Pictures are way too dark and shot at weird unappealing angles. Need more natural light and maybe to get rid of the dark paint colors. The house Lola really nice (good layout and nice size) but the pictures so it no justice.

Thanks for the input. I also think the pictures are dark. I have been considering asking the agent to take new ones but wasn't sure if I was being too picky. It also wasn't looking the best because she decided to do it the night before we left on vacation and I didn't have it the way I really wanted it. That was my fault but would really like new pictures. Is it unreasonable to ask her to take new ones?

No. These are pictures potential buyers/agents will see. I absolutely would have her take new photos (or even hire a professional). We spent $200 on a stager/home photographer. Initial consult was to give advice on how take the home look it's best. She then came back a few weeks later and took the pictures. Best money spent in my opinion.

Overall, it looks very neat but also a bit gloomy. Yes, I would ask for new pictures that are much lighter and also better taken. There are some strange angles and things that should be cropped out.

A few suggestions:

Closer up of the exterior from the front and the back. It's nice to see the lot, but I'd show more of the house, too.

Then proceed with pictures the way you'd enter the house.

Arrange the chairs facing each other in the living room.

open the curtains in the room with the pink/white and green curtains. What' s behind the green curtains? And get rid of the ghost face in the hammock.

Declutter the bathroom a bit.

Show the second bathroom.

I'd paint the kid's room one color, i.e. the white or the beige.

Pic of the garage? It sounds like the size is great for a boat.

Speaking of which, how far are you from the lake? I'd add pictures and add it to the description.

Also, I'd ask for some additional information in the description. What's up with the gated community?

nosoccermom, thank you for the suggestions.

There is just a wall behind the green curtains. My daughter wanted to paint one wall green and that was our compromise. I can take the curtains down and probably should go ahead and do that. And the "ghost face" is actually the foot of a teddy bear but I hadn't even noticed that!

I hate the picture of the bathroom. I cringe every time I see it. Will definitely be removing some things for the next picture.

We asked her to take pics of the garage but she said she never takes pictures of the inside of garages.

The gated community is well known in this area but basically just a private community that has lake access and pools and rec center and other amenities that are for property owners only. Some people love it but it's not for everyone.

I agree that the photos are a problem. How did you get this realtor? Did you interview them and ask how they would be marketing your home? Just curious. We always choose realtors that pay for high quality professional photos including a virtual tour. Your home looks great to me for the price! Not a lot of storage in the kitchen. Kitchens sell houses. That could be one issue.

Another thing that disturbs me is the photo of the bathroom with the towels on top of the cabinet. It makes it appear that there is NO storage for towels. I found a pin on pinterest once that has been re-pinned a thousand times. Someone hung a wine rack and rolled their towels where the wine would be. It looked decorative and was functional. Not sure you have room for something like that in there because, as others have said, the photos are taken from strange angles. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AYQxRq9VXs9e3kPc2coNr7LwRUvx9a1XsiEnzpAiiv2DeSIA4k3UXgE/

My nit to pick would be the living room. It looks like an overstuffed chair convention, and it's the first think you see when you walk in.

It's cold and not conversational.

I would rearrange the room. TV on wall opposite the window, sofa back to the window (a foot away), chairs flanking, an area rug to define the space, coffee and side table.

Accent table where the tv is now, with a mirror or nice picture above.

The master bath is a little short on storage but I've since moved the towels and have them stored in a cabinet.

I agree with the suggestions on the living room. I need to do some work there. The TV cabinet is huge and needs to be taken out completely.

Thanks again for all the input. What about the price? Should we lower it or just take new pictures and see if that helps?

Is this a manufactured home? The front doesn't look like it, but the pictures inside that highlight the angled ceilings make it look like (what we call in my area) a pre-fab. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but those pictures make it look cheap.

And I'd remove all the stuff on the top of the walls and cabinets that call attention to the angled ceilings.

Are there other homes like this in your area for sale? How does your price compare to theirs?

One more thing. Add some pretty plants front and back. Your backyard looks bland. Just a few will do a lot.

Look up stagers in your area or ask the RE office for a stager/photographer. Your agent is not doing you any favors.

A couple things struck me. One was the agent told you she doesn't take photos of the garage? Who's she working for? The other was the HOA fee. Is that $750 per month?

No, not a manufactured home but I can see why you would ask the question. Do you think it would look to stark if I removed all the baskets and plants on the ledges and cabinets?

Price is comparable but on the high end of the range.

Christopher_H, I agree and should have insisted she take photos of the garage.

The HOA fee is $750 per year, not month.

Even if people know about the community, I'd add some info about the amenities and some pictures of the lake, pool, etc.

Are these comps?
The properties that seem to be nearby don't show any pictures of the houses themselves. Are they still to be built?

