Which Photographs Would You Want to Market Your Franklin TN Home?
As a real estate agent, I am required to take a certain number of hours in continuing education every year. I usually do that through a variety of classes that either pique my interest or will be beneficial to my business.
I recently attended a class that was being taught by a broker with many years of listing experience on Listing Presentations.
During that training, an agent asked whether we should hire a professional photographer to shoot photographs of the homes we list. To my surprise, this broker said it wasn't necessary.
He carries his camera with him to listing appointments and once sellers agree to sign with him, he takes photographs while he's there. There's no opportunity to stage or clean. What you see is what you get.
Before I go any further, I would like to say that I know there are some agents who use expensive digital cameras they have purchased. These agents may have taken photography courses or even purchased a wide-angle lense and lighting to shoot the very best non-professional photographs they can. I am not talking about these agents. That being said, I still think photography is better left to the professionals. Just as I think selling your home should be left to real estate professionals.
The Internet has become the first showing. Buyers are starting here to find their new Franklin TN home. You probably have about 8 seconds to win them over. If the photographs aren't good, then they are moving on to the next listing. Your house doesn't even make it to the list of homes they want to see.
The best way to make my point is for you to actually see an example of one listing without professional photographs in comparison to a listing with professional photographs.
I am prohibited by copyright laws to use the other agents photographs. However, I'm not prohibited from showing you actual listings that are currently on the market.
Before I provide the links below, I would like to add, these homes are similarly priced, have similar square footage, were built within a year of each other, are in similar Franklin TN neighborhoods and are both vacant and ready for immediate occupancy.
Listing #1: Built 1990, 2,068 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, Price $275,000
Listing #2: Built 1991, 2,092 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, Price $274,000
In Listing #1, some of the photographs are of nothing but the corner. While you see the corner in Listing #2, that's not all you see. Which photographs would you want to market your Franklin TN home?
You have probably already guessed that house #2 is my listing. To further demonstrate my point, here's what a buyer said to me while at an open house yesterday for this property.
The buyer asked who took the MLS photographs (that's what actually got him to this open house). I told him I hired a professional to do it. He commended me for doing such a nice job representing my client. He then said, "Maybe if I had hired an agent like you, it wouldn't have taken me so long to sell my house?"
Sellers should ask the listing agents they interview what type of photography they will use to market their home. You want an agent who will go above and beyond what other agents are doing. The whole point of having MLS photographs is to entice buyers to come and see your house. Professional photographs give your house the best opportunity to stand out from the competition.
If you would like to hire a Franklin TN listing agent who will present your home in the best way possible, contact Tammie White today at (615) 495-0752. Be sure to visit my website at www.TammieWhite.com.
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