Due to the marketing power of the internet and the fact that 87%+ of buyers use this as their source for finding a home; it becomes clear that having eye catching photographs is vital!
According to a study on Point2, the argument for real estate photography is clear. After monitoring listings for a 30-day period the results showed that the listings with 20+ photos brought in over 15 times more views and nearly 10 times the leads as those listings with a single photo.
An additional study showed that the average Days on Market had direct correlation to the number of photos posted:
- 1 photo = 70 DOM
- 6 photos = 40 DOM
- 16-19 photos = 36 DOM
- 20 photos max – 32 DOM
The price of the home is also affected by this marketing medium:
- 1 Photo = 91.2% of Original Price
- 6 or more = 95% of Original Price
These percentages will increase even more with a high quality photo.
Your Options:
Take The Photos Yourself – Of course this is the less expensive option. However, this option is more than simply grabbing a digital camera and conducting a quick point and shoot as you move throughout the house. As a real estate agent, you understand the importance of marketing and the amount of time and energy that goes in to promoting a home with excellence.
As we have seen in the above statistics- quality images of a home are a big deal! If you choose to take the pictures yourself; don’t get intimidated- get motivated! I recently saw a prelist presentation where an agent dedicated an entire page to photography. She laid out the value of great photographs and ensured her seller would have nothing less. At the end she included the photography certification she had received from a local photography school! Talk about impressive!
Understandably, the real estate industry is non-stop and you’re probably wondering “what agent would have time to take a class?” I would encourage you to do a quick search online for Real Estate Photography Classes. What you’ll find are a number of online courses- which are sometimes FREE- as well as an overwhelming amount of articles giving helpful tips. Run this search locally and see what art schools or community colleges offer a single photography course.
You’ll be amazed at the difference in your pictures after a single course. Even dedicating a few hours of reading articles online or reviewing your cameras’ user manual can have a profound affect. The more familiar you become with your camera and the process- the more captivating your photos will become- turning the online audience into interested leads!
If you want the high quality photos, but aren’t interested in taking them yourself; there’s always another option…
Hire a Professional- Search for local professional or freelance photographers to ensure the best quality of photographs. Be sure to check out their online portfolios in order to get a good idea of their style and level of skill.
As Virtual Assistants, we’re here to help! We enjoy sharing new ideas or tips to make your life easier. Have a photography tip to share? We’d love to hear your feedback!
Need more advice? Ask your Real Estate Virtual Assistant today?
Allie Hlad
Listing Coordinator
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