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43% of homes in the MLS have less than ONE picture!

By Lyn Sims

Real Estate Agent

September 28, 2011 08:04 AM

Nearly 38% of all listings in the MLS according to a recent survey MLS Photos, done in Chicago Agent Magazine have only 1 picture. I think that is just pathetic but more importantly l wonder why? The internet has been a staple of our business for so long now I can't remember never uploading photos of my listings. The more photos the better has always been the practice.

Also according to this survey, and my own opinion, exactly 50% of all the homes listed in the MLS have an inadequate amount of photos (less than 5).

5% - 0 pictures
38% - 1 picture
7% - 2 to 5 pictures
6% - 6 to 11 pictures
9% - 12 to 15 pictures
35% - 16 photos

With today's cell phones and all the great technology we have why not take more photos?

Are we afraid to approach the seller that staging their home is important for their success? What would be the purpose, except out of sheer laziness that it is not done?

If the seller doesn't know that the listing can include 16 photos, why tell them? I'm sure the more photos you include the better opportunity that your listing would have to sell and the more buyers would look at the property. Why are agents shooting themselves in the foot?

What is your opinion here?

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Doug Bullwinkel

E Mortgage Capital, Inc. NMLS 1416824 - Roseville, CA

Mortgage Loan Officer NMLS #281609

When I look at MLS listings, it's always the ones with the most photos that I spend time on, not the ones with one photo.

Sep 28, 2011 08:07 AM

Margaret Goss

@Properties - Winnetka, IL

Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate

Lyn - as you know our MLS allows 16 photos so why not utilize that? I hate to repeat you, but laziness is probably the biggest factor in agents not taking the time to get proper photos. My firm uses professional photographers that take 10 photos of the property - I fill in the rest with local "color." It's so simple - if only sellers knew how their homes were being represented!

Sep 28, 2011 08:10 AM

Lyn Sims

Schaumburg, IL

Real Estate Broker Retired

Margaret: Your firm takes the best photos with VHT to your credit. I can see in a small property you might not use all 16 but in a large one that you might have? Definately.

Doug: Honestly when I see one photo I say to myself, Uh OH, What's wrong with this place? What do you think the buyers are thinking?

Sep 28, 2011 08:26 AM

Jennifer Chiongbian

Specializing in all types of Manhattan apts & townhouses - Manhattan, NY

Real Estate Broker - NYC

That truly is a scary statistic. 43%? Really?! Are agents just too lazy to take more than one? This is such a dis-service to the seller, I would've fired them!

Sep 28, 2011 08:40 AM

Donne Knudsen

Los Angeles & Ventura Counties in CA - Simi Valley, CA

CalState Realty Services

Lyn - While I haven't done a study on how many photos the listings in our local MLS (we have a couple local boards) have per property, I can attest that there are way too many that have little to no photos. I too don't get it and often wonder if it's just pure laziness on the listing agents part or worse, if there are no good shots of the property.

Many times, it can also be a case of lack of access to the property to even take a picture. Whatever the case, our local boards fine members who do not have at least one picture up in a certain timeframe. Having said that though, many listing agents simply don't care how many times they get fined for not having a picture up.

Sep 28, 2011 08:40 AM

Liz and Bill Spear

Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH

Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Lyn, It's shameful to just have one photo. Considering what we know about buyer behavior, it's basically negligent to not have an adequate number. Now what number is adequate? I'd assume enough to show the major rooms in the home in addition to the front shot, and probably a back shot too.

Sep 28, 2011 09:03 AM

Kathy Dowd

EXP Realty, 239 220 4133 - The Villages, FL

Consider it SOLD

Lyn, If the property only has 1-2 photos I skip over it. I'm sure the buyers do to. If my out of town buyers find a home interesting just from the MLS pictures, I go to the property and create a Visual Tour to send them they love it! Now when they don't have pictures they skip them to! If its something they find interesting they will fly here to go view. Our MLS just increased the number of photo's to 25. I have also seen where the agent copied the photos from a previous listing or went to the tax record site to get the front of the house picture, this is just plain lazy.

