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It always surprises me just how little effort and expertise goes into prepping and presenting homes for sale.  In a real estate community like Redondo Beach, with median home prices often nearing $1.0M, you would think that all realtors would be good. The way a home is presented in marketing and advertising can mean the difference between getting an offer or sitting on the market and can mean 10’s of thousands of dollars to a home seller.

Above is a great example that I came across the other day while searching listings.  These pictures of one bedroom condos for sale in The Village of Redondo Beach make a great impact as they are generally the same room, floorplan and angle.  Honestly which would you be more inclined to see and visit?  Both properties were vacant but the home on the left was staged and professional photographer used.  It simply looks brighter and more inviting and a buyer would be far more likely to want to take a look and tour the home.

So why do some sellers choose realtors that put so little effort into selling their Torrance homes?

That’s a great question but there is really no great answer.  Sellers sometimes use a friend of the family, perhaps someone they know, or someone that sends out flyers to the neighborhood.  Regardless of where the realtor comes from it’s astounding that sellers don’t ask how the realtor will prep and market the property.

So what should a Redondo Beach home seller do?

Research….find out which agents are successful selling in the area and find out why.  Then look at past listings to see how the homes look.  It’s no mistake that some agents just have better looking listings.  Some agents simply do more and want every home they sell to look as good as possible.  Ask to see marketing samples and insist on your realtor using a professional photographer as it can make a huge difference.  Sellers have one chance to be a “new listing” and take advantage of the interest and momentum that comes along with that. Would you rather have your home look like the one on the left, or the one on the right.  Keep in mind that the commission you are paying is usually the same….whether your realtor does the bare minimum and puts forward little effort, or goes well above and beyond to market your home.