Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography Blog

Realtor Branding - Headshots

Mon, 26 Mar 2018 07:52:44 -0700

The Importance of Professional Headshots for RealtorsTo succeed in real estate, one of the most important tools you will need is the ability to set yourself apart from all of the other realtors in your area. With a total of 2 million Realtors in the United States (according to the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials), you’re likely not the only realtor in your town. So how do you set yourself apart from the others? What makes someone looking for a realtor choose you over all of the others?What is Branding and Why Do I Need to Worry About it?Entrepreneur.com defines branding as “The marketing practice of creating a name, symbol or design that identifies and differentiates a product from other products. An effective brand strategy gives you a major edge in increasingly competitive markets.”As a realtor, your brand and your image are what will determine whether you get million dollar listings or foreclosed properties. A head shot is one component of many in your overall branding strategy. Your image and your headshot need to convey that you are a professional with impeccable attention to detail and are most comfortable working with high-income clients. Can all of this be conveyed in a simple headshot? Absolutely. You also want to be certain that the headshot is cohesive with your brand identity. A good real estate photographer can help you pull all of these elements together.Are Headshots As Important as the Real Estate Photographs?Most realtors understand without question the need for professional real estate photographs. You only have a few seconds to catch the attention of a potential buyer, so photographs are the most important selling tool in your toolbox. But what about headshots? Is a headshot as important as the real estate photos? Especially if you have a great camera and a friend that’s an amateur photographer. You may wonder if you could just skate by on this piece of your marketing and have your headshot be a DIY job. However, remember that the consumer is very savvy now. Most people can easily spot the difference between a true professional photograph, especially a head shot, and one done on the side, as an afterthought.When a potential client sees that you have possibly cut corners on your marketing, whether it be with your headshot, real estate images, or marketing material, they immediately believe that you may also cut corners in other areas of your business. This can be a big problem when someone is looking to find a professional to manage a million-dollar transaction for them. The last thing they will want is someone that does not pay attention to every detail of the process. Having a well thought out and professionally done headshot shows clients that not only are you serious about your business but that you pay attention to details and you wish only to present the most professional image.When someone begins a search for a realtor, they typically search for someone that comes across as trustworthy and competent. Buying or selling a home could be one of the most important decisions in their life. No one wants to have an unsuccessful real estate experience. Your potential buyers and sellers need to know that they can trust you. They want to feel that you can guide them through this process and help them make the best decisions to set them up for a financial win. A properly photographed headshot that conveys emotion and looks professional but not overdone is the first step to landing new clients. Yes, the house photography may bring them to you first, but if they don’t like the appearance of the realtor listing the house, they may consider passing and looking somewhere else.Why a Professional Real Estate Photographer?Not all professional real estate photographers are qualified to do your headshots. You want to find a professional photographer that is known for their excellence in real estate photography, as well as one that has a portfolio showing any headshots that they have done. Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography has experience with providing headshots that can complement your brand and help you position yourself as a realtor who knows how to run their business and most importantly, sell homes.Another advantage to having a professional handle your headshots is that your photographer can give you high-resolution images that can be shared across a variety of platforms whether you’re looking for a stand-up banner for a home show or postcards to hand out or your image on a business card. By having a high-resolution image, you ensure that regardless of where you use your images, they will always look sharp and crisp without any pixelation.Considering the Type of Head Shots You Need for Your BusinessA standard headshot, with just the head and shoulders showing, is a basic requirement for any realtor. These can be used on your real estate company’s website to be consistent with other realtors, as well as social media profiles, like LinkedIn and Facebook. You may also want to consider a shot that showcases one of your favorite and most popular properties in the background. A professional real estate photographer can get the shot with you in the foreground and the property in the background in such a way that it highlights the personality of you, the realtor, and shows that you’re passionate about your work of selling homes.Surveys have shown that people are more likely to do business with people that smile in their headshots. This means you have to balance showing warmth and friendliness with showing that you’re a confident professional, all while not appearing too confident or arrogant. When you’re working with a professional photographer that has done headshots and understands the real estate industry, you’re going to get someone that works to get a shot that shows the balance between the important elements needed.Creative Ways you can use your headshotsMost real estate agents know to use a headshot on business cards, but there are a variety of ways that you can be creative with the use of your headshot and further enhance your branding.Here are some of the most effective ways to utilize your headshots:~Open house flyers~Website~Social media profiles~Billboards~Press releases~Cold mailers to potential clients~Brochures~Booklets or pamphlets on “How to Sell Your Home.”~In your email signature lineIn addition to the above ideas, your headshot should be on every single piece of promotional material that you use, whether it’s paper marketing or online.How Head Shots Help with Relationship BuildingThe key to building any business is developing relationships. How does a headshot play into that? It’s the first step to potentially appealing to prospective clients. Then, as you use your headshots in other promotional pieces and throughout social media and web promotions, people begin to feel like they know you. The more they can see your face, paired with real estate listings the more people begin to trust you. People do business with people they know, like, and trust. A well-done headshot can help to begin or enhance your relationship building efforts.With a variety of options available; location-lifestyle portraits, a mobile studio at your office or our studio in Springfield, Virginia we can handle all of your Professional Headshot and Portraiture needs. If you’d like further information on how your headshot can boost your marketing and help your real estate business grow, contact Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography for a consultation. Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography571.377.8681 757.348.3402www.novarealestatephoto.com Shared from: http://novarealestatephoto.com/realtor-branding-headshots/

Wellington - Manassas, VA. Community Spotlight

Mon, 12 Mar 2018 08:00:03 -0700

Wellington - A Great Place to Live The Wellington Community, Manassas, Virginia In the heart of a historic community, filled with civil war relics and historic parks sits Wellington Community, a 1,397 home community, comprised of single-family homes, townhouses, and condominiums. Described by the association as a "community of beautiful scenery, friendly people, and a diversity of recreational and cultural opportunities," this picturesque neighborhood was developed in 1989 on what was once the Clover Hill Farm.Whether your client is a growing family looking for more space, newlyweds looking for their first home, or a retired couple looking to downsize to condominium living, Wellington Community has everything they need to call a place home.In addition to the beautiful homes and the natural surroundings, some of the amenities at Wellington include: Two basketball courts A beautiful community center Three tennis courts with limited access and security locks Eleven tot lots and playgrounds Bike and walking paths with miles of beautiful, carefully maintained trees and natural settings that wind through the community for easy access. The Wellington Community Pool, home to the swim team the Wellington Dolphins, is a community centerpiece. The pool features: A diving well with a half-meter board and a tube slide A wading pool for children under 7 Covered pavilion with vending machines and a place to sit and eat Swimming lessons offered by the local swim team instructors and leaders The community considers itself a close-knit community that works hard to provide opportunities for families of all ages to participate in events that draw the community closer and provide a safe environment for all. Some of the annual events held in Wellington include a spring egg hunt, pool parties, community yard sales, and holiday events for adults and children.The Wellington Community is located near Old Town Manassas and just a few minutes from historic Bull Run Battlefield, a Civil War landmark. The area is filled with history and natural beauty. Washington, D.C. is a scenic 45-minute drive, where you can visit national museums and popular tourist attractions at any time of year. Shopping is available in Manassas, just a few minutes from your front door.Wellington is one of many communities that Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography photographs for our clients. For more information about how we can help you with your real estate business, contact Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography. Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography571.377.8681 757.348.3402www.novarealestatephoto.com

