How important are your MLS photos?

Hi Juli,

Ditto to Kimo's comment. Not much else to say. Maybe the seller is very wealthy AND related to the agent, otherwise this doesn't make any sense.

Wow!  I've seen some bad photos, but this tops the list.  As a photographer and Realtor, I hate to see bad photos, and in the digital age, there's really no excuse for not having a decent picture of the house.  The other day I had a client that wanted to see some homes, and one home that I knew might be nice only had one tiny tiny little picture - nothing else, so I emailed the agent and asked if he had more photos.  He emailed back and said - no, but I'm expecting an offer.  Geez... we went to see it anyway hoping for the best.  Obviously this struck a nerve with lots of us.  thanks for sharing.

Juli, I believe that photo my redefine "drive by shooting."  I cannot believe an agent would use a photo like that nor can I believe the MLS does not have quality guidelines.   This falls into the bad, the ugly and I'd like to add lazy, unacceptable and perhaps idiotic!

Seriously??!! That one beats the bathroom shot of the toilet with the seat up and the shower door! With the ease of digital photography, how does one even take a shot like that?? Sloppy. Unprofessional. Careless. The descriptive words go on and on...

I don't know why you're all having so much trouble with this picture. It's obvious to me that it's a picture of a desert oasis with the building shimmering in the heat haze as it's transferred across the miles via mirage.

I was already thinking I needed glasses and now this;)

The only thing worse than the photo shown is a listing without a photo. The listing photos are our first chance to map a good impression. I have seen the listings without photos have a description that tells you it's a wonderful house with great views.Most people think you have something to hide if you don't have any photos.

We have a MLS rule that doesn't allow branding. The only problem I have with it is having my photos of vacant land copied by other agent's too lazy to come out and take their own. Fortunately that has only happened twice within the last year. Than I have to educate them about copyright issues to get my photos removed.

I have a client who recently moved out of state and spoke of using Realtor.com in her search. She said she didn't even look at those without photos or with a small number. It just confirmed what I already knew, good photos are very important. They help attract buyers to out listings. I have one rule that I won't violate, I won't submit a listing without photos and I am particular about the quality. No exceptions.

Jacqueline Drake CRS

Cochise County AZ

Oh lord, what a photo. How does this measure up to "professionally market your home"?

Juli:  I bet this is really a nice home too!  I wonder if the owner that's trying to sell it has noticed this, if they do then they have grounds to make a break and find someone else. IMHO - And look at you with so many comments and not featured yet.   Maybe every post with 50 plus comments should be an automatic feature! :)

I am not sure which is worse, a picture like this or no pictures at all.

Hi Juli, I am always amazed at photos in listings.  Especially those that expire!

Way to make a good first impression, listing agent!  (Sarcasm mode).

It never ceases to amaze me how many horrible photos make it to MLS - from 2002-era camera-phones, of filthy homes, dead landscaping, people/pets in the shot, etc.....

Everyone from the realtor to the buyer knows that photos sell, specially in today's internet world.  For a realtor to upload a picture like that tells you that they probably are in the wrong profession and are making a bad name for the rest of us.

Juli,  It takes an extra 20 minutes or half an hour to load up the photos, but it's well worth the effort.  Buyers want to see the photos!  I've had buyers say they don't trust a house without pictures.  Why waste the time with a photo like this?

Juli,

How would you like to go up against that agent in an listing presentation.  Armed with that photo, you couldn't lose!

There's no excuse for bad photos. A simple proof read of your upload will solve this. Just a lazy agent or assistant is my guess.

Wow, that's almost worse than not having a photo at all. What a simple fix! Or just hire a professional photographer that can do a good job for you. It's amazing we see things like this in this day and age!!