Six photos to avoid in real estate listings

Real estate professionals spend a lot of time learning how to take great pictures for their listings but often forget about learning how to avoid taking pictures that might hurt their sale, according to real estate instructor Dale Carlton.

“One of the major changes in the real estate market is the knowledge that approximately 90 percent of buyers are seeing properties online before ever contacting a real estate agent,” said Carlton. “Photography is an absolute must-learn skill for all real estate agents listing property.”

Carlton says when he does a search of the web for photos of real estate listings, he is appalled by some of the photos that Realtors® post on their sites.

“Real estate professionals need to realize the value in trying to attract the right buyer,” he said. “Good pictures can help the right buyer find the right home. Otherwise, poor photos may deter a buyer from the property.”

Carlton recommends avoiding these six photos in real estate listings:

• Evidence of pets. More than 80 percent of Americans have pets but no one wants to move into a home where someone else’s pets were.  Take the time to move pet bowls and other evidence of pets out of the picture.
• Un-kept bedrooms. It is not the Realtors® job to make the bed but they make their money by selling homes.  Make sure beds are made and rooms are tidy.
• Dirty kitchen. If there are dirty dishes in the sink, lay them down in the sink where you can’t see them or put everything in the dishwasher and out of sight. If the kitchen is dirty, potential buyers may get the impression the owners aren’t clean people.
• Dirty bathroom. Make sure all toilets are flushed and the lids are shut.
• Offensive art, words or propaganda. Before taking photos of a room stop and look around to make sure there aren’t things on the walls that might be offensive to people. This can include weapons, posters and artistic nude photos.
• Valuable paintings or collections. Criminals often find homes to rob through real estate listings. Make sure nothing of value is recognizable in a photo. This can include paintings, antiques and sports memorabilia.

“Before taking a photo always evaluate what you’re taking a picture of and always review photos carefully before submitting them,” Carlton adds.  “Have a second party look through them. You may not catch something that they will.”

Carlton is the principal instructor for Carlton Seminars.  He has worked in the education field for 15 years and provides seminars throughout the nation.  Carlton will be teaching the CRS designation course and two other continuing education sessions at the 2011 Triple Play REALTOR® Convention and Trade Expo, from Dec. 6-8 at the Atlantic City Convention Center.

Triple Play is co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York State associations of REALTORS®.