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An Artists Imagination

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Ward County Notary Services 607851

The comic above is pretty far fetched but it made me think of the trick commonly seen on comedy shows and movies... painting the face of someone passed out drunk. I figured that there would be an abundance of pictures on the internet of people doing this. I was wrong BUT I did see some cool face paintings.

Of course I am going to tie this to Real Estate. With all the art programs out there like Adobe, Print Master, Photoshop & many more we really don't know if what we are seeing is real. Until we get to the physical address of a home we may not know the true condition of the paint, the roof, or even if that beautiful Willow in the yard is actually there. And then there is the interior! With virtual staging that room that is presented as an office space may be a 4 X 4 closet. I wish this trend could be better regulated. I'd like to see fines for deceptive presentation photos... What say you?

Posted by

Michael Elliott
Fathom Realty - Burlington Township, NJ
Burlington, New Jersey Residential Sales

Especially with vacant homes and AI Staging.  It is deceitful, and not cool.  Great post.

Sep 06, 2024 02:16 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Thank you Michael Elliott , once again we are on the same page (as usual). 

Sep 06, 2024 06:14 AM
Patricia Feager, ABR,CRS,GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Bob "RealMan" Timm - Great points and thoughts to ponder! Here in Texas, it's up to us to file a complaint or call the Broker. The problem is many agents are afraid to file a complaint in fear of retaliation and unfortunately, bad advertising looks bad for all of us. Consumers are not amused and their agents are embarrassed because the property did not show as it was advertised.

Once I left gentle but firm comments about the condition of the a property for the Agent to read, specifically stating, The buyer is not interested because these are comments the buyer shared:  Then I listed what the buyer told me.

That Agent, who I knew tore into me like I was a bad kid in school who needed to be slapped around by a very bad Teacher. I also knew the Bully and we shared the same office/Broker. Agent had a lot of influence over other agents in the community and a TOP PRODUCER. Broker (who I left for another Broker) did not want agents complaining about her agents. For that reason, I didn't elevate it because here in TX where we are a carry-on state, I used to work nights, sometimes even after midnight and that bully was often there at the same time. I feared the worse.  For me, it wasn't worth it. That agent never showed another property of mine and I really didn't care.  

Sep 06, 2024 03:54 AM
Kat Palmiotti

That's terrible, Patricia Feager, ABR,CRS,GRI,MRP . There's no room for bullies in our lives!

Sep 06, 2024 05:34 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

It's to bad the agent was not corrected by the Broker BUT I've known several Brokers like that. "He who sells the most is right" is the attitude of many Brokers Patricia Feager, ABR,CRS,GRI,MRP 

Sep 06, 2024 06:19 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I think if a home is virtually staged in photos, there needs to be a statement that says they are virtually staged. Now, changing things in photos like removing a power line, fixing a broken roof, etc. should not be allowed at all.

Sep 06, 2024 05:35 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

I feel the exact same way Kat Palmiotti .

Sep 06, 2024 06:20 AM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Bob. Photo editing now further aided by the progress of AI can be alarming. Truth has seemingly passed us by. Time to bring it back and punish those that skirt it. Enjoy your day. 

Sep 06, 2024 05:38 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

I agree Wayne Martin and if fines were enforced we would see a drastic change for the better.

Sep 06, 2024 06:22 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Hi Bob... I use virtual staging frequently for vacant properties and sometimes to "restage" a room to show versatility in use... I've never had a complaint from an agent or buyer that the staging misrepresented the home. Additionally, I provide a detailed floor plan with room dimensions, so no one can say I showed an office in a 4x4 foot room and mark all virtually staged photos as being virtually stage.

Sep 06, 2024 05:44 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

I really like the idea of showing room dimensions Nina Hollander, Broker so there is no misunderstandings of room size. On the point of virtual staging I think it is important for the Buyers and their agents to know the home is virtually staged. The two problems I've experienced is Buyers wondering if they can purchase some of the furniture and Buyers having the perception that the home has been on the market longer than the MLS shows because the listing date is less than a week old yet all the furniture has been moved out and the carpets are clean. Either way, if virtual staging is not mention they feel deceived and lost interest because they felt "tricked". The key here is disclosing that the photos are virtually staged.

Sep 06, 2024 06:31 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker

Bob "RealMan" Timm our MLS allows virtually staged photographs so long as they are identified as such.

Sep 06, 2024 06:47 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

 

Unfortunately "deception" seems to be the way of the world these days, Bob "RealMan" Timm 

I do wish there were fines associated with real estate deception in marketing.  

Sep 06, 2024 04:52 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

You and me both Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist .

Sep 07, 2024 11:38 AM