And how about this property? It's agent owned. Obviously quite different, but it looks more cheerful and also shows the views.

And, yes, I'd get rid of the baskets and plants but add some fresh flowers inside and annuals in pots around the outside.

In the kitchen - definitely get rid of all the things on the cabinet tops. Also get rid of everything on the counter except for maybe one showpiece item. People want to imagine themselves living in your home and it's hard when there are distractors. I would get rid of the curtain over the sink and let in all that natural light. Need to take the picture from a totally different angle too - the light fixture is dated and make the lighting seem unappealing. Put some flowers on the table in the kitchen - will draw just a little color into the room. Take the chair cushions off (distracting).

In the living room/family room: I personally would get rid of the dark blue area under the chair rail n the living room. take the plants off the ledge above the TV.

In the first bedroom, get neutral curtains or have those ones totally open. Get rid of the stuffed animals and all personal items (very distracting).

Agree with above comments in the bathroom - get rid of the stuff on the toilet and counters, putt he towels somewhere.

The master bedroom looks great but get rid of the TV. Put something decorative in it's place. The stager who took pictures of our home said TVs in bedroom are ugly (we lived without one for months after she told us that - we actually found talking or reading books was better for our sleep anyway).

In the other kids bedroom, have to get rid of the tractor theme and all personal photos. One photo or picture on the wall (or even better a bigger clock only). The bookshelf is cute but it needs to be decluttered.

The back of the property photo needs to be taken on an angle. The way it is shot is harsh.

Overall, you have a nice home and I hope to not offend you with these comments. Pictures are what is going to get people into your home and they are very important. It will also be something that a potential buyer likely goes back to when making the final decision so they can really help sell your house.

I'm not offended at all by the comments. I want honest feedback and appreciate all the input and suggestions.

nosoccermom, your first link for a comp is to a new build. There are builders that own lots in the community. The second link is a close comp to ours.

There are lots of tips on staging for a sale on Houzz, probably more than you want :)

Here are some for staging bathrooms and kitchens for selling. Of course, these kitchens/bathrooms look like straight from a magazine, but they may give you some ideas.

[bathroom staging[(https://www.houzz.com/magazine/10-tricks-to-help-your-bathroom-sell-your-house-stsetivw-vs~33883057)

[kitchen staging[(https://www.houzz.com/magazine/how-to-stage-your-kitchen-for-a-home-sale-stsetivw-vs~29912722)

more staging tips

The other suggestion I have is to post on the decorating forum, saying that you just want some advice for furniture arranging, not to spend thousands of dollars :)

Seems a little high. There are several homes close by that are either similar in size or a little larger for 119k, and 139k. Agree with the need for professional photos. Agree with getting towels off the top of the cabinet in bathroom. that screams "NOT ENOUGH STORAGE". You need some large planter pots of flowering bushes on patio out back, and some outdoor patio furniture. looks very barren, especially compared to other homes for sale that are your competition.

Yes, if it were me, I'd remove EVERYTHING on top of the cabinets and (short) walls. They draw the eye up to the slanted ceilings which shout "pre-fab!" And make sure your new professional pictures don't focus on that. Your realtor must think the slanted ceilings are a plus, but they're a minus to me.

Agree with Christopher_H, that HOA fee jumped out at me too.

Oh-oh. You are in competition with *new houses* on builder-owned lots. What does your property have to offer that is *better* than buying new? Have construction costs gone up? What upgrades does your house have? First-time buyers need to be educated on why an existing house can be a better deal. That's how I would market this house -- along with some staging and new photos.

The florescent fixture in the kitchen screams cheap and dated. It also casts a very bad light (please forgive the pun) on your kitchen. To me, lighting is an inexpensive fix with a lot of bang for the buck. My last house had florescent fixtures in the kitchen ceiling as well. In preparation for resale, I had those removed, sheetrocked the holes, installed recessed cans with led lighting, and added a dimmer switch. The dining and breakfast room light fixtures were updated for a very reasonable price from Lowes. You have a lovely home and property. Please do a little more to help put it's best foot forward.

A professional photographer could do wonders for your listing. Make sure the photographer also helps "stage" the scene for each photo. Less is more, especially with photos. Small items confuse the eye

Your home is cute, with a nice porch. Let's get a closer picture of the front in the listing. Add some good size potted plants and maybe a nice table and chairs out back if possible. They are things you can bring with you after you move.

In homes around this price range, one or two upgrades go a long way. A nice modern light fixture, an upgraded faucet, or ceramic tile flooring even just in a bath are all a real treat for buyers.

Correct the HOA to reflect the lower monthly amount, and fix any other typos or errors in the listing. Think about what you love about your home and mention that in the description.