RANT! RANT! RANT!
As if researching suitable properties isn't enough of a challenge, now we have to deal with listing agents who don't bother posting at least one photo to show us what the property looks like.
While going through a list of properties using certain criteria, I identified 127 that may be suitable. But going through the list, I was dumbfounded at seeing that 30% of these listings do not have a single photo of the property.
And of the 38 that do not have pictures 31 of them were short sales.
SHORT SALE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE DISTRESSED!
For gosh sakes, when people are selling their homes as short sales, they are obviously in distress. And what they need is for someone to write an offer so that the short sale negotiator can review the file and hopefully accept and approve the offer to prevent foreclosure or bankruptcy. Right?
SHORT SALE LISTING AGENTS: Are you doing everything you can to sell this property?
We know the importance of pictures, visual tours, staging, etc in marketing a property for sale.
But if the listing agent doesn't take a single picture of the property, how does that reflect on that agent's ability to market, much less aggressively push the short sale process?
And agents, if you're not members of the local MLS where your listing appears, have you thought about either referring out the listing to someone who is, or get a reciprocal agreement so that your listing appears on the local MLS?
SHORT SALE LISTING SHOULD BE HANDLED AS DELICATELY AS A REGULAR LISTING
Yes, we know. It takes a lot of work and a long time to get a short sale approved and accepted, if a all. But these property owners entrusted us to help them sell their property to save them from a more financially disastrous situation.
If you can't give these folks the same care and respect as your regular listing, then for goodness sakes, don't take the listing.
Give it to someone who truly gives a damn!
RANT! RANT! RANT!
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In the MLS (covers Northern Illinois) I belong to you must post at least one photo within 10 days of the listing or you will be fined. Most agents are posting multiple photos as well. I can understand your frustration.
Linda Metallo, Re/max Impact, Lockport, Il. ( Chicago)
I agree. And I wish foreclosure properties would have more photos as well. I can not tell you howmany times I have shown a foreclosure where the photo used was from when it was a normal sale only to get there and see it trashed. Grrrr. Any agent who takes a signed listing agreement whether a normal,short or foreclosure sale should put up photos. No questions asked.
Pacita, what a timely blog post. I was furious over my little sister's Realtor neglecting to put pictures on the MLS until SEVEN DAYS after the home was listed. Wish she would have came to me before listing! At least then I could have referred her to someone who actually cares about selling Real Estate and her Family.
Pacita, I can't understand no pictures or just one and agree that it should be a requirement. I look at it as part of taking a listing always take more pictures than necessary. I understand your frustration!
I cant agree more, I do believe some agents are just better at being buyers agents and should probably give the listings to someone who will treat the listing with the TLC it deserves!
I agree with you a 100%!!! As an agent that specializes in Short Sales it kills me to see how some agents treat these listings. I saw a listing in our MLS and it look like they used their cell phone to take the photos.
Linda -- wish they would make that mandatory for all listings in our local MLS. At least they now require Supra lockboxes if a lockbox is specified as being available. So in addition to a combination lock, the agents have to provide a Supre lockbox. Baby steps....
Martha --- sometimes, I go back to the old listings to see what the properties looked like. But it will help to see a picture of what it looks like today, too
Tim and Pam --- that's the problem with relatives. Or maybe we should drum into them to consult with us first. After all, we're the subject matter experts.
Wanda --- just one picture is all we ask. They can do that when they put up a lockbox, for goodness sakes!
Joshua --- I'm also seeing a lot of out-of-area agents who don't bother putting the listing in our local MLS. How can they properly service this listing?
David --- some phone cameras can take decent pictures. Unfortunately, some agents are plain lazy!
Pacita - Our MLS rules don't allow that here. All listings have to include at least one picture within 7 days of hitting the market, or the agent will get a fine.
I am of the belief that one picture is fine on a short sale as price is not an issue in our state so we can use the price point to sell the property.
Jason --- perhaps if we complain loud enough, the local MLS will imposethat rule. It is such a grave injustice to the sellers for the listing agent not to take care of the listing.
Satar --- regardless of where you are, from the buyer's perspective, it is still important to first have a picture to see if you'd even be interested in looking at it. Price is not the only driver when a first time buyer is making one of the most significant purchases of his life.
Pacita: I makes me crazy ... especially doing BPO's when an exterior photo of three active and three sold comps are required. It is shameful that agents (a) put a listing on without at least one photo and (b) the boards allow this!!! Amen - give it to someone who gives a damn. Too many agents don't know crap about how to manage a short sale ... yet they are fooling the homeowners into believing they do ... and what happens, once again the Sellers get screwed by a so called professional!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rant Rant Rant ... right back at ya sister! (LOL)
Hi Pacita - From a basic marketing standpoint, all types of listings should have a minimum number of photos. The potential return to the seller and listing agent for just a few minutes of effort is well worth it!