Why property listing images look blurry on your website in Presence®

Why MLS-synced images can appear blurry or pixelated and how to fix it.

Overview

Blurry or pixelated property images are almost always caused by MLS compression. Most MLS boards reduce image file sizes before syncing, and when those compressed images are displayed full-width on a modern website, the quality issues become visible.

Why this happens

MLS compression — MLS boards compress images or impose file size limits to manage data efficiently. The reduced quality becomes more noticeable when images are stretched to fill large, full-width display areas on your website.

Full-bleed display — Luxury Presence websites use full-width image layouts for visual impact. Low-resolution images that might look acceptable as small thumbnails on Zillow or Redfin will appear blurry at full width.

How to fix it

The most effective solution is to replace MLS-synced images with your own high-resolution photos:

1. Prepare your images at 1920x1200px in JPEG format — this balances quality and file size for fast loading
2. If your photographer provides print-resolution files, resize them before uploading. Birme is a free tool for batch resizing
3. Upload your photos directly to the listing and turn off Image Sync to prevent MLS images from overwriting them

See [How to upload custom images for MLS-synced property listings in Presence®] for step-by-step instructions.

FAQs

Why do images look fine on Zillow but blurry on my Presence® website?

Zillow and Redfin display images as smaller thumbnails, which makes compression less noticeable. Luxury Presence websites use full-width, full-bleed layouts that reveal low-resolution images more clearly.

Will uploading my own images prevent them from being overwritten by the MLS?

Yes — but only if you turn off Image Sync for the listing after uploading. If Image Sync remains on, the next MLS update will overwrite your photos. See [How to upload custom images for MLS-synced property listings in Presence®].

What file format should I use for property images?

JPEG at 1920x1200px is recommended. See [Logo sizing and file format guide for your Presence® website] for broader image specification guidance across the platform.