Marketing Luxury Real Estate

Mon, 05 Mar 2018 09:00:59 -0800

Marketing Luxury Real EstateIn the Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. area, the luxury real estate market is a booming market, from McLean to Loudoun County to Clifton, this area has some of the highest priced luxury estates on the east coast. Usually defined as the top 10% of the market in your area, the actual home value for luxury properties varies widely depending on where you are in the United States. The Washington, D.C. area, being a draw for many, offers some of the most beautiful luxury homes in the country. Selling a luxury home requires a unique approach that differs from the marketing methods used for lower-priced homes. There are a variety of marketing tools that should be used to be competitive in the luxury real estate world. Keep in mind that someone that owns a luxury home pays close attention to detail. Sellers will be extremely discerning when choosing a realtor and will pay close attention to the other properties you’ve listed; what the photographs and marketing look like, how long they sat on the market, and how much they sold for. Here is a list of marketing tools that should always be used when marketing luxury properties: A Professional Real Estate Photographer An experienced professional real estate photographer is the single most important tool in your toolbox. Over 92% of buyers start the search process for a new home online. The photographs of the property make the first impression that a potential buyer has. You have about 8 seconds to capture their interest before they scroll past your listing onto the next page. No matter how skilled you may be with a camera, your photography skills are no match for a professional with years of experience. A professional real estate photographer has the ability to capture shots that showcase the most attractive features of the property. They can alter the camera angles to show important details and give the property the appearance of being larger and more light-filled. They understand lighting and how to capture it to make the room look the best. They also know and understand exactly how many pictures to capture and share on your listing to move the property quickly. Professional real estate photographers are also able to edit the photos quickly and load them directly into your listing site, saving you precious time that you can spend showing your property to, and finding potential buyers. Brochures High end properties are expected to have a high end marketing plan. A professionally designed and printed brochure is not only a nice touch, but almost a requirement to reach your target market. When the potential buyer wants to share property details with others, such as family members, financial advisors, business partners, just to name a few, a beautiful brochure can help close the deal. It’s something they can keep and carry in their hands and look at as they consider whether they’re going to make an offer. Drone Photography Drone photography allows you to show the property from an aerial view and accompany walk-through videos to give different angles. Aerial views for luxury properties are an important tool to get prospective buyers through the door. It gives the viewer, at a glance, a look at how the property and any exterior features like pools, patios, and gardens are laid out and how the property flows. Much like looking at a floor plan of a home, the aerial photo gives you a sense of where the home is in relation to exterior buildings and other features. When choosing a real estate photographer, look for one that has experience utilizing drone photography, like Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography. Ask any photographer you are using to see samples of their drone photography work and make sure it looks like it was professionally shot and edited. Video Tours At Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography, we offer video tours that combine elements of virtual tours, walkthrough videos, and highlight videos. These are accomplished by our experienced videographer who pans and shows the highlights of the property as he does the walkthrough video. Video Tours differ from other video services. You want to be clear when you are reviewing real estate photography services on what each type of video service includes. Virtual tours are usually a series of still photographs turned into a video slideshow. Highlight videos are simply videos that show the highlights and special features, only. For luxury properties it’s important that you go above and beyond these two services and offer a full video walkthrough tour, as described above. Twilight Photography Twilight photographs are taken at dusk with the lights on to give your photos a magical glow, making them more appealing and enabling them to show off special features. If there are water features on the property, the added element of light at just the right time of day can be a tool to really highlight those features. Twilight photos have a “magazine photo shoot” quality to them, potentially drawing in long-distance buyers and encouraging potential buyers to come view the property in person. It’s also a great way to highlight features like fire pits and outdoor living areas. Floorplans Floorplans are another often overlooked marketing tool that can help to market your luxury property. For someone making most of their screening decisions based on what is online, a floorplan can be a catalyst to get that person in the door to look at the home. At a glance, it shows them the layout of the home and how the floorplan flows, as well as where outdoor features are located in relation to the house. Using a floor plan also immediately elevates your credibility as a top-tier realtor that goes above and beyond to provide the absolute best selling tools for their clients. Remember to Highlight Features Beyond the Property How close are the closest neighbors? How convenient to the closest highway is the property? Does the nearest town have great tourist attractions? What are the school options available? These are all questions that those looking for luxury homes will ask. Be sure that your listing highlights these features and has plenty of pictures of the neighborhood or development. If you’re listing a rural property, highlight the acreage from many angles, capturing the picturesque elements of the property. Virtual Staging Should you use virtual staging for a luxury property? Yes, especially if the property is vacant. Vacant properties can be hard to sell for a variety of reasons, but from an emotional level, most people simply have a hard time visualizing themselves living in a property that doesn’t have furniture in it. Virtual staging allows photos to show the property furnished, in a neat, clean, and uncluttered way, and give your potential buyers a chance to visualize themselves actually living in the home. Check Your Online Presence Not only do you have to make sure you have a very prominent website that comes up high in Google searches, with professional, high-end photography, but you also need to be sure you utilize tools like Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. All of which are great for sharing and making the listing get into the hands of someone qualified to purchase. Pinterest and Instagram, in particular, are places that homebuyers tend to go to search for images of homes. Professional images, such as dramatic twilight shots will garner the most shares on social media sites. Know Your Market You wouldn’t try to sell a condo to someone that has clearly indicated they want a single-family home, right? In this same vein, it’s important to know exactly who you are marketing the property to. The potential buying market for luxury properties is smaller than the general market. It’s important that you develop a profile of your ideal buyer. What do they do for a living? How do they spend their time? Where do they vacation? Once you answer some of these basic questions, it helps you to target your marketing of the property accordingly and ensure that the listing shows up in places that your ideal buyer will find them. Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography specializes in capturing the best images of luxury properties in and around the Washington, D.C. area. We have vast experience helping agents list these properties, sell them quickly, and sell them for a higher price. Contact us today to discuss how we can help you market your luxury property. Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography571.377.8681 757.348.3402www.novarealestatephoto.com

Why you need to add video to your photography package

Tue, 23 Jan 2018 10:52:05 -0800

While you may be well aware of the importance of professional photography to your real estate listings, you have another valuable tool that should be considered as a supplement to your photography: video.When preparing to list a property, professional photography is something that has been established as a clear necessity, not just a luxury. Home buyers spend more time researching properties online than ever before and most do this research before ever contacting a realtor to look at a listing. This means that pictures that are done professionally are imperative to getting buyers into your homes. However, many real estate agents are finding that video is just as important as good pictures. Why A Real Estate Listing Video? As a realtor, part of gaining new clients is the ability to set yourself apart from other realtors. Recent studies have shown that 85% of buyers and sellers prefer to work with realtors that offer video listings, yet only 15% of realtors offer this service. This represents a large untapped market and an opportunity for you, as a real estate agent, to distinguish yourself from the competition as a top realtor. If potential clients are searching for a realtor to list their property and you clearly offer more than the other realtor, you’re likely going to get the business. Offering video increases the value that you provide to your clients. Easy to share Video is easier to share, which makes it more likely that someone you may not have in your circle of contacts could see the video and make an offer. A video is also able to easily be emailed to your mailing list. You can share it with other realtors in your area to share with their potential buyers, as well. This ability to easily share a walk-through or highlight video also proves to be valuable to potential buyers as they seek input from family and friends. They can easily share a link or send a video via email directly to those they want to view the property, increasing your visibility and possibly gaining you new clients in the future. Save valuable time As a professional realtor, time is money. Having a walk through video on your listing is comparable to having an open house going on around the clock. It can be viewed from any time zone, at any time. It also provides less of an inconvenience to your sellers, as a video of a home is always “show ready,” meaning they don’t have to constantly pick up and vacate the home every time someone wants to come see the property. Having a walk through video also eliminates people that are simply looking without any intention to buy from taking up your time so they can see the inside of a home. Videos impact on sales Properties listed with videos are said to generate four times more offers than those without. There is no hard data that shows why this is the case, but experts suggest that video attracts buyers that might not otherwise view the home. If you have someone relocating to the area, a video can give a potential buyer the feel of the layout of the home without ever having to step foot on the property. They can see how the rooms flow and get a better idea of whether they can envision themselves and their furniture in the home. In some cases, the viewers can view different angles of a room and even zoom in on key features that are important to them. The impact videos have on your website ranking Videoa also increase your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) on Google, enabling potential sellers and buyers to see your listings in search results before seeing other listings. Google loves videos and will list these above other content posted. This gives you a noticeable edge over your competition and can be used to convince a client that video is beneficial for them to get their property sold quickly and at the highest price. Video also keeps visitors on your site longer, which can also boost your website stats and help your exposure on Google. How video impacts your branding Personal and professional branding are key to becoming a successful realtor that gets referrals, listings, and most importantly – sales. Offering video as part of your listing package will certainly elevate your brand. If you consistently offer this to your clients, you’ll consistently sell homes faster and at higher prices, which will brand you as a highly successful realtor that puts his client’s needs first and foremost. Other ways to use video in your real estate listing Drone photography and video The additions of drone photography into the real estate market provides an even more magnificent way to showcase properties. A drone video can be done on its own or you can have an aerial video done along with the walk through video. Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography are certified, licensed and insured drone pilots.Community video Consider the benefit of offering a community video in your listing. This is a chance to give potential buyers a look at the neighborhood before ever stepping foot off of their own property. Knowing what surrounds the home and what amenities might be just down the street is a valuable way to entice new showings. Drones can easily do this type of video seamlessly and professionally. Contact us today to discuss how our walkthrough and highlight videos can benefit your listings marketing strategy. Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography571.377.8681 757.348.3402www.novarealestatephoto.com https://www.inman.com/next/by-the-numbers-how-to-focus-your-video-marketing-for-the-biggest-return-on-investment/

