Broken Clocks & Out-of-Season MLS Photos*
Quick! Test your knowledge of residential real estate and guess how big the Minnetonka home pictured above is:
A. 1,200 finished square feet (“FSF”);
B. 1,656 FSF;
C. 2,370 FSF;
D. 5,849 FSF.**
Answer: “D.” (believe it or not, at least according to MLS).
When the curb appeal is so misleading, it can be a good idea to provide additional exterior shots — or even an aerial one, to better show the home’s true size and setting.
At least in this case, though, I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for that to happen: the home is a bank-owned foreclosure, and it’s a (very) good bet that the bank isn’t paying the listing agent enough to do that.
Skimpy (No?) Photography Budget
That’s based on these two observations:
One. The payout commission (offered to the Buyer’s agent) is smaller than average, so you’d certainly guess the list-side commission is, too; and
Two. The photos of the home haven’t even been updated for Fall, 2014 — never mind Winter, 2015 (note: the home originally listed in August, 2014).
See also, “Show > Tell: The Appeal of Aerial/Boom Shots“; “(Aerial) Shot of the Day”; “Boom? Or Helicopter??” ; “A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words ” Exhibit #24“; and “For Sale Near Interlachen in Edina.”
*Broken clocks are right twice a day. Dated MLS photos . . a couple months a year (at least in Minnesota).
**If you don’t know square feet, a typical two-story, 4 BR/3 Bath home is usually around 3,000 FSF.