"You Can't Take Pictures of the INSIDE of my House !" cried the "Seller"

Speaking of Psychology, before real estate... from 1965 to 1973 I taught seventh grade.  Those nine years taught me so much.  And, my degree was IN Psychology.  Then I jumped into real estate, and during the time I was an agent in DC... 1987 to 1993... I also spent three years at first volunteering at the Washington DC Suicide and Crisis Line.  Peer counseling at first, and then training incoming volunteers to "work the phones" as peer counselors talking to those in crisis on the incoming calls.

There were many, many calls... especially late at night, from mostly women going through divorces.  They were seeing their entire lives turned upside-down.  Such a stressful time.  Then, couple all of that with having to sell the "marital home"... when you really don't want your marriage to end... and you get just a bit of an idea that you are not only dealing with simply selling a home.

Thanks for listening to my ideas, Sally & David.  I hope I have not over-commented.  :)

It can be sold at the right price with no photos but I guarantee it will sell for less.  I work with so many out of state buyers and they woun't even consider properties without photos and even I wonder what's wrong with the house that doesn't allow inside pictures to be taken. Must be a dump is what we all think.  -Kasey

I will not list a home if the seller doesn't want me to take photos.  If I can't convince them that they need photos, then they can hire another agent and get upset with that agent for the home not selling.  It's not worth my time and hassle to list a home that won't sell without significant price reductions thanks to 90% of the market ignoring it. 

What a challenge when a seller demands that no interior shots be shown on the MLS. Very likely some good potential buyers will be lost, and you can't help but think they don't really want the house to sell quickly.  

Hello Sally and David. I read this with interest. You're right there is no reason to argue or alienate, but not showing the home up front is a detriment for sure. Great discussion here.

Amazing how most agents lose control of their business by allowing a prospect to dictate the terms and conditions that you as an expert wouldn't do by marketing their home. This occurs quite often and I wonder why do agents represent this type of client? It must be the loss of income that agents fear and are willing to be an order taker rather than a professional.

Sally and David, I think you did the right thing in walking away.  If they are afraid of thieves, looky loos and non buyers, she will get that no matter what.  With no inside photos, there are only a few things that a buyer would think.  Is it too messy?  What needs to be done to the home, that they don't want it to be seen?  What valuables are in there, that they don't want people to see?  The last one will surely invite thieves to see the home!

My Dad had always taught me, if you are going to do a job, do it right or don't bother doing it at all.  When I take a listing, my job is to do everything I can to sell the home, which includes taking photos of the inside.  If a condo association doesn't allow a sign on the property, that is out of the seller's hands, so I am okay with it.  As important as good photos are, I won't take a listing, unless I can take inside photos, as they are an important part of marketing the home.  Without them, I can't really do my job correctly and probably can't get them what they want for their home.

Sally & David...I currently have a listing with just the opposite problem...they didn't want outside photos -or- a true street address, as they didn't want any drive bys.??

There is a market niche for every style of home, every unusual amenity (pool, shop), number of bedrooms (4 or more), level of accessibility, etc....and every motivation for selling.

I had this happen once & later I found out that the lady was truly paranoid & had a problem with many things besides people 'seeing into the house'.  She had to move to a new location 1st before we could sell it.  Perhaps the 'X' will have some insight?

Isn't is sad that our culture has stooped to such a low level of paranoia?

Sally and David - It is extremely difficult to get people to look at a home when there are no photos of the inside.  Perhaps by placing a note in the private remarks that only other agents will see explaining why there are no inside photos will help a little, but most people these days are finding properties on the internet before they even call an agent.

Sometimes NO is just the right answer. Good for you folks.  Maybe another professional can get to the root of her fear and paranoia enough to get some images like kitchen and bathrooms. You are so right about the no interior photos issues.

It's pretty hard to sell a house without interior pictures. It sounds like you are taking the right approach.