Sep 28, 2011 09:39 AM

Deb Brooks

Brooks Prime Properties Wichita Falls Texas - Wichita Falls, TX

Lyn, that is such a disservice to the client! How sad. Our MLS sends out violation notices that end up as a fee to pay to them if we have less than 6 pics of any property. Poor clients.

Sep 28, 2011 09:46 AM

William Feela

WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN

Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

In our MLS we are required to post at least one photo of a residential home. If a photo is not posted in 3 days we get a fine. Bare land photo's are not required.

Sep 28, 2011 10:16 AM

Pacita Dimacali

Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA

Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Too bad.....since the majority of buyers and their agents would prefer to see as many photos as possible.

However, there are properties that simply look too atrocious to put in pictures. But certainly, they don't comprise 43% of total listings.

Sep 28, 2011 11:59 AM

Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED

RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

And sellers wonder why no one comes to tour?!? Hmmmm . . . the survey results I would have done would have put out that 43% of the listing agents can't seem to get off their butts to take more than 1 picture and publish it on behalf of their clients!

Sep 28, 2011 12:40 PM

Lyn Sims

Schaumburg, IL

Real Estate Broker Retired

Jennifer: I bet most sellers don't know.

Donne: I think it's just bad business practice. You know your listing is going to need photos so? You hire someone .... take them yourself .... have someone else take them for you.

Bliz: Good word, negligent.

Deb: Sounds like a good rule with minimum 6 pictures.

Bill: Here also.

Pacita: That would be an awfully high number of 'fixers' wouldn't it? Even so we go back to what I mentioned about agents not telling the sellers their home should be picked up for each showing.

Carla: Next time someone complains about no showings, we should ask how many photos do you have of the house? I bet they are connected.

Sep 29, 2011 05:03 AM

Kristine Ginsberg

Elite Staging and Redesign, LLC - Short Hills, NJ

NJ Home Stager

Lyn - I can't believe those statistics! What a disservice to their client to take no or only a few shots for MLS! Whenever I stage a home, I always give my Realtors no less than 15 photos and usually more. I've seen MLS photos with the car mirror in the corner - they didn't even get out of the car! People should know these statistics and thanks for enlightening us - Suggested!

Sep 29, 2011 05:11 PM

Lyn Sims

Schaumburg, IL

Real Estate Broker Retired

Kristine: A terrible disservice that I wonder what sellers would do if they knew. I guess most sellers don't ask or don't check either.

Sep 30, 2011 03:10 AM

Betty Knowles

Southwest Missouri Realty - Springfield, MO

Ready to sell? Call Betty!

Doesn't that just drive you crazy? I see listings with one picture and wonder why anyone would hire that agent!

Sep 30, 2011 08:18 AM

Linda K. Mayer

License # 01767321 - La Verne, CA

Realtor, SRES, SoCAL, A REALTOR YOU CAN TRUST

Ditto William #9. We get fined for not having at least one picture. However, recently I have been seeing more and more listings (while I am searching out homes for clients) with no pictures. I figure if they're that bad my clients are not going to want them anyway!

Oct 03, 2011 10:25 AM

Nick T Pappas

Assoc. Broker ABR, CRS, SFR, e-Pro, @Homes Realty Group, Broker/Providence Property Mgmnt, LLC Huntsville AL - Huntsville, AL

Madison & Huntsville Alabama Real Estate Resource

Lyn, I think you know where I stand on this issue. I'm a little dumbfounded that 38% of the MLS listings have only 1 photo...I guess that's because that's the minimum required...don't you just love agents so willing, adept and satisfied at doing the minimum!!

Oct 05, 2011 08:15 AM

Lyn Sims

Schaumburg, IL

Real Estate Broker Retired

Nick: I really am, but I'm also unsure why a seller doesn't ask or check to see their listing online.