Do your sellers and yourself a favor. If you have winter photos of your listing, take a new updated photo with green grass and spring flowers--and update the MLS and marketing photos. It changes the complete feeling of the home and its curb appeal. Don't be surprised if it improves showing activity. This is the least expensive way to freshen up winter listings for the least amount of money.
Spring always brings a renewed feeling in the real estate market. While many people may focus on the interior of the house with staging, curb appeal can't be overlooked! Alone in Charleston, we have seen the activity pick up in March 2009. We saw inventory levels reduce from 27 months to 18 months from the previous month. Huge progress that we are hoping will continue. In the mean time, updating your listings can only help in this market.
Contact Michele Reneau, Top Real Estate Agent, North Charleston, SC Relocation Expert, CRS, GRI, ABR. Licensed Realtor® in South Carolina at 843-572-0518 to list your property for sale or to purchase real estate in Charleston, Goose Creek, Summerville, North Charleston, Hanahan, Mount Pleasant and the surrounding areas in Charleston County, Berkeley County or Dorchester County, South Carolina. Featured on HGTV's House Hunters. Publisher/Author for Charleston Real Estate Update including featured listings and sold properties, and monthly statistics on Charleston Real Estate Market. RESA 2009 Staging Realtor of the Year Nominee. The Charleston Relocation Expert specializes in military relocation, first time homebuyers and creating marketing exposure to sell your home in the Charleston SC Real Estate market. I can also be contacted by email at mreneau@carolinaone.com. To view all Charleston Metro area houses for Sale Click Here and then click on Search for Homes. With over 25 years of Lowcountry Living, I know the Charleston Metro area. I will help you get your home sold and/or help you buy your Charleston home or land.
Michele Reneau, ABR, GRI, CRS
www.CharlestonRelocationExperts.com
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Michele...This is defiantly a pet peeve of mine especially in snow country, I can't tell you how many Listings will stay up with Snow in the photos...well into spring (sometimes summer..if the agent is really Lazy). It doesn't help the market at all to have buyer thinking they have all the time in the world since it's obvious nothing must be selling (snow photos in Summer).
My broker recently sent out an all-office e-mail reminding us to update any of our photos that had snow in them. I thought to myself, "What dopey realtor still has photos with snow in them?" Later than evening I was checking some things on the MLS and came across a house with snow in it . . . and it was my listing! I slapped myself then took a new photo the next day.
Thanks for the good reminder.
Hi Michele;
Great Post! It is very important to update your listing pictures and description of the property. Thank you!
Hi Michele,
Loved the post. It is very important to update from winter photos to spring and summer photos. My broker requires that this done by a certain date makes the seller's happy knowing that you are still actively working on their listing not to mention the warmth of summer photos.
Great post and thanks for reminding us it is time to take a look at the photo's and update.
Steve-So true. It's a sure sign of a stale listing!
Margaret-Oops! Good catch. At least you checked your listings.
Anthony-It's important not to forget to update backyard photos and any amenties.
Jackie-What a great idea for the broker to require it! I notified my sellers that I updated the photo to a spring photo and always get such a warm response from sellers.
Pat-I love spring! It's a good time to let it show through on the MLS photos.
Michele, thank you so much for the reminder. We still have a few weeks here in Cleveland before the trees and flowers are in bloom but updated photos is very important and I'm sure our sellers will appreciate it.
I've seen that this is a tough thing for a lot of reators. Good reminder M.
Dan & Amy-By sharing it with you seller that you have taken this step, (like Jackie said), the seller knows that you are working actively on their listing.
Larry-Sometimes, I don't think it's not really tough as much as it is lazy IMHO. I really should have done this 2 weeks ago myself but just now getting around to it.
Michele, you are so right!
The other day I looked at a listing that still had about a foot of snow in the picture. Even so it is a REO, it should have been updated it looked a bit tacky.
Bettina
Bettina, REOs are probably the worst on updating photos. They rarely have more than 1 photo as it is.
HI MICHELE! Best tip of the day! How many more days to Aloha-land??! -- Gabrielle
Thanks Gabrielle! Only 27 more days til Maui! I can't wait.
Hi Michele,
With you 100% on this one.
Catherine