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A Very Important Question To Ask Yourself Before Photographing Listings

By
Home Stager with Sharon Tara Transformations

So, I'm watching tv last night and get a text from a close friend. 

Never saw this one coming.

Text included a photo. A local listing photo. An OMG local listing photo.

My friend is a real estate agent and someone in her office found this photo on Zillow.

 

The photo was quickly deleted, but not before it was saved. That is what happens on the internet.

Remember, when you post something it is forever.

 

You've seen listing photos with the agent caught in the mirror.

Sure, we see those all the time.

 

What I haven't seen before, in a listing photo, is a person in the mirror with nothing on from the waist down.

Donald Duck and Winnie the Pooh style...

nothing but a shirt.

 

Female...in all her glory.

I told you it was an OMG  photo.

 

The house is listed fsbo so I assume it is the owner in the picture.

I mean, she didn't hire a real estate agent so she probably didn't hire a photographer either. 

 

Maybe you can save a lot of money if you hire a pantsless photographer???

God, I hope not. Just how badly do you want to save money?

 

I have to believe it is the seller, caught with her pants down. Literally.

 

My friend said this is a good example of the importance of hiring a real estate agent.

It is...but there are some pretty bad agents out there based on mls photos I see.

 

How about this being a good example of the importance of hiring a professional photographer!

 

For those of you who don't use a professional photographer...

One very important question to ask yourself

BEFORE

photographing your listings:

 

Comments(73)

Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Sharon Tara ,

OMG..I had to laugh..what was this seller thinking? Its crazy what some will do to save a dollar. I've seen some horrific pictures of homes on the market but never have I seen a naked person in a mirror!! I turned over the photographing of my listings to a professional a long time ago..one thing off my plate and done by a pro and always done well!!

Apr 11, 2019 04:45 AM
Ron Barnes
Associate Broker at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Georgia Properties - Jasper, GA
"Most agents claim they're #1 - I THINK YOU'RE #1!

Every time I say I've seen it all in this business, someone proves me wrong!

Apr 11, 2019 05:22 AM
Tom Bailey
Margaret Rudd & Associates Inc. - Oak Island, NC

I ALWAYS HIRE A PROFESSIONAL! The only time I do my own are when listing lots.

Apr 11, 2019 09:02 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

This is beyond funny. Like you, I don't think I could attend the open house with a straight face.

Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573's comment reminded me of a very obese woman I knew who raised dogs. She also wanted to cut down on laundry, so made it a habit to clean the outdoor kennels wearing nothing but rubber boots. She said she nearly scared the UPS man to death.

Apr 11, 2019 10:29 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Carolyn Roland-Historic Homes For Sale In Delaware and S. Chester County PA  Not ideal at all...humiliating to say the least.

LLoyd Nichols  As listing photos go, the pictures are good. Yes, it does appear to be well staged...clean, neat, uncluttered. The staging of the bathroom, however, not so much. Nude in the mirror is not a staging technique I would recommend. LOL

Tammy Lankford,  Good for you! I give you credit for doing what you have to do to achieve the best results in your marketing!

Laura Cerrano  I hope in this case...that pic doesn't ever see the light of day again.

Lottie Kendall  Oh that had to be interesting! I would like to hear more about that experience! Maybe when you write your tell all book?

 

Apr 11, 2019 11:56 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Sham Reddy  It's not something I care to ever see again. I believe it was not intentional, otherwise it would still be there.

Dorie Dillard CRS GRI ABR  Pretty funny....one of those OMG shocking moments you aren't expecting. Yes, hiring professionals is well worth the investment.

 

  Ron Barnes  For sure...there is plenty of crazy to go around in this business.

Tom Bailey  Makes sense to me. I have seen great pics taken by agents...it certainly can be done...but hiring a professional is always a wise choice.

Marte Cliff  Now there is a visual I would rather not have. LOL

I would think the UPS guy never returned after that.

Apr 11, 2019 12:00 PM
Marte Cliff

I "met" her over the phone when she was planning a move to our area, so had just envisioned an ordinarly sized person. When I met her in person (looking a bit like the woman on the new Gillette ad) I was shocked!

Apr 11, 2019 04:20 PM
Ginger Harper
Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage~ Ginger Harper Real Estate Team - Southport, NC
Your Southport~Oak Island Agent~Brunswick County!

 

We have a professional on staff...

Apr 11, 2019 12:42 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Ginger Harper  Always the best way to go!

Apr 11, 2019 01:25 PM
Debra Leisek
Bay Realty,Inc Homer Alaska - Homer, AK

I do take a lot of my own photos but I am always fully dressed!!!

We have seen some wild things over the years on listings!!

Apr 11, 2019 05:35 PM
Anonymous
Rose O'ReillyHS,SD

I bet she got a lot of male "buyers" showing up at her house. Crazy, but funny. Can't beat a professional photographer.

Apr 11, 2019 09:12 PM
#61
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Debra Leisek  Well I'm glad you keep your clothes on. LOL

Listing photos never disappoint when you are looking for crazy pics.

Apr 12, 2019 07:01 AM
Kathi Heern
Heern Properties - Saint Louis, MO
Doing HOMEwork for you, so you don't have to.

Oh Wow, you definitely have to watch those mirrors!  And a professional photographer does make a world of difference.  As with staging they pay for themselves & even more.  

Apr 12, 2019 08:24 AM
Michelle Francis
Tim Francis Realty LLC - Atlanta, GA
Realtor, Buckhead Atlanta Homes for Sale & Lease

Sharon Tara!

I've seen lots of bad photos, but how in the heck did even a FSBO upload that. 

When I get photos - I go through and delete bad ones.  That would a VERY OBVIOUS delete. 

Happy I hire a great photographer, but even when I did take some pictures - I kept myself out of the pictures. 

Silly FSBO!

All the best, Michelle

Apr 14, 2019 04:43 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Kathi Heern  Mirrors can be very tricky. Yes, well worth the investment of hiring a professional.

Michelle Francis  For the life of me I can't imagine letting that one slip by.  I would like to think it was a lesson not to make the same mistake ever again...maybe wear pants next time they shoot pics. 

Apr 15, 2019 12:34 PM
Ricardo Mello
Manhattan Miami Real Estate - Manhattan, NY
Manhattan & Miami Real Estate Agent

Great tips Sharon!

Apr 15, 2019 01:12 PM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Most of the staging professionals in Washington shoot in the nude. My wife won't let me use a stager anymore  Sharon Tara 

Apr 15, 2019 05:35 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Ricardo Mello  Thank you!

Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS  You have some very interesting stagers in Washington. LOL

I think you would be ok if your wife chose the stager. LOL

Apr 16, 2019 09:38 AM
John Dotson
Preferred Properties of Highlands, Inc. - Highlands, NC - Highlands, NC
The experience to get you to the other side!

Sometimes, good judgement falls by the wayside!

Apr 17, 2019 12:51 PM
John Dotson
Preferred Properties of Highlands, Inc. - Highlands, NC - Highlands, NC
The experience to get you to the other side!

Adds a whole new meaning to For Sale By Owner

Apr 17, 2019 12:54 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

John Dotson  Good judgment was not in play here, for sure! LOL

Apr 17, 2019 01:04 PM