Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Sherry McNabb ,

It never ceases to amaze me when I see sub par photos in the MLS and marketing pieces that are so average. Sellers do not have to accept this level of marketing for their home. Asking those important questions about the level of marketing they will be doing when interviewing agents is paramount!

Jun 17, 2017 05:06 AM
Sherry McNabb
I agree 100% Dorie! Also, if you are like us, we are very competitive. That makes it pretty hard for us to see a listing close to home that doesn't have our sign outside when the listing agent has very obviously passed up so many marketeting opportunities on such a "golden egg."
Jun 17, 2017 08:00 AM
Nathan Gesner
American West Realty and Management - Cody, WY
Broker / Property Manager

Sherry McNabb I often wonder if these sellers even look at the marketing? I have seen million-dollar homes with on exterior photo and they've sat on the market for a year! It's also common to see expensive homes with descriptions that talk about the fantastic views but they don't even include pictures of the outside. Unbelievable.

Jun 17, 2017 05:57 AM
Sherry McNabb
Hi Nathan. I think most sellers do look at marketing, but only AFTER they are under contract. If they are not happy, it seems like they just ride it out until the contract expires if there are fees associated w/breaking the contract. Obviously some sellers just don't look at the marketing, perhaps because they are not tech savvy or just mistakenly believe that all agents are created equal!
Jun 17, 2017 07:52 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Sherry, I am always shocked to see the lack of quality photos on listings, at any price range.  Dark photos, and photos of furniture that does not convey.  

Jun 17, 2017 06:06 AM
Sherry McNabb
Joan, yes! I agree. I think EVERY home and EVERY client deserves great photographs, regardless of the price. Another issue I have seen is 6-8 photos of one room (even the same angle sometimes) and only 20 total pictures up. That always leaves me scratching my head wondering what the rest of the home looks like, are they hiding something, and what was the agent thinking? Yikes!
Jun 17, 2017 07:44 AM
Sandy Padula and Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Lend Smart Mortgage, Llc. - Carlsbad, CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

This is a good post and we need to approach our photographs just as one would when standing at the curb of a prospective home with a buyer. If no 'curb appeal', we have missed an opportunity that will be lost forever. Now the other side of the coin is perhaps the listing agent is trying to sell it themselves.

Jun 17, 2017 07:03 AM
Sherry McNabb
Thank you Sandy and Norm! This gorgeous home had so many missed opportunities, it just left me with a feeling of sinking disbelief. I suppose the listing agent could have been trying to sell their own home, but if I were selling my own home and put up pictures like that, I would probably fire myself! Haha.
Jun 17, 2017 07:29 AM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Sherry McNabb - Your questions are of genuine concern to me and many others too. Your sage advice is packed with powerful thought provoking ideas and incentives for a Seller to get their home sold. When it comes to Listing Agents, Sellers have choices. Seller's need to know their beautiful home could easily be passed over by savvy consumers who wouldn't give them the time of day to even look at their home if it doesn't look good in HAR and/or MLS.

Photos do matter and so do you. I would gladly refer others to you!

Jun 17, 2017 01:16 PM
Sherry McNabb

Patricia, thank you profoundly for such a wonderful complement. My husband and I would also be happy to refer others to a REALTOR® like you as well!  

Jun 17, 2017 04:19 PM
Roy Kelley
Realty Group Referrals - Gaithersburg, MD

This is excellent advice to share with prospective home sellers.

Jun 18, 2017 07:40 AM
Sherry McNabb

Thank you Roy!  We do have a professional camera for some community photos and photos for marketing but we try to leave the rest to the pros like you!  I always love viewing your photos.


 

Jun 18, 2017 10:17 AM