One look at typical MLS photos tells you that some agents missed Basic 101.
It's 102 that tells you about arranging furniture, or adding color. It's 102 that tells you to time your photos to when the sun is shining on the house.
Basic 101 says - remove the garbage or shoot around it. Pick up the dirty clothes. Take the stuff off the kitchen and bathroom counters. Move the garbage can from the end of the driveway. Pick up the fallen branches or rusty bicycles on the walkway. Put the lids down on the toilets.
Do we really want to advertise the worst side of a home? Do we want them to imagine the house with all these things in it?
The sellers hired us to market their home. Marketing is more than putting something in the MLS, more than writing enhancing remarks. It's more than submitting ads and printing flyers. Let's start with the basics. Pick up, clean up.
Do it yourself, make the sellers do it, hire someone to do it. I don't care. What I do care about is how you present this property to the world of buyers. That's part of what they hire you for, part of why you get the big bucks. If you're not willing to do this, then pass on the listing. Life is all about choices. ...and Responsibilities.
Missy - that does bear repeating!
Pam - In areas like Fairfield Glade that must really give you an advantage when you show your property photos in contract to other property photos.
Randy - Adding camera to phones did a great disservice to our industry. As to the kitchens you mentioned, are they that cluttered in order to disguise burned Formica counters?
Hi Sharon,
Your point is well taken. In an ever changing market, we all learn that we can't keep doing the same old thing and expect new results. Yes, it used to be different (dare I say easier) to sell homes before the Internet, but now that it is here, it isn't going away. Sellers expect more today than they did yesterday and will expect more tomorrow. It certainly isn't too much to ask for us as agents to continue to alter our business model to match the wants and needs of our clients. And if that means that we need to learn to stage a home for photos (ie: HELP THE SELLER CLEAN OUT THEIR HOUSE) then so be it!
Les Sulgrove
RE/MAX Real Estate Group
Des Moines, IA