Tony Meier - EastsideHomesBlog.com

Bad MLS Photo Friday - Would you pay 50k for these photos of your home?

Here is this week’s installment featuring the pathetic photographic skills of my colleagues here in the Northwest.

I wish I could say I had to look hard to find these photos, but unfortunately I don't. Here are this weeks gems. Notice the nice dark spot on the floor where the built in flash was obstructed by the lens... and of course no tripod!

 

 

 

This home is on the Eastside. The average commission for a home in this area and price range would be about $50,000. I would be embarrassed to put this quality of photos on $200,000 condo, let alone a home with a value approaching one million dollars!

Sellers - Before you list with an agent make sure they can prove to you that they can use a camera with skill or will hire a professional photographer who can. If they can't do either, then find another agent. Your home deserves it best chance of selling in the market and high quality photos is the way to start!

Posted By:
Tony Meier
Eastside & Seattle Realtor
EastsideHomesBlog.com
EastsideHomes.com
Seattle's Eastside Real Estate Resource
[email protected]

Bad MLS Photo Friday

Here is this week’s installment featuring the pathetic photographic skills of my colleagues here in the Northwest.

I am frequently asked what equipment I use to take photograph the homes I sell. I am a Canon shooter. I have invested several thousand in a good camera body, wide angle lens, several flash units and software to process the photos - which makes sure the homes I sell are shown in their best light. I also have 20 years experience as a Full-time Realtor with hundreds of hours behind a camera pointed at my listings.

I have always had good equipment, and to an even greater extent today. One thing I have not done without for over a decade, can be obtained cheaply (as little as $20) and requires no specific skill to use, but can make a dramatic impact on how a home appears. Unfortunately most agents still do not use one!

Let’s look at this week’s photos to see if you can guess what I am talking about:

If you guessed a tripod, you are RIGHT!  This item allows you to present the room accurately without giving the viewer the feeling they about to fall on their face! Here is a dining room shot on a home I just sold.

 

See what I mean? The photo is level with no converging lines and is much more pleasing as a result!

Sellers: This market is challenging enough! The single greatest thing an agent can to do make the marketing on your home shine, is to provide high quality photographs of your home!
My sales track record is way above the average agent in my area and good photos is just one of the reasons why.  If you would like your home to marketed in a highly skilled and professional manner so you can reap the benefits thereof, I welcome you to contact me at 425-466-1000.

If you’re an agent reading this… and you would like to learn how to take better photos, check out http://photographyforrealestate.net/    
If you would like to see what tripod I use it is here: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/490675-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_756XB_756XB_MDeVe_Aluminum_Tripod.html
and the tripod head is here: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/124665-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_410_410_Mini_Geared_Head.html

Better yet, hire my friend Scott Chytil at: http://www.chytilphoto.com/

Posted By:
Tony Meier
Eastside & Seattle Realtor
EastsideHomesBlog.com
EastsideHomes.com
Seattle's Eastside Real Estate Resource
[email protected]

Bad MLS Photo Friday - Are Real Estate marketing photos art?

Usually I post some really pathetic photos from my colleagues here in the Northwest. This week is different. These photos are clearly professional quality. Given the nature of the photo, I would even say the photographer is trying for art. My questions is... are real estate marketing photos supposed to be art?

Here is the photo that I came across today...

As I have mentioned in some of my previous posts, the MLS in our area only allows 15 photos to be input with each listing. These are the photos that go out to all the brokers websites and is the first impression agents and buyers have of the home.

In all but the smallest of properties, I will shoot dozens of photos and then pick the best 15 to show of the floorplan, features and quality of the home and yard. The photo above is of a 5 bedroom, 3 bath, 2500 s.f. home in Redmond. So I am sure there was many more opportunities to describe the home to potential buyers. Here is the another photo of the kitchen: 

This shot gives a much better sense of the space and still shows off the tile and faucet that the photographer was attempting to highlight in the first photo.  My point is... I think it would have been a better use of the top 15 photos, than to choose the sink picture.

Here are two that I took from a home that is in the same area as this one. BTW... my listing sold for above list price in 4 days and closed escrow today. You can view more details on this listing here: http://eastsidehomes.com/Listings/6605-152nd/index.htm

Okay, one thing is for sure... these are not Architectural Digest photos. :-) However, that is not what my goal is.  Many agents hire photographers who want to be artists and that is the slant they place upon their work. I am agent, who enjoys photography. My number one goal is to photograph the home so it sells, which meets my clients objectives.

I have seen all kinds or crazy photos in the MLS for homes... just look at some of my past posts:
http://eastsidehomes.typepad.com/weblog/photography/index.html

If you are seller and you wish to not only sell your home in this market, but get the best price you can - make sure the photos your agent is using shows your home in its best light and as complete as possible.

Posted By:
Tony Meier
Eastside & Seattle Realtor
EastsideHomesBlog.com
EastsideHomes.com
Seattle's Eastside Real Estate Resource
[email protected]

Bad MLS Photo Friday

Here is this week’s installment featuring the pathetic photographic skills of my colleagues here in the Northwest.

This photo was found on our MLS by Chris, one of my co-workers. Not sure what the agent was thinking with this one, but I am there is better way to show off the home....

We can only place 15 photos in the MLS and I have nothing against using a light fixture as one of them. It would be best if the fixture that was REALLY something special though!!

Here is one I shot today for one of my new listings.

Schonbek crystal is at least worth a photo! However, this home is so spectacular this one won't make the top 15 cut for the MLS, but it will make the slideshow!

Posted By:
Tony Meier
Eastside & Seattle Realtor
EastsideHomesBlog.com
EastsideHomes.com
Seattle's Eastside Real Estate Resource
[email protected]

Bad MLS Photo Friday

Here is this week’s installment featuring the photographic skills of my colleagues here in the Northwest.

