Last Saturday was a bit different for me than the typical day of showing properties. Instead of touring homes with clients, I set out on a Mission for an Out of Town Client who simply needed pictures. I've done this many times for clients in the past with very successful conclusions. Since I would be on this Picture Fact Finding Mission, I invited the newest member of our team along (a new Realtor) so she could see what I typically do when helping someone out like this.
There were four homes to tour, just outside of Washington DC. Three of them were really easy to gain access to, but the fourth one, we couldn't get in to. It was a Security Issue! After taking the pictures, I returned to my Office, processed them on the computer and started emailing to my client, explaining that we couldn't gain access to one of the properties.
While sending the pictures, an email arrived in my email box from my client. She indicated how excited she was that the pictures would be arriving soon. More important, the home she looked forward to seeing the most, (you got it) was the one we couldn't get in to. Hmmmmmmm
Sunday Afternoon I thought I would try again without my client knowing. Surprise, surprise, we got in but this home didn't look anything like the pictures that were displayed on the MLS. I wouldn't have known it was the same house except for some furniture pieces. The house was trashed, in need of serious cleaning and a number of other things that were a huge negative. The disappointment my client felt was beyond description.
My point is this: I believe it is important that true to life photos be placed on the MLS by the Listing Agent. I understand there are moments when things happen beyond the Listing Agents control. Having just stated that: I can't tell you how shocked we all were to see the opposite in this house of what had been portrayed in the pictures. I'm not surprised as to why it hasn't sold and why it has been on the market for so long.
Lesson Learned for Buyers: Be prepared, in a day of very sophisticated digital photography that what you see in pictures may not always tell the true story of the house you are seriously interested in. This is why we have home tours and this is why sometimes, buyers will end up removing a house from their "Top 3" list.
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