Belmont Bay - Woodbridge, Virginia

Sun, 14 Jan 2018 11:59:56 -0800

Right where the Occoquan River and the Potomac River meet, you’ll find a delightful waterfront community called Belmont Bay. Situated less than an hour out of Washington, DC, this idyllic setting offers wonderful views, natural beauty, and the convenience of being in Northern Virginia. For commuters and tourists alike, you’ll find a Virginia Railway Express (VRE) station right in the neighborhood that will take you directly to Union Station in the heart of Washington, DC. The Belmont Bay Harbor is the centerpiece of the neighborhood. This floating dock system has 158 boat slips available and is accessed only through a gated security system. There are fueling docks, two pump-out stations, and plenty of parking. Being located just past a No Wake Zone offers protection for the serene environment, as well as easy access to the Potomac River that you won’t find in another marina on the Occoquan. Once development has completed in Belmont Bay, the neighborhood will have a variety of specialty retail stores, restaurants with outdoor dining complete with breathtaking views of the waterfront, a harbor front hotel, business offices, boat sales and services, and outdoor festivals and entertainment throughout the year. It will have a total of 1873 residential units upon completion. Currently, there are 1072 units that are a mix of condominiums, single-family detached homes, and townhomes. For those looking for even more nature excursions, Belmont Bay is next to the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, where you will find numerous hiking trails and opportunities for birdwatching or trying to spot the many other wildlife that call this area home. The National Scenic Potomac Heritage Trail is also nearby giving you hiking and trail running opportunities while providing you with an educational experience on the history of this area. The Osprey Golf Club Banquet and Excursions facility is another popular destination that hosts weddings, parties, and other formal events. This facility offers numerous walking paths throughout that are open to residents of the community. If you’re looking for shopping experiences, Potomac Mills Mall, one of the largest outlet malls in the area, is just a few minutes away from the Belmont Bay community. You’ll also find Potomac Town Center nearby, along with a wide variety of grocery stores and restaurants. If you’d like to find out more about how we can feature the amenities that this community can offer your clients, contact Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography today. Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography571.377.8681 757.348.3402www.novarealestatephoto.com

Effective Real Estate Marketing for Realtors

Sun, 07 Jan 2018 12:00:17 -0800

With over 1.1 million members in the National Association of Realtors, competition for real estate business is fierce. What’s a realtor to do when trying to build their business in this type of crowded marketplace? The short answer is stand out from the crowd. How do you that? Through marketing and top-notch service to your clients. Make sure your online presence is strongStudies show that 92% of buyers use the internet to begin their new home search. Gone are the days where clients had to call the realtor to access the MLS listing. Now anyone and everyone can log onto their computer or mobile device, click on one of many home search engines and start looking at properties before they ever contact a realtor. Online marketing accounts for one of the biggest parts of your marketing strategy. You should have a professional profile set up on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn at a minimum. On your social media sites share all of your listings, as well as helpful information for potential clients. Sharing articles of interest related to real estate and home improvement is a great strategy that will keep you showing up in your follower’s feeds. Your social media profiles and posts can also link back to your website. Your website should be professionally set up. In most cases, the realty company that you work with will provide you with a professional website. In the rare case that you work for a small firm that doesn’t provide this, you need to make the financial investment to have someone set up a professional website for you. Do not try to shortcut this. Anything less than a professional online image will send potential clients to another realtor in a matter of seconds. Only use professional photographyWhen using photography either for your own marketing as a realtor or for listing homes, it’s important only to use a professional real estate photographer. Clients need to feel confident that you pay attention to detail and that you go above and beyond. Using your iPhone to snap a selfie headshot will not cut it. Today’s consumer can spot doctored images pretty easily. Save yourself the time and trouble and make a great first impression by using a professional real estate photographer, like Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography. Your images will be clear and crisp. The resolution will be high so that it translates well to print material as well as digital marketing. Real estate photographers also know the best way to photograph a home to show off and accentuate its most positive features. Having images of professionally shot homes for your listing shows that you care about your clients, and it gives you a professional image. Business cards All professionals, but especially realtors, have to have business cards to hand out. Get creative with this and do something unique that will help your business stick in people’s minds as they come across others that have real estate needs. If all of your listings in the last year have sold within seven days, highlight that on your business card. Customers and clients want a realtor that they know can get the job done. Having a professional image of one of the homes you’ve sold on the front is a great marketing tool and will help those that you give the card to remember what you do as soon as they see your card. Many realtors utilize business card magnets to keep their information front and center for potential clients. Use the power of referralsReferrals can be one of your biggest sources of clients out there. Statistics show that roughly 90% of consumers rely on referrals to find new professional service providers, but only 11% of professionals encourage or ask for referrals. Make sure that all of your marketing material indicates that you work on referrals or that you appreciate referrals from clients. To ensure that your clients are happy to refer you to others you need to do a few things …. Using professional photography in all of your listings elevates your professional images and makes other clients want to work with you. Create an email marketing list Email marketing provides the highest return on investment for any marketing method utilized. How do you create an email marketing list? First, you’ll start with those clients that you’ve worked with in the past. These people will be the base for your list. Next, you’ll want to find a way to capture leads going forward. An effective lead capture method can be as simple as putting a signup for your e-news on your website or having a more sophisticated free product offer. Even the most complex of these are fairly simple to set up when you use a service like MailChimp or Constant Contact. Provide readers information of value Whether you utilize email marketing (our recommendation) or update your website with a blog post, make sure you’re providing information that can help them and provide value, not sell them on your services. By providing them valuable information, you become a person they trust and will remember when they need real estate services. Blogging on your website can provide a great return because updating fresh content, especially blog posts that are more than 300 words long boosts your Google ranking and will allow those searching the web to find your site faster and put you ahead of other realtors that are not utilizing this type of marketing. Some examples of types of information that you can provide on your blog include hyperlocal news and reviews about the town your business is located in, information on home maintenance, security, home improvement, and financial education tips. To give an even bigger boost, you can invite other area businesses to guest post on your blog. Using guest bloggers helps build their audience and your audience. Finding partnerships like this wherever you can, will go a long way towards growing your own business. Content Marketing You can go a step further with your content and reach out to other bloggers or sites like Medium.com. Working with other websites and business owners you can have articles of interest posted to their sites with links back to yours. This strategy not only builds your Google ranking, but it positions you as a person of authority in your field. Another untapped resource for content marketing is Help A Reporter Out (HARO). Register as a real estate professional on HARO, and when quotes are requested from realtors, you can submit responses and potentially get published on major marketing channels with more links back to your site and further establishing your credibility as an expert in your field. Use local interests and landmarks in your marketing Becoming an expert in the area that you work in will elevate your credibility as a realtor. Many of your clients could be moving to the area from another location. To have a real estate agent that can help them connect with the important places and people in their new town is a bonus. These are just a few of the most important marketing tips for effective real estate marketing. If you’d like to learn more about how Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography can help you with your marketing efforts, contact us today. Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertadams/2017/03/17/23-bulletproof-real-estate-marketing-ideas/2/#45ca2e5c205a Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography571.377.8681 757.348.3402www.novarealestatephoto.com

