When I see homes listed in the MLS that have 1 picture or NO pictures, it tells me a lot about the property.
This type of communication also indicates one of the following:
- The listing agent was embarrassed they took the listing
- Digital cameras are too hard for this person
- They are saving the listing for themselves
- The property is so bad it would be like putting lipstick on a pig
- The listing agent has never been to this property
- The property may have just gone on the market and photos will be coming shortly (DOM 3)
If I see that a property has been on the market with sufficient time for the listing agent to provide photos (DOM 70), I throw it into the lipstick pile.
Look, I'll take bad photos over 1 or none. And if your photo skills are just terrible, may I suggest a photography class at the local community college.
I mean how hard is it to snap more than 1 digital photo. Some pictures I've seen look like they never got out of the car.
To place a listing in the most effective tool available, without quality pictures, is a waste of time.
I don't have time to waste. So when I get calls by my buyers asking me for pictures of a property that have this one or none scenario, I politely explain that there may be a problem with this property and I'll call the other agent. Buyers don't like the word problem.
This mysterious practice of photo-sensitivity may work for some. It just doesn't work for me.
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Claude Cross - Realtor® 704-975-1733
Broker/Owner Homes By Cross, Inc.
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I have long been convinced that if an agent doesn't enter photos when the listing is entered, they have no interest in the co-op.
I have also been long convinced that most sellers don't look at their listings.
I don't rely on photos myself because I know communities and don't really need them. However, they, the listing agents, surely lose the benefit of IDX with no photos. Buyers want them.
That just makes me crazy. How can you be so eunnthused about a potential sale?-Dinah Lee
Lipstick on a pig - love it! With so many properties on the market, I'm just looking for reasons to eliminate one. No photos? Gone! Especially for relocating buyers who can't see it until they get here. Not worth sending to them if there aren't photos. And chances are if there are no photos, there's no great description of the house either. Double reason to eliminate. ~ Sharon
Any agent that is not willing to put multiple photos on the MLS is not serving their client's best interest. I'm confident of the truth of that statement. What do you guys think - does it come to the level of an ethics violation?
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate
Len - I think you hit it. Sellers probably don't see their listing as we do. If they did, we would never see this happening with such regularity. Thanks for the addition
Dinah Lee Griffey Allyn, Belfair,Bank Owned,Homes & Land (Windermere Peninsula Properties)
Dinah - It is the test pattern from the tv. stupifying. Thanks
Frank & Sharon Alters, ePRO, GRI Fleming Island FL Real Estate (Watson Realty )
Sharon - You got it - Gone ! I'm passing this torch to you. Let um know. :)
Kathi Frank (Prudential Gary Green Realtors)
Kathi - I think if the Sellers found out they would (and should) ask some serious questions. This practise makes all of us "look" bad.
There really isn't an excuse in today's digital world not to have photos with a listing. Quite frankly there are plenty of people out looking for the "dogs" right now and it would save everyone time if the photos were there.
Not having photos is one of my biggest pet peeves. We work the luxury home market here in Cleveland and the worst is when a million dollar + listing has only 1 or a handful of photos. I'm sure sellers have no idea how poorly their home is being marketed. Having few photos is in my opinion professional malpractice. Thanks for the post Claude.
Claude: I just love it: Lipstick on a pig! Gonna steal that on from you it is too cute. As for the agents who are too lazy to take and post picture I have no respect for them.
It is just lazy. It's not hard. Any 3 years old can take digital pictures and upload them.
OOOOOOhhhhh, by the way this is one of my buttons ~ there is no excuse.
Claude...
Or ... your photos got dumped by the MLS! We are having a little trouble with all of our photos suddenly disappearing from our listings.
That is a pet peeve of mine. I check new listings daily and if they are no pictures, that listing if forgotten. If the agent is too busy to put photos on the same day then should they really be taking on more listings.
Sometimes I think Realtors do this out of spite. It's like the listings that just have one line to describe them. They do nothing to sell the home. Maybe the comission is reeeeally reeeally low. Or at least it ought to be for that kind of service.
Yes, do not get it why there are not pictures. Makes little sense.
Claude, "lipstick on a pig"? LOL That conjured up images that made me laugh out loud. As for no pics in MLS listings, how do you spell L-A-Z-Y? In my opinion, laziness is responsible for over 90% of it - not a lack of skill.
Photos are so important and it irks me when I see a listing that has been on the market forever that has none. last weekend I was showing foreclosures and I wish they had photos. Sure the places are certainly a mess but gee, it would have been nice to have known what kind of mess we were walking into. Good, bad or indifferent photos are a must.
Cindy Jones-Northern Virginia Real Estate & Military Relocation Services (RE/MAX Allegiance #1 RE/MAX Company in the World
Cindy - You are right. There isn't much room for an excuse
Dan and Amy Schuman,e-Pro,ASP (Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland)
Dan & Amy - How do they get away with it. Million dollar properties - 1 photo?
Sandy Childs (Keller Williams)
Sandy - I think you are right that even some toddlers can manage a camera
Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty
Richard - The MLS dumped your photos? You got to be kidding me. Do they have a backup? This is the only legit excuse I have heard. Also means that we need to check up on our own MLS listings from time to time.
Nan Brennan (Century 21 Olympia and First Impressions Home Staging (owner))
Nan - I think you are not alone in calling this a pet peeve. Thanks
Bernice Dubon (Royal LePage Solutions)
Bernice - A spiteful Realtor who gets a listing ? Mercy, maybe they should just decline it
Bob & Carolin Benjamin - E Phoenix Arizona Real Estate (Benjamin Realty LLC)
Bob & Carolin - Senseless is a good description. Thanks
Randy Hooker / Dreamcatcher Broker / Greater Phoenix Area
Randy - Yep, you pretty much summed it up. Too lazy to even get out of the car. Now about that pig....:)
Martha Brown Annapolis and Anne Arundel County RE (Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.)
Martha - Forclosures w/o pictures are sometimes like a box of chocolates - you never know what you will get.