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Did "YOU" ever look at the pictures you took on MLS?

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Ft Myers & The Islands

OMG   Yesterday as I searched for properties to send to a buyer prospect . I couldn't believe what I was looking at. Most of the pictures agents took and put on MLS were horrible, no wonder agents aren't showing your listings. 

Picture taking 101 teaches us to take a look at what you are posting.  I can't tell you how many kitchens were so cluttered I could hardly distinquish what room it was.  Refrigerator after refrigerator were coverd in magnets and rooms had so many fake plastic flowers, fireplaces mantels were hard to see.

Agents need to learn that.....you just don't go in, price it, get a contract and walk out hoping someone will want to buy it.

Our job is  to tell the seller what they need to do to help get their home SOLD....Most sellers have no idea that they way they are living in their home is not the way we need to get it ready to sell in.

I am always am honest about what I see.  After taking a photo, I share it with them.,  When the kitchen counter is so cluttered  I then ask them to remove the items and then reshoot, they are amazed at the difference it makes. It is our job to walk around with them and give them our professional opinion on what must be done.  We know which homes sell....

Don't you select the homes on MLS that look good?  I know you do.  Take a look at this photo befeore and after. Pretty messy huh!

Ok, now look after they decluttered this room.  Which one would you want to show?

You don't have to be a Home Stager to get them to do this.  Pictures can say a thousand words.  I always find the sellers are so excited with what they did they can't wait for me to come back and re shoot....

So here is my advice..Take a really good look at how the home is presenting itself.  Don't be afraid to tell the seller what you see and what they need to do to sell.  They do want to sell...right. Look at this home as a buyer, you will the difference you can make.

Posted by

AJ Fischer CRS,ABR,GRI,PMN,ASP          

 

Associate Broker Realtor

Accredited Home Stager

 Real estate  Coach for CKG International Mastery

Keller Williams Leaders Realty

www.lakecountyhomesforsale.com

www.ajf45@aol.com

      

Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Great point AJ, and a great pair of "Before and After" photos.

Yesterday I was surfing the MLS, and it was positively depressing.  Toilet seats up, dirty dishes on the stove, and cluttered rooms like your example photo.

The majority of Buyers are on the Internet, looking at Photos of houses.    Clean it up, light it up, consider staging it - do whatever it takes to get quality photographs.

Apr 23, 2011 04:43 AM
Kathy Denworth
BHHS Keys Real Estate - Islamorada, FL
Realtor in the Florida Keys, Islamorada, Key Largo

Gee, I never thought of taking photos and show it to them and then take new photos. It is a great idea. I will try it on the next messy house I list. Thanks for the post.

Apr 23, 2011 04:45 AM
Dennis Olson
West USA Homes - Peoria, AZ

AJ, That was a good post. I like the before and after picture idea. What a difference in the comparison you showed.

Apr 23, 2011 04:51 AM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

I always tell my clients to take a "before" photo of the rooms and look at what's catching their eye. If they can't identify the space, it looks to cluttered or unbalanced, then go back and edit with the recommendations I leave for them. Pictures speak a thousand words!

Apr 23, 2011 06:51 AM
Janet Jones
Just Your Style Interiors, LLC - Kihei, HI
Home Staging, Interior Redesign Kihei, Maui, Hawaii

AJ--nice post and what a great reminder.  I call those horrible photos you refer to as "click off" photos, because the buyer clicks off that listing and moves on to another one. 

Apr 24, 2011 02:10 PM