I’m currently handling leases, working to find homes for tenants and it’s horribly frustrating the amount of time and gas I’ve wasted between the total lack of photos, or dark, blurry photos, the inaccuracies (uh, it’s a 3bd home, not 4), and the worst – the lack of communication between agents. When I call another agent and they actually answer the phone, or return a call, I’m so excited that I want to jump up and down. I sent an agent a thank you note because she consistently and pleasantly answers her phone during business hours! Its nice to send thank you notes but sad that it has to be for something that should be a common courtesy.

Thanks for posting this article!

Great list! Number 2 drives me completely & hopelessly insane. Even if you don’t put your own listings in how hard is it to take a quick glance @ it after it’s in to ensure accuracy?

I am one who publishes a lot of pictures. I, too have seen my clients pass on homes without enough pictures. Like you, I did the same thing when I recently bought.

Time is a huge factor and buyers don’t seem willing to drive too far out of their way to check out a home when there are so many available.

I do find the buyers who come by my homes are more interested and it takes fewer showings to get a contract.

There is way too much incompetence running around in the RE industry and one of the reasons why is the very low barrier to entry and lack of higher standards to be held to (and the CoE is not what I’m talking about). But that’s a whole ‘nother topic and long discussion all in itself…

Steve – Although I agree that those (1-3) will probably always be issues, I refuse to believe that that can not change. I think agents and brokers let too many details slide and as a result, we all suffer. If I were a broker and found out any of my agents were doing these sorts of things…I’d find myself some new agents. As for the photos, I’m sure you’ve seen some HUGE changes based on the film to digital move, but even so, I think its important for new agents to think of photos a lot. The fact that everyone owns a digital camera does not make us all professional photographers. Given the tools, you still need to know how to use them well or know when to bring in someone who does.

George – I strongly believe that. And I also believe that there are many of us that are just getting our feet wet that just need the gentle reminder before we wind up with bad habits. Its easy to be sloppy, it takes work to be great. And great is where I want me and the rest of the industry to be.

Jonathan – Well I can see where using all the slots in your MLS would be a bit hard! We have 16 here in San Antonio. I guess my problem is that clients are passing on houses without enough photos. They’re busy people with busy lives and they want as much info to narrow down their choices before they go see in person. I know there are great houses that get missed because of this mentality, but it is a real thing happening (I even did when searching for my house). I do understand your perspective of giving them enough to entice them, since we all know that no photo is ever going to show the house perfectly the way it really looks anyway, but I wonder how many agents know exactly what the right amount of “show” is to entice. I don’t know if I would. I know you through here and my guess is that you’re pretty good at it. I guess my biggest complaint is the recent 4 photo listings I’ve been seeing that don’t give me anything to entice me.

Ozarksagent – Thanks, I appreciate that.

In our local MLS, for example, we can enter unlimited photos. Realizing that’s not a set limit, here’s my take – you want to have enough photos to entice buyers, but not so many photos that buyers have no reason to walk in the front door.

On an 1,100-square foot townhouses, for instance, 20-plus photos just doesn’t make any sense. Almost no one selects a home online, but most everyone eliminates homes they don’t want online.

As a listing agent, I’m far more interested getting the buyer in the front door to see a property’s potential than chasing them away because they didn’t like the close-up of the built-in microwave.