Close the garage door and retake the main pic.

You may want to take the exercise equipment out of the master while selling to make the room seem larger. If you do, retake the master bedroom picture. Also, is there a better angle for that room? The pic basically shows a bed. There must a way to show the size of the room to its greatest advantage.

Note: The stained glass window panel will not be included in the sale.
Swap that out BEFORE you put your home on the market and remove that text. You can run into problems with an attached feature like this. Better to have it gone and the prospective buyer never realizes it was there to "want".

Thanks xamsx. I'm taking notes.

declutter bedroom 3 and re-take the picture?

ummm,
Bedroom 3 is for 17-year-old son. It was a challange just to get it to that state. I think he will be homebound, straped-down, and other threats so I can get a better picture.

subuagain: Did a little photoshopping adjusting if you want to use it. No need to retake.
{{!gwi}}

Great job jeff147. Now how about working on bedroom3 for me ;-)

That's a nice looking house. Your website is a great start and just needs a bit of tweaking, I think. I agree with most of what's said above.

On websites like this I want to see the photos in a logical order - front outside, entry inside, then the living room or kitchen or whatever comes next, etc. so I can get a feel for the flow of the house. Or include a basic blueprint.

I like that you have the measurements of the rooms listed. That's something everyone wants to know.

What's unique about that floor in one of the bedrooms? You say "a unique floor" but don't say why and it doesn't show in the photo.

Generally, it annoys me when the copy mentions something special and there's no accompanying photo.

Can you take the photos with the blinds open, so there's a bit of view that's seen?

I want to see more photos of the outside - are there gardens? Or 8 acres of what?

On the directions page perhaps note how far it is to Lafayette, Baton Rouge, New Orleans - for people who either want to commute or want to go places on the weekend.

Good luck!

Minet-
The unique bedroom floor had an interesting inlay around the border of it.

I saw a bit of that but not enough to really stir my interest. Perhaps a close up? And is it really a wood inlay or just a stencil?

I'm curious, now, as to why it's in that one bedroom. Not curious in a bad way, just in a *curious* way. Inlay, to me, is more formal and would usually be in a dining or living room.

I think you did a really good job on the website, however, IMO, I think you are showing too much. Every room was shown, there really is no reason for a buyer to come, they have already seen your house. By showing each room, you're giving them a reason to discount it. I would show a couple of the best rooms and do a write up on some of the others. Take out the bedroom pictures. I would just show, the main living areas, and a few of the property.

You might want to make the links to photos, details, contact info, etc., in a more promintent place or at least use a larger font. I couldn't find the link at first to view the photos. I almost posted here asking where the photos were because I didn't see the link at the top of the page. They're too small.

Also, your flooring is absolutely beautiful, but I can't tell what it is. Is it tile or a type of wood? Perhaps you can mention it in your photos as I think it's a positive feature.

I mentioned this in your other thread. The kitchen photo angle makes the kitchen counter look curved when it is really a breakfast bar with the countertop. While the countertops gleam, the reflection in them is distracting in the photo.

Nice job with the website. Under quality features, eliminate faux finish walls and faux wood blinds. If you feel you must keep them in the listing, drop them below the real quality stuff, such as the granite and crown molding.

I love your house. It's really beautiful.

1.) One thing I noticed is that there is a phone # to call, but who do I ask for? Maybe it doesn't bother other people but would be nice to know who to ask for if I had questions.

2.) I would put a disclaimer when you diclose sq. footage. I've seen lots of people get upset when they price their house by sq. ft. yet it doesn't come out to what's advertised. So, be careful with that and maybe just put "approx. sq. ft".

3.) I would also love to see a shot of what the 8 acres includes? Is it woods? dirt? grass? landfill or what? :)

4.) I also agree that you want to peak people's interest to come and look; therefore, hold some stuff back to make them WANT to come and see the rest of the home.

Again, your home is beautiful!!

A big thank you to everyone for your suggestions.

minet, The reason for the order of the photos is a personal preference. I'm shopping for a new home over the internet from 450 miles away. The second most important feature for me is a nice kitchen and that's the first thing I want to see. If I come across a listing that looks great from the outside but the kitchen is small I immediately hit the back button. I've thought about putting a blue print but the house is laid out long, 101' wide by 60' deep. I don't know if I would be able to fit it on the page and still make it readable. I will work on it though.

Bedroom 2's floor is unique from the rest of the house in color and design. All the 1st floor is scored and stained concrete. This is mentioned on my details page. My floor guy was an artist and did each room separately. The design is bands from each "corner" that intertwine in the center of the room. The reason it's different is because I let my children choose their design and my then 16 year old wanted something unique. I don't want to show too much on the web since I'm looking for the wow reaction when a person walks in.

It's beyond my skills as a photographer to show an outside scene through a window. When the blinds are open all you see is a brightness. The yard is 8 acres with a few trees planted and the ponds. I might take view shots from the back patio to show the seclusion.

I hadn't thought about distances to Lafayette or N.O. because I assume I'll sell to someone local who would already know this.

linda117, I show so many pictures because as a current shopper myself I want to see as many pictures as possible.

sparksals, I will do something about the links. The floors are scored to look like 4'X4' tile on a diagonal in the LR, DR and kitchen. 3'X3' in the MB, I've mentioned bedroom2 above. Bedroom3 is a large circle with keystones and intersecting lines, a "scope" to outdoors-man. There is a cypress tree swamp scene in the foyer and the front porch is scored into planks. In the past when people walked into my house for the first time they always comment that they love my tile and are surprised that it's concrete.

I have until Wednesday before the ad is in the papers and will be working on the site before then. Thanks to everyone for your suggestion.

