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Are You Ready For The Photographer

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 311291

There are many stages and decisions when considering selling a home. I have spoken to many sellers over the years, and this process can be overwhelming.

After you decide to move (and I have had people take years), you need to know where you are going and what you must do to get your home on the market.

Now some people keep such an organized home they could move in a week's notice. That is NOT the case for the majority.

Decades of collecting, living, raising kids...you always find places to "hide" the stuff, especially when your home has unused rooms, lots of closets, an attic, a basement, or a garage. Yes, I have seen all those spaces filled up.

Here is a home where Martha Stewart did not live.

How do you get started? Good question. Glad you asked. 

If you are one of the people who have no idea where to begin, there is help for you. When talking to potential sellers, I can feel their needs. They always ask me how long it will take to sell the home. And I usually respond with how long it will take you to get it ready for sale. 

On my first sale over thirty years ago, the seller wanted to be fishing upstate New York in the summer. It was already the beginning of July.   When asked how long will it take to sell, I responded, "How long will it take you to get it ready for sale." Not pleased with my answer, he asked what do you mean. I said, " I cannot sell this home with orange shag wall to wall." 

He listened and had the home recarpeted to a neutral shade within a few days, and we put the house on the market. It sold that first week. 

Now things are a bit different. Back then, we only took exterior photos; there was no internet, and indeed not 50-60 or more pictures we use today to capture the home.

How do you get ready for the photographer?

Please tune in to my live radio show Sunday 6.18.22 at noon to get some answers.

Questions about selling your home

Call Margaret Rome

 

 

 

Posted by

Margaret Rome
HomeRome Realty
Broker/Owner/Realtor®

Baltimore, Maryland


Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Radio Host ALL ABOUT REAL ESTATE
Sundays 12 noon.

Author: Real Estate The Rome Way

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Show All Comments Sort:
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

And don't forget to take the dish towel off the stove.  Makes for a very ugly photo

Jun 20, 2022 11:52 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

Dishtowel off the stove, check! Thanks, Ed.

Jun 22, 2022 07:05 AM
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Cameras are meant to measure average lighting which does not show bright enough on phone or computer screens in MLS. Apparently professional photographer over expose to make darker room bright.  

Jun 20, 2022 12:04 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

Sam, The photo with the phone was just to prove it was NOT ready for photography

Jun 22, 2022 07:06 AM
Timothy Jones
Littleton, CO

Great response Margaret.  So many of us just directly to an answer (often pre-programmed) rather than continue to peel back the layers by asking great questions - thank you for that reminder!

Tim Jones

Jones Team Colorado | eXp Realty

yourhomesincolorado.com

Jun 20, 2022 12:12 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

Good to see you, Tim. Keep asking the right questions.

Jun 22, 2022 07:08 AM
Aura Alex
Seattle, WA
Retired Real Estate Pro

I had made a few good friends at 1-800-got-junk! They came in handy for the sellers who had trouble with "letting go." 

Jun 20, 2022 06:27 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

Aura, That is the kind of friends we need in this RE business.

Jun 22, 2022 07:08 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Great advice to put the question back on the Seller. It truly is so important to get those pictures just right.

Jun 20, 2022 08:35 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

Paula, We both know the importance of those photos.

Jun 22, 2022 07:09 AM
Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint-Idaho
Sandpoint Realty LLC - Sandpoint, ID
North Idaho Real Estate - 208-255.6227

Still in this market knowing where you are moving should be top of mind, not an afterthought   Good thoughts all.  M

Jun 21, 2022 03:19 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

Mark, It is surprising how people can put their homes on the market without knowing where they are going. 

Jun 22, 2022 07:19 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Prospective home sellers are in very good hands when they seek your professional real estate advice and assistance.

Jun 21, 2022 04:17 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

Thank you, Roy.

Jun 22, 2022 07:19 AM
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

Even in the hot market we've had over the past two years, top dollars come to those who get their house ready. Some people don't want to do everything needed and are find to get a lower offer. It all depends on the situation.

Jun 21, 2022 05:50 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

Carla, This is not the time to cut corners on readying a home for the market.

Jun 22, 2022 07:21 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573 This is such a good comment: " plan the marketing attack before lights, camera, action."

Jun 21, 2022 06:18 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Laura Cerrano Sometimes, the perfect vase of flowers will make the photo perfect!

Jun 21, 2022 06:19 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Matt Brady, We all know someone with OCD who could move easily. I, too, am smiling.

Jun 21, 2022 06:21 AM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Margaret,

I have been working with a client for 7 years helping him get his home ready for sale.  Between the remodeling, updating, and structural work, we just put his home on the market last week and I am working on an offer as I write this.  Of course this is at the far end of the spectrum!

Jun 21, 2022 07:34 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

Sheri, WOW after seven years, the list price must have certainly gone up! For sure this is the far end of the spectrum. 

Jun 22, 2022 07:30 AM
Ginger Harper
Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage~ Ginger Harper Real Estate Team - Southport, NC
Your Southport~Oak Island Agent~Brunswick County!

I think that the seller getting ready ad making sure that the house will be ready for pictures, surely should their motivation.

 

Jun 21, 2022 09:25 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

Ginger, Motivation in selling is shown with the degree and time of making it ready to show.

Jun 22, 2022 07:31 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Margaret - while reading your post, I am reminded of the play/movie Sunset Boulevard.  

Jun 22, 2022 05:38 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

Michael Jacobs, Please refresh my memory on Sunset Boulevard.

Jun 22, 2022 07:35 AM
Erik Hiss
Keller Williams Capital Partners Realty - Worthington, OH
You can trust me for all your real estate needs!

I always tell my clients if they are confused if they should remove something in their house to make it bigger that less is always more.

Jun 22, 2022 05:51 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Erik Hiss, In many cases this approach is successful.  Thanks for stopping by.

Jun 22, 2022 07:37 AM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

Everybody is different, getting the big things done can be easy, what is harder for people to go through all the things and papers they have accumulated over time. Of course the easiest thing is just to take it all out of the house and take it with you. 

Jun 23, 2022 02:19 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

And Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543, you know that is not what you should do! 🙃  

Jun 23, 2022 07:29 PM
Ricardo Mello
Manhattan Miami Real Estate - Manhattan, NY
Manhattan & Miami Real Estate Agent

Great post!

Jun 25, 2022 03:14 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Thanks for stopping by Ricardo Mello 

Jun 25, 2022 03:45 PM