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How to Sell a Louisville Home - Tease them with Photos

By Erik Hitzelberger

Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Alliance - Louisville REALTOR-Luxury Homes

August 24, 2009 04:52 PM

Give Buyers What They Want

Buyers love to look. Good photos satisfy this urge and make them want to see more. Poor photos and disturbing and may be a turn-off. Only having one photo says "the inside is a disaster." I have had multiple buyers (including my wife) refuse to go see homes that don't have photos.

Even if the house needs a little work, it is better to give prospective buyers an understanding of what they are getting than to surprise them when they step in the house. This serves no purpose other than wasting everyone's time including your own.

My Own Story

We recently decided to sell our home and purchase a new one. During the search process, we looked at hundreds of homes online. Unless the price was ridiculously low, we skipped every property that had no photos. We also discounted many that had few or poor quality photos. Like many buyers, I have neither the time nor the energy nor the desire to look at a home where the agent and home owner don't care enough to add decent photos.

Four Simple Rules

Your real estate agent must have a wide-angle lens or be willing to hire a professional to take photos.
Your agent must take as many pictures as possible and place them on the MLS.
Whenever possible, photos of neighborhood or nearby amenities should be included.
If you don't like the photos, be proactive and tell your agent to retake them.

Heritage Hills Golf Course Louisville Homes - Little Spring Farm

Louisville Homes - Lake Forest Louisville Homes - Owl Creek

This the 6th post in a 7-part series. For more, click the following links...

How to Sell a Louisville Home - Part 1 - Overview
How to Sell a Louisville Home - Part 2 - Why Price Matters
How to Sell a Louisville Home - Part 3 - Comparative Market Analysis
How to Sell a Louisville Home - Part 4 - Preparing your Home
How to Sell a Louisville Home - Part 5 - Paperwork

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Erik Hitzelberger is a licensed REALTOR with RE/MAX Alliance in Louisville. If you need a Louisville Real Estate agent please email me or call 502.921.3989.

I specialize in the following areas of the Metro Louisville Area: Prospect, Middletown, Jeffersontown (J-Town), Fern Creek, Okolona, Shepherdsville, Mt Washington, Hillview, Brooks and Pewee Valley. Click the following links to learn more about Louisville and Bullitt County Real Estate or to Search for Louisville Homes

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Bob Murphy

Keller Williams Realty Consultants - New Albany, IN

Erik, I couldn't agree more. A listing with no photos is probably worse then a listing with no photos. It amazes me how many agents will put really bad shots on a listing. I have seen even pictures of the agents foot as they were walking across the lawn of the house they were shooting. We all take accidental shots or plain bad shots from time to time. We just shouldn't put them on the listings. We should always preview the shot before loading to the net.

Aug 24, 2009 05:07 PM

Amy Jones Group

South East Valley - www.AmyJonesGroup.com - Chandler, AZ

4 Time BEST OF OUR VALLEY Winner

Living proof that a picture is worth a thousand words! One of the best thing an agent can do is wow potential buyers with great photos!

Aug 24, 2009 05:13 PM

Erik Hitzelberger

RE/MAX Alliance - Louisville REALTOR-Luxury Homes - Louisville, KY

Louisville - Middletown Real Estate

Bob - I am stunnned by the foot shot. It takes effort to get the photo from the camera to the MLS. That aside, you are correct about bad, accidental shots. I take 100 or so and though sort through to find the best 15. On a recent listing I got home and had to laugh all of my living room photos clearly showed a bright pink potty seat in the corner. Had to hop back in the car to take more.

Amy - From my personal experience as a buyer, I can tell you bad/missing photos are 100 times more frustrating as a consumer than as an agent. There really is no excuse.

Aug 24, 2009 05:21 PM

Bill Gassett

RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA

Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

The photos are usually the distinguishing factor on how many calls a home will receive. It is so important in Real Estate.

Aug 25, 2009 12:24 AM

Marcia Hawken

WILLIAM RAVEIS - Naples, FL

Naples Luxury Specialist

Bob, Oh, I agree! I have been able to market a listing that was just o.k. but with the right lighting and photo editing it came off looking fantastic. We had lots of showings and that is the name of the game. Thanks for the post

Aug 25, 2009 01:00 AM

JL Boney, III

Coldwell Banker - Columbia, SC

Columbia, SC Real Estate

Photos are always so important to give the buyers an idea of what the home for sale looks like. Our MLS just raised the number of photos we can post from 9 to 15 and I need to load more for my listings as a result.

Aug 25, 2009 06:19 AM

Bill - You are absolutely correct. This is the true first impression for buyers. If you lose their interest before they even schedule an appointment, it's over.

Marcia - Good job on your marketing and good luck with the property.

JL - Your MLS made the right decision. Buyers want more. I'm perpetually irritated that REALTOR.com only shows 4 unless you pay. Of all sites to withhold info.. Ugh.

Aug 25, 2009 03:23 PM

John Cannata

214-728-0449 http://TexasLoanGuy.com - Frisco, TX

Texas Home Mortgage - Purchase or Refinance

Erik - I think this is true if YOU are taking the pictures. You take some beautiful pics. On the other hand, I completely agree with you that you need to take some good photos and share them with a potential buyer. Good tip.

Aug 25, 2009 04:28 PM

John - Thanks! I enjoy photography although I only know the most rudimentary things. One of these days, I'd like to take a class and really learn how to do it correctly.

Aug 25, 2009 04:47 PM

My wife and sister-in-law took some classes (and spent money on some crazy camera that I am never allowed to use). Anyway, they really enjoyed it.

Aug 26, 2009 05:46 AM

Jim Frimmer

HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA

Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist

Is that a home or a Southern plantation? One doesn't necessarily need a wide angle lens if one has a marketing guru who can stitch standard pictures together to make a wide angle view. However, a wide angle lens is much easier. Fortunately, I now have one. It arrived on my birthday last month.

Aug 27, 2009 05:38 AM

Jim- Lol - It's a home and not even close to the most expensive in the neighborhood. Happy Birthday (belated) and congrats on the present.

Aug 27, 2009 05:10 PM

How to Sell a Louisville Home - Tease them with Photos

Give Buyers What They Want

My Own Story

Four Simple Rules

This the 6th post in a 7-part series. For more, click the following links...

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