Investor · nowhere, TX · Member since 2012 · 242 posts · 84 votes
I get so aggravated with listings on realtor.com where there is only one photo of the property (usually exterior). Why would a realtor do that? I see plenty that look good, but I don't waste my time on them because there are other listing with more photos. I even see a lot of listing with no photos. I invest out of state so the photos are really important to me.
Lexington, KY · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
13y
The photos and descriptions I have come across on the mls are mind boggling. The things I would do to my agent if some of those listings were for my property!
One or no photos, a poor or non-existent description, misspelled words, incorrect information...it is painful to see at times.
Residential Landlord · Miami, FL · Member since 2013 · 49 posts · 11 votes
13y
lol I can't stand that either. I think a lot of the older realtors may not be technically savy or up to date. I always look at my parents crazy when they ask something extra simple on how to use their phones or some other electronic. but i take for granted that i've always had these things and it's just second nature.
some homeowners are probably difficult. and then of course some houses are just dumps lol. now that i think about it, when i get back i'll approach realtors without house pictures and charge like $50 to take 10 pics for them.
Real Estate Investor · Englewood, CO · Member since 2013 · 988 posts · 258 votes
13y
The old adage is correct; A picture is worth a thousands words. Moreover, you know better what you seek and will accept. A photo can go provide you with the answers. Quality photos are like quality art, they speak to you.
Lexington, KY · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
13y
The photos and descriptions I have come across on the mls are mind boggling. The things I would do to my agent if some of those listings were for my property!
One or no photos, a poor or non-existent description, misspelled words, incorrect information...it is painful to see at times.
BiggerPockets Founder · HI · Member since 2008 · 16k+ posts · 5k+ votes
13y
It is amazing that they still do this -- I believe it is a combination of being lazy and cheap OR it happens when a property is such crap that they are embarrassed.
Of course, the more pics of a crap property they post, the more interest they will get from investors, thus driving up the price.
So, no matter what the listing is, it is absolutely in their interest to get as many pics as possible up on the listing -- even pics of the front of the house, which agents think they shouldn't do when it is ugly or in bad shape.
Real Estate Investor · Audubon, PA · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 8k+ votes
13y
Originally posted by Billy Rogers:
I get so aggravated with listings on realtor.com where there is only one photo of the property (usually exterior). Why would a realtor do that? ...
The ones that I have come across with only an exterior photo are usually so F'ed up on the interior that posting interior pictures would only turn away potential prospects!
Every now and then one comes up with only an exterior shot that is actually not too horrible on the inside; the agent either didn't get the pictures up front but wanted to get it on the MLS ASAP, didn't yet have keys to get inside so just posted the exterior, or was just too lazy as mentioned already. So check back and see if more pictures show up or not, and read the description to see if it "needs TLC" (a realtor euphemism for [bad] interior).
Investor · nowhere, TX · Member since 2012 · 242 posts · 84 votes
13y
I agree even if the property is total crap, I think the property will still sell more quickly if there are some good photos. They aren't going to trick anyone into buying the property just because they don't have any photos. I used to think that maybe they were going to add photos later, but I've seen properties listed for months with one or no photos. If it was my property being listed like that, I would fire the realtor.
Real Estate Investor · Saint Petersburg, FL · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 951 votes
13y
A lot of lazy agents out there. I'll often see them clearly taken from inside the car with the side mirror in the picture or even just a screen capture from Google street view.
Residential Real Estate Broker · Bremerton, WA · Member since 2013 · 494 posts · 142 votes
13y
I always check out properties with one photo. They scream investor special. Less competition.
otoh - I am also amazed at the misspelled words, poor grammar, one sentence descriptions, inaccurate info. We have a one pic listing here of a close up of the front door. That's it. Door is red, siding looks to be blue.
If were an out of town investor, this would drive me crazy. Agreed Joshua Dorkin that it's best to take many photos and quality photos even if the property is in poor shape. Investors would flock to it.
Investor · Wylie, TX · Member since 2013 · 80 posts · 7 votes
13y
One of the few hats that I've warn recently has been that of r.e. photographer. If something is not shown, there is something wrong. usually the owner/realtor is ashamed of the contents or the physical condition and doesn't want certain parts of the house visible to the masses. Usually it's something that doesn't add value to the property. So, I would lean to the side that as an investor, I would take a closer look.
BiggerPockets Founder · HI · Member since 2008 · 16k+ posts · 5k+ votes
13y
Originally posted by Jimmy Watson:
One of the few hats that I've warn recently has been that of r.e. photographer. If something is not shown, there is something wrong. usually the owner/realtor is ashamed of the contents or the physical condition and doesn't want certain parts of the house visible to the masses. Usually it's something that doesn't add value to the property. So, I would lean to the side that as an investor, I would take a closer look.
I think that this is backwards thinking. If there's a problem, it will be discovered. I understand leaving something out if 90% of the house is great and there are a few problems -- you don't want to highlight those. BUT, if the property is a fixer, letting people know it will get them interested.
The more interest you get, the higher your price is likely to be. Supply/demand is a beautiful thing....
