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More MLS Madness! Do They LOOK At The Photos With BUYERS EYES? I Get So Twisted!

By
Home Stager with Looking Fine by Redesign, LLC

Several months ago, I signed up to receive "listing alerts" when a new home in my area is listed on the MLS.  I set aside a couple of hours each week to look at the internet photos, and send out an email to the Realtors if the property looks like it could use some staging.  I'm sure this is something that a lot of us do.  I know that ALL of the MLS photos won't be perfect, but I get so upset, and quite frankly, a little TWISTED, that I just stare at my computer screen in DISBELIEF!  Are Realtors AND Homeowners LOOKING at these photos with BUYER'S EYES?  From what you see in so many of these photos, I would have to say NO!

It amazes me that something so obvious is being overlooked by so many!  I know, I know!  Obvious to a professional home stager, but not to the "un-objective" eye.  As a Realtor, why on earth would you think for one minute that creative property descriptions will bring a herd of buyers DESPITE a horrible FIRST IMPRESSION?  For that matter even a handful!  As a Homeowner, why on earth would you think that a perfect stranger, a buyer, is going to beat your door down, and fall in love with a dark, dated, cluttered room?  Or your lovely purple window sheers?  Then there are those "updated" and "move in ready" vacant homes!  You know the ones with blank white walls, and the sterile space that has absolutely no defining features.

I recently came across some statistics that show an increase of buyers looking on the internet for their next home.  It is now estimated that 87% of these consumers are looking for their dream house on line.  This is just one reason why we must keeping moving forward in our crusade to make home staging an industry standard. 

I know this is an ongoing problem for all of us.  I also know that staging is making a "mark" in the industry.  I just get really frustrated when I look at these horrible representations of a property that has so much potential.  So my plea to Realtors, Brokers, Homeowners, Builders, Investors, FSBO, or ANYBODY selling a home, PLEASE understand that INTERNET PRESENCE is critical when marketing a home for sale! 

I will continue my quest to save the world through my God given staging talent, and hopefully one day these icky photos will become a distant memory.  Please forgive my ranting and raving! :-)  I have included a few samples of "updated, cheerful, move-in ready, light and bright"  MLS photos for the Cleveland, OH area.  Let me say in advance that if any of these are your listing, I don't mean any disrespect, but PLEASE call me....I CAN HELP!

Teresa

 

                

 

               

 

If you need a Professional Home Staging Consultant to help prepare your home for sale, or a Realtor who has "difficult" properties to market in the Cleveland/North Olmsted, OH area, call  Looking Fine by Redesign, LLC.  "Let's get it SOLD...Together!"

E-Mail:  teresa@Lookingfinebyredesign.com

Teresa Mills Schremm, Staging Consultant  Phone:  440-655-5831

www.Lookingfinebyredesign.com

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Comments (34)

Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

The never ending parade of terrible MLS photos is alive and well in NH.  I just don't understand.

Aug 06, 2008 11:03 AM
Teresa Mills Schremm
Looking Fine by Redesign, LLC - North Olmsted, OH
Online Home Staging - Coast to Coast, ASHSR

Sharon, This seems to be a widespread epidemic!  I don't sell real estate, but certainly can help those people who do.  I can't imagine what goes through the listing agent's mind when they post these horrible photos.  I can understand not wanting to offend a client, but the reality is by not being honest about the presentation of the home...it is a "lose-lose" situation.  I guess we keep on yelling from the proverbial roof tops! :-)  Thanks for commenting.

Aug 07, 2008 09:32 AM
Teresa Meyer
Cincinnati Home Stager - Cincinnati, OH
Home Staging Cincinnati-OH.

Teresa: This is a great blog!  I feel your frustration too!  We have our fair share here as well! I actually keep my own folder of bad mls photos and staging. Seeing the humor in it keeps me sane...LOL!    Can I play too??

For your viewing pleasure from my personal stash:

Couldn't even get out of the car!....geez!

 What the heck.....a self portrait beside the bed?   CALL ME NOW!

I'm not feeling the card table....are you? (Oh...and if you look to the right, you'll see the white dog tail!)

