Ok, I was doing a little prospecting the other day and was shocked to see some of the photos on MLS. Today I thought I would blog about this including some actual photos of homes that are active on MLS. Each of these homes have been listed since at least January 1, 2007 & are OVER $1 MILLION!!!
Ok, now here's the thing. I didn't have to look hard for any of these. I'm sure there are even worse ones. I actually pulled 6 photos that look similiar to these out of ONLY 30 homes - there are currently 291 active listings OVER $1M that have been listed since before 01.01.2007. What are these homeowners thinking? I apparently need to get on the wire and get in touch with some of these agents! They NEED me!
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Melissa Marro, a published artist, now turned staging advocet and national speaker speaks her mind about real estate and the home staging industry. In her 'no holds barred' approach, audience members find real answers to the industries pitfalls and learn how to overcome them with tried and true information and guidance. With marketing as her passion, she turned a small home based business into one of the nation's largest home staging and training facilities. She now operates as the CEO of First Impressions Home Staging & Interior ReDesign as well as the Executive Director of Certified Staging Professionals International Training Academy (CSPI) - the world's largest Staging Training Organization, and regularly speaks at the StagerList Expos and Real Estate Staging Association (RESA)'s trade events.
For more information on having Marro speak at one of your real estate functions, please contact her at 843.822.2622 or email at marro.melissa@gmail.com
If you would like Marro's team to provide information on staging a property in the state of South Carolina, or the Greater Charleston Area, please visit www.WeStageSC.com, email marro.melissa@gmail.com or call 843.822.2622.
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February 6-8 Charleston, SC
February 16-18 Austin, TX
March 6-8 Atlanta, GA
March 13-15 Raleigh, NC
March 20-22 St. Petersburg, FL
April 10-12 Knoxville, TN
May 4-6 Covington, KY
May 18-20 Charlotte, NC
July 5-7 Memphis, TN
July 10-12 Charleston, SC
The bottom photo reminds me of a beach pad I had visited a few years ago on Balboa Island in Newport Beach. It makes me laugh how people will buy a second home for a million or two and put all their old furniture in it and then when they want to relax, they go sit in their old ugly and worn out furniture and say "ah, now this is living".
Melissa,
This just kills me. I see this all the time here too. I have a house in my neighborhood, that I have left staging info for, twice. The pictures on MLS still show snow from the winter. Hmmmm I wonder when it was listed? The house despartely needs a lift and is listed at over 1 million. I just shake my head.
lol, I actually like the dining room...what does that say about me?!
Bruce - Sometimes I have to wonder if agents understand what the photos are for.
Sheron - not me! I like things pretty, even (especially) when I'm on vacation! I'm a firm believer of not saving the 'good stuff' for special occassions. I like my 'good stuff' when I want it. If I have a glass of wine, I drink it in my good crystal, etc. I definately don't understand this mentality.
Joelle - You would be shocked how many Christmas trees I saw the other day when I was prospecting. If the agents are going to earn 3% they need to come back to take a new set of photos - AND direct their clients on what to do to get the home sold (or hire us!)
Marci - sadly, no. Not kidding. That was only out of the first 30 homes & it wasn't even all of the photos I copied.
Scott - I think the answer is they aren't thinking!
Dane - The room is just a little too personal (and cluttered) for most potential buyers.
Carole - I know! A little wallpaper removal, paint, decluttering. Can we please be hired to make these homes actually look like a million bucks? NOT figuatively speaking!
Jim & Maria - we are in the same area! These are Charleston homes.... let me know if you ever need any help! Let me know if you know any offenders who need my help!
Sue - Doesn't it make you wonder why people complain they can't get work?
Maureen - LOL..... That was just funny...
Paula - Can I borrow that line?
Hi Melissa,
I can't believe that those houses are a million+ dollars! The really sad thing is that if we have these comments about the photos, you know potential buyers are saying it too! I wonder what their realtors are thinking?
Melissa,
SURE the line is available...its gets a chuckle in presentations from time to time! Funny how my cousin in advertising could actually get away with charging a bazilllion dollars just for a brilliant line! Can you arrange a trade....the house for my words?