Real Estate Investing

I just ran a random search of the MLS in my area to study live statistics on what I suspected was true.  In my search, I found that 5 percent of the first 100 homes on the MLS had absolutely no photos.  None.  Another 29 percent of the homes had only one outside picture featured.

When I see homes with no photos, I try to read the remarks written by the listing agent because there might be some genuine reason no photo has been taken.  Although a good excuse for the absence of a photo is rare, sometimes you can find an unexpected gem.

Meanwhile, nearly 90 percent of all buyers in the United States today go online to shop for homes.  I guarantee that when there are no photos of a house, the buyers don’t even stay long enough to even think the home exists.  The house is utterly invisible in the mind of the buyer, so that even eloquent words describing its beauty are lost.  You must have at least one photo to get a buyer’s attention.

After that first photo, the additional pictures will determine whether a buyer will spend more than 15 seconds considering your property.  This is where taking the time to clean your house and removing clutter can pay off.  If the home appears neat and tidy and meets other criteria desired by the buyer, you may be lucky enough for them to ask their agent to schedule a showing.

Let’s experiment.

Sample One features at least one home photo to entice a buyer.

Sample Two.  Although the first two pictures below are nearly the same, and even if the home above is in pristine condition, a buyer would rather have more information than less and would probably choose this one to tour.

If you have your home listed, always make sure your agent takes plenty of photos or it may be a 320 day sale waiting to happen.