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I Understand a Dark Horse...

By
Real Estate Agent with Jameson Sotheby's International Realty

...but a Dark House?

Here's another prize-winning MLS photograph.  Okay, I can understand that this photo might, and I say "might", be okay, if you only too the listing last night... and had the get the listing in the MLS immediately...

Go back the following day and retake the photo right?  I can understand that... but this listing has carried this same photo for the past 97 days!!!

It's a terrible photo... you can't see the house at all.  I'd be embarrassed if my daughter had taken it. It's a better photo of the BlancoBronco in the driveway, than of the house!

And then the "tantalizing description":

"Short Sale. 4 Br, 2Bath and 1 car garage home. very desirable XXX township. All disclosures will be provided by sellers, 100% Tax proration, only cash with prove of fund or preapproved buyers with certified check for earnet money. SOLD AS IS. 48 hours notice required for showing. Subject to leins holder's approval of price and terms."

Doesn't that sound appealing, and make it a house that you JUST have to see!?

You know, I understand that shore sales aren't a whole lot of fun.  And sometimes they don't amount to a whole lot of money.  But if you don't want the listing, and if you're not going to properly service the listing... then let someone else take it!!

I don't know... I think it just makes all of us look bad!

Posted by

 ALAN MAY, Realtor®   
Specializing in Evanston Real Estate and North Shore Real Estate

Jameson Sotheby's International Realty, 2934 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201
Office: 847.869.7300      Cell: 847.924.3313      Email: Almay@aol.com

Evanston Real Estate & North Shore Real Estate
Licensed in Illinois

   

Comments(11)

Jason Sardi
Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC
Your Agent for Life

Alan - *Yawn*  There's a house for sale?

Nov 22, 2008 03:00 AM
Melissa Breeland
Residential Mortgage of SC - Charleston, SC

You have inspired me to search our local MLS for the worst possible photo. I'm excited!

Nov 22, 2008 09:26 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Melissa, I'm sorry to hear that this excited you... you're probably a lot like me, and need to get our more, or find a hobby  :-)

Nov 22, 2008 09:30 AM
Steve Shatsky
Dallas, TX

Hi Alan... I see pictures like this, and yes, I agree they are not very effective, but I am always more interested in what must be an interesting story about why the agent thought posting this picture made some sort of sense!

Nov 22, 2008 09:37 AM
Jim Crawford
Long & Foster - Fredericksburg, VA
Jim Crawford Broker Associate Fredericksburg VA

I see these all the time in our MLS - I can hear the web consumer saying "What the hell is it?"

Nov 22, 2008 09:39 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

He could use a little proof-reading to check his description.  If you can't spell or write or punctuate, ask someone to help!  It's a terrible listing.

Nov 22, 2008 09:42 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Steve, I can't imagine that any "thought" went into it at all

Jim, you're right... I can hear the net-consumer wondering "wtf?"

Barbara... I wasn't even going to comment on the spelling, or errors.  I recently saw a description that said "unfinished basement, fall in"... I had no idea what they meant... but it was sure funny.

Nov 22, 2008 09:50 AM
Wayne Warshawsky
RE/MAX Four Corners - McKinney, TX
Realtor, ABR,IRES,CDPE,SFR Your Texas

Even a foreclosure needs a good picture.  The banks should drop this guy and come to me for better and more pics. :)

 

Nov 23, 2008 07:58 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Geeze!  that is going to be a very short sale.  But the sellers and the bank probably think they are getting a huge deal because the agent's charging them a very short brokerage fee.

Nov 24, 2008 12:24 AM
Not a real person
San Diego, CA

Remember that most, if not all, MLS's have restrictions about using the photos from other members and their listings, even if in an educational post such as yours here. At the very least, I believe you should make your post Members Only instead of Public.

Wanna lay odds that the car in the driveway belongs to the Realtor? LOL

Nov 24, 2008 05:10 PM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Wouldn't be surprised if it was their car.  I hadn't considered that.

Our MLS restricts the use of other members photos IN OTHER LISTINGS... but doesn't make any statement about other use, since they no longer take the photos.. the photo is taken by the Realtor (or assistant).

Nov 24, 2008 11:49 PM