I have had my house on the market since April and have had 2 open houses and 4 showings in that time. At both open houses, I had only 1 person. I told my realtor that I wasn't happy with the ad in the paper for the open house as it was so small that a couple of friends called me to ask if I was even having a open house. When I looked in the paper at the ad, it was mixed in with 5 other open houses from the realty co. It was the smallest ad in the whole paper. I also compalined about signage to the open house. It was hard to see due to the tall grass on the main road. My question is whether I need to have the pictures updated o the web, as I have continually been updateing the house making it look better with every new piece of advice I see on staging it. Here is a link to my house.
http://nickmovesyou.semonin.com/Listing/ListingSearchRe...&FirstLetter=&Sort=1

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I just talked to my realtor and dropped the price from $109,000 to $105,000.

Welcome!

Your link took me to a page of houses; is that first one yours? (On Cecelia Smith Road)?

Yes, sorry should have noted that.

Libbydes-
I think you have some teenagers and soo do I!! I had my kids box up everything they did not use on a day to day basis. We removed all but one dresser and any pictures/posters off the walls. We get caught up in having soo many things in our rooms and that makes them appear smaller, I think if you got rid of the excess in the rooms you'd see how large the rooms are or at least let your buyer see the rooms. I do not like that rocker in the living room. I think I'd move that out completely if possible and put the entertainment stand on that wall just to open it up a bit.
Is it the master bedroom that has a computer desk with a red comforter in there. If that's the master you have TOO MUCH furniture in there, take that out as well! I like the colors you've chosen for the house I just think you need to box some stuff up and clear out the house a bit! Hopefully the other ladies will be able to give you some more suggestions! Good Luck!! justmy2cents

Thanks for the input. I do have kids and I will take your suggestions. The room with the computer is actually another bedroom without a bed or anything else in it.

Hi Libby and welcome to the boards.

Can you ask your Realtor to put the pictures in a more logical order, such as in the order one would view your home?

I agree with Dillon about the logical order of the pictures.

First I would say...you need new pics of the exterior...these were taken when there were no leaves on the big trees. Leafed out trees & shrubs would make a huge difference in the appearance of your house.

Also, using the pics with no leaves on trees implies you have been on the market awhile...makes the pics kind of dated.

I think you need to "warm up" the entrance & the patio areas...make them look like you are just about to have people over for a party. Add some pretty cushions, plants in pots, etc for colour.

I only see one photo of the kitchen...? Did I miss some?

The rocking chair does need to be moved, it interferes with the hall view picture. And I agree with 2 stay that the living room would look more spacious w/o the chair in there.

Thanks, great suggestion.

I talked to my realtor today, and he is coming by this weekend to take newer pictures. Will take the advice on clearng out more of the kids stuff and moving out the rocker and re-staging the living room. Thank you all so much for your differnet perspectives. It is hard to judge your own place.

Libby, I have said this on other threads too, but YES, you should update the photos, and don't feel bad at all about asking your Realtor to do this. Take the pics yourself if you have a decent digital cam. (Or even a regular cam, and get them developed on a CD so they can be uploaded.)

Your Realtor should realize the importance of great photos, h/she is dropping the ball here!

Seemingly little things that you might not notice IRL can really stand out in photos (not in a good way.) Be really watchful about these before your new photos are taken.

Things like...put toothbrushes, etc. out of sight in the bath. Close toilet lids. Think of how pics in magazines look...this is what you're going for. Fresh flowers help...these show up in pictures! You don't have to be fancy, just some summer flowers in a vase. Lots of time Kroger will mark down flowers to almost nothing when they are getting older...these should suit your purpose for the pictures! Platters or bowls of fresh fruit are good too.

Remember...you want your house to look like no one lives there, yet, at the same time you want the effect of..."oh, I wish I lived in that house"! I use the comparison again...you know how we will look at pictures on line or in magazines & say...I want that room! That's what to go for in EVERY area of your home, including the outdoors.

I agree it does help to have extra sets of eyes...we get used to things in our own homes & don't notice them, whereas others will. It sure helped me to have the ppl here look at everything i was doing...I know you will get lots of help too!

We have had a "rash" of sudden offers/people looking at the homes in our little group here...this "fairy dust" originally supplied by our poster buddy Flboy is being sprinkled your way, too!

I fell as if he has dropped the ball on a lt of things. When I signed up with him he said he had lots of clients looking for a great starter home like mine. He also said the staging was fine. He has not shown my house once nor has anyone from his office. I feel as if he has been too busy with his own move and the drama in his personal life. But I am stuck with him until October.

quote:

Originally posted by Libbydes:
I fell as if he has dropped the ball on a lt of things. When I signed up with him he said he had lots of clients looking for a great starter home like mine. .

Dang, he sounds like Jen's Realtor! What a disappointment for you...it seems to me that SOME of the Realtors these days (like our REL) keep up with things & others are stuck back 20 years ago or something.

Libby, post your link and brief info on the Is Your House For Sale thread, too.

lol, did that first

You are not stuck if you go to the broker to tell him how unhappy you are and you want another agent. Call make an appt. or you could probably handle over the phone and tell him your complaints. He/she will assign you another agent - and tell that Broker you want a top agent Pronto!! Don't hesitate = you are losing precious marketing time.

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

thaks REL. It really helps having the "inside" scoop of a real estate agent who is not your own. You can offer advice to us who do not know better so we don't feel like an idiot when talking to our own realtors.

Hey - don't ya know - you're the boss OR employer in this instance!! Raise some cane...makes you feel good.

Now I just have to work up the courage to do that, as the realtor is someone I used to work with and I have always had a hard time standing up for myself.

Then do it by fax or e mail to the Broker - call ahead and get his e-mail address. Other wise you are shooting yourself in the foot not to get action on your biggest asset!

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

quote:

Originally posted by Libbydes:
Now I just have to work up the courage to do that, as the realtor is someone I used to work with and I have always had a hard time standing up for myself.

Libby - I do not think there is anything wrong with saying to your Realtor/friend/former coworker, "I know you are having your own issues to deal with right now in your personal life, so I don't want you to worry about mine. We do need to get our home sold quickly, and think it is best if we have your office provide a representative who is able to devote full attention to it. Please know we wish you the best and appreciate all you've done for us." Or something equally mushy ...

quote:

Originally posted by jsdillon:

quote:

Originally posted by Libbydes:
Now I just have to work up the courage to do that, as the realtor is someone I used to work with and I have always had a hard time standing up for myself.

Libby - I do not think there is anything wrong with saying to your Realtor/friend/former coworker, "I know you are having your own issues to deal with right now in your personal life, so I don't want you to worry about mine. We do need to get our home sold quickly, and think it is best if we have your office provide a representative who is able to devote full attention to it. Please know we wish you the best and appreciate all you've done for us." Or something equally mushy ...

I quoted the whole thing because I think what Dillon said is PERFECT.