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Which Photo Is Best For Real Estate Marketing Success?

By
Home Stager with Sharon Tara Transformations

Selling a home is just like selling any other product. It must be presented in the best light possible...strategically marketed to be both visually and emotionally appealing to the majority of buyers.

Your product must do more than simply fit the size, price and location requirements of a buyer. It must stand out from the competition, appearing well maintained and cared for. The perceived value of your product will be based primarily on its appearance, beginning with the photos you choose to use on the MLS.

The greatest marketing tool you have to sell a house is photography.

Buyers are visual creatures. What they see in those tiny little MLS photos will either pull them in or push them away.

 

A couple of years ago, in my post Today's Home Staging Lesson Was Brought To You By Sesame Street  I asked you to play a little game of  "One Of These Things Is Not Like The Others ". 

Would you like to play again?

This time around the question is a bit different....

Which is better than the rest?

Which is the best to use as a marketing tool to sell your very expensive product?

Which photo will create the highest perceived value in the minds of buyers?

 

Which dining room photo is better than the rest?

 

Which living room photo is better than the rest?

  

Which kitchen photo is better than the rest?

 

What makes those photos better than the rest? Is it because they have less visual distraction?  Is it because they are more inviting? Is it because they appear to be from homes that were well cared for and therefore worth more money? 

Photography is your greatest marketing tool, but only if your photos are better than the rest. Great photos depend on much more than just a great photographer. Great photos begin with the preparation and presentation of each room.

Home staging is the key to having the best photos! 

Comments (34)

Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

I don't understand how sellers allows such poor photos on their home. I saw a new home tonight in MLS with 8 terrible photos. Now one was good.

Jun 30, 2017 08:50 PM
Sharon Tara

I've never understood that either. Is it a misplaced trust in a poor agent? How can they they be ok with such poor representation?

Jul 01, 2017 08:34 AM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Buyers lose interest in MLS photos with poor quality. It happens way to many times, buyers get turned off and won't even consider looking at a house if the pictures are too dark, crowded with too much stuff, or just not good pictures at all. Agents who list with photos that don't show the house in its best light are not doing their clients a disservice

Jun 30, 2017 11:10 PM
Sharon Tara

I agree, it's a sign of very poor marketing and I wouldn't hire an agent who doesn't take the importance of mls photos seriously.

Jul 01, 2017 08:35 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Sharon- very well done!  We are all visual and our eyes and what we see can rule what are head may think. If only sellers would take photos of their homes and see what their buyers will see. 

Jul 01, 2017 01:15 PM
Sharon Tara

A great suggestion to take their own photos as a way to see how their home will show in pictures. It's a good way for them to understand the importance of preparation and presentation!

Jul 01, 2017 04:39 PM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Sharon

I bookmarked your post it offers great insight the uses of photos in selling a home.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Jul 01, 2017 07:17 PM
Sharon Tara

Thank you Lou!

Jul 03, 2017 08:58 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Sharon

We all know photos matter to buyers and are such an important part of marketing - the home's first, and perhaps only, open house is online, and the impression has to be a great one. These photos help to illustrate the good and the bad so clearly!

Jeff

Jul 01, 2017 10:42 PM
Sharon Tara

Thank you Jeff!

Jul 03, 2017 08:58 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is excellent advice to share with home sellers and their listing agents.

Jul 02, 2017 04:09 AM
Sharon Tara

Thank you Roy!

Jul 03, 2017 08:59 AM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

That is what aI like about you Sharon Tara,  You are so good at what you do and make us all think of how important staging is!

 

Jul 02, 2017 07:01 AM
Sharon Tara

That is a great compliment, Will. Thank you!

Jul 03, 2017 08:59 AM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Taking the time to stage a shot and spending the money to use a professional photographer is priceless !

Jul 09, 2017 04:37 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Sally K. & David L. Hanson  Priceless is right! So much time and money wasted if you don't properly prepare and present!

Jul 10, 2017 10:33 AM
Nathan Gesner
American West Realty and Management - Cody, WY
Broker / Property Manager

Each set had a clear winner: better lighting, better angle, less clutter. Great examples!

Jul 30, 2017 05:57 AM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Thank you for the post. I hope home sellers  and agentswill read this post and learn.

Jul 30, 2017 06:57 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Nathan Gesner  Winner Winner! Thanks for playing along!

Gita Bantwal  Thank you. I hope so too!

Jul 30, 2017 05:17 PM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning, Sharon Tara "the eye buys" and those eyes do not like confusion...simplicity and a clean look are magnets....

Aug 28, 2017 04:00 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Barbara Todaro  One of the best lines in real estate! Never gets old!

Aug 28, 2017 05:57 AM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Fun, visual way to instantly see the difference in great staging - and great photos. You are so right too.   I found it via Roy's reblog. 

Aug 28, 2017 06:27 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Debb Janes EcoBroker and Bernie Stea JD  Thank you! So glad Roy shared the post!

Aug 28, 2017 06:51 AM
Gary 'Banana' Houghtaling
Phoenix Property Shoppe - Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix Real Estate Agent

Hi Sharon, thanks to Roy Kelley I got an opportunity to review your blog.  It really resonated with what I've been taught by my broker, Anna Banana Kruchten,CRS,CRB,GRI . Of course it helps that I help Anna prep most of the properties that we list.

Aug 28, 2017 02:56 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Gary 'Banana' Houghtaling  I'm so glad Roy shared the post, and that you didn't miss it! Sounds like you and Anna have the best of both worlds!

Aug 29, 2017 03:58 PM
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

For me: less is more. I agree: the less visual destruction and clean lines=colors, the easier for eyes. 

Sep 30, 2017 11:15 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Inna Ivchenko  Yes....less. It's something I wish more people understood. 

Sep 30, 2017 06:22 PM