The right Photographer for the right Job

Mon, 19 Jun 2017 14:37:51 -0700

If you were hiring a portrait painter, you would want an artist that specializes in portraits, not architectural renderings, right? If you have a chronic sore throat, you would want to see a doctor that specializes in ear, nose, and throat issues, not a doctor that specializes in foot disorders. If you’re looking to redo your kitchen, you’re not going to hire a carpet installation expert to manage the job. In this same way, you’re not going to want to hire just any photographer to take pictures of your real estate listing. You want a photographer that has experience in real estate photography. There’s a recent article in the Boston Globe, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer, Stan Grossfeld, one of the best photojournalists in the world. The piece is titled “Advice on taking knockout real estate photos from a Pulitzer-winning photographer.” The most notable quote from this article states, “Because, in America, everyone who has a cellphone thinks they are a professional photographer. They are not.” The most interesting thing about this article is that Stan Grossfeld, this prize-winning photographer, included samples of real estate photos that he had taken for the article. Here we have a photojournalist that knows how a camera works, knows how to take pictures that move people, yet – his real estate photos? Not good at all. The angles are bad; the lighting is poor, they’re just not good. Stan Grossfeld is a brilliant photojournalist, one who takes pictures that evoke a wide range of emotions. Not many people can capture what he can in a photographic. If you’re looking to do a photo essay or something that tells a story that the public needs to hear he’s your man. But if you’re looking for someone to take photographs of your new real estate listing, you need to find the expert in THAT field. Not a wedding photographer or a pet photographer. A real estate photographer. Real estate photography is not easy. It requires many hours of work to get the lighting and composition just right. No one does it well in the beginning. This is why it’s critical that you hire a photographer that is not only a specialist in real estate photography but also one that has the most experience in this field. Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography has experience photographing real estate and working with real estate professionals to provide the images that you need to sell your home quickly. Contact us today to find out how we can help you and your real estate business. Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography www.novarealestatephoto.com bryant@novarealestatephoto.com 571.377.8681 757.348.3402 Professional real estate photography and marketing, serving all of Virginia, Washington DC and Suburban Maryland. Including Manassas, Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Stafford, Fredericksburg, Woodbridge, Potomac, Rockville and Bethesda.

Virtual Staging and How it Can Help Sell Your Vacant Listing

Sat, 22 Apr 2017 11:30:33 -0700

Virtual Staging and How it Can Help Sell Your Vacant ListingPresentation is everything in real estate, especially when most potential buyers check properties out online before they even consider seeing the property in person.As realtors, we’re all familiar with staging – where a professional comes into a home, decorates and fills it with their own furniture and accessories to make the home more appealing to potential buyers. Traditional staging is a highly effective practice. However, it can be costly and time-consuming. A professional stager needs to have access to the home to move in their furniture and a sufficient amount of time to set everything up and get the property ready for walk-throughs. Dealing with the timeline of movers and stagers can be an inconvenience for many homeowners. How is virtual staging different from traditional staging?Virtual staging is simply utilizing technology to show images or photographs of the home fully and professionally decorated. The furniture and other items that appear in a picture of a virtually staged property are not real – they’re simply digital images of those pieces placed into a photograph or digital rendering. Virtual staging can be a valuable tool for vacant properties and for realtors that need to be more budget conscious. Not only can a virtually staged property show how a home looks with furniture in it, but it can even go a step further and show how the home would look with different wall colors and updated appliances. Improvements in digital technology and the development of improved 3D software in computer graphics allow virtually staged rooms to appear very realistic. The bonus is that the buyer visualizes the property in its best light, then when the see the property in person, they’re not distracted by furnishings. The empty rooms give them a blank slate with which to imagine their own belongings in the home. Precautions with virtual staging When you are using virtual staging, it’s imperative that you disclose on the images that they have been digitally enhanced or virtually staged. Presenting the image without disclosure gives the appearance that you may be less than honest. The disclosure will prepare possible buyers from walking into a property expecting to see furniture and finding an empty home. One good practice for disclosing virtual staging is to show the staged image beside the actual image of the same room. Placing the images side-by-side helps people understand when looking at the images that the images are for example only and the property does not have furniture in it. You can even label these as “before/after” images to avoid confusion when they see the property.One practice that some agents are having success with is printing professional hard copy prints of the digitally rendered image and displaying them prominently in the property. Having a display on premises can be especially successful when hosting an open house at the property, where you’ll have a chance to talk with potential homebuyers and explain more about the digital renderings if they have questions. Why bother staging at all? With the popularity of photography and online video to attract prospective buyers, real estate agents need always to be conscientious of their listings online first impression. Studies show that staged homes sell for more money and they sell in a shorter amount of time than a vacant property. Vacant homes are traditionally hard to move in the real estate market. Vacant homes don’t photograph well, and many online viewers will scroll past images of empty rooms without taking the time to gather further details. Whether it’s their perception that something may be “wrong” with the property or the fact that without furniture they cannot visualize themselves living in the home, an image of an empty room rarely generates interest. If potential buyers are not bothering to look at the online details of the property, this means that they’re not going to bother to view the property in person, either.One real estate agency that wanted to test out virtual staging has reported that they had a 30% increase in web traffic for their first virtually staged property that they listed. As a result, their open house had increased traffic, as well.Virtual staging seems to be especially popular and effective in urban markets and for condominiums, where curb appeal is not a factor. The inside of the home, in these markets, is the focal point of the home. How to get the most out of virtual staging When using virtual staging, it’s important to highlight the home’s strengths first and foremost. Do you have a gorgeous, well-lit breakfast nook that you want to show off? An incredible stone fireplace in the family room? How about an open layout of the kitchen and family room that would be visually enhanced if you could show it filled with furniture? By utilizing virtual staging in this scenario, your potential homebuyer would be able to picture the scale and size of the room just by viewing it online. This will generate more appointments to see the property.On the opposite side, you can and should use virtual staging to downplay any weaknesses the home may have. Is it a property that has a lot of small room and appears to have an ill thought out flow? Take advantage of the capabilities of virtual staging to show the potential of these rooms with some design tricks added in. Having a home that may need a boost due to design flaws is where the before and after pictures can be a tremendous help. How is virtual staging done? To arrange for a property to be virtually staged, the first step is to contact a professional real estate photographer, like Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography. An experienced professional real estate photographer knows and understands how to photograph rooms in a home in the most flattering way possible. Your photographer will take photographs of the empty rooms at various vantage points and angles. Next, once your photographer has a good set of images for the rooms that you’re staging, digital images of furniture, window treatments, home accessories, wall color, and other details are added. Comparison to Traditional Staging A home that is traditionally staged can range from $3,000 to $12,000 per month, depending on how much furniture you’re using from the staging professional and how long it takes them to set everything up. Most virtual staging is charged on a per-room basis. Typically, agents will select just one or two rooms to have staged. This is just enough to pique viewers interest and get them in the door. In some cases, you can virtually stage a property for as low as $200 total. To find out if virtual staging would be beneficial for your listing, contact Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography today. Virtual Staging Dining Room - AfterVirtual Staging Dining Room - Before Virtual Staging Office - AfterVirtual Staging Office - Before Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography www.novarealestatephoto.com bryant@novarealestatephoto.com 571.377.8681 757.348.3402 Professional real estate photography and marketing, serving all of Virginia, Washington DC and Suburban Maryland. Including Manassas, Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Stafford, Fredericksburg, Woodbridge, Potomac, Rockville and Bethesda.

Community Spotlight - Montebello Condominiums - Alexandria, Virginia

Sat, 11 Mar 2017 07:54:32 -0800

Montebello Condominiums in Alexandria, Virginia Perched high on a hill in the heart of Alexandria, sits the Montebello Condominium community. A gated community with a park-like setting, surrounded by trees, woodlands, hiking trails and more. If you’re looking for a place to live, that feels more like a resort setting than a typical condo community; this may be your next home. If the natural walking trails and outdoor tennis courts don’t provide what you’re looking for to keep physically active, then maybe one of the three pools ( indoor pool, outdoor pool, and children’s pool) will. Separate indoor gyms for men and women are available, as are saunas. The lower level community room has a variety of group fitness classes for all fitness levels. And if you’re worried about keeping your four-legged friend fit and healthy Montebello is a pet-friendly neighborhood with special areas for your pets to run. These amenities alone are impressive, but that’s not all that Montebello Condominiums have to offer. For recreational activities, there’s a full bowling alley onsite, hobby rooms with woodworking equipment, craft supplies, and ample space to work on your latest project, and party rooms perfect for hosting the latest family birthday. Picnic pavilions and gazebos are also available to residents, as well as benches throughout the walking trails to just sit and relax. For your convenience, Montebello also offers a full convenience store with groceries and an ATM. You also have a café and bar with outdoor seating. The cafe will deliver to your unit or the community pool for free. A full-service hair salon is also available with hours to accommodate most schedules. For the commuters in the area, there is a free shuttle to nearby Metro stations in and around Alexandria. For those unfamiliar with the area, Alexandria, Virginia is a short metro ride to Washington, D.C. If you find you feel the need to leave your bucolic surroundings you’ve got the nation’s monuments, museums, and other historic landmarks just a few minutes away. Ocean City, Maryland, is just two hours away providing a great ocean getaway. And if you’re more of a mountain retreat on the weekend type of person, there are plenty of those in a short driving distance as well. For Professional Real Estate Photography and Marketing for your listing and community call us now. Customer Service, Customer Satisfaction and Brand Value are not just buzz words for us, we live them every day! Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography www.novarealestatephoto.com bryant@novarealestatephoto.com 571.377.8681 757.348.3402 Professional real estate photography and marketing, serving all of Virginia, Washington DC and Suburban Maryland. Including Manassas, Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Stafford, Fredericksburg, Woodbridge, Potomac, Rockville and Bethesda.

