LESLIE LEMONS

Recently I worked with an agent that took-over an existing listing because the prior listing agent was fired. While there were other reasons the agent was fired, the primary reason was because of poor-quality listing photos. The prior listing agent did what many agents do - grabbed their smartphone, snapped some pics and posted them on the MLS - and they did not look good. But there is much more to the story than poor-quality photos. Many agents don’t appreciate the value of

An image is worth a thousand words…but how many photos should you upload for your listing on the MLS? Historically the number of images allowed per property has been limited to 25 photos. In a recent announcement from MRED (Midwest Real Estate Data) the maximum photo count of 25 images has been lifted, meaning that listing agents can post an unlimited amount of photos per listing. The question becomes: Should listing agents now post more photos per listing? The simple answer

Leslie Lemons | Twitter | Facebook The good news is that spring has sprung! The bad news for listing agents is that spring weather can swing wildly, from warm and sunny to cold and overcast all in a matter of hours. So what does the weather have to do with your listing? You’ve worked hard to get the listing, and now that you have it you need to get it listed quickly to ensure success. You get dates on the calendar for pre-listing activities like prepping the home and having p

5 Real Estate Listing Steps to Boost Success in 2017 In our first blog we covered the first three steps to ensure a successful listing: Understanding the Seller’s Exit Strategy Preparing the Property Creating a Stellar Online Impression With help from Mary DeLaLeurs, Managing Broker/Owner of TORG Realty, Inc. we'll move onto the final two steps: Getting Social and Showing Management. Step 4: Getting Social Like I mentioned in the first part of this blog series, buyers go onli

5 Real Estate Listing Steps to Boost Success in 2017 2017 looks to be another solid year in the residential real estate market - but before you get your first listings for the year we thought it would help to go back to basics and provide some helpful tips so you maximize your listing opportunities and ensure a profitable 2017! We recently interviewed Mary DeLaLeurs, Managing Broker/Owner of TORG Realty, Inc. to help cover the basics and provide helpful tips from a Real Estat

As we look forward to another strong year in the real estate market, many real estate agents and managing brokers are working through their 2017 plans, projections and budgets. As agents look for ways to gain an edge, creating a strong online impression for their listings will continue to be critical for success. Why? Nearly all buyers look at listings online before contacting a realtor, so why not let the online listing start the sales cycle earlier and finish stronger? It w

Realtors and homebuilders need to take photos of their respective listings so they can get them listed and sold for the most amount possible. Many pull-out their smartphones, snap some photos and and call it a day. Easy, right? While the cameras we carry in our pockets are simple and easy to use they're just not fit for listing photos. They don't have the horsepower of a professional camera nor the experience of a professional - which can result in the listing getting passed

As 2016 comes to a close (where did that time go?!) and we look into 2017, I can’t help but think about real estate photography trends in 2017 as the real estate market heads into a (hopefully) banner year! Having worked with many agents and brokerages in Chicagoland ranging from $50,000 condos to $1M+ mansions, here are some of most impactful trends in real estate photography trends that I see and most importantly - how they may impact you whether you’re a realtor, broker, b

What can sellers do to to ensure success with their real estate listing photos? It’s been said many times that “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words.” The phrase is especially true with real estate listings as most potential real estate buyers look at photos and videos online before contacting a realtor. Listing agents need these photos to be of the highest quality to capture the true essence of the listing so that prospective buyers see it not just a house - but as a home. Wh

As a professional real estate photographer I’ve worked with many real estate agents - and a common theme I often hear is: “I don’t use a professional photographer for my listings - I just take the pics myself.” Many real estate agents use their smartphone to take photos, and some even upgrade to an SLR camera to take their own photos. While the reasons vary, the fact remains that many agents don’t see the value of leveraging professional real estate photography. Here are 4 r