I was discussing the role of listing photos with some office staff today. The point I was making is that photos have a key role in selling the home in this internet shopping age. Agents seem to labor under the impression that MLS photos are to show what a space looks like, like when you take photos for the insurance company. I argue that they are not for that at all, but instead that each image should be crafted to make the viewer want to "jump into the picture".
I've posted about horrible MLS photos before on my blog, so to illustrate my point I selected a random listing to examine the impact of MLS photos on the viewer. I'm going to look this afternoon at a listing in my own hometown that has been on the market for over 100 days. The price has just been reduced, and no doubt the homeowners are getting worried. Here's the main photo of this cute cape cod:
There's a house back there somewhere...
The interior photos are also blurry and inadequate:
I really like the minivan car seat in the nursery photo! The wood floors are completely ignored and the windows are overexposed. I get eyestrain from the living room photo...
One more - the "workshop":
This would be a "photograph of nothing" as I wrote a few posts ago. The garbage bags and furniture don't convey the sense of a cozy workshop that guys would be looking for.
Are these sellers getting their money's worth? Does this listing agent really want to sell their home? You be the judge, not me. Quality photographs are a must, not a luxury.
What do you mean that all agents are not all the same? Haven't you been to glamour shots and see all the Realtor head shots on the wall? Now, if we could get these same agents to put that much make-up on their listings before taking the photos for the MLS.
What is a shame that these agents call themselves "professionals." I don't give real estate advice to people -- even though I am the author of three (soon to be four) books about real estate investing. I am a professional photographer and a journalist/author. Yet agents that buy a digital camera are sudden experts on photography. I've been selling my photographs since I was 14 years old, and I am STILL learning how to make better images. I
I don't understand how a "professional" agent can be a GREAT agent and a GREAT photographer at the same time...of course there are exceptions...but as you point out here...not all Realtors are the same. It's a shame the sellers are being hurt so much by an agent that doesn't realize a weakness in their marketing toolls...and could call in a professional photographer to help get this property sold. I can't believe what is being created and passed off as marketing photos.
Seems like the blurry pictures are the new trend to hide the unwanted objects :)
Have A Great Weekend Jeff...
I don't know, for the life of me, why agents keep taking their own photos. Maybe 1 out of every 10,000 agents actually has the talent and the equiptment to take great photos. Great photos are the key to great marketing.
There's no excuse for this. It's a disservice to the client and the industry in general!