Real Estate Marketing 101 for REALTORS

Sat, 04 Mar 2017 10:23:46 -0800

Marketing 101 for Real Estate Agents Whether you’re a seasoned pro or you’ve just started in a new career selling homes, one thing that will be on the top of your daily list is marketing. Real estate agents have to be strategic in their marketing plans and consider a variety of factors as they look for homeowners that want to sell their home and list with them. Many agencies will provide their agents with step-by-step plans and systems that you can plug into to help build your business. In case you don’t have that, or you’d like some extra marketing advice we’re sharing what we’ve learned in our years working in the industry. Regardless of where you are geographically, what your level of experience is, or what your niche is there are some things to remember that will hold true for all realtors as they market themselves and promote their listings. You must stand apart from the crowd Standing apart from the crowd is one of the most important keys to getting noticed in a very noisy and busy world. It’s important to set yourself apart. With competition so high among realtors, you need to differentiate yourself from the other realtors out there. Why will a prospective seller pick you? What can you offer that other agents can’t? As you think about the answers to these questions, don’t forget to factor in the online component of your marketing. In today’s increasingly mobile world, you need to have a plan to set yourself apart both online and offline.Here are some facts and statistics that are important to keep in mind and may help you as you develop your marketing plan: 92% of buyers use the internet to begin their home search. 75% of real estate business comes from referrals and word of mouth (outboundengine.com) 66% of emails are opened on a smartphone. 88% of buyers purchased their home through a real estate agent or broker—a share that has steadily increased from 69 percent in 2001. 73% of buyers will return to that same agent for their future real estate needs. *Statistics found on National Association of Realtors website. What does this mean for you as a realtor thinking about marketing?It means that in order to stand out there are several key things you must do: Have an active and engaging online presence, with an emphasis on social media Whether marketing online or offline, one thing that holds true when you look at opportunities to network and grow your business - you always want to be wherever your potential clients are. Regardless of your industry, one thing that is true for all business owners is that your customers and clients are online, so that is where you need to be. This is especially true for realtors, where word of mouth advertising plays such a big role in the leads you get.First and foremost, you should have social media profiles set up on all of the major social media channels – Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are the most popular, with Facebook being the most popular among these.Having an online profile is not enough, though. You should be engaging your followers in a variety of ways in order to build relationships with them. Some examples of this are posting questions that require more than a yes or no answer and sharing articles of interest that are helpful to them, without trying to sell them anything. As people start to feel that they are getting to know you through your online interactions and they see that you are generous with sharing information without expecting anything in return, they will have you at the top of their mind when they’re ready to list or when a friend mentions that they might need a realtor. Make your listings captivating and professional. Always use a professional photographer to capture the images you need for your listing. Viewers can tell the difference. You have less than 8 seconds to make an impression when someone views your listing online. If your photos are not bright, inviting, and professional the person looking at the images will scroll on to the next listing, and you will have lost your chance to get them in the door for a showing.Another simple tool to consider is adding social sharing buttons to your listings. Social sharing buttons enable those that are viewing your listing to easily share on social media giving you a much bigger audience and maybe even the opportunity to have your listing go viral.Highlighting local landmarks and attractions is another effective feature that is not utilized by a lot of realtors. Consider your out of town viewers when you write your listings and write them to appeal to someone that may be considering making a big move to a brand new location. This is particularly easy to do when we’re so close to Washington, D.C., and a number of historic landmarks. You should also mention features of the specific neighborhoods for your property, as there are a variety of diverse neighborhoods throughout the Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. suburbs. Use professional photographs in your listings As you consider where you should invest money to grow your business, using a professional photographer is one of the most worthwhile expenses for you and more importantly, for your clients.Consider that professional photography used for your listings will: Elevate your image as a professional. Tell potential sellers that you provide only the best service to your clients. Make the homes you are selling look bigger and brighter, attracting more potential buyers. Free up your time to focus on finding more listings, as opposed to spending hours trying to photograph, edit, and upload photographs. Help your listing sell faster and potentially for more money. Help you, as an agent, build and establish a brand identity. Consider using virtual tours and other features to set you apart Virtual tours give your potential homebuyer a view of your home that cannot be captured by photographs alone.Most professional photographers can offer this. Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography can provide virtual tours for your listings, as well as professional floor plans, aerial photography and walk through videos.A floor plan of the property that you’re selling is another underrated sales tool that helps buyers visualize the layout of the home, how it flows, and the size of rooms in the home before they schedule a visit. It’s a time-saver for both you and the potential buyer – if they know from looking at the floor plan that it will not meet their needs, they will not waste your time or theirs on an appointment. Make sure you are mobile friendly With such a large percentage of buyers scrolling real estate listings through their phone or mobile device, it’s important that your website and any sites that you place your listings on are mobile friendly. Your website needs to be mobile optimized, and your photographs need to look as great on mobile devices as they do on a computer or you will lose out on a large percentage of potential clients. Consider where you’re spending your advertising budget A simple and inexpensive way to advertise your listing is through boosted posts on Facebook. It’s an option that can get you a far reach with your advertising. The added bonus is that when someone clicks on one of your boosted posts, Facebook will then begin showing them more of your regular posts in their newsfeed, automatically giving you a broader audience. Don’t forget that relationships are the most important tool No matter where you spend your money or time, the most important piece of marketing your real estate business is by building relationships. In the end, people do business with people they know and trust. If you keep this vital point in mind as you pursue all of your marketing tasks you will get the most bang for your buck. The polished ads and networking events have little effect if you’re not building genuine relationships with other businesses and potential clients. Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography www.novarealestatephoto.com bryant@novarealestatephoto.com 571.377.8681 757.348.3402 Professional real estate photography and marketing, serving all of Virginia, Washington DC and Suburban Maryland. Including Manassas, Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Stafford, Fredericksburg, Woodbridge, Potomac, Rockville and Bethesda.

