Back in the day, all of the MLS listings were updated in print. Several times per week, all of the new sheets would come out and the more organized agents would replace the old listing sheets with new listings and updated items, solds would be pulled, etc. Obviously the internet has changed all that and we now have instant information. People can search for homes in their pajamas, while laying in bed.
On the flip side, we can enter information and do much of our job in that same state.
With that said, I often marvel at the shoddy and lazy appearance of many of the listings that are posted. Starting with our own MLS site, many of the photos are poor quality and often do not show the true vision of the property. With a digital camera, where there is virtually no charge for the film, is it so difficult to take a little more time to shoot different angles, maybe include some good exterior shots and take the extra second or two to allow the lens to better focus? Why are there so many "rush jobs?" Do you think the client won't notice? Do you think the other agents won't notice?
A recent seminar I attended made a great suggestion for gaining advantage at a listing presentation. It was suggested to bring examples of your (assumed) wonderful skill at posting photos, virtual tours and videos on the major viewing areas. That includes the MLS, of course and also realtor.com, your company web site and your personal site. It was then suggested to bring examples of other listings that are posted at those same venues and demonstrate the vast difference. "How do you want your house represented?" would be the obvious question to ask.
For years, one of the strategies to close a buyer has been to show several similar homes on the same day. Among the group would be one that is priced much better than the competition. The goal, of course is to show that one of the homes is a better value, thus you should make an offer on that one. In essence, the overpriced homes helped to sell the well-priced house. Works like a charm.
I see this vast difference in photo quality and quantity as an advantage for better informed listing agents to sell their services. Even if many of your listings contain good quality photos, if just a few of them (maybe the sad mobile home or scrubby lot) are not to par, it is possible that your competition is using your bad examples to contrast themselves. Geez, if the presidential candidates take sound bytes and small events to compare their rival, do you really think our group would not do that?
Think again. It was a NAR speaker at a realtor.com seminar that suggested the tactic.
My advice is to take a day and review all of your current listings. Are the visuals as good as you could make them?
On every last one of them?
Did you put 100% effort?
Does your client deserve it?
You can bet that I constantly badger my agents to stay on top of it.
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