Now, where did I leave that camera?
Some days (most, lately), I just don’t get it. Here is the photo in the MLS for a home that was listed 22 days ago:
As I sit shaking my head in utter exasperation, my knee-jerk reaction is to blame the agent. After all, it is the agent who holds the marketing reins. But, I will give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she misplaced her camera. Maybe her computer is in the shop. Perhaps she ate a bad fish taco and is just now recovering. It could be that she had professional pictures taken, but the photographer forgot to remove the lens cap and they are rescheduling. Or, the agent might just be backed up with all of her other listings.
Twenty-two days. In twenty-two days I could have commissioned an artist’s rendering (using charcoal on canvas). In twenty-two days, I could have deconstructed the home, scanned each element, and produced a respectable Photoshopped likeness. In just five minutes, in fact, I was able to design this image using only the touch pad on my laptop, and I’m not even artistically inclined.
While it arguably lacks the pizzazz of the typical “professional” image, I think it is far better than this home’s current cover photo.
In contrast, we listed a home five days after this home made its impressive debut. In that time, we had the property professionally staged, professional photographs were taken (about forty of them), a virtual tour was produced, a single-property domain was secured, a custom rider was ordered and delivered displaying the domain location, 200 four-page brochures were designed and produced, the listing was syndicated to about a trillion or so on-line sites, and a print piece was mailed to about 4500 homes. These are just the CliffsNotes.
So I could be blaming the agent, but maybe I should be blaming the seller. After all, it was the seller who selected this agent. And, as a matter of full disclosure, this particular listing is one for which we interviewed. But this is not a case of sour grapes, and I sincerely mean this. The fact that we were not selected is not the point. We can’t win ‘em all; we never have, and we never will. Hire me; don’t hire me. But, if you don’t hire me, please hire someone as good or better. Hire someone worthy of your business. The agent controls the marketing, but you are in control of the selection process.
Unfortunately, we see these situations every day, and the bigger issue is that it is beyond me how, particularly in this market, anyone would think their interests are well-served by this level of effort. They knew they had choices. They knew what marketing opportunities were available to them. And, I know they knew that listing a home is a partnership, one in which ongoing cooperation is required, one in which the agent does not operate within a vacuum but instead communicates clearly and often about the measures they are taking on the seller’s behalf to find a buyer at the highest price. I know because we discussed these things.
Maybe it was about friendship. Maybe it was about money. Or, on second thought, maybe it isn’t the seller’s fault at all.
Perhaps the seller isn’t aware of how his home is being promoted. His computer could be in the shop. He might have eaten a bad fish taco and is just now recovering. It could be that, well, you get the idea. But, I have to wonder, didn’t he notice that no one with a camera has stopped by in the last three weeks?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kris Berg is Co-Owner and Designated Broker of San Diego Castles Realty. If not-so static web sites are your thing, go here at once where you will find loads of real estate information including homes for sale, market trends, floor plans and more. Kris's hobbies include fencing and spot welding. She likes kittens. 
on 
on 
on 
on 
on 
on 
on 
{ 2 trackbacks }
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s obviously the seller’s fault. This is like hiring a contractor and never visiting the job site.
Kris, I must say you’re doing a good job of pimping your seller’s-agent-skills on this blog, without turning into into a completely blatant advertisement.
Benn confirmed that in the Austin MLS if you don’t upload any images within a week of listing, you’re fined. The dollar un-incentive seems to work, most listings here have images within 24 hours typically.
In the case you present above, it’s both the agent or the seller at fault (lol), but more importantly, I believe it’s the MLS rules that aren’t dummy proof.
Jakob –
The irony is that shameless self-promotion wasn’t my intent. I was just sharing a personal frustration, and I guess the “I’m better, dang it!” words just crept out. I’ll try to be more careful next time. Eating some humble soup as we speak.
Lani – I like the idea of fining for no photos except that this becomes another case of legislating common sense, and it shouldn’t have to be so.
I think that the seller clearly has done themselves a disservice in selecting the agent and I suspect the reasons were money or family or some such thing as you suggested.
But, I suspect that we are approaching a time when this kind of lack of service with be seen as a breach in the Fiduciary duty we have to our clients. The disclosure states ‘Diligent exercise of reasonable skill and care in performance of the agent’s duties.’
Periodically I see this in Orange County. I see Out of Area (or even local) agents list homes in the wrong area, with the wrong tract codes, no photos and I wonder how they can possibly consider this type of service ‘reasonable skill and care in performance’.
I love the way you so carefully avoid saying what comes to my mind when I run across the empty photo square on our mls…
Honestly, how does an agent justify the absence of such a basic service? Our mls used to provide a photo of the house. It took about a week, and sometimes the image was of the wrong house. And agents loved it because it was a no-brainer. Click the ‘take photo’ box and it magically appeared in the mls.
This service ended this past July. Oh, you should hear the whining.
Note to self, avoid fish tacos.
Kris – I share in your frustration. The home may sound like a remote fit for a buyer but there’s not time to preview it – so you take your chances and swing by with your client. It’s like playing roulette because you have no idea what your going to walk in to.
Then there’s a close second – horrible photos. Perhaps in 22 more days you’ll see a horrible photo of the home (maybe with a bonus car or two in the driveway). The next two photos will be of a dimly lit kitchen with every possible kitchen appliance out on the counter. And the fourth and final picture? A family room (again, dimly lit) with a dog running through it and maybe even their kids’ pack-n-play in the middle.
By the way, I’m a fan of the new design. I just got Thesis for my website + blog but it didn’t play too well with plugins I have so I need to start from the ground up and figure it out …
Hi, Brad. Yes – That was the biggest challenge – migrating all of the plugins over and deciding which ones needed to go in the process. But, I have to say that making changes to the sidebar(s) is a snap compared to the old template. It took me 12 hours of solid staring at a computer screen to do it (which means it will take the average person about two hours), but that was mostly because I set up a test version on my server first to make sure the biggest bugs were addressed. Overall, I am quite proud of myself.
More on topic, I have been searching for a buyer client this morning, and I am about ready to scream with the photo situation. We have too many choices to play roulette (as you say) with homes with crummy or no photos, so those we will see last if at all.
Kris ~
Why am I wondering if they “got a deal” on the commission?
If so, it’s living proof that you get what you pay for.
I lobbied forever to enact our new MLS rule that listing agents must submit at least ONE photo with a listing.
The old guard kept saying “what if the listing agent doesn’t have a camera?”, “what if the property doesn’t photograph well?”, etc.
(duh!)
We now have the rule in place.
Now, if we could just require a GOOD photo!
Suggestion:
Wish your new site had a way to preview comments before submitting them.
The MLS in San Diego has implemented a mandatory photo rule within 72 hours of a new listing or an extension of up to 5 days with approval by their Association or face a fine. They have always disallowed pets, people, signs, etc. in listing photos and will edit them out or remove the photo when found or reported. Keep on truckin’
Whatsup007 is correct. Here it is from the Sandicor rules and regs:
11.7.1 Mandatory Submission of Photographs and Renderings. Each 19 listing entered as Residential Detached, Twin Home, Townhome, Row House, 20 Other Attached, Manufactured Home, or Residential Income 2-4 Units shall 21 contain a broker or agent submitted photograph or rendering within seventy two 22 (72) hours of entry into the Tempo system. The photograph or rendering of the 23 property shall be submitted as the primary photo and shall be in accordance with 24 11.7 of these rules and regulations. Any member that is unable to comply within 25 the allotted seventy two (72) hours shall apply for a variance from their service 26 center requesting an extension of no more than an additional five (5) days.
Too bad agents can’t follow the rules.