Real Estate Marketing Rule of Thumb: Play Down the Garage, Driveway
Just like people often have a more and less flattering side for photos, so do homes.
Looking at the photos of this currently “For Sale” Minnetonka house (not my listing), it’s pretty obvious which is which.
The top photo is from the current listing; photo #2, a previous one.
Digital Doctoring
What is and isn’t kosher to alter digitally?
At least with the photographers I work with most regularly, the following are all in-bounds:
–Making brown grass green;
–Substituting a blue sky for a gray one;
–Reducing window glare (in interior photos);
–Removing a “For Sale” sign (necessary because it’s sometimes installed first, and MLS rules prohibit “branded” advertising).
Out-of-bounds:
–Adding or removing anything (like a tree in the foreground) that materially alters the appearance of the home.
Which is all as it should be: good photographers have no more interest than Realtors in being accused of misrepresentation.
P.S.: When it comes to virtual staging, I have argued with my software vendor — unsuccessfully so far — in favor of such things as showing hardwood floors instead of the current old, unattractive carpeting.
Notwithstanding my assurances that any such alterations would be accompanied by an explicit disclaimer (example: “Home is digitally staged. Flooring, furniture and accents all added with software”), they’re concerned about legal liability.