 

Aug 07, 2008 10:26 AM
Kristina Leone
Lionheart Home Staging, LLC - Minneapolis, MN

These examples are why a good stager is worth their weight in gold!

Aug 07, 2008 11:02 AM
Teresa Mills Schremm
Looking Fine by Redesign, LLC - North Olmsted, OH
Online Home Staging - Coast to Coast, ASHSR

Teresa, Oh, My....these are too funny!  Love the windshield sticker!  Love the doggie tail!  Don't care much for the self-portrait approach!  The red tablecloth (drop cloth...sheet whatever) isn't working for me!  The card table....hhhmmmmm  nope! 

Kristina, Gold, diamonds, rubies, etc.....!!!!!  You nailed it!  :-)

Teresa

Aug 07, 2008 01:17 PM
Tori Lynn Wallitsch
Prudential Ambassador / Ross Designs, LLC - Omaha, NE

Keep going, girl!  I agree with your "rant".  It drives me insane to see such HORRIBLE photos and I am totally with you -- do agents and sellers REALLY think that a beautiful, written description of a home will overide what consumers see in a photo on line??????

Aug 07, 2008 02:28 PM
Teresa Mills Schremm
Looking Fine by Redesign, LLC - North Olmsted, OH
Online Home Staging - Coast to Coast, ASHSR

Tori Lynn, It is soooo frustrating!  The housing market is horrible right now in most parts of the country, and we can help!  That is the message I think we all want to convey.  Thanks for commenting!  :-)

Teresa

Aug 09, 2008 03:35 AM
Michelle Molinari
FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor - Lafayette, LA
Feature This Real, Estate Staging & Curb Appeal Concepts

I saw one last night that was horrific. Dirty ashtray in the foreground on the kitchen countertop, rubbermaid trash can in the corner of the cabinetry, and dirty dishes in the sink. It was so obvious, my stepfather even looked at it and said  "ewww", and he smokes 2 packs a day!

~Michelle

Aug 09, 2008 04:37 PM
Ana Hitzel
AccentPositives Home Staging - Corona, CA
Professional Home Stager Inland Empire

Theresa, I do the same thing too!  Here are some gems listed by an office that has called me price hunting on more than on ocassion.  The property is listed for 899,000.

 

How many TVs and throws can you cram into one picture?  Ohh there's more!

Aug 10, 2008 07:16 AM
Karla Davis
Florida Home Staging & Redesign, Inc. - Orlando, FL
Orlando Home Staging Firm

Gotta love the kitchen photo with the updated kitchen but dated appliances. LOL. It's sad that the living room photo could even be changed dramatically if those purple sheers came down! A zero dollar investment! Perhaps one might focus on the fireplace and not the purple.

Hopefully you get some work from this! :)

Aug 11, 2008 02:33 AM
Anne Vigneri
CASA VERO Staging & Redesign - Albuquerque, CA
Serving the Mariposa California

Well,,, I just blogged about this very subject,,, oops !,, I should have done a little more reading first!..  I will read some more and hopefully get a better handle on the current topics before I blather on about rather redundant topic !

I hate to think it.. but maybe these pix represent STAGING ??? ..  So now comes the question,, What is the approach to the Realtor ??.. I tried emailing a few agents with the sublte suggestion that their winderful listings could really benefit from staging .. with no response.. 

 

Aug 11, 2008 08:10 AM
Teresa Mills Schremm
Looking Fine by Redesign, LLC - North Olmsted, OH
Online Home Staging - Coast to Coast, ASHSR

Michelle, A dirty ashtray...dirty dishes!  Oh no! ..  And I can't stand trashcans in photos!  I ALWAYS tell my clients to hide them during showings!  EEWWW!

Ana, What buyer is going to look at these photos and think .."hhmmm $899K...I'll take it!"  The photos of this home do NOT look remotely close to nearly a million bucks!  I think the broker/agent needs to stop price hunting...and hire you!  They need your help!!!

Karla, You're so right....even with minor changes this home would show SSOOOO much better!  I have no idea what they are thinking!

Anne, I think you may be right....the photos posted by Ana give me the impression of a staging "ATTEMPT."   An unsuccessful attempt!

