“You Get What You Pay For” — Especially in Real Estate
Lately, I’ve noticed a few homes hitting the market through discount brokerages, and let’s just say… you can tell. Now, I’m not here to bash all discount services—some do an okay job—but these recent ones? Not great.
One local listing has the wrong address, the wrong street name, and it’s even in the wrong school district. That’s not just a typo—it’s a red flag. Then there are the photos: sellers taking their own with cluttered counters, dirty dishes in the sink, unmade beds, and random debris scattered around the house. I don’t know who told them that was a great way to attract buyers, but it’s not.
If you’re basically doing a For Sale By Owner, at least double-check your info and take some halfway decent photos. First impressions matter.
This reminds me of a listing I picked up years ago in Northville. The home had been on the market before but expired without selling. I reached out to the seller, and he told me, “All you real estate agents are the same.” So I asked if he’d ever looked at his expired listing. He hadn’t.
I sent him a copy. The photos showed dirty pots and pans, an electric frying pan with a spatula still in it, and messy bedrooms. He told me the photos were taken during garage sale weekend… six months prior. No one ever bothered to update them.
He realized I was right, signed the listing agreement, and we had the home sold in a few weeks—with proper staging and professional photography.
Bottom line: if you’re selling your home, don’t just chase the lowest commission. At Thomas J. Real Estate, Inc., we help you put your best foot forward—accurate info, quality presentation, and a focus on getting you to the closing table.