Face Value?

Face Value

            In the recent blog by Leanne Paynter, we discussed the use of photos on the MLS, and, the lack of photos.  For a long time I have wondered why some agents do not use photos and more description. It seems there should be a reason. Speculations run the between: they are lazy, they may not be skilled, they may not be skilled and don't want to pay someone to do it for them, perhaps the lack of information is an attempt to secure a double sided transaction, perhaps the agent is ashamed of the home. Perhaps running photos and description would be counterproductive to the sale of the home. I have offered to take photos at showings for agents to later upload. You might as well hit me upside the head and say, "imbecile; if I wanted photos on the MLS I would do it." My opinion is that if you are not going to fully represent a home on the MLS, you shouldn't list it there to begin with.

          Thinking about the MLS photos lead me to thinking about agent photos. Could using our photos in advertisements be counterproductive?

What if prospects took a look at an agent photo and thought, I don't want to do business with that person. His teeth are crooked, he has shifty eyes, she's too old to have long hair, her face is...  What if agent photos actually deterred from marketing the home? Is that possible? Is it probable?

          Do we run the risk of being "set up" by bad people with bad intentions if we run photos? With the lunatics in our society, is it risky to run photos of children, whether it's our children or someone else's? I'll never forget my first irate client-a seller in an upscale neighborhood. I had accidentally caught his daughter in one of the playroom shots. I had not seen her then and did not see her in the picture until he pointed it out. With her hair and color of clothes she blended into the background.  He and I worked through this upsetting exchange and it was good that it happened because it reminded me to remind clients to "prepare" for photo shoots by putting valuables out of site, as well as family photos if they were concerned about them showing up on the internet.

          As a personal decision, I guess we have to weigh the pros and cons of promoting ourselves by photo. At this time I would say an overwhelming majority of agents still feel comfortable promoting with photos. Recently I had more professional looking photos made-I wore a suit. I will probably never use the photos. The real me is the beach shot my daughter took. There are thousands of suited agents available. I figure if someone wants to buy or sell property on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and a beach shot leads them to believe I am unprofessional...well, we likely would not have a meeting of the minds, anyway.

          Our photos are identity. Bottom line, identity is our business.  Maybe prospects feel more comfortable meeting us for the first time, if they know what we look like. Maybe we don't meet some prospects for the first time because of our photos.  I have received several interesting comments from the public regarding agent photos.  One comment was that we shouldn't do glamour shots because it might attract the wrong people. One person said we shouldn't use photos because people change on a daily basis (age). One instructor advised not to use photos for safety reasons, period.