Jay Mattlin, Real Estate Broker with Key Realty

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May
6

Think you've got a good eye for real estate? Listing photos can reveal a lot more than just square footage and staging, especially if you know what to look for.

Agents are trained to catch the little things that others might miss—the kind of stuff that can hint at a home's true condition, value, or quirks.

Take this quiz to see how your instincts compare. You might be more real estate savvy than you think!

The Rules:

For each question, pick the answer that feels most like your gut reaction—and note the point value. At the end, total up your score and check your results!

1) What's the first thing you notice in a listing photo of a bathroom?

  1. The outdated 1950's tile. (2)
  2. The toilet seat was left up by the photographer. (3)
  3. The double sinks. (1)

2) In the kitchen photo, you immediately zero in on:

  1. The mail pile that was oh-so-neatly arranged instead of just… hidden. (3)
  2. The laminate countertops pretending to be granite. (2)
  3. The high-end appliances, gleaming like they've never been used. (1)

3) A listing describes the home as "cozy." You assume:

  1. It probably has a fireplace and a nice reading nook. (2)
  2. It's even smaller than the listing photos make it seem. (3)
  3. It's small. (1)

4) You see a photo of a backyard with a high privacy fence. You think:

  1. "Nice! No nosey neighbors." (1)
  2. "I better watch where I step when I'm checking out the backyard!" (3)
  3. "Perfect for letting the dog out while wearing pajamas." (2)

5) A bedroom photo features a bed with sixteen pillows. Your gut reaction?

  1. "Those actually make the room seem smaller…" (2)
  2. "Making the bed while their house is on the market has got to be a pain in the neck!" (3)
  3. "Somebody is addicted to HomeGoods!" (1)

6) The home's listed as "move-in ready," but the photos show popcorn ceilings. You:

  1. Look for signs of shag carpeting in the rest of the photos. (3)
  2. Presume the house is clean, but not all that updated. (2)
  3. Don't even notice. (1)

7) The living room photo has a giant mirror across from the window. You assume:

  1. The owner is into feng shui. (2)
  2. The photographer is in it, crouching weirdly behind a plant. (3)
  3. It's a classy touch. (1)

8) The listing says "Needs TLC." You translate that to:

  1. "Bring your imagination, a dumpster, and a tetanus shot." (3)
  2. "It's going to need more than just paint and throw pillows." (2)
  3. "Ooh, the perfect excuse to go to Home Depot!" (1)

9) You come across a close-up photo of something like a banister or light fixture. Your first thought is:

  1. "The owner probably insisted on the agent including that photo…" (2)
  2. "Just because the camera can zoom doesn't mean it should." (3)
  3. "The listing agent has a real eye for marketing the finer details of a home." (1)

10) The first photo in the listing isn't the front of the house. You assume:

  1. They're definitely hiding something about the exterior or location of the house. (3)
  2. That's probably just the coolest part of the house and they want to focus on it. (2)
  3. That's odd. Probably just uploaded out of order. (1)

Scoring:

Add up your points!

  • 24–30 points: "You think just like a real estate agent."
    You can smell a flipped house through a screen and spot poorly staged fruit bowls from a mile away. Are you sure you're not licensed?
  • 16–23 points: "You're real estate aware."
    You've got good instincts and a solid read on what's normal… and what's suspicious. You'd probably never fall for a fisheye lens trick.
  • 10–15 points: "You're too trusting for this market."
    You're mostly focused on the big picture—and that's okay! But when it comes to real estate, the little things can make a big difference. Partnering with an agent might help you catch things you didn't even know to look for.
Disclaimer: All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) or information provider(s) shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. Listing(s) information is provided for consumers personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Information on this site was last updated 03/17/2026. The listing information on this page last changed on 03/17/2026. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of Delta Media Group MLS (last updated Tue 03/17/2026 12:21:48 AM EST) or MichRic (Michigan Regional Information Center) (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:17:19 PM EST) or Metrolist - RECOLORADO by MLSGRID (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:34:26 PM EST) or NIRA MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:04:55 PM EST) or RealComp MLS (last updated Tue 03/17/2026 12:15:42 AM EST) or Dayton MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:46:32 PM EST) or NORIS MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:14:13 PM EST) or IRES MLS (last updated Tue 03/17/2026 12:17:01 AM EST) or Colorado Real Estate Network IDX (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 7:05:51 PM EST) or CBRMLS (last updated Tue 03/17/2026 12:19:26 AM EST) or Multiple Listing Service of Greater Cincinnati (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:53:38 PM EST) or Terrehaute MLS (last updated Tue 03/17/2026 12:16:30 AM EST) or Pikes Peak REALTORR Services Corp (last updated Tue 03/17/2026 12:15:11 AM EST) or Stellar MLS (last updated Tue 03/17/2026 12:13:39 AM EST) or NKY MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:28:18 PM EST) or Wrist MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:24:19 PM EST) or Firelands MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:11:18 PM EST) or LCAR MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 10:50:11 AM EST) or West Central MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 9:50:01 PM EST) or Fort Myers (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:05:53 PM EST) or Aspen/Glenwood Springs MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 9:30:39 PM EST) or Northern Nevada Regional MLS (last updated Tue 03/17/2026 12:16:39 AM EST) or MLS NOW (last updated Tue 03/17/2026 12:17:34 AM EST) or Northern Great Lakes Association of Realtors (last updated Tue 03/17/2026 12:19:13 AM EST) or Mansfield MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:47:20 PM EST) or Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors (last updated Tue 03/17/2026 12:06:16 AM EST) or Grand Junction MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:37:09 PM EST) or Knox County MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:08:13 PM EST) or IRMLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:11:54 PM EST) or Pueblo MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:43:57 PM EST) or Upper Peninsula MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:10:08 PM EST) or Greater Lansing MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 10:36:16 PM EST) or SEBAR MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:39:19 PM EST) or Water Wonderland MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 10:52:35 PM EST) or Eastern Upper Peninsula MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:59:09 PM EST) or Scioto Valley MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 10:02:35 PM EST) or Northern Michigan MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 9:33:54 PM EST). Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Key Realty may be marked with the Internet Data Exchange logo and detailed information about those properties will include the name of the listing broker(s) when required by the MLS. All rights reserved.
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