Investor · Clairemont, CA · Member since 2011 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
13y
I've noticed that a lot that are like this are often short sales with the same local agent. I think that his 'plan' is just sign as many people into a listing agreement as possible and flood the area with only his listings and wait. I'm not 100% sure but it seems that is the case for these listings.
Realtor, General Contractor, and Developer · Redding, CA · Member since 2009 · 7k+ posts · 4k+ votes
13y
Billy Rogers ... if a listing doesn't have a good pic, and you are out of area, go to Google Earth and look at the street view, scan the neighborhood, look at quality of houses, are they kept up, etc.
As an agent, this is something that drives me NUTS!! I hate to say it, but there are really A LOT of lazy agents out there! If you see something like that, email the agent. There's usually a link to request info with space for comments. I agree a good exterior and interior are the minimum. An interior shot at least allows you to know the amount of remodeling needed, quality of cabinets, or ?
Here in southern California on listings, there's pics of ocean views, when in reality, you can't possibly see the ocean from the lot. Or they say views, when to have any view, you have to go park on top of a hill, stand on a ladder, and crook your head.... and there's a view! LOL
Sorry... as you can see these are some of my pet peeves. I hate agents making it so much harder for other agents, by having people think ALL agents are as lazy as they are.
Kanise Kelley It has nothing to do with age! It's LAZINESS!!! I myself am a proud baby boomer, and though I'm not as tech savvy as many, I am capable of learning what I need to do to do my work!
Investor · nowhere, TX · Member since 2012 · 242 posts · 84 votes
13y
Karen, that's good advice to use google earthview/ streetview. The area I'm looking at does not have good coverage in streetview so most of the properties aren't on it, but I can see the satellite image overhead.
Real Estate Investor · Lansdowne, PA · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 656 votes
13y
Definitely an inconvenience and even foolish to even post online without pictures.
Only thing now that is acceptable in its place is a youtube link showing a video of the property.
Investing out of state is something that I do also and pictures are most important. Often I will hire a birddog to go get some and send them to me. Make sure that they have a paypal account beforehand and let them know that's the only way they'll get paid for the work you asked them to do.
Real Estate Investor · Lansdowne, PA · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 656 votes
13y
@Bill
@Karen
A big fan of google street view myself but its from 2009(see the date at the bottom on each viewing) and sometimes the neighborhood has changed for the worse.... would love for them to update the street views real soon.
Mechanicsburg, PA · Member since 2013 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
13y
Billy Rogers
There can be a couple of legitimate reasons for one photo. One is that it is a rental property and is either very messy or very cluttered.
Same could also apply to non-tenant property. Deceased owner, hoarder owner, very out of date interior, can also be reasons. We just sold a property that the owner passed 15 years ago and nobody has lived there since. The furniture, kitchen and bath, as well as the walls and floors hadn't looked that had been touched since Ike was prez. It looked so bad that I only posted exterior pictures of the property, but verbally told people what to expect when they saw it.
But on the other hand, I hear you that people like to see as much as possible online, so that they don't have to waste a trip to the property.
But there is a way to turn that into money. If you are turned off by 1 or no pix, so are a lot of other people. Fewer people means less competition. So instead of ignoring the no or 1 pix, make it a point to view them and then negotiate hard, based on the property condition. Could be some low hanging fruit.
Another LHF (low hanging fruit)... saw a listing today that has days on market of 880. WOW! You think that seller might be RIPE for an offer?
Rental Property Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2013 · 6k+ posts · 4k+ votes
13y
I have seen this too. I once went to a showing on a property where the pictures looked HORRIBLE -- stuff on the floor, etc. When I went there, I was pleasantly surprised. It was the one time in my history where the actual was better than the pictures.
Another reason for only exterior pictures is that the property is tenant occupied and the realtor doesn't want to schedule time to take interior pictures. I've bought one of these too.
Another reason is an interior that would scare people away. When I bought a house from a hoarder it only had an external shot.
Sometimes you have to be willing to look at these.
Landlord · Flat Rock, MI · Member since 2011 · 179 posts · 26 votes
13y
I have seen a ton of single-pic or even no pic listings in my area. I attribute it mostly to poor marketing. Even foreclosed houses with squatters can have a couple of pictures from angles that make them look good.
Mechanicsburg, PA · Member since 2013 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
13y
Dawn A.
Another thing I've seen recently is that there are no interior photos because the TENANT won't allow it because they have some nice stuff and don't want burglars cruising the real estate internet sites for possible break in candidates.
Involved In Real Estate · Anderson, SC · Member since 2008 · 350 posts · 70 votes
13y
Sitting in my home that did NOT have any pictures in it when it hit the MLS. We had been out looking all day long at foreclosed homes and got home on a Saturday evening about 7PM.
I fired up the MLS and saw a new listing. No pictures but the price/location/size house & lot/features made this a must see. If I waited until there were pictures, I would have been SOL.
Know your market and look at the FACTS as well as the pictures.
Don't make a yes/no decision solely on the pictures or lack thereof.
That being said, why agents make a listing active without pictures is a mystery to me.