Professional Real Estate Agent or Professional Photographer?

Yesterday while I was looking up some comparables on the MLS in San Jose for a client, I got to thinking how awful are some of the pictures found on the MLS.

Now, don’t get me wrong…I am not a professional photographer or an aspiring one like the ones on “The Shot,” the reality show on VH1. However, I can assure you that “a picture is worth a thousand words,” specially in real estate.

If you happen to recognize one of these listing photos and you are the listing agent, I suggest you go back and take a better picture. But if you are the neighbor to the listed property or a family member to owner selling the house, or even worst you are the actual owner of the house…..ouch! Call the listing agent and nicely let him or her know that maybe he/she should go back to the house and take a better picture. The real estate market is slow as it is and today’s sellers don’t need one more thing to keep buyers from seeing their house.

Bad Outside Pictures:

On the first picture I can’t even see the house being sold!

This next picture looks like the agent tried to do some editing by making it a little brighter but I think he went a little over board.

Bad Kitchen Pictures:

I would have to ask the agent who took this picture “why would I want to see just the stove?”

This next picture proudly shows off some ugly cabinets.

Bad Living/Family room pictures:

Poor lighting should not be an excuse. There are many tricks you can use to illuminate a room to get better picture.

This next picture on the other hand is way too bright.

Bad Bathroom Pictures:

And the last picture proudly shows off what exactly?? That they forgot to put the toilet seat down?

I must admit that may have one or two pictures I’ve taken were not high quality but I could not see myself putting pictures up on the MLS like these.

When I decided to write this post, I did a quick google search and found a fellow blogger and real estate agent named Athol from Connecticut who has a category in page titled “Bad MLS photo of the Day” where fellow agents can submit bad pictures found on the mls. I will send him these and other photos hoping he will post them on his “Bad MLS photo of the Day” hall of shame.

More importantly, if you are looking to improve your picture taking skills, he has some good basic advice on “Rules of Good Photos”. It is a must read if you hope to make an impression on your sellers and catch the buyer’s attention.

Comments

4 Responses to “Professional Real Estate Agent or Professional Photographer?”

Athol Kay on December 7th, 2007 5:24 AM

Hi there! Thanks for the link love, I appreciate it.

I think the idea to run with is either learn to take good photos yourself, or find someone who can do it for you. Real estate photography is not as wildly as expensive as people assume it will be, and the cost is easily recouped by higher sales, shorter days on market and so on.

Nice post!
Ney on December 7th, 2007 12:16 PM

Say cheese! Athol
Mary Pope-Handy on December 15th, 2007 7:37 AM

Good post – and so true! I think many agents could use a simple list of things to do or not to do when taking photos of homes.

My own pet peeves on this topic:
*photos of the front of the home with a car or two in the driveway
*photos of the front of the home where the main focus is on the garage door (and you can’t see the front door of the house)
*garbage cans in the pic (couldn’t the agent have moved them for the picture?)
*junk on tables, stuff plastered on the fridge (again, move ‘em before shooting the pic!)

Great post….

Mary
Ney on December 15th, 2007 2:16 PM

Thanks Mary
Great pointers!