Not all Real Estate Photographers are created Equal

Wed, 01 Feb 2017 13:50:32 -0800

Not All Real Estate Photography is Created Equal Just as you would never hire a general practice doctor to perform brain surgery, or a financial advisor to design a skyscraper, you should not hire someone that is not professionally trained and experienced at photographing homes and architecture to photograph a house.One of the most important tools a realtor can use in selling a home successfully is an experienced, professional real estate photographer. First impressions are critical to selling a home. Most people decide within 8 seconds whether or not they're interested in a property solely based on the photographs that accompany the listing.Suppose you're a fairly successful realtor. You sell homes without too much trouble and feel that spending your hard earned money on a professional can be better used in other ways? For example, why not just spend several hundred dollars on some excellent photography gear, a good quality camera, and shoot those pictures yourself. Photo-editing software makes turning those pictures into a work of art very quick and easy. It might sound like a great way to save money, but think about this – how many hours do you have accumulated taking photographs of houses, interior and exterior and room-by-room? Do you know how to make a small, dark room appear bright and spacious? Do you know the best time of day to take pictures of the house for the best lighting? Do you know the absolute best angle to make that home look like it should be on the cover of House and Garden magazine? Perhaps the bottom line should be, do you want to sell the house for the most money possible and as quickly as possible, while being known as a realtor that provides top value services to their clients? Of course you do. What does a real estate photographer have that a realtor doesn’t? For one, hours of practice. Most realtors are aware of the “10,000 hours” theory – this states that until someone has 10,000 hours of practice at something they are an amateur. So, as a realtor you may know your way around a camera pretty well, you may have posted many of your own photographs on your listings and sold them just fine. But if you put the photo up side by side with a professionally done photograph of the same property you’ll likely quickly see the differences.As a realtor you want to be known for giving your clients the best chance at selling their home quickly and selling it for the highest bid possible. If you’re not offering them the services of a professional real estate photographer, then you’re not offering the best. What to Look for When Choosing a Professional Real Estate Photographer So, whether you’re a homeowner about to sell or a realtor that has decided they want to provide the best for their clients, you need to know how to find the best real estate photographer.Here are the things all realtors should look for in a real estate photographer:How many homes have they photographed for real estate listings? This is important. You want someone that truly understands real estate marketing and has the ability to make your listing look like it should be in a home design or home décor magazine.Are they solely a real estate photographer or do they dabble in other types of photography on the side? Be cautious about using someone that claims they can provide you a better finished product because they work in a variety of photography niches. You want someone that is truly specialized in this niche, like Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography. If they are successful at photographing homes for realtors, this should be the only thing that they specialize in.Do they upload your photographs to your listing directly or do they simply send you a file or flash drive for you to load the pictures up yourself? A professional will edit the photos and offer to upload them to your listing, leaving you to focus on the important job of showing homes and getting new listings.Are they able to provide a virtual tour? The Washington, DC and Northern Virginia area tends to have residents that have relocated from other areas. Many of these potential buyers do not have the luxury of visiting the home numerous times before they move in. In most cases they will not fly out to view a property in person unless they’re certain from online photos and virtual tours that this is a home they know they want to move into. For this buyer, not only are professional photos a requirement, but a virtual tour can go a long way to securing the sale.Are they able to provide a floor plan? Floor plans are another tool that elevate your listing above your competitors and establish you as a more professional agent when sellers are considering who they will list their home with. A floor plan gives details on how a home flows and the size and layout of rooms that a photograph will just not be able to do. Most experienced real estate photographers offer floor plans as part of their service to realtors. Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography is proud to be able to offer this service, as well as virtual tours, aerial photography, video and many other marketing services to all of our clients.What do other realtors in your area have to say about the photographer you’re considering? Other realtors can give great feedback on photographers they’ve used or worked with.How have their other listings performed? Look at some of the properties that they have photographed. How long did each listing remain on the market and how much did it sell for?Some other questions you can ask a photographer that you’re considering using include: - How many photos are included in their quoted package price? - How do they handle editing? How much editing do they do to your photographs? - What is the timeframe that they expect to have your pictures loaded onto your listing or given back to you? If you’re setting up video tours and floorplans you can also clarify the timeframe for getting these done. - Do they have testimonials to share? - Do they have insurance coverage in the event something is damaged during a photo shoot?In addition to what’s listed above, do not be afraid to interview potential real estate photographers. If your potential real estate photographer has experience in the industry they understand how important it is to your success in real estate to pick the right person to do this job. To find out how Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography can help your real estate business call us today. Northern Virginia Real Estate Photographywww.novarealestatephoto.com bryant@novarealestatephoto.com 571.377.8681 757.348.3402

Why You Should Use a Real Estate Photographer for your Listings

Fri, 30 Dec 2016 14:12:17 -0800

Why You Should Use a Real Estate Photographer for your Listings A picture says a thousand words, right? According to Realtor.org, 92% of homebuyers use the internet for their new home search. They browse listings when and where it's convenient for them, using laptops, tablets, and phones. This means you need to capture their interest immediately because they will not linger on a photo longer than 20 seconds before they move on to the next listing. If the image that you're presenting as the main image of your property is not professional, appealing, and intriguing, they will move on.Your listing photographs create the first impression that a potential home buyer is likely to form of a property for sale. We know that most home buyers start their searches online before ever going to look at a property in person. It's important that you have a captivating and professional image as the first thing your potential buyers see.With many realtors having access to smartphones with cameras or even their own camera and lenses, it's easy to try to shortcut the professional photographer piece and attempt to take your own photographs. Especially with the trend to post everything on social media. However, today's consumers are also savvy enough that they can quickly spot an image taken by an amateur versus a professional. You don't want a potential homebuyers first impression of the listing to be anything less than perfect. There are many reasons that you should hire a professional real estate photographer for your listing. 1. It will set your listing apart. Using a professional, like Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography will give your listing a professional image. If you tend to sell properties that have been foreclosed or other property in a lower pricing category, one where sometimes there are not professional photographers used, using one will make your listing stand apart from the others and give it a step up on competing properties. Standing out in a crowded real estate market is one of the most important keys to selling homes, especially in such a densely populated areas like Washington DC and Northern Virginia. The photographs you use can provide a quick and easy way to set yourself apart from the competition. 2. It will put you on a level playing field if it's a high-value listing. For higher value homes, sellers almost always use professionals. In places where many homes list for more than a million dollars, if you want your listing to be competitive with the others, you must use a professional. 3. The property will be more appealing by using professional images by an experienced real estate photographer. Washingtonians are proud of their homes and the area they live. To provide top-notch customer service, you should be able to offer them services that will adequately show off their homes. Real estate photographers have the tools necessary to make your listing shine. Some of these include poles that they can mount their camera on to give a broad view of the property, lighting and special lenses to shoot any room for a flattering angle. They know how to use composition, color, and lighting to make the images more attractive and appealing to potential buyers. Little tricks, like making a room appear spacious and airy or with more light can get a prospect in the door that you might have lost otherwise. 4. Appeal to online buyers. Northern Virginia and Washington DC tend to attract many out-of-towners wishing to relocate here. With so many buyers and potential buyers doing their searches online, it's imperative that your online listing shows off the features in such a way to capture a buyer's interest quickly. Photos that appear to be done by an amateur will result in the viewer leaving your listing and looking for other, more visually appealing properties. 5. Save precious time. It's time-consuming to walk through a property and take numerous flattering pictures of every room. Add to that the time that it will take you to upload and edit the images properly and you're looking at many hours of work, at a minimum. A professional can have this done in a much shorter time frame and free you up to focus on selling the property and getting new clients through the door. 6. Provide more options to your sellers. Real estate photographers are usually able to provide you with additional professional services to aid in selling the property. These may include virtual tours, professional floorplans, and videography. These are important tools to appeal to long-distance homebuyers. Some photographers also offer high-quality print services which are beneficial to promote the property when doing open houses and other local events. 7. Sell the property faster. Studies show that online listings with more professional photographs sell faster than those with just a few photographs or those that have amateur photos. In some cases, it has been reported that this could be several weeks faster. 8. Improve your professional image. The extra money you spend on a professional photographer will earn you a reputation in the industry as a true professional that goes above and beyond for their clients, leading to more business for you.Buyers are savvy enough to spot amateur photography – even the untrained eye can now differentiate between a professional photograph and one taken from a smartphone. No matter how good the quality of your smartphone camera, it cannot capture the image in a way a professional can. Even if you happen to own a high-end camera, you do not have the number of hours invested into the craft of photographing homes to sell that a real estate photographer, like Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography does. 9. It's a marketing investment. The money spent on professional photography for your listing will come back in the form of quicker sales and more future listings for you. It's a very effective tool to help establish your brand in the highly competitive real estate industry. 10. Sell the property for more money. Listings with professional, high-quality photos typically sell for more. 11. Using a professional photographer increases the odds that your listing could go viral on social media. Social media loves great images. If your photographer is able to capture one amazing image of the property that you can share, this increases the views of that property and increases the number of people that your real estate business comes into contact with. Picking a real estate photographer to work with Remember as you begin your search for a real estate photographer that not all professional photographers are created equal. It's important to interview photographers, ask specific questions and find the right person for your real estate needs. As you begin your search for a real estate photographer, look for these signs of a true professional: 1. Find someone with experience doing real estate photography. Anyone can hang their sign and claim to be a real estate photographer. You want someone that has proven experience photographing homes and property, like Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography. 2. Look for a photographer with an impressive portfolio to show you. An experienced photographer will be able to show you examples of their previous work. 3. Don't look for the bargain. This is not a place you want to cut corners if you're going to make the investment. A few hundred dollars out of your pocket now can mean several thousand back in sales with the right photographer. 4. They should have experience staging properties. Properly staged properties can have a big impact on the final offer made to your client. For more information about how we can help you maximize your real estate listings or sell your home faster using professional photography, contact us today at: Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography www.novarealestatephoto.combryant@novarealestatephoto.com571.377.8681 757.348.3402

