Don’t believe everything you see on social media.

That’s something homebuyer Sara Van Ess discovered firsthand after she and her husband bought their Oregon home from someone who was reportedly trying to be an Instagram influencer.

The seller posted several videos online showcasing just how much DIY work they had done to the place to spruce it up.

But as Van Ess shared on TikTok, she learned the hard way that things aren’t always as they seem on the screen.

Instagram photos of the home didn’t match reality

Careful editing and deceptive pictures are nothing new on social media. But as real estate agents and influencers continue to leverage platforms like Instagram, homebuyers should avoid being swayed by pretty imagery.

Now, even though the house she bought looked picture-perfect in photos, Van Ess told Buzzfeed she and her husband knew going in that their house was actually a fixer-upper.

Determined to do their due diligence, they had the place inspected and were well aware of the cosmetic issues before signing on the dotted line.

Because the truth is, Van Ess never knew her house was Instafamous when she bought it. Six months after they moved in, she stumbled upon an Instagram account featuring photos of the home and was blown away by what she saw.

In a series of “Instagram vs. Reality” TikTok videos that she has now made private, Van Ess—known as @just.a.sara on TikTok—said the previous owner of her home had shared “really highly edited, very strategically angled photos” of her unfinished house “that they knew was unfinished, that they knew wasn’t done correctly.”

Van Ess told Buzzfeed, “I immediately noticed the photos shared on Instagram were similar, if not the same, photos used in the listing.”

While Van Ess took the proper precautions, it’s important that other homebuyers aren’t caught off-guard, especially since agents have started using social media as a powerful tool to reach prospective buyers.

Can sellers exaggerate photos in listings?

Ensuring your home looks its absolute best in listing photos is nothing new—but when does it go too far?

Good lighting and flattering angles are great, but the photos should be honest and not misleading. Buyers deserve authenticity. A home doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to be real.

Listing photos should ideally reflect the home’s actual condition. 

Integrity in listings is essential. Photos set expectations, and when reality doesn’t align with those expectations during an in-person visit, it can leave both the buyer and their agent feeling misled.

“I have a history in real estate, so I expect to see exaggerated photos on home listings,” Van Ess told Buzzfeed. “But it’s another thing to see the photos being shared online … and then literally look up and see the reality.”

On TikTok, Van Ess shared an Instagram photo of a light, bright kitchen, then revealed what the kitchen really looked like in real life.

Staging a house is a common practice, but homes can also be “over-staged.”

Staging should showcase a home's potential, not mask its flaws. Over-the-top staging can be distracting and overwhelming, causing buyers to overlook crucial details like water damage or outdated systems. And when the staging furniture is removed, the "magic" often disappears too.

Don’t skip the inspection

That’s why it’s so important to get an inspection like Van Ness did.

Even a home that has been dolled up might have problems lurking beneath the surface

“Never skip an inspection, no matter how ‘perfect’ a home may look in photos or with staging,” Ameer says. “Those are simply eye candy designed to distract from flaws that a buyer should be concerned about. Every property has them, and there is no such thing as a property that is ‘perfect’ condition-wise.”

Skipping an inspection is a huge gamble, since “a picture-perfect home might be hiding major issues, like leaky pipes or a roof on its last legs. Inspections are how buyers avoid expensive surprises after closing.

Negotiate

Buyers always have room to negotiate, especially if there are problems found on the inspection.

You can request repairs, ask for a price reduction, or negotiate closing costs. If the listing feels misleading, it’s reasonable to advocate for adjustments, and a good agent will support you in making your case.

However, if the price has already been heavily discounted to account for deferred maintenance or is being sold ‘as is,’ you may have less leeway.

That being said, issues like wood rot, roofing, plumbing, electrical problems, or mold are often deal-breakers for buyers—so it never hurts to ask.  

Since the seller will probably need to address the repair issues with the next buyer anyway, they may be willing to work with you on it.

Original post courtesy of realtor.com.

Rich Dallas/Sharon Fincham

(c) 412-965-6387

(o) 724-941-3340

The Dallas-Fincham Team and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Rich@DallasFinchamTeam.com

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