  And they sell all the time.  Because the price point is driving the traffic.  If your clients to be are utilizing a strategy like this then run with it.

Nov 14, 2010 11:14 AM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Vito i agree with price point, i gave them the BPO and am awaiting their decision. I made specific recomendations about price, it defiantely needs to be at or just below current market value. We will soon see.

Nov 14, 2010 11:23 AM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Cindy it was one of those interviews where it was tough to get a word in, they were not angry but were stern. trying different approaches such as first asking them straight up lead to an answer becuase that is what we want. And trying a less direct approach did not lead to any answers, i am hoping our second meeting will lead to more answers and perhaps less anxiety by the seller. They did tell me they wantedto list with me, i had proven myself to their neighbors and a coworker. i came highly recomended but needed to abide by their wishes.

Nov 14, 2010 11:27 AM
Sara Abbas
Realty Austin - Cedar Park, TX
CNE, CDRS - 512-522-4990

I would tell them that I understand some homeowners are concerned about letting anyone see the inside of the house, and for some it's a safety concern, but that photos are a must if they want to sell their home. If they have concerns about safety or the invasion of their privacy, they can remove personal items. In our MLS here, we can also choose not to display the physical address of a listed property on the Internet (although I never recommend this, because people like to drive by), but if sellers are overly concerned, it's an option.

Most importantly, buyers begin their searches online, and a lack of photos, or listings with only exterior shots can lead them to believe that the seller is hiding something.  I don't know about your local market, but in this economy, buyers may see a number of foreclosures among the homes that show up in their search results, and unless a listing includes photos of the inside of the home, they often assume the worst (that the floors or walls are damaged, things are missing, etc.).  Your sellers, I assume, would not want buyers to rule out their home before even seeing it, based on this incorrect assumption, right?  Then they should include photos... 

Good luck.  Some sellers I've worked with who were resistant to aspects of the initial listing process were also resistant to other parts of marketing their homes... like keeping it ready to show or being flexible on their schedule.  This may not be the case at all with yours, but I'd watch for any other red flags.  :)

 

Nov 14, 2010 11:27 AM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Richard all i can do is try, it would be better if they were strangersbut i sold their neighbors house after 2 other Realtors could not and also just sold a house to one of their coworkers. I hate to turn down any business but how tough will this be?

Nov 14, 2010 11:28 AM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Sara i am definately wary about the other aspects of selling such as letting me into show, i have no problem with having to offer assisted showings but will they let me in when the buyer wants to see it or will they refuse my showings. I can work with the best of and the worst of and I am willing to give it a try but to what extent, we will see....

Nov 14, 2010 11:31 AM
Bob & Carolin Benjamin
Benjamin Realty LLC - Gold Canyon, AZ
East Phoenix Arizona Homes

Its tough to sell without photos today -- but there are sellers worried about theft and it is understandable with all the crime in the world.

Nov 14, 2010 11:52 AM
Dee Mayers
Covina, CA
San Gabriel Valley, CA

You may also want to try this approach.  Show them listings with no pictures and the DOM.  Then compare it with homes with pictures and the DOM and how quickly they sold.  (May have nothing to do with the pictures but they certainly help)  Pick several homes to show them and then ask which do you prefer?  A home that people may wonder what is wrong with the home and pass it up, or a home that is appealing due to the pictures? 

Don't give up, clear out the fog and get to the bottom of things.  You may have to separate them (by calling) to see which one is really adamant about no pictures and focus in on that one.

Nov 14, 2010 12:33 PM