Elegantly Appointed Colonial in Woodbridge VA

Sat, 22 Oct 2016 04:31:08 -0700

Elegantly appointed Colonial boasts an open-concept floor plan. Residence features a two story foyer with a catwalk, custom closet cabinetry, granite countertops, white cabinets, kitchen pantry, upper level laundry room, recessed lighting, recreation room off kitchen, master suite w/ a huge walk-in closet, media room, large basement great room, & legal lower level bedroom w/ large walk-in closet. http://tours.novarealestatephoto.com/640321?a=1 Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography www.novarealestatephoto.com 571.377.8681 757.348.3402

Why You Need a Floor Plan With Your Home Listing

Mon, 17 Oct 2016 05:21:27 -0700

It's standard practice when selling a home in Northern VA and Washington, DC that you would never list a home without high-quality photographs of the home, including the interior rooms and features. However, many don't realize the importance of providing professional floor plans with their home listing. A floor plan can truly mean the difference between a quick sale and a longer, drawn-out process.Rightmove.co.uk, the UK's leading property listing website, has researched this subject and found that 1/3 of buyers were less likely to express interest in a property that did not have floor plans included in it's listing. It's the second most desired feature, right behind having a large selection of photographs of the interior and exterior of the property. What does that mean to you if you're selling your home or you're a realtor? Properties with floor plans generate a whopping 30% more interest than those without.Floor plans help prospective buyers understand the flow of the property in a way that photograph – or even a number of photographs – just cannot do. Even more powerful is the capability you open up when you combine professional photos with a well-done floor plan, enabling the potential buyer to see the flow of the home, the dimensions of the rooms and where windows, doors, and closets are placed, along with corresponding photographs. This is something that Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography specializes in.Once you decide that you will be using a floor plan for your next listing or to sell your own home, there are a few features that should be taken into consideration with the floor plan you use. All floor plans should: Be professionally done. Do not try to draw up or generate your own floor plans. Leave it to an experienced professional for the best results.Include accurate dimensions. Potential homebuyers rely on the dimensions listed to determine if the home will fit their needs.Include window and door placement and measurements. This gives the potential buyer an understanding of how the rooms flow, where the light sources are and how much storage is available.Have a compass marker. This tells which direction the front and back of the house face. Does the morning sun come into the kitchen? Can you see the sunset from the back deck or the front porch? These are selling points that many buyers truly look for.Clearly show the overall property size. This should include any outbuildings and hardscape features. Just like a floor plan of the house itself, if you have a larger property, providing a plan that includes these features is another tool to help the potential buyer understand the property flow and size. Why Are Floor Plans So Important? A floor plan gives a potential buyer the ability to see themselves and their belongings in the home. By having the dimensions and the placements of windows and doors they can determine if their furniture would fit and where it would be placed. Floor plans answer the questions that many buyers have during the home buying process about the little details involved in moving into a new residence - Will they need to buy new furniture? Will the layout of the home fit the needs of their family, their lifestyle, and their daily habits?Having a floor plan available saves time for both the sellers and the buyers. If a buyer sees that a floor plan will not meet their needs, they will not waste the time needed to go look at it. Likewise, the seller has not had to have their day disrupted to make time and space for a showing of their property. Other Benefits of a Floor Plan Floor plans can show all available space in a home – closets, storage areas, basements, and attics and thereby add perceived value to the home by making the property seem larger. A floor plan can help buyers remember important details about the home that stood out to them long after the showing is over. When you consider that most buyers view several properties in one day, any tools that you can provide to help them have a visual memory of your property and to help your property stand out over others is beneficial. Having a floor plan available for out-of-town buyers helps make the process much smoother for them. If they're planning to move into the Washington, DC area but are not familiar with the area, they're able to visualize the property flow better and determine if it meets their needs without needing to view the property in person. When putting your property online, the click-through rates on homes that have a floor plan in the online description are higher. Since many realtors still do not utilize floor plans as a marketing tool, it also helps your property stand out among the many others you're competing with. The floor plan image can be loaded onto the website, easily shared via email and through social media. The more places your property can be found and the more clicks it receives the better chance of it being seen in searches. Larger properties, like many found in the Northern VA area, can show floor plans in relation to gardens and grounds, outbuildings and other hardscape features. A floor plan helps to decrease the need for multiple inspections from buyers while they determine what furniture can fit and try to remember other features about the home. A floor plan can help inspire renovations. Floor plans are great for remodeling projects that potential buyers may have in mind. They're easy to send to contractors and vendors for them to determine exactly what supplies are needed and in what quantity. Plus an interior designer can utilize a floor plan to design the interior décor – carpets, rugs, curtains, etc. A remodeling contractor can help their client visualize what a room would look like with a wall knocked out or an addition put in. These are all things that cannot be achieved with photographs alone. Professional Floor Plan Design versus DIY Apps: Which to Choose There are numerous simple apps available that can help you set up and design a floor plan on your own, whether using your smartphone or mobile device or a robust computer program, but those are not recommended for use when listing your property. The DIY floor plans and apps are really designed to be used by a homeowner for their own personal use – playing around with furniture placement or brainstorming about remodels before taking the project to a professional.It's important that you utilize an experienced professional to design your floor plan as you need it, with accurate room dimensions and a polished, professional appearance. The return on your investment is worth it for this expense. Hiring a professional also ensures that the finished product will be completed in a more timely manner. It ensures that the marketing material that you need to hand out is complete and professional, with a professionally done floor plan right in the marketing material.Many real estate photographers, like Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography offer floor plans to their clients. The photographers can take accurate laser measurements, enabling them to create a clear plan with room dimensions and door and window placement. The finished product is polished, professional, and integrates with the photographs taken of your home.High-quality photographs are still a necessity, even with a professional floor plan. Photographs capture a visual image that will not be captured in a 2D floor plan. A good photograph will showcase unique features of the property. Coupled with the floor plan it's a powerful marketing and sales tool. Many people don't even need to step into the home to fully understand what the property looks and feels like if you've had your photographs and floorplan done by an experienced professional. It's simply one of the best and most underrated ways to get your home sold quickly. What Type of Floor Plan Should I Have? Your photographer or other professional that is designing the floor plan will likely know exactly what you need to best showcase your home and to make it easy to understand. There are several types of floor plans that can be used. They include: Basic, simple 2D plan with measurements. This is the type most people are used to seeing, especially with new home construction plans and in magazines. 2D plan in color. Just like the basic 2D, just with added color to highlight features. Textured plan. This can show features such as tile, carpet, hardwood and decking materials, plants, and even landscaping details. 3D artist impression. Typically used for yet to be built properties. Floor plans should be included in all marketing material both paper and digital. Contact Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography to find out how easily we can create a floor plan for your next listing. Northern Virginia Real Estate Photographywww.novarealestatephoto.com 571.377.8681 757.348.3402

Virtual Tour 1657 Knicely Drive, Culpeper VA 22701

Mon, 18 Apr 2016 00:07:58 -0700

a Beautiful well mantained, one-owner home we shot in Culpeper, VA. last week. Virtual Tour For all your Real Estate Photography and Marketing needs please call us first. We offer a 100% satisfaction money back guarantee, 24-48 hour turn around time on most projects, unrivaled customer service and all the leading edge marketing tools for your Real Estate Business.© 2016 Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography. All Rights Reserved. www.novarealestatephoto.com Please feel free to share and tag yourself, but please do not alter in any way including cropping to remove watermark.

"Hero Shot" for your MLS Listing

Sun, 10 Apr 2016 07:30:25 -0700

We just recently added Day to Dusk conversions to our Real Estate Marketing services. When you really need that "Hero Shot" for your listing and don't have the time or budget for a Twilight Shoot of your property we can do a Day to Dusk conversion of your exterior image to really make your listing stand out on the MLS. Contact us for more information. Below is the original image of this beautiful property we shot recently in Marshall, VA. For all your Real Estate Photography and Marketing needs please call us first. We offer a 100% satisfaction money back guarantee, 24-48 hour turn around time on most projects, unrivaled customer service and all the leading edge marketing tools for your Real Estate Business.© 2016 Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography. All Rights Reserved. www.novarealestatephoto.com Please feel free to share and tag yourself, but please do not alter in any way including cropping to remove watermark.

