Below is a response that I did for a blog about the quality of photos on your online listing.  I threw in some great advice for RE professionals.

 

Your online listing directly reflects you, your broker, and your agency!  Putting subpar photos of a listing does all the talking about you, your broker, and your agency to buyers and potential sellers.  When agents finally realize that individuals aren't just looking for property, but looking at who they want to do business with.  The quality of photos will change.

     For the agents that commented about out of the area buyers looking at their listings, in part because of the great photos.  That works because you've tapped into the buyer mindset.  People who are serious buyers looking online are looking at properties that they can actually purchase.  Great photos allows the buyer to "assume ownership" of the property.  They are looking at the photos and imagining their furniture in the home.  They are imagining using the home, cooking in the kitchen, their kids playing in the backyard, etc.  This gets them excited about the property, and once they contact you.  They have already psychologically started the buying process to obtain the property.  My free advice is, when they contact you, find out exactly what they like about the property, and what they don't like.  You then have time to work on overcoming their objections, so that you have concrete solutions for them at the time you show it.  By finding out what they love about the property, you now know their hot buttons, and when doing your presentation, you know what'll get them excited.  Buyers buy with emotion, and justify it with logic.  Good luck!

 
Posted by David DeSantis on 03/01/2010 11:13 AM   Comments (6)   david desantis  
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Post is included in group: Rainmaking - Internet Marketing Strategies

6 Comments on Photos and selling your listing

MAR
01
2010
644,866 Points 10 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

David, You hit the nail on the head!  Buyers are looking online and if they do not get an accurate and realistic view of your listing they might pass by there perfect home. A picture is truly worth 1,000 words.
11:17am • #1
761,333 Points 61 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I agree as well.  Good pictures are a must.  With the photoshop applications, with a little tweaking, color and lighting can be enhanced and really help your pictures pop!
11:19am • #2
1,114,707 Points 101 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I've had it work both ways... I've had buyers come look at a property they liked because of photos and just love the property, I've also had buyers love the photos and hate the actual property and tell me they thought the "great" photos were deceptive.  I find there has to be a happy medium and honesty in descriptions and strive for that. 

For example if the MLS photo shows a great view and you get to the house and wonder "did they swim out to the middle of the cove to take this photo?" because the view from the house is across a narrow cove... the photo wasn't an honest representation of the property.  Buyers HATE to be mislead.  So while I try to show my property in the "best light" I also try to be real honest.  I don't do wide angle photos of rooms that make them appear larger than they are either.
11:20am • #3
306,520 Points 9 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I cannot stand when an agent does not take good pictures....unfortunately the REO agents in my area tend to only take a picture of the front of the home.
11:26am • #4
288,781 Points 38 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Tammy - Honesty in descriptions? You mean every single listing can't use the words "amazing, beautiful, and great location?" ;) I would be mortified if I was a Realtor and put up crappy pictures. I feel they are a reflection of the agent and ultimately better pictures likely brings more clients.
11:27am • #5

Credibility is everything, and I wouldn't suggest anyone tweak photos to make them look better.  I'd never use flash either, all natural is the way to go.  Think of when someone actually sees the home, you don't want them to get the idea of misrepresentation with the photos, ref. Tammy's comment.  Everyone uses digital cameras, so take as many photos as you need to have an effective presentation.  There are no excuses for blurry, or crappy photos.

Online listing presentations will also improve greatly once RE agents understand that:

"The Sale Starts With The Online Listing"

That's where it's starting, your national organization acknowledges that 90% of buyers are looking online.  The only reason an agent should be listing a property online, is to sell it!  There's no other reason, it's not for marketing.  Marketing takes money out of your pocket, selling puts money into your pocket.
12:19pm • #6


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David DeSantis

Elmira, NY

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