SuBu

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1521604}}

TOO MUCH! Too much information in your "Details" (some of it repeated on the photo page). Too many photos.

Your first photo needs to "grab" the viewer. It's overexposed. Looks bleak -- little house on a prairie. You have a darling house front. Must we see the blank garages? Just tell us they're there and show us a close-up of the house front on your presentation page. Maybe an angle along the garages looking at the front door? Can you dress up the front stoop with some plants?

I agree with the comment about a logical progression of photos. Show us the entry, the LR, the Kitchen. That's NOT a DR, it's part of the kitchen. (Don't call attention to "no formal DR".) Show us each bathroom -- one photo each. Show the MBR and not the others. Show the rec room --stand on a stool if necessary to get a shot that doesn't include the ceiling. Do you have a pretty staircase? Include that in the "entry" photo.

Take all the facts that you have on the photo pages OFF the details page. Edit out the judgemental phrases like "beautiful". Don't tell us you want to leave the pool table. (Makes me think it can't be removed.)

This house would benefit from staging. It looks TOO bare. (A rare comment on these forums!)

Great site. Just a few things that are missing.
1.) You have no lucritive financing offers or teaser rates advertised on the site. Drop EVERYTHING and call mortgage guys advertised in real estate magazines in your local area and tell them you need them to draw up a payment calculator for your site and to send you a stack of brochures. And tell them you want them to screen your callers and ask whatever else they can do for you, for free of course and put their contact information on your site. They will help you sell your house. You need to find a go-getter who can be reached day or night, 7 days a week.
ex: On every page it should say "Own this house from $999/mo" or something to that effect.

2.) Stick a floor plan in there. Just a rough drawing will do.

3.) Safety concern: Instead of "I can be reached" use "we" or just drop it all together. Of course I suggest using your mortgage guys number for scheduling appts since they wwill pre-qual buyers and get them all hot and bothered before they even look at the place.

I've been looking at your pictures for a couple days now. I think it's a lovely house. What I can't get past though is the starkness of the site. There's not a tree, shrub, or flower in sight. It also looks like there's no turfgrass...the front yard looks like weeds? I've noted that it's a fairly new home & imagine that you've just not gotten around to landscaping yet. But, my suggestion would be to retake the front picture & tighten the shot.

Once somebody gets to your property...they will see its surroundings in context. Now, the lack of landscaping is in-your-face with the photo. If you can afford to have 2,000 s.f. of sod put down...I think it would help curb appeal tremendously. If not, even a good-size tree in front would help. Barring both of those...tighten the shot so it's not so noticeable.

I also agree about the staging. Usually we see on this Forum too much "stuff". In this case, I think a little more "stuff" would help. A wooden bowl with fresh fruit on the dining room table, a bright throw casually placed across the back of the bench in the dining room, I think the living room would show much better with a taupe paint on the walls, & removing the exercise equipment in the Master Bedroom are a few suggestions. Usually, we advise people to repaint in a neutral color. In this case, everything looks to be "builder's white" which gives a stark, unfinished look to the rooms.

The upstairs recreation room looks unused...which makes me wonder if we'd use it either or is it just wasted space? I'd put something on the walls, get some new bright throw pillows...give the room a "this is our favorite hang-out" sort of look. Right now, IMO...it looks like a place to put hubby's pooltable & the extra furniture?

I don't normally like to comment unless I can just say really positive things. This time though...I think you have a beautiful home; but, it's just not reading well in the photos. I'm imagining that if I saw it in person I'd think it was great. So, I recommend spicing up the photos with some colored accessories & repainting at least one room (living room) in a taupe which will immediately make the room look warmer & more inviting, IMO.

Tricia

P.S. I'm from New England. We have LOTS of trees. So, it's entirely possible that what I read as stark and barren looking is not true. Here, one could never take an outside photo of anything & not get at least 20 trees in the shot inadvertently! Eight acres of no trees is unheard of. We do not even have many corn fields that large.

Sub

As a buyer, you like to see a lot of pictures, as a seller, the object is to get the buyer there. When you have so many pictures to look at, you can find a way to discount it. When you leave them wanting more, they call. Its a different stratedgy selling then it is looking.

In this day of internet shopping, I tend to disagree with the "leaving them wanting more" strategy. I don't think you have too many photos.

And, does anyone really pay attention to the "you can be in this house for $999 a month" section? By the time I have opened a link to a house, I know whether I can afford it or not and obtaining financing is not my focus at that time.

I think the floors are beautiful. Very nice job.

How significant do you think the energy efficient features are? I'm wondering if that shouldn't be a bigger focus. The white roof is part of that, right? If the house construction is dramatically superior to competing homes you might want to make some reference to it on the main page. Like:

"Quality Custom Home with Energy Efficient Features"
FSBO

There is something about the maple built-ins that I don't like. I'm sure they are beautiful in person, but I don't think the photo looks good. I think you should stage them with bigger, bolder and fewer decorative pieces.

I'd also take out the comment on the triple crown molding because the molding doesn't look particularly substantial in the photos and I was a little disappointed by it.

It's a nice house.

PLEASE READ BEFORE RESPONDING

When I posted this I never realized how many hits my site would get. I'm really starting to worry about bandwidth.

I'm asking for everyone to stop responding so that this post can fall off page one and the hits will slow down.

I really do appreciate everyone who has taken the time to give me such great feedback and helpful suggestions. I'll keep you updated on how the selling goes. Tomorrow the ad comes out in the paper and I'm expecting quite a few hits to the site. I'm not asking everyone to stop looking, just please stop replying and let the post fall off page one.

Thank you again
SuBu