In searching on the MLS for listings for a buyer to look at a while back who were shopping within a fairly low budget to be on the lake I discovered several we had not seen and they had not picked out to look at on their saved search. I asked them why they had decided not to look at those homes and they said "well, they looked yucky"
One of those homes I had previously had listed when it sold a few years back and it was charming and anything but yucky. So I dug a little deeper to discover that the on line impression was pretty darn yucky. The following photos are screen shot taken my my IDX website of antoher agents listing in my local area. This listing is more than $150,000 and this is how it's represented to buyers:
The photos you see are the first 5 photos any buyer sees when looking at the presentation of this listing. I'm almost embarrassed that it's even on my website. Most buyers and even many agents it seems are confused by IDX and think everything on my site is my listing. Yeah, I wish I had hundreds of listing, but I don't.
So do these photos that were obviously snapped with a cell phone while the upright position make you want to come and see this lake house? No? Are you sure?
It used to be we listing agents needed to get that ONE great shot to put in the MLS book. That one great photo that would show "curb" appeal and make buyers want to see what was down that driveway and behind that door in the magazine ad and if an agent showed them our MLS book. Then we went on line with MLS and had to get 4 great shots. Generally of lake property two were outside and two inside.
This week I listed a property and I untilized all 45 photo spaces in my MLS. The photos there now are my own, tomorrow I will meet my professional photographer at the listing and he will get the real photos. Just just for kicks you can see mine now. My photos are there on April 10, 2015 and will be for about three more days. After that you will be looking at the professional photos.
I don't always hire a professional. I do take what I consider decent photos. Just to give you a little comparison from the ones above to photos I took for a listing that I will not hiring a professional to do... The listing to the left is the first 5 photos that buyers on line see on my listing located at:
222 N. Steel Bridge Road
Eatonton, GA 31024
Feel free to google the address and see for yourself. This listing is $58,000. It not on the water, but it does have deeded lake access. Are my photos better? If you were a seller which on line photo taker would you want?
This is one of my listings that I did hire the professional to photograph.
Did your mom ever tell you that you only get ONE chance to make a good first impression? Well for your home, 93.7% of the time that impression is not when I buyer drives by, has an agent show them your home or sees it in a print ad... but rather that first impression comes when they view your home on line. When a buyer looking in your price range views your home on line what do you want them to see? Dark blurry cell photos? Before you hire an agent to list your home please, do your self a favor and go check out their on line presence on their site, their company site, find their listing on zillow or trulia and see what YOUR first impression of those listings is and then ask yourself... is that the first impression I want potenial buyers to have of MY home when I sell?
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