07/31/2026
🚨RAISING THE BAR IN REAL ESTATE🚨
Blurred or out-of-focus real estate photos on a million-dollar listing can create a poor first impression. When the primary MLS marketing photo—or any key listing photo—is blurry, it can undermine the quality of the presentation and ultimately do a disservice to the seller.
We have recently seen $1M–$2M million-dollar listings with blurred or out-of-focus photos, and in some cases, only one photo used as the primary marketing image. That level of presentation, and lack of professionalism, is difficult to justify.
Just this morning we saw a $1.2M listing with 1 blurred out of focus photo as the primary photo! We have listed properties priced under $100,000 and made sure the photos were bright, clear, and as complete as possible.
Buyers want to see the property clearly—the good, the bad, the ugly, or the areas that may need work. Even when marketing foreclosure listings at much lower price points, we make sure to include a clear exterior photo and relevant interior photos.
If the goal is to intentionally blur a background, protect sensitive information, or conceal personal items in a photo, there are editing tools available that can help accomplish this without compromising the overall quality of the listing images.
If you are a homeowner requesting blurred photos for privacy or security reasons, it is important to consider the potential impact on buyer interest.
Many buyers rely heavily on online listing photos to evaluate a property before deciding whether to schedule a showing or submit an offer.
Similarly, if a homeowner requests that the home be blurred on Google Street View, that request may be difficult—or impossible—to reverse and could potentially affect a future homeowner, according to Kris Lindahl’s Real Estate Blog Post.
Many local buyers will still drive by a property to assess curb appeal and determine whether the online listing information aligns with the property’s actual physical features.
If the marketing photos do not present the property accurately, buyers and investors may notice the disconnect and question why the listing is not being represented honestly and more clearly.
Our local MLS rules (Milwaukee, WI) require at least one property photo for a listing. At minimum, that photo should be clear, accurate, and professional.
Taking the time to review image quality before publishing the listing helps protect the seller’s interests and creates a stronger first impression for prospective buyers.
Let's continue to raise the bar in real estate by providing good, quality listing photos.
