Dont Judge a House by it's Photos

Technology is making it easier for home buyers to have more of a say so in the homes they view and what peeks their interest. Buyers can do most of the research and hand pick their showings just by searching online. I always mention a disclaimer to my buyers before visiting the properties they get so excited to see: Photos may appear different online then when you actually visit the property. I don’t mean agents are photo shopping items in or out but they selectively take photos how they want a buyer to see the property, often times hiring a professional photographer to take photos and make the home look impeccable, leaving out rooms or problems that might be a setback to a buyer or might not bring a buyer to the property. It’s also hard to show room sizes in photos especially when you have over sized furniture or an extremely small rooms. It's all about marketing. If they showed you all the detrimental things you wouldn’t take the time to visit the property, especially if you want a move in ready home. The more buyers that take a look at the property, the higher possibility of an offer.

I like to show my buyers a few homes they might not be interested in at first glance; you can’t judge a house by its photos. When most buyers are looking at photos online they see the current homeowner’s tastes- furniture, paint color, art work, etc. Some people can’t look past how the subject is decorated and immediately remove homes from their list. When in fact it might be the perfect home with a little personalization. Remember you can change paint colors around $25 a room, carpet for a couple hundred depending on the size, replace a light fixture/ceiling fan for $100. These items can add up, but you might be able to negotiate a lower purchase price based on the items you feel need updated. In my experience buyers have been pleasantly surprised at some homes they wrote off early on and ended up loving in the end. As a buyer, once you have seen all the properties you thought you would like and it seems like nothing else is coming on the market, take a chance and look at one you might have checked off. It might be the one you end up purchasing, turn a house into a home.