More photo insights

Rainy day on the coast, so was at office instead of open house. Read some psychological papers re decision making and had another insight into the significance of photographs and their implication in the process of selling houses. The photographs create impressions of a home's ESSENCE--- if they're well done. We kinda knew that already, but here's the new wrinkle—when the Buyer sees the real house later during showings, it looks familiar because it matches (hopefully) the impression he or she developed upon seeing the photos. It is a reassuring, reinforcing experience. Compare that with the experience of seeing a house for the first time when it is actually shown—OR if the real house doesn't look like the photos suggest it looks. Which house is more likely to be perceived in a favorable way when decision time rolls around?  

Still convinced that until MLSs and property resource systems do a much better job with photos they're going to fall far short of optimizing their potential in assisting Buyers in finding the RIGHT HOUSE and Sellers in finding the RIGHT BUYER. 

But maybe that's not what they're supposed to do? Does anyone look at real estate business practices and technology from the public's perspective anymore? 

What if I absolutely did NOT want to buy a Short Sale or REO. I wanted a quality house at a fair price with predictable closing date and in impeccable condition. How would I feel, knowing that almost all the educational offerings being pushed at the agents involve Short Sales and REOs. 

Are we to assume that ALL the agents already know ALL they need to know about resales and other regular real estate stuff? I suspect they don't, at least from my personal experience. In some areas, Short Sales and REO aren't even very common--they certainly don't control the markets everywhere. What about those areas--OH, we're still in "one size fits all" heaven, home of the trade association profit machine. 

What about the public? The trade associations don't represent the public--just to repeat myself.