MLS Listings without pictures?? (Raleigh: foreclosure, homes, neighborhood)

[tlh1005]

I know there are all sorts of reasons why a listing might get posted without pictures but it kills me to see it. Even if I know the neighborhood and have seen the exterior of the home before, I'm not wasting my time booking an appointment without seeing pictures of the interior FIRST. I know I might miss out on a gem this way but really, after 5 days it's time to get beyond the barebones shell of info in the MLS.

[MikeJaquish]

Originally Posted by tlh1005

I know there are all sorts of reasons why a listing might get posted without pictures but it kills me to see it. Even if I know the neighborhood and have seen the exterior of the home before, I'm not wasting my time booking an appointment without seeing pictures of the interior FIRST. I know I might miss out on a gem this way but really, after 5 days it's time to get beyond the barebones shell of info in the MLS.

Time and again people surf past the "No Photo Available" listings.

All IMO, of course:

There is no excuse for a Listing to be live for more than a couple of minutes without photos. It can only be a conscious decision to under-market the property.

Photos should be taken before the listing is entered.
The ease of modern digital photography, SD cards, and SD computer slots makes it so simple to put up photos, change seasonal photos, and present the property with at least a minimum of media.

If the LA needs to use a professional photographer, that should be scheduled and executed before the listing is entered.

[Janecj]

That is the listing agent's fault. It is important, I agree. It also could be that the home is new (not your case), or is using a discount brokerage firm, or maybe a foreclosure. Those are what I see most.

[tlh1005]

Originally Posted by Janecj

That is the listing agent's fault. It is important, I agree. It also could be that the home is new (not your case), or is using a discount brokerage firm, or maybe a foreclosure. Those are what I see most.

I usually like to stick up for the discount guys but I have to agree, many of the "no photo" listings do come from the discounters. This time around though, I've seen it from two different agents backed by large national brokerages. I really wouldn't expect this from a full service agent.

Originally Posted by MikeJaquish

Time and again people surf past the "No Photo Available" listings.

All IMO, of course:

There is no excuse for a Listing to be live for more than a couple of minutes without photos. It can only be a conscious decision to under-market the property.

Photos should be taken before the listing is entered.
The ease of modern digital photography, SD cards, and SD computer slots makes it so simple to put up photos, change seasonal photos, and present the property with at least a minimum of media.

If the LA needs to use a professional photographer, that should be scheduled and executed before the listing is entered.

Right on. Someone needs to explain to this seller that now his home has been on the market for almost a week and missed that important market splash without pictures. I know the neighborhods and I've even driven by the homes; if I am going to pass due to the lack of pictures, whats a person searching without knowledge of the area to do!

[VickiR]

If you hire a professional photographer, it may take them a few days to get to take the photos. If you know in advance that you are going to be listing the house, its easier to plan. Otherwise, your options are to take the photos yourself and replace them later with the professional ones or to schedule the photographer in advance.

When I sit down with my buyers, they immediately want to pass by the listings with no photos. I agree that alot of the discounters don't use photos. I often wonder if the sellers understand what they are NOT getting by hiring discounters. That could be a very beneficial question to ask...by paying YOU, the Agent, LESS...what am I NOT GETTING?

Vicki

[OCEANSEA]

I AGREE WITH YOU. MY HOME HAS BEEN IN THE MARKET FOR 2 WEEKS AND MY AGENT HAS NOT POSTED THE PICTURES IN MSL. She took lots of pictures of my home and property Moderator cut: removed I wil call my agent tommorow and let her tell me what's going on !

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

Originally Posted by tlh1005

I know there are all sorts of reasons why a listing might get posted without pictures but it kills me to see it. Even if I know the neighborhood and have seen the exterior of the home before, I'm not wasting my time booking an appointment without seeing pictures of the interior FIRST. I know I might miss out on a gem this way but really, after 5 days it's time to get beyond the barebones shell of info in the MLS.

I agree 100%. It bugs me and it should really bug the seller!

Here's the thing I don't get. I check listings using several different websites including some of the larger RE firms common in this area. Sometimes I notice the pictures show up on one website days before they ever show up on the other. Sometimes the website the pictures show up on first isn’t even the website for RE company who has listed the house! I find this strange since I thought all of these websites were pulling their info and pictures from the same source (MLS).

Truly bizarre!

[MikeJaquish]

Originally Posted by North_Raleigh_Guy

I agree 100%. It bugs me and it should really bug the seller!

Here's the thing I don't get. I check listings using several different websites including some of the larger RE firms common in this area. Sometimes I notice the pictures show up on one website days before they ever show up on the other. Sometimes the website the pictures show up on first isn’t even the website for RE company who has listed the house! I find this strange since I thought all of these websites were pulling their info and pictures from the same source (MLS).

Truly bizarre!

You are looking at IDX feeds when you see listings on RE firm sites.
The MLS rules stipulate that IDX feeds are acceptable if they sample the MLS once a week...
The listing firm's site may be slower to present photos than the MLS is.

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

Originally Posted by MikeJaquish

You are looking at IDX feeds when you see listings on RE firm sites.
The MLS rules stipulate that IDX feeds are acceptable if they sample the MLS once a week...
The listing firm's site may be slower to present photos than the MLS is.

That explains it perfectly. Thanks Mike!

Wait a minute!

Mike's
Listing
Service

[sneezecake]

Does it cost any more in a standard MLS listing to include the 8 photos?