Sellers: Is Your Agent The Reason Your Home Is Not Selling??

Sellers: Is Your Agent The Reason Your Home Is Not Selling?

(From my post in January of 2010)

Real Estate is one of the most expensive purchases most of us will ever make in our lifetimes. With the median price in Hoboken and Jersey City still around $500,000 - why then, do real estate agents put up such bad pictures? 

Or, NO pictures?

Sellers: I know that sounds harsh, but it is solely up to you to see how your house is represented. You made a smart decision to hire a professional to market your home to prospective buyers and other cooperating agents. But, you have to do your due diligence and make sure your home is being properly showcased.

Beware of agents that call you and sell you over the phone with a script. Always meet your agent face to face and see how they represent other listings they have for sale or have sold in the past. 

Pictures set expectations. And first impressions mean everything.

Your first appointment happens on the Internet. Period. 

Buyers overwhelmingly will dismiss a property based upon pictures. Without good quality pics, you dramatically reduce your chances of your property ever being seen at all.

It is just amazing to me that some agents will market a $300,000 or even $800,000 condo with horrible pictures or none. Did you know that professional photographers charge from $85 - $175 for a professional session that includes a virtual tour???

When you interview your agent, ask
Do you hire a photographer?
May I see past properties you've marketed?

If you don't like what you see, this should be a red flag.

Here are bad pictures and common mistakes agents and for sale by owners make while marketing properties

-Poor resolution and imaging

What is this? I can barely make it out? 

- Bad angles that do not show off a rooms size or features

Most buyers would have no clue as to what this was.. is this a bedroom? An office? A hallway? This room is not defined 




-Someone in the mirror!

Yes. This is how a home is being marketed.




- Un-staged 

Great example of rooms that would benefit staging. 







- Lastly No pictures!!




I can't tell you how many times I pull up listings that have no pictures.
My clients almost always turn down the chance to view a property that has no pictures. They assume that the property is in bad condition if there aren't any pictures.

Make sure your listing has pictures!

Even if you have a messy tenant your agent should make every effort to capture some pictures of at the very least the common areas, the surrounding neighborhood and at least a kitchen or living room shot - but a good one.

Bottom line: Ask questions. Become more involved in the marketing of your home. Pictures, pictures, pictures.

GOOD PICTURES


Here are examples of good pictures. Rooms that have been staged and show clearly defined spaces. The first two are my own personal work, I staged both rooms and had a professional photograph them.

This room was originally all white walls and a bed with a blanket. We painted, bought a bed set with decorative pillows and dressed the windows plus created the illusion of a seating area.

This space was all white, and held some exercise equipment. We defined a reading nook by bringing in this leather chair, an area rug and lamp plus painting  the walls a warm beige and we created a new room.

This last one is of a unit I sold. The great pictures were part of the reason my clients wanted to see this condo to begin with. It shows an open floor plan with a defined dining space. 

For more tips or to hear how I can help market your home, contact me via email at karinaa@remax.net or call me direct. 201-795-5200 xt 332