The Importance of Professional Photography when Selling Your Charlotte Home

Hi Debe- your photos speak to the importance of quality professional photography for your listings and how they draw on the emotions of buyers.  If I were a seller, I would want to know who will be taking my home's photographs and how as well. 

I often wonder if owners look at their photos online because if they did they would fire their agent.  I have edited my share of photos and I can never do as good a job as the professionals.  And cell phone photos:  what are they thinking?????

Agreed. Professional photos can make a world of difference when it comes to capturing a potential client's attention. 

Talk about a "well deserved" Feature! Excellent!

Those statistics on agents who do and don't use professional photographers....crazy!

Debe,

I couldn't agree with you more! Professional photography coupled with Professional Staging is the ticket to a property selling quickly and for TOP DOLLAR!

Why would anyone choose a lesser approach is beyond me!

Very good advise. The homes on the higher end in my area should always be promoted this way. I had a friend who was a true professional photographer. Had done many hundreds of weddings including a couple royal ones, did personal shoots for celebities as well. He approached realtors in his area with this idea, but could not find any takers.

This is always a part of our listing presentation.....and why on line presence and professional photography is sooooo important.

Good morning Debe.  The photography in your post is a great example of why professional photos are so crucial.

Debe, it's such a pleasure looking at those photos and reading your advice to Sellers. I am glad you have put the web-site on the photos, too. Sometimes people look just on the photos, and they don't read the text.

Hi Debe -- the photos you used here truly explain what a great photo can do. Even though I happily live in a small condo across the country, I could feel myself living in one of these homes. That's what great photos do!

Excellent pictures and tips!!!

One photograph can have a greater impact on the sale of the home than any 'words' in the write-up of the home.

Have not checked recent NAR survey stats, but two years ago, 65% of agents used their cell phones for their most important product ... their clients homes.  Maybe that is why they have to drop their listing fees down to 4-5%.  The real question is whether eventually "commodity real estate commissions" will win over professional real estate service.  ie. my pet peeve :-)

Like you, I always use professional photography--no matter the price point. I do have several different levels of photographers I use. Last year, I spent $500 for photos on a $500K house. It was worth every penny. They had a beautiful outdoor area with a koi pond and fire pit. I took twilight photos with the fire pit burning. Those photos got the house sold for over asking price from an absentee buyer who purchased sight unseen. Not only did the photos sell the house, I regularly use them in marketing pieces I create to attract sellers.

Your pics, especially that outdoor view of the home taken at dusk, speaks volumes and prove your point perfectly, Debe Maxwell, CRS.   The quality of the pics themselves leave such a wonderful impression of the home and the level of care provided it by the Seller.  It also relates just how much you as an agent care about the representation you provide to your client.  These are not just pictures.  They are so much more ...

Congrats on a well-deserved Feature, Sis ...

Gene 

Great post about the importance of using a professional!

Can't help but wonder what a seller thinks when an agent starts taking pictures with their cell phone? Hm....maybe I hired the wrong Realtor. Gosh, at least the agent can buy an actual camera and at least look like a professional. 

Debe Maxwell, CRS "Although only 30% of real estate agents pay for professional photography and less than 5% use photographers who have actually been formally trained, one investment that I make as a listing agent is 'real' professional photography."

Right on target - and - re-blog!

There is a great deal of value in the quality of photos of a home. The visual representation is the first thing a potential buyers looks at when deciding which home to buy. And most of the times buyers search online. 

The pictures above are gorgeous! That's why homes are sold fast and for the top $$$:)