My, Oh, My!! What can I say about this photo?? It really is not a poorly taken photograph, like many I post here, but the clutter sure caught my attention!!

If your home looks like this I recommend you call my friend Stacey Anderson. She runs an organizing company called Organized Inovations and she can be reached at 425-785-5239. Stacey will make sure your home is never seen like this!

Posted By:
Tony Meier
Eastside Realtor
EastsideHomesBlog.com
EastsideHomes.com
Seattle's Eastside Real Estate Resource
[email protected] 

Bad MLS Photo Friday

Here is this week’s installment featuring the pathetic photographic skills of my colleagues here in the Northwest.

When I saw the first photo, I thought "WOW that is some serious lens flair!" As I looked on further through this listings photos I found not just more lens flair from shooting straight into the sun but an obviously dirty lens too! 

I wonder if the seller of this home has any clue as to what photos their agents is using to present their home to the public. Would you pay 20k+ for this type of presentation of your home? This seller did. How sad! I am sure many potential buyers passed on this home due to this poor presentation!

If you are ready to sell your home and would like top notch Realtor and outstanding photos showcasing your home, give me a call. It is part of my service and I will make sure your home stands out! You can check out my photographic work for my clients at: http://www.tonymeierphotography.com/f1038471003/

If you’re an agent reading this and you would like to learn how to take better photos, check out http://photographyforrealestate.net/ or at least get a cloth and wipe your lens! :-)

Posted By:
Tony Meier
Eastside & Seattle Realtor
EastsideHomesBlog.com
EastsideHomes.com
Seattle's Eastside Real Estate Resource
[email protected]

Spring has arrived in Seattle!

Well almost... With the temperature at our home in Redmond reaching 80 degrees last Saturday you would have thought spring was in full bloom!  The kids were out playing and we enjoyed a relaxing BBQ at our neighbors home. What a day!

Unfortuantely, Sunday came along and we were back in the 50's with rain. I sure am looking forward to summer!! 

Here are some images that I captured in our yard during my first attempt at macro photography. Enjoy!

More after the jump...

Bad MLS Photo Friday

Here is this week’s installment featuring the pathetic photographic skills of my colleagues here in the Northwest. When you find something really good or in the case REALLY BAD, it is hard to resist finding more of it.

This weeks's collage (I am embarrassed to say) comes from one of my colleges at Windermere. Yes, even some Windermere agents suck at photography!!!

Okay agents... repeat after me.... NEVER USE A FISH EYE LENS!
Likely though, this is not a real fish eye lens (which in the hands of a skilled pro can do some cool things) but is a cheap wide angle attachment to some cheesy point and shoot!  One of these homes has been on the market for over 600 days and one of the condos for over 300. It is no wonder!

If you are considering selling your home, high quality photos are one of the best things your agent can do to get buyers into your home!  These photos are the first impression agent and buyers will have of your home. They better be excellent or the buyer will just move on!

Here is an example of the recent photos I took last week at my new Redmond listing on Novelty Hill.  Which slideshow compels you to want to see the home?

If you are ready to sell your home and would like top notch photos showcasing it, give me a call. It is part of my service and I will make sure your home stands out! You can check out my work for my home sellers at: http://www.tonymeierphotography.com/f1038471003/ 

If you’re an agent reading this and you would like to learn how to take better photos, check out http://photographyforrealestate.net/ or better yet put down the camera and call my friend Scott Chytil at http://www.chytilphoto.com/

Posted By:
Tony Meier
Eastside & Seattle Realtor
EastsideHomesBlog.com
EastsideHomes.com
Seattle's Eastside Real Estate Resource
[email protected]

Bad MLS Photo Friday

Tony Meier
Eastside & Seattle Realtor

Here is this week’s installment featuring the photographic skills of my colleagues here in the Northwest.

I just had to laugh! As I enter my 20th year in real estate, I have never seen a photo like this. There is a phrase in photography... "If you want to take better pictures, get a more interesting subject."  I am not sure this is what they meant. Unfortunately, it would take a great deal of Photoshop to save this one!

Who is the target buyer is for this home... maybe a budding child artist? :-)

Posted By:
Tony Meier
Eastside & Seattle Realtor
EastsideHomesBlog.com
EastsideHomes.com
Seattle's Eastside Real Estate Resource
[email protected]

Bad MLS Photo Friday

Tony Meier
Eastside Realtor

Here is this week’s installment featuring the pathetic photographic skills of my colleagues here in the Northwest.

Where do I start?!? Okay, how about the bad HDR (High Dynamic Range) processing. The light and dark spots all over the photo… bad, bad, bad! The sky looks cool, but otherwise this looks like something out of a book on what not to do with HDR.

Next, how about those converging lines?  They could have been easily fixed within a few seconds in Photoshop. All around this is just a BAD photo and the seller’s chances of sale suffer in direct result of this!

If you are going to use HDR, which I do on most of my exterior shots it should like this -

I shot this home yesterday. Not the nicest of days, but you will notice a decent sky, good dynamic range with light and dark areas being revealed and none of the obvious flaws the previous photo shows.  This Redmond rambler just went on the market today. You can view the rest of the photos at http://RedmondRambler.com

If you are ready to sell your home and would like top notch photos showcasing it, give me a call. It is part of my service and I will make sure your home stands out! You can check out my work for my home sellers at: http://www.tonymeierphotography.com/f1038471003/

If you’re an agent reading this and you would like to learn how to take better photos, check out http://photographyforrealestate.net/

Posted By:
Tony Meier
Eastside & Seattle Realtor
EastsideHomesBlog.com
EastsideHomes.com
Seattle's Eastside Real Estate Resource
[email protected]