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I want to see the floor, I want to see the ceiling
I am the lab rat for a recent experiment Barbara as been running. She sets buyers up with a “Client Portal” which will email them new listings which meet their search criteria. We get this criteria when they fill out a Dream Home Finder request.
I started getting these email last week with new listings in a client portal. I had no idea what this was at first. Then the lab rat was let in on the experiment. A couple of observations have arisen from this project.
- There are a lot of really crappy listing photos on the Internet and in MLS
- There are even more crappy listing photos than I had ever imagined
- When I think my listing images are crappy I look at my client portal images (It makes me feel better)
I’m looking through the images first thing. I’m not going to spend time reading about this place if the images don’t grab me.
It is hard to be grabbed by any image that is more like a “Guess what this is a picture off” book than a house I might want to make my home.
The ones that are clear often don’t always show me what I want to see.
Floors, Ceilings, Fans & Things
For instance, I want to know if there are tile floors or carpet (I also want to know if there is vynal so I can move on). Many listing photos don’t show the floors. Are they dirty, missing, broken tile, bad stains on the carpet? I don’t know, but I do know I can’t see the floors.
I also want to see the ceilings. Are they popcorn, low, coffured, raised? Again, in many instances I can’t tell from the photos.
Do the rooms have ceiling fans. This is a must for me. I know there are some who don’t need air moving to exist in a room. I need it to be moving or I’m melting faster than the wicked witch wet from a bucket of water. I want to see the ceiling fans or at least wiring covers for them in the rooms. I’m not going to be interested in trying to retro install wiring for ceiling fans in the house.
Of course there is a lot more to photos than this. This post is more about what I don’t see in the photos than what the photos themselves should be like. However, there is no substitute for good photos that represent the home is as positive a light as possible. The photo below is the same room as above. Which one do you think should be used to show this home? I don’t expect an answer : )
You’re right about the photos, but why are the ceilings painted with a semi-gloss finish? Is this preferable in Tucson? Thanks!
Kevin,
Good question. I have no idea why, wrong paint, personal preference, what was handy? I don know semi-gloss on the ceiling is not typical.
Thanks Dave..for your answer and for a great website…I will be moving to Tucson in a couple of months…I am a painter/renovator and am interested in purchasing a “fix up” or two and am trying to get a feel for the place before I arrive…thanks again!
Kevin,
You are welcome, and there are lots of places that need painting and renovating.
We are always looking for good painters and renovators. Let us know when you get to town. If you want fill out a Tucson home finder at the link above we can send you listings of homes that match what you are looking for. There isn’t any obligation for this, it is part of what we do.
Now is a better time to find a home to “fix up” than a couple of years ago. Average sale prices have been coming down but I’ll resist the urge to say “Now is a good time to buy” LOL
If there is any information you need, let me know. We’ll be glad to do what we can to make your transition to Tucson as smooth as possible.
Stay in touch, like I said we are always looking for good painter and guys handy with tools.
Well, Dave my friend, have you hit the nail on the head on this one. As you know, I see alot of these pictures and I don’t even know where to start, other than to say that I have requested that a seminar be put together on “How to take pictures of your listing”. Thanks for the laugh! Scott
Scott,
You are welcome. Have a great week.
Thanks Dave, I will be in touch…we have an offer on a house now…no response yet from Seller…if you care to discuss further options and opportunities send me an email…Cheers!