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Well, when the most recent post that comes up on the HGTV's Real Estate board is one from the HGTV thread itself re so-called "tips"? - it's pretty sad.

Seems like we should have SOMETHING more to talk about - I would hate to lose touch with all of the smart people here on this board BUT it might happen if this board fades off to oblivion...

So, let's get some discussions going! Some of my favorites would be refinancing - risks/benefits; sell now/or hold back until the glut of foreclosures are gone (when will that be?) and, now that it seems everyone has a digital camera, should you take your own photographs for listings or simply leave that aspect to the listing agent?

Looking forward to hearing what YOU think!

A seller should NEVER have to take their own pictures. The quality of the pictures an agent posts should now probably be one of the major factors a seller uses in choosing an agent. All photographs used should be of professional quality and if the agent is not capable of producing them herself a photographer who is capable should be hired as part of the marketing of the property. No more pictures of beds!

I agree with ChuckSteak.The photos and video are part of the realtors job. I've seen pathetic pictures taken by homeowners. And they wonder why they don't get showings.

I disagree to some extent. Fuzzy px, those that show a bed, a toilet, a corner are useless.

But px do not have to be professional or perfect. I think the order of the px is more important. When I see a living room I want the next px to show just a corner (maybe part of the arm of a chair, or rug) so I know the relationship of the rooms. I want to be able to picture the layout of the kitchen, dining and living room as a unit... even if they are separate rooms.

I do think the homeowner can take good px. They know when each room looks the best. If they take 10 px from high, low, shades up, down, etc then they might find 1 good one to use. They have to remember they are taking px of the space, not the room. An agent is only there for a short period of time and will not be able to do this.

And while we are at it, I dislike the multiple px when many are duplicate almost and useless.

I've been looking on-line for a home for several years now (bought one but that was a mistake) so I know what interests me and I can't be that different than many of the people looking. (except maybe the young ones )

I am puzzled why more listings don't include professionally styled, lit and composed photos plus virtual tours, with images that pan 180 degrees.

Where I live in Central Texas, this is standard operating procedure. All the smart agents use this technology and it makes a huge difference in the marketing and presentation of homes, especially where competition is fierce and inventory is high.

I have been browsing listings in the DC-MD areas and almost never see these kinds of virtual visual tools. As a prospective buyer who may relocate next year, this is a tremendous turn-off and disservice. I cannot just hop a plane each week to visit a listing thousands of miles away; that's why a professional photo presentation is so important to get the full picture.

I know it's not THAT expensive for the agent/broker, otherwise my successful realtor friends wouldn't use this service for every listing. And, they use it for every price point, from $150,000 to $1.5 M and up.

Unless a homeowner has exceptional photographic skills, I would encourage him/her to insist on their agent getting professional photos. It's the difference between the bush leagues and minor leagues, IMO, and not making the sale or closing one.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: aychihuahua,

Aychihuahua, AMEN, there is nothing that I can add to your post.
If I sell my house, I want a professional taken pictures of my house, and virtual tours.
It does make a difference, Today, people look first on the Net, and then go to the Realtor

I think the difference is metro vs rural.

Where is Idaho, who started this thread?

Hi, metwo! I'm right here!

Thought I would let everyone else weigh in with their ideas. Mainly I just wanted to see if we could get a new discussion going - I suggested three topics and it looks like photographs was the one that caught everyone's attention...

So photographs it is. My opinion? Yes, it SHOULD be the real estate agent's responsibility but what should be and what works are sometimes two very different things.

Three ideas here:

1. Too many times listing photographs are TERRIBLE as it is obvious that "someone" has simply taken photographs in a 30 minute time frame - no matter what is in the frame - dirty socks, clutter, dark gloomy weather outside? They add nothing to "selling" the place but they can check off "photographs" - job done.

2. Homeowners with a digital camera and reasonable photographic skills can clean up their house as they go room to room and take photographs during the best lighting AND conditions but they may not know HOW to do it! (But, to be honest, given the many poor pictures on so many listings, neither do the agents).

3. A professional property photographer is obviously the best choice but, seriously, how many real estate agencies outside of major metro areas have those skills available? And, if they were available, how many people would would pay more money to have it done properly (and do the work needed to prepare the room(s)?

I'm thinking it is a bit like the issue of "staging" or, as I like to think, just cleaning up, clearing out and making the place shine even if you are still living there with all of the chaos that entails...

What does everyone else think?

Would not the price of the house have a bearing? I fail to understand why an agent would spend almost 10% of their commission on staging/photos in addition to their other expenses. It is just not cost effective.

I fail to see why a homeowner would pay for something they can do themselves adequately. After all they are trying to make money too or at least not lose so much.

In our selling of homes, we found that GOOD realtors take GOOD pics...and vice/versa.

quote:

. A professional property photographer is obviously the best choice but, seriously, how many real estate agencies outside of major metro areas have those skills available? And, if they were available, how many people would would pay more money to have it done properly (and do the work needed to prepare the room(s)?

