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Agent | Broker Reset Filters to Default Back to List[Best of 2023] 13 Scary Listing Photos that Will Horrify Buyers
December 19 2023
We're continuing an annual tradition of counting down our top 10 articles of the year. The following article was originally published in October and is #5 in our countdown. See #6 here.
A few years ago, we shared a Halloween post about terrifying listing photos, which our readers went absolutely nuts for. We think it's high past time to resurrect this idea again!
In the spirit of ghoulies and ghosties, and all things that go bump! in the night, here are 13 more scary listing photos that will frighten prospects away faster than you can say boo!
1. Tinseltown Swimming in Blood
Source: Reddit
This photo's headline is a song by the band Destroyer, which is exactly what a blood-red pool is to a listing's buyer appeal. To be fair, this home was Kat Von D's, so instead of turning off buyers, it generated a lot of attention.
But for average listings, ghoulish property features are a turn-off… as we'll see in the photos below.
Tip: To appeal to a broader base of buyers, consider editing tools to make the pool a more normal color. Your photographer, a virtual stager, or other photography services companies can do this for you.
Because the pool color is likely caused by dye and not a permanent property feature, this kind of photo edit doesn't violate real estate ethics. Learn more about that here: The Ethical Use of Photoshop in Real Estate Marketing.
2. Summoning the Ghost of Low Property Valuations
Source: TerribleRealEstateAgentPhotos.com
This listing comes with a unique telecommunications feature: a built-in pentagram that lets you talk to anyone, including the dead! After all, séances are just the 19th-century version of Ethernet.
3. Speak of the Devil and He Appears… in the Spare Bedroom
Source: TerribleRealEstateAgentPhotos.com
The owner of this house must have used the pentagram in the last photo to conjure up something sinister, because…yikes. Our sympathy to the listing agent, because that conversation about staging obviously did not take.
Need to have your own conversation about getting ready for listing photos? See: How to Prep Your Listing for a Photo Shoot.
4. "I Am Doll Parts…"
Source: TerribleRealEstateAgentPhotos.com
If this listing has a theme song, surely it's "Doll Parts" by Hole. Yes, doll parts, an extremely normal and not creepy at all thing to fill your basement with.
Seems this agent lost a neat opportunity to talk about the benefits of stowing your off-putting junk. At the very least, it's a bummer that the agent didn't step back and use a wide-angle lens to capture what looks like ample basement storage space.
5. Grudge Match: Heaven vs. Hell
Source: TerribleRealEstateAgentPhotos.com
No, it's not you — that is Jesus and Satan in an arm wrestling match! Judging by the color scheme, it looks like they're fighting for the last fry in the Happy Meal, but we're just speculating here.
Many sins could have been covered up here with a fresh coat of paint, but, hey, sometimes sellers are stubborn. If you're showing a home like this, we recommend using a virtual staging app to show buyers what the home could look like with their own furnishings and a less biblical paint job.
6. Quick! To the Bat Cave Hovel!
Source: TerribleRealEstateAgentPhotos.com
We don't know if this den of despair belongs to Bruce Wayne or Dracula, but it looks like one of them is having financial problems. (Poor real estate investments, perhaps?)
Judging by the green slime in the top-right corner, there's probably not much a few photo composition tips can offer. But we'd recommend taking a second, bat-free photo, at least.
7. Nightmare on 13th Street
Source: TerribleRealEstateAgentPhotos.com
What does Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees decor get you? A no-bid nightmare.
If you're facing a listing like this, let us direct you to this article, How to Shoot Bedrooms, which offers handy advice like, "Remove unnecessary items." (Cue nervous laughter.)
8. A Home to Die For
Source: TerribleRealEstateAgentPhotos.com
Oooh, another killer listing. So this doesn't completely turn into a place where your commission goes to die, try opening the blinds and fixing the vertical lines in this photo. Anything beyond that probably requires a hazmat suit.
9. Tiny Kitchen, but Wait 'Til You See the Sacrificial Chamber
Source: Reddit
This sacrificial slab boasts a trendy slate top! Perfect for buyers looking for an easy way to open the Hellmouth.
We asked ChatGPT to write us a listing description based on this property feature. This is — no joke — what it offered:
Title: Enchanting Property with a Sacred Retreat: A Truly Unique Opportunity
Description: Discover a one-of-a-kind property that marries modern comfort with ancient mystique. This enchanting estate, nestled in the heart of a serene forest, boasts an unexpected and captivating feature — a meticulously crafted sacrificial altar. While it may not serve its original purpose, this stunning altar stands as a testament to the property's rich history and offers boundless potential for the creative mind.
In the meantime, here are 23 slightly less unhinged ways to use ChatGPT.
10. Haunted Appliances Included!
Source: TerribleRealEstateAgentPhotos.com
When General Electric said, "We bring good things to life," surely they didn't mean this. Look, there's no reason to include an up-close shot of a microwave, even if it is built-in and included in the sale.
However, there is a way to include wide, medium and up-close shots in your listing photos. Learn more here: The 3-Shot Approach to Better Listing Photos.
11. World's Crappiest Game of 'Bloody Mary' Awaits
Source: TerribleRealEstateAgentPhotos.com
We don't know what's more terrifying: the side-by-side toilets or the floor-to-ceiling mirrors. Regardless, we think this a great opportunity to talk to your sellers about the benefits of pre-sale renovation.
12. Nightmare Before Christmas
Source: TerribleRealEstateAgentPhotos.com
Looks like Santa Claus had an accident coming down the chimney. Does this mean you need to tell prospects that this is a stigmatized property? Learn more about that here: Murder, Death, Suicide, Haunted Houses and Ghosts: Are Agents Required to Disclose?
13. Act Now: This Listing Is Fire!
Source: TerribleRealEstateAgentPhotos.com
Look, we all appreciate a good action shot, but we don't think there's really a place for them in your listing photos — especially when, y'know, that action is of your listing burning down.
But somehow, miraculously, this property apparently sold faster than Tobias Fünke can say, "It's a fire sale!" — because if you zoom in, you can see that this photo says "Under contract"! (We're guessing the land is worth a lot.)
However, we do lament this agent's missed opportunity to turn their listing into a meme:
You don't have to miss that opportunity yourself, though. Instead, you can try these 6 Valuable Tips for Creating Memes that Could Go Viral.