In today's market, you have to be able to sell a home on line. In fact, according to the National Association of Realtors®, close to 90% of all buyers are using the Internet for their home search. The cold hard fact is that if a buyer doesn't like how a home looks when they are searching on line, they will simply cross it off their list.
So why then are there so many awful pictures out there? I'm not trying to be negative, but there are a ton of bad photos being used by agents, even on high-end homes and from folks who are supposedly top notch professionals. Here is an example:
If you were looking to buy a home, would you be more compelled to see this:
Or this:
Both of these homes are very nice, in the same price point and located within the same community. However, the second home will likely get passed over simply due to how it looks on line.
YOUR HOME WILL BE JUDGED BY THE PICTURES
Fair or not, your home will be judged by how it looks on the Internet. I know a lot of agents say that a buyer's first impression when viewing a home in person is the most important thing, but if they don't like how it looks on line, they will never get to that point.
So why do sellers allow their home to be marketed with bad pictures? I'm convinced that many sellers don't completely understand the importance of good quality photos. Many probably don't even look on line to see how their home appears on different websites. If they did, they'd be horrified.
SIMPLE ADVICE FOR HOME SELLERS
Before putting your home for sale, check out an agent's work before you hire them. Ask to see samples of their listings to get an idea of how your home would be marketed. Ask who will be taking the pictures and what kind of equipment they will be using. If you have a luxury home, you may want to insist on using a professional photographer.
While it is often said that pictures are worth a thousand words, using great quality photos to sell a home will lead to one special word: SOLD!
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About The Author
The above information pertaining to Cleveland Real Estate News was provided by Amy Schuman of The Schuman Team Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland. Amy is an Accedited Staging Professional and can be reached at 216-403-9189 or via email, amyschuman@kw.com.
The Schuman Team services the Cleveland, Oh metropolitan area and specialize in Cleveland luxury homes and working with buyers relocating to Cleveland.
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Are Your Home's Pictures Keeping It From Selling is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©May, 2011
