by Dan Krell © 2010
It is often said that the truth shall set you free, but the truth may also help you sell your home. You might think I’m talking about disclosing material facts (which you should always do), but actually I am referring to how you describe and advertise your home. Accurately describing your home and providing truthful photos may attract actual home buyers who are searching for a home just like yours.
Descriptions of your home in the MLS and other advertisements, as well as photos, are designed to attract home buyers who are searching for the specific features of your home. Home buyers may be attracted by the message you send them, however they will only buy the home that meets their criteria.
You see, searching for homes on the internet is akin to internet dating. Just like internet dating, you want to put your best foot forward. You want the photos to be attractive and your description to be tantalizing. However, distorting photos (or posting photos that are ten or twenty years old) as well as exaggerating your description will most likely make people angry for deceiving them. If you portray your home as something it is not, you are certain to upset home buyers and agents for wasting their time.
Because of its convenience, online virtual tours have become one of the main tools that home buyers use to choose what homes to view in person. As you might imagine, some agents and home sellers are tempted to use digital photo programs to make the homes look better on the internet. Using the “pinch” function to make rooms look larger, they may feel as if they are doing minor photo “touch ups”; but in actuality they may distort what the home looks like. In extreme scenarios, they may cover-up material facts about the home.
Consider telling the truth. For example, if your home is very well maintained but hasn’t been updated since Ronald Reagan was in the White House, then you might consider describing the condition and maintenance of the home rather than saying the home has “updates.” Think about listing the actual number of bedrooms in the home as opposed to listing the number of potential bedrooms if the basement was finished. Additionally, if a queen size bed fits comfortably in the master bedroom; don’t distort the photo to make the bed appear to be a California king size!
If you’re frustrated by having your home on the market for what may seem to be a long time and your home is priced correctly, reconsider how your home is portrayed to home buyers before making a price change (over-pricing your home is a separate issue). Many agents seek price changes as a means to a quick sale; however before lowering the price, have a chat with your agent about how they are describing the home and consider re-taking photos.
Home sellers with whom I have consulted have had positive results once they realized the message they were trying to send to home buyers was not congruent with their home’s characteristics. Remember, a hog in a tuxedo is still a hog; don’t make the home out to be something it is not just to attract home buyers.
This article is not intended to provide nor should it be relied upon for legal and financial advice. This article was originally published in the Montgomery County Sentinel the week of August 9, 2010. Using this article without permission is a violation of copyright laws. Copyright © 2010 Dan Krell.