Check Out the Latest in Digital Cameras & Boost Your Marketing Appeal!

As a real estate agent, you understand the importance of great pictures.  Oftentimes, people begin their home search online months prior to contacting a real estate agent about looking for a home.  And what’s their main source of getting a good feel for that home?  The pictures on your website or other real estate websites.  In short; great pictures should be a top priority.

Now, as Real Estate Virtual Assistants, we work with real estate agents all over the country and have seen our fair share of amazing pictures and those that are, well, less than great.  And, even though we’re not buying the home, we get a real sense of how much the real estate agent cares by these pictures. 

It may seem like an insignificant portion of marketing, but this first impression can really determine whether a potential buyer will contact you or if someone decides to list their home with you.  Think about it, if a seller sees bad quality images of a home you’re selling; they’ll think twice about how you’re planning on showcasing their home to buyers.

So, you may be thinking, “well, I’m not a photographer and I can’t afford a professional one either.”  Hey, we get it!  Everyone’s budget varies and taking the time to take great pictures may feel like a waste of time with everything else you have going on.  

To help you get on the right track, we thought we’d highlight some of the latest in easy-to-use, point and shoot cameras.  You may not be a budding photographer, but good quality photos are something everyone can achieve.  Take a look at these four cameras that were recently reviewed by Entrepreneur.com.  Choosing one of these high-quality options will take your real estate photography to a whole new level.  Oh, and did we mention some of them include HD video?  Your video marketing just got easier too!

Pro Shooter

Nikon 1 J1 ($650)

Credit Nikon for putting digital SLR-camera technology into the palm of your hand. The fist-size 10.1-megapixel J1 offers first-rate optics (proving that more megapixels don't automatically mean better photos), the ability to grab a still image out of a video shoot and remarkable image stabilization and autofocus. Swapping in a 30-110 mm zoom or 10 mm wide-angle lens (at an extra cost) adds to the Nikon's versatility. 

Mighty Mite

Pentax Q with one lens ($750)

Roughly the size of a deck of playing cards, the Q is incredibly small for an interchangeable-lens camera. But fear not: It takes seriously big pictures. What's more, the 12.4-megapixel sensor is capable of producing crystal-clear stills and HD video. However, its price can easily cross the $1,000 mark if you covet multiple lenses.  

Best Value

Panasonic Lumix GF3 ($550)

Of the cameras here, the 12.1-megapixel Lumix delivers the best value and the easiest-to-master touchscreen control system, along with simple-to-use video tools. The fact that Panasonic packages the GF3C with a 14-42 mm lens makes it tough to beat for the price.  

Audio Star

Olympus E-PM1 ($500)

Olympus packed years of experience building small, multilens cameras into the E-PM1, which captures solid--if average quality--12.3-megapixel images. It also comes with clever features such as an accessory port for lights and flashes. The big surprise: the E-PM1's built-in stereo microphone records rich audio for its diminutive size. One bummer: It took us a while to figure out the menus and controls.  

We hope this is helpful as you consider showcasing your listings with better images that capture people attention.  A little money spent up front for a great camera can provide a surprising return on investment with as more buyers contact you and sellers trust that you’ll do the best job in capturing the look and feel of their home.

As always, we’re here to answer any questions you have about real estate marketing and would love to talk with you more about how we can make your job easier!

We look forward to hearing from you!

Allie Coyle
Blogging & Copywriting Specialist