Honorable mention: a category called "Bad MLS Photo of the Day" in Athol Kay's weblog. 

When you think about the deliberate process an agent goes through to upload photos to the MLS for her/his client, then I have no problems stating how inexcusable I think it is that something like the photo above -- or the one below -- should make it through.

Now, add to that the tens of thousands of dollars in commission bucks being shelled out by the client for what I can only assume was billed as superior marketing expertise and my frustration begins to show. 

I absolutely agree with Athol's sentiments:   

"I try to keep it as light and fun as possible...but, an agent's incompetency with a camera can cost a client...If the agent straight up stole a $5,000 deposit or something, that would be a clear illegal act," Kay said. "But butcher the photos and have the house languish on the market for months or force huge price reductions . . . that's just bad luck for the seller." 

I don't know about you, but one of the trends from last year's Swanepoel Trends Report comes to mind, which I wrote about in a previous post:  Too many agents -- what's your value proposition?