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Sometimes You Just Have to Take the Top Off

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Real Estate Agent with Long and Foster Real Estate VA License # 0225089470

Sometimes You Just Have to Take the Top Off

Why Listing Agents don't take more pride in their listings is beyond me.  Lack of pride, and lack of effort, is most readily apparent in listing photos.  

One of the main reasons I got a listing that had expired with another agent was their poor marketing in comparison to mine.  I saw their home in person and was taken aback.  The house looked much nicer in person.  The photos never reflected that. 

Hot Tub Before

The photo that got me in particular was the hot tub.  Didn't look inviting at all.

Fast forward to my listing photo, after a fourteen dollar trip to the dollar store and the effort to take the top off the tub.  Isn't this more inviting?  Wait for a sunny day, pop the top and stage the bar.  Ahhh!

The hot tub Chris Ann's way

We just hit the market today, but I'm thinking that being under new management will help this home sell quickly.  I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.

 

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Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Beth:  Thanks.  I'm looking forward to showing them why I am the best person for the job.

Nancy:  Too many agents point and click and never give a thought to staging the photograph or editing afterward.

Donna:  Okay..stop it.  I'm blushing.

 

May 07, 2015 02:34 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

William:  And the other changes the sellers made finally showing up in photos too.  There were a bit defensive of the photos the first agent took because when they took the listing it was winter.  All I said was, "There have been a lot of sunny days between then and now."

Pat:  Very true.

Kevin:  I'm glad they look like Mai Tai's.  They are dollar store leis in a plastic glass.

May 07, 2015 02:36 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Sheila:  Getting ready to do the online brochure.  Can't wait to share the whole listing with you.

Alan:  A picture in the snow with the top off would have been even better.  

May 07, 2015 02:37 AM
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Chris Ann - There is quite a difference - both in the pictures and the professionalism. I've never understood why the best way to present a home's features is often given such little care.

May 07, 2015 08:33 AM
Robin Rogers
Robin Rogers, Silverbridge Realty, San Antonio, Texas - San Antonio, TX
CRS, TRC, MRP - Real Estate Investment Adviser

Preaching to the choir here, Chris Ann! You're obviously a professional, experienced in marketing and getting the most for your sellers.

May 07, 2015 08:49 AM
Michele Connors
The Overton Group, LLC Pitt & Carteret County - Greenville, NC
Your Eastern North Carolina Realtor

Great way to make a nice visual... photos are what attract the buyers way before the appt is set to see it ! 

May 07, 2015 09:04 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Dick:  I don't get it either.  We get paid well to present homes in a professional and appealing manner.  Yet so many agents won't spring for a photographer or even a decent camera.

Robin:  I pride myself on my listings.  The rentals and short sales get the same level of detail, sparing uncooperative tenants.

Michele:  I was pleased to get two calls about this one today.  Less than 24 hours on the market.  

May 07, 2015 09:22 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Chris Ann -- and such a simple "fix" too.  It's a head scratcher why it wasn't "seen" before.  

May 07, 2015 10:02 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Chris Ann, It's like night and day difference.  It took a little creativity and trip to the dollar store to create and "feeling" with the hot tub.  Great job! Your clients a fortunate to have you.

May 07, 2015 10:22 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Michael:  Too much effort, I guess.  

Kathleen:  Sell the lifestyle.  Not a dirty hot tub cover.

May 07, 2015 12:23 PM
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Hi Chris Ann Cleland ,  You're right, some agents don't take pride in their profession and their clients pay for the sloppy job.

May 07, 2015 01:05 PM
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

There is a sad but common misconception that real estate agents are the same…interchangeable…nothing special…and, subsequently, not worth the commission that they are paid. You, Chris Ann, have once again disproved that belief. Imaginative marketing and out-of-the-box thinking will get this tired listing sold.

May 07, 2015 02:01 PM
John Novak
Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace - Las Vegas, NV
Henderson, Las Vegas and Summerlin Real Estate

It's disappointing when people see mediocre online marketing and discount the worthiness of our profession. We need to keep educating the public on the value that a good agent with a solid marketing plan brings to a transaction.

May 07, 2015 02:11 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Larry:  There are too many who think they can do the bare minimum and get results in Seller's markets.  Even IF that were true, you are always auditioning for additional listings and would-be sellers are paying attention to how you market your homes.

John: Yes.  Being under new management is already paying off.

John N.:  I am happy to stand out to the area I farm as different.  Heck, I was at an HOA meeting last month and when I offered to take the pictures of our yards of the month winners, a gentleman attending as a resident said,  "You should definitely let her do that.  Her photographs are great."

May 08, 2015 03:41 AM
Chuck Willman
Chuck Willman - Alpine, UT
NewHouseUtah.com

Mandatory- all agents-- take a photography lesson or two. It's amazing how little effort it takes to make a photo better. (oh, I don't mean to sound dictatorial about the photography lesson mandate, but seriously... there is too much disservice being done and it's time we stand up to it.) Ok, I'm dismounting the high horse now.

May 09, 2015 03:25 AM
Curtis Van Carter
Better Homes & Gardens Wine Country Group - Yountville, CA
Your Napa Valley Broker Extraordinaire

Chris Ann

Something so simple yet worth way more than you paid. I think I have a new moniker for you, the Queen of Marketing. :-)) cheers cvc

May 09, 2015 04:25 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Chuck:  I feel the same way.  No apology needed about the high horse.  I ride around on mine 24/7.  

Curtis:  I like that one better. 

May 09, 2015 07:47 AM
Curtis Van Carter
Better Homes & Gardens Wine Country Group - Yountville, CA
Your Napa Valley Broker Extraordinaire

Chris Ann

Well deserved. cheers cvc

May 09, 2015 08:33 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

You've done everything right. Now go find that one lucky buyer!

May 09, 2015 10:50 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Curtis:  Thanks.

Margaret:  Yes ma'am.

May 10, 2015 02:59 AM
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