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You Have Less Than Five Seconds To Sell Your House

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Flagship

            

 

You have less than five seconds to sell your house.  I bet that got your attention.  By the time you read the title, that is how fast you have to sell your home. Yup, less than five seconds.  Why? Because if a buyer is looking for a home on the internet and your pictures don't excite him, he moves on without even reading about the wonderful details of the house.  Worse yet, if there are no pictures, pictures of only the exterior or only the community it translates to the buyers that the house is UGLY! Knowing that, it amazes me when I look through the multiple listing service to see some of the big no-no's of picture taking 101. Here are some of the top (and sometimes common) offenders:

  • Front lawn not mowed and hunks of junk cars in the driveway (lots of people have them, but hide 'em on picture day)
  • Storm door opened half way
  • No lights on and blinds closed
  • Dirty dishes in the sink
  • There are 17 loaves of bread, the crock pot, the coffee pot, the espresso machine, the wok, the toaster, the blender, the juicer and a case of beer on the countertop
  • The fridge has everyone of the kids colored pictures since they were three years old (they are 27 now)
  • Beds not made (that's my favorite)
  • Toilet seats up
  • Undies on the floor - yup... seen it!
  • Make up, shaving cream, gel, finishing mudd, oil treatment, mousse, hair fattener, curl cream, pomade and hairy brush on the bathroom sink.

You get the idea.  Your home should be in absolute show condition when you are putting it on the market to sell.  When you decide to sell your home, like most of us, there will be some de-cluttering and staging to do before photo day. When you decide to sell your home, make sure your agent is either a photographer or she hires a professional one.  The pictures will help you sell your house or if not done well, will help your competition sell theirs. Live well and get great photos! If you found this post valuable, please share it! Thanks so much! 

Diane

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Also, please visit our website TDGMoves.com as well.  Here you will find helpful information about buying, selling or investing in a home in and around Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, MD.

Live Well,

Diane Donnelly

Dan Tabit
Keller Williams Bellevue - Sammamish, WA

Diane, Great attention grabbing headline and true.  I was just looking at some listings online for a new buyer and a great looking house had terrible pictures.  Clutter, debris inside and it was listed by the owner, a licensed agent!

Feb 18, 2013 08:56 AM
Diane Donnelly
Keller Williams Flagship - Annapolis, MD
Anne Arundel County, MD Real Estate

Thanks Dan! I appreciate the feedback.  I learned early on how important pictures were.  One of my first listings included a gorgeous Golden Retriever doing his business in the yard only to have the seller see it before I did.  Not good! But thankfully, the seller laughed as hard as I did!

Feb 18, 2013 08:59 AM
Hella Mitschke Rothwell
(831) 626-4000 - Honolulu, HI
Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker

Diane: So true. And sometimes just adding something cutesy like some picket fencing in the front yard, some hanging flower pots, new color on the front door, blinds open and photos taken at dusk, all helps. Inside? Start cleaning up the kitchen and take off all the stuff on the fridge and, yes, clean the inside of the fridge. Next clean bathrooms. These are two areas where photos really show clutter and grime.

Feb 18, 2013 09:15 AM
Diane Donnelly
Keller Williams Flagship - Annapolis, MD
Anne Arundel County, MD Real Estate

Thanks for the feedback Hella! Ya know, I was showing a property tonight and realized how important it is to have the stair stringers caulked properly.  Buyers see that as a maintenance issue.  

Feb 18, 2013 10:17 AM
John G. Johnston
John G. Johnston & Associates, LLC - Westcliffe, CO
An Exclusive Buyer's Agent ~ Westcliffe, CO

Diane  So many times I have skipped the pics because the clutter would turn off buyers.  (I'm not a listing agent but have taken pics for potential buyers.)  Great blog and thanks for sharing

Feb 23, 2013 05:56 AM
John G. Johnston
John G. Johnston & Associates, LLC - Westcliffe, CO
An Exclusive Buyer's Agent ~ Westcliffe, CO

Suggested also

Feb 23, 2013 05:57 AM
Diane Donnelly
Keller Williams Flagship - Annapolis, MD
Anne Arundel County, MD Real Estate

Hi John! Thanks so much for the feedback.  Yes, there are some houses where you have to scratch your head and wonder....  did you know someone put this house on the market? Ha!

Thank you so much for the suggestion! That's my first ever! 

Diane

Feb 23, 2013 06:03 AM