I find myself more and more being contacted by email from folks out of town who want more photos of a property. How do you guys handle these? Obviously it is too much work to do for a stranger who you've never even spoken with...

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Drew T. Nichols
Greenville SC Real Estate

We're a resort community and our contacts are mostly out of the area (many are military families from overseas being relocated).

For us, it depends on the quality of the lead and what they are purchasing. We rarely drive 20 miles to photo a tract of land (unless it's a LARGE tract or an expensive waterfront lot).

For other property types, we usually add the task to one of our routes during the week and take a few minutes to get the additional photos. It doesn't take a lot of time, and since we're going to be close by anyway it's good pr for the customer

If we've built a relationship with the buyer, we will do whatever we need to do help them buy something (within reason of course).

Helps them to realize we're working for them.

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Jessie: Panama City Beach Real Estate, Panama City Real Estate and Panama City Beach Condos

I have taken a few times in the past but it never panned out. I generally find if people don't want to visit they are not that serious. This is of course just my experience. And I could see it being different for different cities.

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Ki Gray - Austin Realtor

Working in Austin his site covers the Austin Real Estate market. If you are considering investing in Austin be sure to check out his Austin Real Estate Blog or look through some of the Austin Homes currently for sale.

I just did that for someone on a house in Tarpon Springs, it was listed for $1.2 million so I couldn't resist. They wanted to see pictures of the pool and the listing agent hadn't taken any yet. So I drove out to the home took 5 nice photos and emailed them. That was 4 days ago and I haven't heard anything back, not even a thank you. Go figure..

I would normally respond with a few questions: Do they realize I am not the listing agent? Are they currently working with a Buyer's agent? Would they be interested in having me represent them in the purchase of their new home? What kind of time frame are they working with? ....etc.

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Dan Connolly
Atlanta Georgia
Atlanta Georgia Real Estate
Atlanta Foreclosures
Search for Atlanta Real Estate

I'm going to look at this from a slightly different view. I'm assuming you are the listing agent and they saw the listing on your site. If you keep getting calls about wanting additional photo, perhaps your not posting enough photo on all of your listing. When you initially go and take the photos start taking 3 or 4 more. That should cut the number of photo request down.

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Neal M
Jackson MO Real Estate, Cape Girardeau Missouri Real Estate, Cape Girardeau Real Estate
HouseViewOnline™ is southeast Missouri’s leading site for touring real estate online. See 100’s of properties from Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Perryville & Sikeston Missouri. Properties are displayed in photos taken by our professional photographer. We are proud to work with Realtors and real estate agents through out SE Missouri.

I agree with Neal if you are the listing agent. When I list a property I take a ton of photos. Some are good and some are horrible, but I would rather have too many. If you are not the listing agent, why don't you call the LA to see if they have additional photos they can send you?

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Mike Taylor
Indianapolis Real Estate | Carmel Real Estate |My REW Blog

Spot on Neal, Absolutely!

This is the #1 reason we get asked for additional photos. I can't tell you how many properties priced over $500k (not to mention the over $1mil homes) are listed in our mls with but a single photo (and a crappy one at that).

I mean really, it's a scary world out there...

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Jessie: Panama City Beach Real Estate, Panama City Real Estate and Panama City Beach Condos

In this case I am not the listing agent - in fact I never am. when I'm the listing agent, they ask if I can take some photos down, because it is information overload.

These are hard requests to deal with. I guess you ask them to come in for an appointment before you go out and take photos for joe schmoe who you've never met?

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Drew T. Nichols
Greenville SC Real Estate

One of the qualifying questions I ask out of town buyers with excessive requests is when they plan on visiting. It turns the table of them to show how serious they are.

The internet will keep you spinning your wheels if you let it.

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