They say you can’t put lipstick on a pig but there are a lot of houses on the market where their pictures online are doing just that. I am not saying they have gone the way of Kim Kardashian and have been over-photoshopped. I am just saying when it comes to homes, a picture doesn’t always tell the whole story.
When I moved to Calvert County, there was a waterfront home I fell in love with. Yes it was only on the internet and we never met in person but I knew this home was my dream house. It was wonderful in the pictures. I could see myself lounging on the waterfront deck, sitting by the fire, or cooking in the large kitchen.
When I finally got the chance to see it, I was devastated. I had built this home up in my mind as my dream house, but it was a nightmare. Peeling wood and paint, a garden overgrown with weeds and the smell of mold was not the image I got looking at the listing online. The pictures online must have been taken in the home’s prime… but it is well past that point now. When I tell other people they look at me like I have three heads. They can’t believe it because they can see the home online. It’s not until they walk in that they see what I am talking about.
While looking for a home on the internet is easy with all the new websites, it can also lead to big disappointments. Even worse, it can also make you miss some great homes out there by disqualifying them when you only see them online.
The area I live in has a lot of great small neighborhoods with private beaches. Houses in these neighborhoods have been in families for years and maybe only one or two come on the market a year. If you live out of the area, you wouldn’t know that the Willows is a great neighborhood with a great beach. It’s the perfect vacation getaway. Because a lot of the homes are older and don’t photograph as well, people will dismiss them and pass on fantastic property!
Let’s face it, I became a real estate agent because I want to help people and I love looking at houses. Chances are I have seen every house on the market in my area and can give you insights into those homes. So please don’t be afraid to ask! To steal a cliché, when it comes to online home searches, I urge you to “never judge a book by its cover”! Ask us about it or see it in person. Then form your own opinion.
