Misleading_Ext

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.

About the author

Ross Kaplan has 19+ years experience selling real estate all over the Twin Cities. He is also a 12-time consecutive "Super Real Estate Agent," as determined by Mpls. - St. Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business Magazine. Prior to becoming a Realtor, Ross was an attorney (corporate law), CPA, and entrepreneur. He holds an economics degree from Stanford.

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