Buyers want to see photos
Online homebuyers are more inclined to view and buy homes quicker with multiple photos online
The most important features online homebuyers want to see when previewing listings are detailed property information and multiple photos. According to the NAR 2004 Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers, 84 percent of online home searchers found multiple photos and detailed property information "Very Useful," putting these online listing features at the top of the survey ahead of virtual tours (58 percent), maps (45 percent) and neighborhood information (36 percent). MLS statistics also show properties with at least six photos receive an offer an average of 25 percent faster than listings with no photo. The average time on the market is about a month longer for listings with no photo as opposed to listings with six or more photos and this could mean the difference of an additional mortgage payment for your seller.
As more consumers begin using the Internet to search for homes, the demand for full featured listing content is growing. It is up to the real estate industry to respond to the desires of these consumers or those desires will be filled by companies currently outside of the industry. To help HAR members compete in this online battle for the consumer, the MLS Advisory Group and the Houston Realtors Information Service Board of Directors have recently approved measures to increase the maximum number of allowed images for each listing in Tempo from 10 to 16. This joint project between HAR and its MLS vendor, Marketlinx, will ensure Houston MLS subscribers are in a position to deliver the highest value to their clients by providing a platform that allows agents to present a very detailed illustration of listed properties.
In addition to increasing the number of allowed images in Tempo from 10 to 16, the two groups also approved a motion to increase the minimum number of required photos from one to six for certain property classes. The details of this rule change are currently being finalized and will be presented to MLS subscribers prior to March 2005. If you are not already taking advantage of utilizing multiple photos on your listings in Tempo, now is a great time to look into this MLS feature.
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Buyers
