Home > Blogs > Joan Snodgrass > Joan's Blog

TAKING LISTING PHOTOS

By Joan Snodgrass

Services for Real Estate Pros with Midamerica Referral Network

January 26, 2008 02:42 AM

DO THE PICTURES IN YOUR LISTINGS ENTICE BUYERS?

Home owners are often too busy getting ready to move to a new location to notice the pictures that are taken to support the listing of their house in the Multiple Listing Service. These photos can have a huge impact on the sale of the property.

Location, price and condition are extremely important to a successful sale, but pictures are what a potential buyer looks at closely. With over 80% of buyers today shopping on the web before calling a REALTOR, pictures accompanying the property information sheet can make the difference between exciting a buyer's interest or passing it by.

My favorite gripe as a Shell Knob, MO agent, is a listing for a waterfront property with no picture supporting this information. SHOW ME THE WATER VIEW!

Another aggravation is an inviting front view of a new builders' spec home - but no interior shots?

I came across another school of thought yesterday, while searching the MLS - leave all the closet doors open in bedrooms and baths! Those pictures were disconcerting and did nothing to the appeal of the rooms.

Or how about the fireplace pictures - up close and personal. Yes, that is a fireplace, but where does it sit in the scheme of the room it is in?

Here are a few samples of shots that don't do the property seller any favors. None of these homes sold last year.

Dark Room

Fireplace

FLASHLIGHTS ANYONE? THE FIREPLACE IS HERE SOMEWHERE

lIVING ROOM fAMILY RM

NICE LAMP EVERYTHINGS ROSEY

CALL JOAN TO LIST YOUR SHELL KNOB HOME 417-846-2209

Comments(11)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Tom Davis

Harrington ERA,DE Homes For Sale, $$ Save $$ Buy Today ! - Dover, DE

FREE Delaware Homes Search!, $$ Save $$ - Find Homes! Delaware Realtor

Yes taking photos is a very important of marketing your property they are not just pictures they are how you sell the home! Show it off and display it...so if you need to invest in a better camera to take better pictures it will be the best real estate investment you can make! A good camera! Thanks for this posting!

Tom Davis - Delaware Home For Sale Realty - Active Rain Blogger - Realtor

Jan 26, 2008 02:47 AM

Mott Marvin Kornicki

Waterway Realtors® • Notary Public & Apostille - Sunny Isles, FL

Miami Notary & Apostille 786-229-7999

Photos especially good photos will have a positive impact. Important: The photos should be a n accurate depiction of the property. I've seen many pictures that were NOT of the subject property!

Jan 26, 2008 02:55 AM

Mary Bowen

Coldwell Banker United, Realtor - The Woodlands, TX

Real Estate At Its Finest!!!

Photos are your first impression. Take a ton and go back and take more if you need to do so. And, by all means use photoshop to improve lighting, blur, crop, etc.

Jan 26, 2008 03:01 AM

Joan Snodgrass

Midamerica Referral Network - Kimberling City, MO

Tom: A definite on a good camera. Then take the time to do it right. One thing about the new digital ones, you won't need to worry about running out of film.

Jan 26, 2008 03:17 AM

Yes, Mott - excellent point. Honest pictures! Can't say that I've seen many that were not of the property listed (unless it was a builders spec house and not finished yet.)

Jan 26, 2008 03:19 AM

D B

Quakertown, PA

e-PRO, Realtor - Bucks County PA - 610-952-3578

Hey Joan. This is a great posting about Taking good pictures

Don

Jan 26, 2008 03:20 AM

Mary: Amen and amen! I get the impression from some agents that it is a chore to take the pictures. So they do so perfunctually not really caring if they turn out good, bad or indifferent. With today's equipment and software, there is really no excuse for not showing the property well with the photos.

Jan 26, 2008 03:22 AM

Josué E. Silva

Tierra Antigua Realty - Tucson, AZ

interesting

Jan 26, 2008 03:47 AM

Carol Spengel

Prudential Rubloff - Wheaton, IL

Wheaton IL

In addition to good photo equipment and software, we need to be more bold with our clients. It's hard to tell someone to take down the 15 year old photos and butterflies (see photo above), but it must be done to create an environment buyers will want.

Jan 26, 2008 03:02 PM

Sherry:

You are SOOOO right! Take that junk down! But what also gets me, is why someone would take a picture in a bathroom and leave a dirty towel hanging on the shower door!

Jan 27, 2008 07:11 AM

Randy "Lazarus" McAtee

Lazarus Realty - Fresno, CA

Owner/Broker, Lazarus Realty, Fresno California

Taking pictures is no longer a chore since I upgraded my cellular phone. I got the new LG phone that takes pictures and videos and lets me watch movies on it to boot. Take a look at this shot I took in our dining room:

<vbg> if only it could be so easy!

Feb 05, 2008 04:57 PM

TAKING LISTING PHOTOS

Comments(11)

Joan Snodgrass

Recent Posts

Additional Information