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When the Picture is NOT Worth a Thousand Words

By
Education & Training

As real estate agents, we are thrust into the world of photography with the very first home we list.  Whether we are taking the pictures ourselves or proofing the pictures of a hired photographer, real estate agents must have an eye for detail because our photos tell a story about our listings that our voices may never share.

 

camera

For those of us that are taking pictures ourselves, the quintessential website to bookmark is iPiccy.com.  This fantastic find was featured on ActiveRain (which is a site every real estate agent should blog to if you are blogging but that is another topic, another day).  I was hesitant to even click on the article because I was enamored with PicMonkey.com, another photo editing site, but the reviews on ActiveRain were so good that I had to be nosy.  I am glad I was!

 

iPiccy.com has a simpler design than PicMonkey.com but do not underestimate all that iPiccy.com can do especially since every feature on iPiccy.com is free unlike PicMonkey.com, which charges fees for many of the more in-demand features.  Here is a list of the photo editing features you can do online for FREE with iPiccy.com:

 

  • Create a photo collage
  • Clone portions of the photo
  • Sketch photos to make them appear as drawings
  • Remove red eye
  • Airbrush
  • Remove wrinkles
  • Thinify - their term for taking a few pounds off :-)
  • Whiten teeth
  • Posterize
  • Create Pop Art
  • Pixelate
  • Liquify
  • Emboss
  • Invert
  • Switch to Sepia or Black & White for a classic look
  • Create a focal point in the picture
  • Use vintage tinting and effects
  • Rotate and flip photos
  • Change the color hue
  • Sharpen
  • Resize images
  • Crop photos
  • And more

 

Of course you will not want to use all of these features for your listing flyers but the whole gamut of these effects can be used for your other marketing materials such as flyers for local marketing mixers and events you sponsor (i.e. the subdivision's BBQ), postcards, thinking of you notes and emails, and your blog.  All things being equal, pictures can lead to a home selling the same day the listing appears online or can be the reason that a home is ignored.  If your pictures have a tendency to be lackluster and unmemorable, do not post another listing without visiting iPiccy.com.

 

Have more questions about photo editing and marketing your listings?  Visit www.AgentsAroundAtlanta.com, email Lee@AroundAtlanta.com or call 404.444.5777.  Happy selling!

David Shamansky
US Mortgages - David Shamansky - Highlands Ranch, CO
Creative, Aggressive & 560 FICO - OK, Colorado Mtg

Agree this is a good post. Not a 5 minute read, right to the point and a great tidbit of info!!!

Excellent and thanks

Jun 26, 2013 03:07 PM
Joni Bailey
101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX
Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®

I like iPiccy, but love PicMonkey because it is so dang fast! :))

Jun 26, 2013 03:14 PM
Roger Stensland
Keller Williams Realty Puget Sound - Maple Valley, WA
Let's Move!

Now I will have to look at both of these programs.  I have been looking for something like these programs off and on for a while.  Thanks.

Jun 26, 2013 03:27 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Lee

Those are all great suggestions,especially for those not familiar with Ipiccy. I use Ribbet quite a bit too, especially when adding text.

Jeff

Jun 26, 2013 04:05 PM
MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900
Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

I don't use Ipiccy (yet), now that I know the cost is free.

Jun 26, 2013 04:34 PM
Carol Zingone
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Florida Network Realty - Jacksonville Beach, FL
Global Realtor in Jax Beach, FL - ABR, CRS, CIPS
I have not used iPiccy yet but have seen other positive posts about it- thanks!
Jun 26, 2013 07:58 PM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Photoshop has always been the staple but will wander in to kick the tires on some other features, sites! Thanks for the inspiration. The editing for video seems to take more attention out of the corner of our eye and whole slew of always new features coming at a media stream maker that everyone wearing, sporting the blue and gold R is these days.

Jun 26, 2013 08:51 PM
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

While I love PicMonkey. but will check this out, too.  Thanks for the helpful post!

Jun 26, 2013 09:45 PM
Dick and Dixie Sells
Sells Real Estate, LLC - Trinity, FL
Realtors, Tampa Bay Florida Homes For Sale

Thanks for the heads up for this site and congrats on the feature. Going to check it out right now!

Jun 26, 2013 09:50 PM
Amanda Christiansen
Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843 - Fort Wayne, IN
Christiansen Group Realty

I have never heard of this site before.  Thanks for sharing!                                                                                                     

Jun 26, 2013 10:28 PM
Fernando Herboso - Associate Broker MD, & VA
Maxus Realty Group of Samson Properties - Clarksburg, MD
301-246-0001 Serving Maryland, DC and Northern VA

PhotoScape for me. .

I learned and I;m sticking to it. .

I;m sure there are many more out there. .the important thins is to know how to use it. .

Jun 26, 2013 10:53 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Lee, iPiccy is a quick and easy site. I also have Photoshop and find iPiccy to be much easier to use

Jun 26, 2013 11:06 PM
Candy Miles-Crocker
Online Real Estate Agent Training - Chevy Chase, DC
Realtor - Real-Life Real Estate Training

Thanks for this great info Lee!  I missed the original post.  Although I learned a long time ago to hire a professional photographer, this site could be helpful if I ever decide to try my hand at photographing the listing myself.

Jun 26, 2013 11:07 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Good advice, Lee. I use iPiccy.com every day. It is very good for editing photographs of flowers. I was going to re-blog this but it was not allowed.

Jun 26, 2013 11:35 PM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

The subject matter of pictures is here to stay. Good post and if Roy #25 summer cubicle sez it works...then we relax

Jun 27, 2013 12:13 AM
Gary Frimann, CRS, GRI, SRES
Eagle Ridge Realty / Signature Homes & Estates - Gilroy, CA
REALTOR and Broker

I am going to have to try this.  Thanks for the tip.  One of the many things I love about ActiveRain.

Jun 27, 2013 12:39 AM
Helen and Larry Prier- Re-Max Gateway - Residential Real Estate
RE-MAX Gateway- Residential Real Estate Sales - Anacortes, WA
Anacortes & surrounding Skagit & Island Counties

Lee, I will check this out. Have you entered into the TECHO contest, If not why not enter this post. Here is a link

http://activerain.com/blogsview/3741595/your-best-techo-secrets-that-make-your-personal-and-professional-life-easier-

Jun 27, 2013 01:48 AM
Christine Frame Martin
Keller Williams-Indy Metro West - Avon, IN
Hendricks County Realtor

Thank you! I needed this information!

I appreciate your sharing!

Jun 27, 2013 02:38 AM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Thanks Lee, my pictures often need a bit of work and Ipiccy sounds like a good way to improve the pics.

Jun 27, 2013 03:03 PM
Sussie Sutton
David Tracy Real Estate - Houston, TX
David Tracy Real Estate for Buyers & Sellers

I have used iPiccy before but have not heard of I PicMonkey. I am going to check that one out.

Jun 29, 2013 04:25 AM