Thank you all for commenting.  Hopefully our message will finally hit home with these people!

Teresa

 

Aug 11, 2008 10:01 AM
Robyn Guinn
StageAZ - Phoenix, AZ
Home staging, Arizona

Gezzzzz, LOL!  I'm going to do some more local photograph checking myself.  I usually just click right through them like I think most buyers would. Sounds like a fun time and I could use a good laugh!  Job security I guess! 

Robyn

Aug 11, 2008 01:53 PM
Dee Vaughn
Redesign with Dee - Sierra Vista, AZ

Teresa,

You are soo funny. I love your passion and intensity. I g these Realtors feel as if they have plenty of listings and nothing is selling like it use to so, oh well it will sell when it sells. Doesn't make sence  but we all see it day in and day out. All it takes is simple changes.

I have never emailed a Realtor about their listings or a particular home. How has that worked for you?

Aug 12, 2008 02:28 AM
Teresa Mills Schremm
Looking Fine by Redesign, LLC - North Olmsted, OH
Online Home Staging - Coast to Coast, ASHSR

Robyn,  You will definitely find some "doozies" if you click through some of the MLS photos.  They do make for some laughs, but isn't it sad that buyers are viewing these same photos!

Dee, Thank you!  You may be right....it seems there is a mentality that says "more is better."  Emailing the listing agent and then a follow up call may work for you, but in my experience, it won't bring in enough business to go on a cruise with!!!  :-)

Teresa

Aug 12, 2008 11:16 AM
Toronto's 2 Hounds Design: Decorating + Staging
2 Hounds Design + Home Staging - Toronto, ON

LOL, I love looking at some of these shots.

A realtor for a listing of mine had a 'professional' take photos after I staged. GUFFAW!!! The photos were severly out of focus, stretched beyond comprehension (what is that all about?!) and showcased the popcorn ceilings rather than the top of the line hardwood flooring!

The Realtor said she paid a lot of money for the photographer and claimed she'd gotten a lot of complements from other agents in the office.

LMAO. The truth came out...the realtor did not pay the photographer so now he's taking legal action.

BTW, I went in, gratis and took new photos when the Realtor REFUSED to take new ones for the owner.

It takes all kinds.

Aug 12, 2008 12:26 PM
Susan Peters
Dove Realty Inc. - Seattle, WA
The Better it Looks the Better it Sells

Teresa,

My all time favorite bad MlS photo was a shot of the living with a perfect view of 2 dogs having sex from the picture window.

Aug 12, 2008 05:11 PM
Robert J. Russell
Robert J Russell Companies - Dallas, TX
IRES, ICREA, REBS, GMA, LAS, LUTCF

Thank you for those comments ! Good Information !!!

Robert J Russell - http://www.robertjrussell.com

Aug 13, 2008 12:47 AM
Teresa Mills Schremm
Looking Fine by Redesign, LLC - North Olmsted, OH
Online Home Staging - Coast to Coast, ASHSR

Dane, Wow!  Bad photos, lawsuits, and refusals!  I think you did a great thing by re-taking the photos for the owner.  It certainly wasn't their fault, and the horrible photos could have cost them big time!  Thanks for sharing.

Susan, Oh NO!  I think this one takes the cake!  Canine horizontal hula!  Yikes!

Mr. Russell,  We are a group of stagers who are truly passionate about what we do.  Although we include some humor on this topic, it is a very real problem that we see far too often.  Thank you for visiting.

Teresa

Aug 13, 2008 11:19 AM
Lisa Roy
SPACELiFT HOME STAGING, Greater Vancouver - Vancouver, BC

It is still about educating.  The higher we set the bar, hopefully the higher the expectations of home owners and the demand will grow!!!!  I am always frustrated by bad photos as well, I have no idea how a Realtor can endorse the bad photos and that they can feel they are doing the best they can for the client.  I realize that it is hard to convince some home owners to pay the money for staging but the Realtor has to really "believe" in the service in order to be convincing.  It is a win/ win situation for both the home owner and the realtor when a property is staged!

Aug 13, 2008 12:29 PM