Special offer

Wait.. what does that mean...?

Reblogger Joy Carter & Jeff Booker Brother and Sister Team
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Parkland/Coral Springs Realty-GreatFloridaHomes Team BK-0450270

Customers are ALWAYS Telling us, if it does not have pictures (THAT IS PLURAL!)...Kitchen, Master Bath, Yard Front and Back....They are moving on!  I really can't blame them when the opportunity is available to all agents to put in multiple pictures and multiple text to describe a home!  Marketing 101 in my opinion!  Joy

Original content by Britney Elizondo

I realize a lot of home buyers begin their search on the internet so I thought a blog explaining exactly what a picture means, or what a Real Estate agent is really saying by using certain verbiage, would be helpful.

For instance, you see this picture...

8231 san cristobal in forest hills dallas tx

and you think, "Oh, that's a pretty home!"  You then realize that this is the only picture on the internet and the agent says something like, "Beautiful Forest Hills home in Dallas waiting to be made your own!" in the description.  Well, what that really means is that this is probably an older home and it's more than likely original to the time it was built and needs either updating or an extreme renovation.

On that note.. what's the difference between "updated" and "renovated?"

Updated - since the home was built, the sellers may have painted, replaced the carpet or installed tile or hardwoods, replaced hardware, etc.

Renovated - new cabinets, new countertops, walls may have been moved, popcorn ceilings gone, fresh paint, gutted bathrooms, etc.

 

If you see this in replace of the pictures...

no photo submitted - dallas tx mls

This could mean 1 of 3 things:

1. the agent was too lazy to take the photos;

2. the agent was more concerned with getting credit for getting the listing than having your home offer a great first impression and put the home in the MLS before getting pictures; or

3. this is a complete re-do and needs to be completely renovated or it's lot value and this is a tear down.

 

If you see a picture with a date in the bottom right corner...

foreclosure picture

the home is more than likely an REO (Real-Estate Owned) which means it's bank-owned/foreclosure.

 

Also be aware of professional photography with wide-angle lenses...

huge backyard in little forest hills dallas

Although it looks FANTASTIC on the internet, sometimes it can be deceiving.  I've actually seen this home in person and although the backyard appears to be HUGE in this picture, it is, in fact, a typical 50x150 lot size.  It is a nice size, but it's definitely not ready for your baseball diamond.

 

And if you see this picture...

house in the snow in dallas tx

It's October in Dallas, TX, and you know it MAY snow once or twice a year in January-February, you now know two things

1. this home has been on the market for quite some time; and

2. this is another lazy agent!

Britney Elizondo

Buyer Specialist, REALTOR® | Vicki White Homes | a team within Keller Williams Dallas City Center | www.vickiwhitehomes.com

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Allison Lahey
Cape Cod MA Homes, Second Homes, Seaside Homes - Marstons Mills, MA
Cape Cod MA Realtor

I love your post.  You are right on the money with this one!  Having plentiful pictures IS Marketing 101.  Having one with snow in October in Texas...I'm not biting.  :-)

Apr 23, 2011 12:30 PM
Joy Carter & Jeff Booker Brother and Sister Team
Keller Williams Parkland/Coral Springs Realty-GreatFloridaHomes Team - Coral Springs, FL
Trust Your Family's Move To Our Expertise!

Allison - YOU are SOOOO Right!  At least WE Know when to Move On!  Which is Why Clients Hire Savvy Agents like us.  Best Wishes for your Continued Success!

Apr 23, 2011 12:34 PM