Really Bad MLS Photos: 5 Horrific Real Estate Pics You Can’t Unsee

By Daniel Bortz
Jan 15, 2018

Real estate photos can be gorgeous—or horrifyingly ugly. As proof, look no further than the Facebook group Really Bad MLS Photos, where members share the biggest clunkers they’ve seen.

Seven years ago, Paul Meleedy, a real estate agent in Lakeville, MA, created this Facebook group to teach members (restricted to real estate agents and photographers) what not to do when taking real estate pics. And at the same time, maybe they can have a bit of a chuckle over just how shockingly bad some photos can be.

Over the years, this group’s popularity has grown—and, while home buyers and sellers aren’t allowed to join, Meleedy has shared some choice examples below. Here’s his story about how this group came about, and some advice on what makes a great (and really terrible) real estate pic.

Q: How did Really Bad MLS Photos begin?

A: It got started when a buyer told me he was amused by some of the photos he had seen during his home search. I replied jokingly with, “If only I could write a book.” Well, I didn’t write a book, but I created a Facebook group by posting two or three photographs and inviting a few local real estate associates to join. Over the course of seven years, we have grown to over 8,500 members who have submitted almost 2,000 photos.

Q: Why restrict the group to just agents and photographers?

A: We limit the group to real estate and photography professionals only—and are very careful to not allow any MLS numbers, addresses, brokerage names, or other identifying information to be displayed on any of the photos—because it isn’t our intent to embarrass or disparage agents or their sellers. By pointing out a few of the bad photographs, we hope that they then see the improvements they can make.

Turn on your camera’s autofocus mode to eliminate blurriness.
Unless you’re a Swedish art-house film director, blurriness isn’t your friend.

(Really Bad MLS Photos/Facebook)

Q: Why is it so important to have good listing photos?

A: I believe photographs are more important than flowery 75-word descriptions. Consumers make their decision to view a particular property within a few seconds after viewing photographs online. The better the photo, the more leads will be generated. [It’s] that simple.

All personal items should be stowed away, like the bra hanging on the doorknob in this photo.
All personal items should be stowed away, such as the bra hanging on the doorknob in this photo.

(Really Bad MLS Photos/Facebook)

Q: Why are there so many bad listings photos out there?

A: Out of the tens of thousands of listings, most photos are good. Unfortunately, it’s the few bad ones that stand out. Real estate photography of an interior can be really challenging due to different size rooms, angles, and lighting. The exterior is also a challenge because the sun is always on one side of the house, which creates shadows and darkness on the other sides. And people always just want to use their cellphone. But overall, the quality of the photos is getting better.

Maid's day off? Clean up the damn dishes before photographing the kitchen.
Cleaner’s day off? Wash the damn dishes before photographing the kitchen.

(Really Bad MLS Photos/Facebook)

Q: Do the lousy photos inspire a lot of commentary or wisecracks from members?

A: Well, yeah, there’s a lot of discussion surrounding most submissions. Oftentimes it’s fun banter pointing out the unfortunate mistakes. Other times, agents offer tips on how the photo can have been vastly improved.

Take photos from multiple angles so that your equipment isn't in the frame.
Take photos from multiple angles so that your equipment isn’t in the frame. And, um, those towels?

(Really Bad MLS Photos/Facebook)

Q: To your knowledge, has anyone ever discovered their own listing photo on your Facebook group?

A: I had an agent that emailed me a few years ago about one of his photos that appeared on the site. Apparently, he hastily uploaded a bunch of photos for his new listing, which included a particularly bad one he never intended to use. He left for vacation immediately after and didn’t realize what he did until he saw it on the site.

No matter how much you love your pet, home buyers don’t want to see your four-legged friend in a listing photo.
No matter how much you love your pet, home buyers don’t want to see your four-legged friend in a listing photo.

(Really Bad MLS Photos/Facebook)

Q: What listing photo mistake are you sick of seeing so often?

A: The type of photo that appears too frequently is the one that inadvertently includes the listing agent or seller in the photo, most commonly by shooting the photo toward a mirror and capturing the shooter along with the flash.

Q: What’s one simple piece of advice you have on taking better real estate pics?

A: I joke when I say the first thing you should do is get out of the car. I say this because many of the listings with only one photograph were obviously taken from the driveway or street.

Q: What are the benefits of hiring a professional photographer to take your listing photos?

A: It’s always the best option. They will make sure every room looks good.  Many times, automatic settings on a smartphone or point-and-shoot camera are not adequate.

Tips on taking your own great real estate photos

  • Reduce the clutter, close the toilet seat, get the junk out of the camera’s eye, make the bed.
  • Use the right hardware: tripod, wide-angle lens, and flash.
  • Carefully evaluate the lighting. It may require multiple trips to get the proper lighting based on the exterior light and the angle of the sun.
  • It’s OK to use photo editing software to highlight and correct lighting and color. Just don’t use it to misrepresent the home.
  • Be aware of seasonal changes. If you list your home with pics with snow on the ground, retake the photos when the snow disappears in spring.
  • Many times, the seller needs to list the property immediately and can’t get the house in proper shape for a few days. If you don’t have a lot of good photos when you first post the listing, go back and take additional photos as soon as possible afterward.