Reusing marketing materials for condo sales - Ok or Not Ok?

ASHBURN, VA

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PETER RZAZEWSKI

Buzzer

Reusing marketing materials for condo sales - Ok or Not Ok?

I've heard from several real estate agents recently that they would often use marketing materials (including photos, floor plans, feature sheets, etc) from prior sale. They say "everyone is doing it". Is this true or false?

Ontario / Resale Discussions

ALLEN

Buzzer

129

1 BEST REPLY

Peter is talking about resales and specific photos, floorplans and other material specificallyto the property.

It is wrong to reuse photos and floorplans that were produced from a prior sale as they are property of the previous owner or agent. Also the photos should be reflective of the current condition of the property.
Any agent says that it's okay to do is probably too lazy to do the work themselves.
If I were selling my place I would definitely would want my agent to produce their own photos and related marketing material than copying someone else's work -- I'm paying their commission for their work afterall.

My agent who sold my last home hired a professional photographer (which includes a 360 video tour) and a home stager out of her own pocket. My home had a lot of viewings and in the end it generated multiple offers and sold in a week. Her investment made for a quick sale for more than what I expected which she earned a great commission which she deserved.

RYAN MCGOVERN

BuzzStaff

282

I've seen a lot of developers use the same floor plans and features before, for sure. However, it's usually new marketing materials if this is the case.

NICHOLAS GAVEY

Buzzer

Are we talking about real estate agents in resale or developers in new homes?

A lot of developers have a set business module for all of their projects which includes a general marketing template. Usually they will stick to this template for all projects and just change the colours, etc to fit that buildings specific "brand". I guess the idea is why fix what's not broken.

From a resale point of view it also makes sense to have a standard template that works for you and sticking to it. Especially for condos DT I have had professional photos put together for the exterior/amenities of buildings and use those images for every listing in those buildings (of course with individual unit shots as well).

MATTHEW SLUTSKY

BuzzStaff

1969

On new-builds, I have seen very few builders using a "template" for multiple buildings. Often the branding will be similar between phases, not not on separate projects.

PETER RZAZEWSKI

Buzzer

I'm talking more about marketing materials created independently by one agent (agent hires a photographer, a floor plan company, a print designer), which are then used later (when the property is being sold down the road) by another agent.

NICHOLAS GAVEY

Buzzer

Oh okay thanks for clarifying.

In that case then I absolutely agree with Allen. What if the floor plans that someone else created are inaccurate? Good luck using the "well that's what the other agent had"defenseto RECO if you get in trouble for misrepresentation. Not to mention it's just lazy! These are the type of agents that are giving real estate a bad reputation and I wish we could get rid of.

PETER RZAZEWSKI

Buzzer

Interesting point Nicholas. So how do agents protect themselves legally from misrepresentation? And for that matter, what recourse do providers of the content (photographers, videographers, etc) have against others using their work without the creators' consent?