A realtor told me my house photos were killing my listing, she was right

I had my house in Phoenix up for 3 weeks with zero showings, and a family friend who sells homes said my photos looked like a storage unit. She told me to declutter every counter, take down half the wall decor, and reshoot with a cheap wide angle lens on my phone. Has anyone else had a small change like that completely flip how fast their place gets traction in a slow market?

3 comments

3 Comments

charlie_allen1mo ago

3 weeks with zero showings is brutal, I can't believe you went that long without anyone even walking through the door. That storage unit comment must have stung but honestly it was probably the reality check you needed. I've seen friends do open houses with cluttered counters and weird wall art and nobody even stays for 2 minutes. A wide angle lens hides how small rooms really feel and makes the space look open instead of cramped. Glad you turned it around because that slow market in Phoenix is no joke right now.

keith2641mo ago

Wide angle actually makes rooms look bigger though, not smaller.

jessica_miller29d ago

The Phoenix market in June 2024 hit 4,500+ active listings under $500k, so your timing was rough before the photo fix. @charlie_allen mentioned the wide angle trick, but an overlooked detail is that phone camera lenses distort edges in a way that mimicks higher ceilings, which buyers in that market subconsciously look for. That storage unit comparison was harsh but real, cluttered spaces make people feel like they're walking through someone else's mess instead of their future home.