Virtual Tour 10206 Wesley Chapel Rd Warrenton, VA

Wed, 30 Mar 2016 11:35:08 -0700

Virtual Tour we just built for Michele Noel.http://tours.novarealestatephoto.com/496755For all your Real Estate Photography and Marketing needs please call us first. We offer a 100% satisfaction money back guarantee, 24-48 hour turn around time on most projects, unrivaled customer service and all the leading edge marketing tools for your Real Estate Business.© 2016 Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography. All Rights Reserved. www.novarealestatephoto.com Please feel free to share and tag yourself, but please do not alter in any way including cropping to remove watermark.

Virtual Tour 14385 Surrydale Dr. Woodbridge

Mon, 28 Mar 2016 13:16:19 -0700

Virtual Tour we just built for Michael Sheridan. www.youonlyneedmichael.com http://tours.novarealestatephoto.com/public/vtour/display/494462 For all your Real Estate Photography and Marketing needs please call us first. We offer a 100% satisfaction money back guarantee, 24-48 hour turn around time on most projects, unrivaled customer service and all the leading edge marketing tools for your Real Estate Business. © 2016 Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography. All Rights Reserved. www.novarealestatephoto.com Please feel free to share and tag yourself, but please do not alter in any way including cropping to remove watermark.

Virtual Tour 43121 Fling Ct. Ashburn VA

Sat, 26 Mar 2016 11:50:16 -0700

Virtual Tour we just built for Michael Sheridan. www.youonlyneedmichael.com http://tours.novarealestatephoto.com/public/vtour/display/494625 For all your Real Estate Photography and Marketing needs please call us first. We offer a 100% satisfaction money back guarantee, 24-48 hour turn around time on most projects, unrivaled customer service and all the leading edge marketing tools for your Real Estate Business. © 2016 Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography. All Rights Reserved. www.novarealestatephoto.com Please feel free to share and tag yourself, but please do not alter in any way including cropping to remove watermark.

Property Highlight Videos

Thu, 24 Mar 2016 04:40:36 -0700

We are pleased to announce that we are now offering Property Highlight Videos for Realtors, Builders, Architects and Property Managers. These highlight videos are great for social media sharing, property advertising and REALTOR brand marketing. Call us today and ask about this and any of our other Real Estate marketing tools. For all your Real Estate Photography and Marketing needs please call us first. We offer a 100% satisfaction money back guarantee, 24-48 hour turn around time on most projects, unrivaled customer service and all the leading edge marketing tools for your Real Estate Business. © 2016 Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography. All Rights Reserved. www.novarealestatephoto.com Please feel free to share and tag yourself, but please do not alter in any way including cropping to remove watermark.

Who Relies on Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography?

Tue, 15 Mar 2016 03:42:23 -0700

Some people appreciate quality and style, and they recognize the value in spending a little more to achieve a better end result. They don’t just purchase the cheapest item they can find, but rather they educate themselves and source the ‘thing’ (whether it’s a product or a service) that will deliver them the highest value. Maybe the ‘thing’ will last longer, or look better, depreciate less, or provide a better return on investment. When it comes to real estate agents choosing a photographer to work with them on creating the perfect marketing campaign, the type of agents who use Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography are those who seek to deliver a successful result for their clients no matter what the investment is. And they know that beautiful images are one of the key ingredients that will deliver that success. Why? Because these agents know that if their properties looks great in the photos, then they are going to attract a flood of people to their open homes. Whilst other homes in the area will have just a couple of parties through on open days, these real estate agents will have a crowd. And by attracting so many potential buyers, they are far more likely to achieve a brilliant result. When it comes to the homeowner, the type of people who rely on Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography are the people who know that presenting their ‘castle’ in the best possible light is worth doing. Whether they are doctors, plumbers, single moms or sports stars, these are the people who want to be proud of the way their home looks online and in any other marketing material. When friends and relatives interstate or overseas ask to see what their home looks like on the real estate websites, they want to be happy to show them. They won’t settle for ordinary images. They want the best, and they want to be able to show their friends just how fantastic their home can look. These are the people who rely on Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography. For all your Real Estate Photography and Marketing needs please call us first. We offer a 100% satisfaction money back guarantee, 24-48 hour turn around time on most projects, unrivaled customer service and all the leading edge marketing tools for your Real Estate Business. © 2016 Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography. All Rights Reserved. www.novarealestatephoto.com Please feel free to share and tag yourself, but please do not alter in any way including cropping to remove watermark.

How To Get The Listings You've Always Wanted

Mon, 14 Mar 2016 03:45:36 -0700

What can a real estate agent do to pick up more listings and position themselves above the other agents in their area? Real estate photography is important not because it sells homes, and it's not about securing a quicker sale, or getting the best possible price. Yes, it does all of those things but that’s not where the real benefit lies for you. Real estate photography sells real estate agents. When an agent consistently uses high quality images, it makes THEM look good, and brings in more listings for THEM. Note that I will emphasise the word “consistently”, because if you only do it for the extra special properties then potential sellers will pick up on that and you won’t really be maximising the full potential of this marketing tool. Here’s how it works: When you consistently use great photos, it positions you as a highly professional real estate agent. Why? Because buyers and sellers will almost always see the photos of the houses you are selling before they meet you. Those photos are your #1 branding tool. Those photos are selling you on your behalf well before you receive an enquiry from a potential seller. So when you use really bad photos, where homes look dark, or wonky, or small, that’s going to reflect badly on you as well. On the other hand, when a real estate agent uses magazine-quality professional photography, it positions him or her as the consummate professional who does everything well. The assumption is that an agent who takes the time to ensure the photos of a home looks great will also be a great sales person and a highly competent agent. All of that naturally leads to that agent picking up more listings (because homeowners would prefer to sell their home with the most professional and competent agent they can find), and that of course leads to more sales and therefore more dollars in the pocket of the real estate agent who uses high quality photography in all of their campaigns. So when you’re thinking about the photos you use in your next marketing program, think about the photos and whether they are promoting you in the way that you want them to. An excerpt from our FREE Real Estate Photography MagazineSend us an E-Mail and I will send one right out in the mail to you! For all your Real Estate Photography and Marketing needs please call us first. We offer a 100% satisfaction money back guarantee, 24-48 hour turn around time on most projects, unrivaled customer service and all the leading edge marketing tools for your Real Estate Business. © 2016 Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography. All Rights Reserved. www.novarealestatephoto.com Please feel free to share and tag yourself, but please do not alter in any way including cropping to remove watermark.

Before & After Mid Century Modern Holmes Run

Sat, 05 Mar 2016 01:39:39 -0800

Before & After Mid Century Modern Holmes Run Lat year we had the unique opportunity to shoot a property that was being offered in Historic Holmes Run, our 10th shoot in this neighborhood, that was being offered to investors as a complete renovation. The property sold and several months passed. The REALTOR representing the investor loved the images I shot of this home even in its less than best presentaion, and called me to shoot the home after it's renovation! I loved being able to see the before and after of this beautiful Mid Century Modern in Falls Church. The investors and everyone involved in this project brought this historic home back to life.I would love to hear your thoughts on the before and after images! Before - Exterior After - Exterior Before - Backyard After - Backyard Before - Dining Room After - Dining Room Before - Kitchen After - Kitchen Before - Master Bedroom After - Master Suite For all your Real Estate Photography and Marketing needs please call us first. We offer a 100% satisfaction money back guarantee, 24-48 hour turn around time on most projects, unrivaled customer service and all the leading edge marketing tools for your Real Estate Business. © 2016 Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography. All Rights Reserved. www.novarealestatephoto.com Please feel free to share and tag yourself, but please do not alter in any way including cropping to remove watermark.

Coming Soon! Newmarket, VA.

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 04:18:56 -0800

We shot this scenic property for Michael Sheridan yesterday in historic Newmarket. The property features gorgeous view of Duncan Knob and Big Mountain and has been newly renovated. Listing coming soon, contact Michael Sheridan of McEnearney Associates for more details! © 2016 Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography. All Rights Reserved. www.novarealestatephoto.com Please feel free to share and tag yourself, but please do not alter in any way including cropping to remove watermark.

NAR educating Realtors about copyright involving listing photos

Wed, 13 Jan 2016 03:44:41 -0800

Great article below that should help clear up Copyright and Licensing issues with clients and make the conversation more productive between Realtors and Photographers. Licensing and copyright have been a confusing topic in my studio for the past 20+ years, not just with Realtors. I always try to educate clients on the difference so they understand exactly what they can and can't do with the images but also so they are not paying for something they don't need in licensing usage. http://www.realtor.org/law-and-ethics/who-owns-your-property-photos