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No Photo Per Seller-No Way

Reblogger Lora "Leah" Stern 914-772-4528
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956

A picture is worth a thousand words and with over 85% of all home buyers beginning their search online, if there's no photo they just will move on to the next listing.  Cindy Jones makes a great case for why every seller should agree to have multiple photos of their home for sale posted.  Buyers will not buy what they can't see - whether in Northern Virginia or Rockland County in New York.

If you're a seller, don't make the mistake of listing your home without posting photos.

Original content by Cindy Jones

No Photo Per Seller-No WayIn Northern Virginia our MLS system requires an agent upload at least an exterior photo of the property within 48 hours (excluding weekends & holidays).  Seems simple enough especially with either a digital camera or camera phone.  Yet there is also an option for sellers NOT to have an exterior photo of their home shown.

There have been thousands of articles written on the value of photos in helping entice buyers to your home.  Making sure your home has curb appeal with a well tended yard helps bring a buyer up the sidewalk to the front door.  Once inside finding a home where at minimum the dirty dishes are out of the sink and everyday clutter out of sight is essential.  So what does it say to a buyer when you don't even want an exterior photo of your home on the Internet?

We all understand privacy concerns but withholding an exterior photo of your home from the MLS isn't protecting your privacy.  Your address is front and center for a buyer to see.  With today's Internet technology all a buyer or their agent needs to do is head to their favorite on-line mapping tool and enter your address.  They can zoom to street level and in many major metropolitan areas they can see the front, side and rear of your home without leaving the comfort of their living room.  All you have done by no allowing your agent to take exterior photos is raise the question "what is wrong with this house?"

As an agent explaining the value of both exterior and interior photos to your clients should be one of the first things you do during a listing appointment.  There is plenty of data to support why photos are key in helping sell a home.  No photo per seller is hurting your client and impacting your bottom line as well.

No photo per seller...no way.

 

 

 

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If you are interested in learning more about the Northern Virginia Real Estate market including Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William Counties give Cindy Jones a call at 703-346-2213.  No hassle, no pressure just straight talk about the local real estate market from a no nonsense point of view.

 

Check out www.varealestatetalk.com and www.cjrealtygroup.com for more information.

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Lora "Leah" Stern - Your Rockland County, NY REALTOR of Choice - (914) 772-4528

Your Rockland County, NY Real Estate SpecialistLeah Stern Signature Photo

Lora "Leah" Stern
Real Estate Salesperson
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
(914) 772-4528 CELL
(845) 634-0400 OFFICE
(862) 345-2463 FAX

If I can assist you in any way with your real estate needs in Suffern, NY Rockland County or the surrounding areas, please feel free to contact me by phone at (914) 772-4528, email me at Leah.Stern@cbmoves.com or visit my website .

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1~Judi Barrett
Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK
BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK

I had one seller that absolutely forbid any photos of their home on the internet and they refused to have a sign on the property.  Needless to say, the home did not sell and they did not relist with anyone else.. Every once in a while they make contact and talk about putting it back on the market.

Aug 25, 2011 03:53 PM
Terri Poehler
Realtor - Coral Springs, FL
Coral Springs Real Estate Agent

It's an internet world. People don't want to read as much as they want to look at the pictures.

Aug 25, 2011 03:57 PM
Lora "Leah" Stern 914-772-4528
Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY
Real Estate Salesperson

Judi - If she does decide to relist, I hope that she agrees to photos and a for sale sign this go round.

Terri - Even if they do read, they want it supplemented with pictures.

Aug 25, 2011 04:03 PM
Daniel H. Fisher
www.FisherHermanRealty.com (704) 617-3544 - Charlotte, NC
MCRP - Charlotte Real Estate, NC or SC

Having professional photographs is an important / critical part of effectively marketing a property for sale.  Good descriptions and targeted marketing efforts along with correct pricing will get it sold.

Aug 25, 2011 04:04 PM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Excellent point about those photos, Leah. I was trying to make the decision to hire a professional photographer or buy a better camera for those listing photos.

Aug 25, 2011 04:20 PM
Ronald DiLalla
Century 21 Discovery DRE 01813824 - Anaheim, CA
No. Orange Cty Real Estate

Hi Lora, an absolute must and they should very clear....

Aug 25, 2011 04:21 PM
Kathy Clulow
Uxbridge, ON
Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results

Lorah - they must want everyone trapsing theough their home  ..... tire kickers sundy drivers they all love to tour homes for sale for something to do.

Aug 25, 2011 04:48 PM
Steve, Joel & Steve A. Chain
Chain Real Estate Investments & Mortgage, Steve & Joel Chain - Cottonwood, CA

Lora,

Great point; one MLS association we belong to will issue fines if no exterior photo is posted.

The Internet is certainly a visual medium.

Best,

Steve

Aug 25, 2011 05:38 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Leah,

Wow!! I hope there are very few sellers that would not insist on no pictures..there are no products that anyone would buy today without least a photo! If they do insist..they are not a serious seller and have way too high an opion of their privacy :).

Aug 26, 2011 01:31 AM
Suzanne McLaughlin
Sabinske & Associates, Inc. (Albertville, St. Michael) - Saint Michael, MN
Sabinske & Associates, Realtor

Leah, that is a new one.  I have never heard of that before.  Like Dorie, I would think twice before taking that listing.  I will comment on Cindy's post, too.

Meanwhile, I hope you won't be affected by Irene, and, if you are, that you and your large family are safe and sound on the other side!

Aug 27, 2011 11:01 AM
Lora "Leah" Stern 914-772-4528
Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY
Real Estate Salesperson

Daniel - I'm with you on that.

Jerry - A good camera with a wide angle lens will produce good photos.  I'd use the professional ones for the high end properties.

Aug 27, 2011 05:14 PM
Lora "Leah" Stern 914-772-4528
Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY
Real Estate Salesperson

Ronald - So true.

Kathy - They for sure are not what I'd term serious buyers.

Steve - Our MLS requires it too and will fine if a photo is not posted within 48 hours.

Dorie - If they really wanted it sold, they'd agree to pictures and I'd hope that most sellers would want photos.

Suzanne - Most of us would shy away from taking a listing like that.  And thanks for thinking for me.  Irene is slowly moving in but so far, we're not badly effected.  Hope it continues that way.

Aug 27, 2011 05:24 PM
Kristine Ginsberg
Elite Staging and Redesign, LLC - Short Hills, NJ
NJ Home Stager

Leah - whenever I don't see an MLS photo of the home's exterior I think - something must be wrong with the home - probably looks like a dump from the outside. It's like looking at a car online with photos of the interior, but none of the outside of the car - who's going to bother to call?!

Not to mention that MLS photos should be taken with a high quality camera when 90% of buyers are shopping online first. Small investment for something so important! Great blog and you make an excellent point!

Aug 28, 2011 03:32 PM
Lora "Leah" Stern 914-772-4528
Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY
Real Estate Salesperson

Kristine - Credit for the great blog goes to Cindy, though I fully agree with what she had to say.  Photos are so important expecially today when more than 90% of buyers start their serach on the internet.  No photos, then on to the NEXT!

Sep 03, 2011 02:31 PM