In this lousy market, and If I was selling, you better beleive it. I feel that it would save me from dropping my price to ridiculous lows, people that come in know what they get. and like staging, it would put my home in the best light possible.

quote:

Originally posted by metwo:
Would not the price of the house have a bearing?

Yes, of course, price is important. But, all things being equal, homes that are well photographed have a huge edge over homes that are poorly presented. Some buyers searching the internet will scroll right past a home that has crummy pictures or none at all. They figure if the agent can't/won't bother to market the home properly, there must be something wrong with it, rightly or wrongly.

The way I see it, why set up your listing (and the client) for failure?

PS I have no idea what percentage photographic expenses take out of the realtor's net commission, but I'll ask my friends.

DD wants to move closer to home...soon. As her "bird dog",interior & exterior photos may tempt me to drive an hour to tour a home. BUT I refuse to drive 50 miles to tour properties if the listing agent is too lazy to provide room measurements. A home's SQ FT means nothing. Yesterday I paid $3.45 for gasoline - at Costco!!!!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: tessa89,

Gotch beat Tessa89 ,our gas is $4.00 gal.in west MI

Gas prices are falling in our area: it's $3.27 at my local supermarket.

As an agent I look at a lot of real estate photos daily. I must say, I am exceedingly embarassed by the work other agents are doing! I sometimes wonder what other agents are thinking when they show everything but a dead rat in a photograph.

On the flip side, what's with all the furniture photographs? Sometimes you will see 3 photos of the same chair in a listing. Does the chair go with the house?

Thanks Idaho for the thread. I've been a bit bored with the boards..nothing really to respond to..sometimes...in my quick trips to the site.

So busy these days..don't have time to sit and think up new thread like I used to...but will try harder. Promise.


Yes, Charming..rediculous the photographer takes close ups of furniture...same here in our area. I can understand focal close ups of granite, glass back splash..cabinets appliances in the kitchen..upgrades. Those photos help sell one of my listings. But for heaven's sake...not furniture.

As for virtual tours on everything..too expensive for the agent. A good photo presentation, I think, is just as good.

My biggest pet peeve...however.. pictures of the toliet!! Oh, and with the toliet lid up photos...disgusting...do you hear me screaming yet?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: real estate lady,

My pet peeve is when supposedly professional agents write about a "dinning" room!

Well, I have to disagree about the owner taking their own photos. When we sold our house 3 years ago I told my agent that I would take the pictures and send them to him. He was a little hesitant but said OK (really, what else could he say? )

I spent two days photographing the rooms and outside. I staged each room as I got to it and took the picture in the best available light for that particular room. The FR most definitely photographed in the morning but the kitchen was afternoon light.

It went on the market on Monday and by Friday we had a signed and sealed contract. That was in 2009.

Of course we priced it right and the perfect buyer who wanted a house built in 1870 came along at the perfect time so I can't contribute it all to the photos, but I think they were great and really helped to get the sale.

Achi...we lived in Northern Virginia for many years (Annandale). I think the reason that Realtors don't bother with videos is that the market is still pretty hot there and most houses don't sit for a long time. It cooled a little bit from the highs of 2005-06 but nothing like the rest of the country. It's very expensive and absolutely glutted with traffic...that's why we moved to WV...love it here.

Chuck...diNNing room bugs me too! I see it all the time in listings.

Our gas just went up 2 cents last night...it's now 3.59/gal.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: My dog,

quote:

Achi...we lived in Northern Virginia for many years (Annandale). I think the reason that Realtors don't bother with videos is that the market is still pretty hot there and most houses don't sit for a long time. It cooled a little bit from the highs of 2005-06 but nothing like the rest of the country.

Jean, that's a good point. The DC-market is recession-proof and has just gone up another 3.5 percent which is why we are gonna sit tight and enjoy our wonderful Texas home and community. Unless I win the lottery...

quote:

Originally posted by aychihuahua:

quote:

Achi...we lived in Northern Virginia for many years (Annandale). I think the reason that Realtors don't bother with videos is that the market is still pretty hot there and most houses don't sit for a long time. It cooled a little bit from the highs of 2005-06 but nothing like the rest of the country.

Jean, that's a good point. The DC-market is recession-proof and has just gone up another 3.5 percent which is why we are gonna sit tight and enjoy our wonderful Texas home and community. Unless I win the lottery...

Good plan! I love Texas!

I think most of you have heard my tale that after about 18 months on the market with one agent who had a professional take good photos, we took the Texas hill country house off the market. We rested a few months and went back with another agent who had a superior photographer take new shots. We sold in a month with two back-up offers. Right time,right buyer or good photos? (Admittedly we lowered the price but not that much.)

Gasoline was 3.15 today at Costco in Dallas metroplex. We were in Maui yesterday and I believe we filled the rental with 3.99 at Costco there. Made us appreciate Texas but we can't touch the beautiful blue waters of Maui or the temperatures in August.

Re refinancing, no mortgage, but if I did and intended to say in my home for another 5 years, I would definitely refinance. Probably a 15 year loan, but even 30 yr mortgage rates have never been lower - 3.25%, some with no points.

yes perfect time to refi ............