Do you use a professional real estate photographer or do you simply wing it? Picture this! Let’s say you are shopping around for a new home. What is the first thing you notice when looking at real estate listings online? If you are like me and 98% of homebuyers, it’s the photos that are the most useful tool for investigating properties. Beautiful photographs of homes are eye-catching and will draw people to want to look at more information about the property.
If there are no photographs or the photographs used don’t show the property in the best manner, people may gloss over the listing to find something that looks more appealing to them. This is why hiring a professional real estate photographer might be the most important aspect of real estate listings.
What Is Real Estate-Specific Photography?
A professional real estate photographer is skilled in the art of photography. Anyone can take pictures with a smartphone and use photoshop to make photographs more pleasing to the eye. However, a professional real estate photographer knows how to capture rooms at the best angle and lighting to show off the best features of a property. Think of a family portrait taken by a professional photographer compared to a family photo that someone took with a smartphone. The smartphone camera may capture a great shot, but a professional photographer knows how to capture your family in the most flattering way for the best image!
The Differences Between Good And Bad Real Estate Photography
If you’re going to hire a professional real estate photographer, there are some things to look for to make sure you are dealing with a true professional and not an amateur.
Ask to see their portfolio.
A professional real estate photographer will have a portfolio filled with examples of their work for potential clients to see. Look at their work, make sure the photos are well lit, have clear accent pieces that stand out in a flattering way, and completely capture each room in one picture. You should be able to piece the whole house together by looking at each image. They should capture small spaces like bathrooms in one picture, not divide them into multiple images. Potential buyers want to be able to look at the picture and envision themselves in the room.
Ask about the equipment they use.
You can tell an experienced photographer from an inexperienced photographer by the type of equipment they use. They should use a full-frame camera. Otherwise, the photos may look distorted, which is a huge turn-off for potential buyers.
Look at examples of their interior photos.
A professional photographer will know how to use natural light in each room. There should not be shadows or glaring beams of light where sunlight is shining through windows. The vertical lines should line up correctly, such as kitchen cabinets, pillars, and staircases at a slight angle.
Look at examples of their exterior photos.
A professional photographer should capture the full length of the house without making the house appear too small and far away or washing out its features. You should not see long shadows covering elements such as windows, doors, and accent woodwork.
The Benefits of Using a Professional Real Estate Photographer
There are many benefits to using a professional real estate photographer when listing a home.
Saves you time
As a realtor, creating amazing photos can add on time that would best be served working directly with your clients. It can take between 2-10 hours to take the photos, develop the photos, create the videos and virtual tours and social media posts. Outsourcing the job to a professional will allow you to focus your time where it’s most needed.
The home will sell faster
A study by PM Newswire showed that realtors that use professional real estate photographers sell listed homes 32% faster than other listings. These homes spent an average of 89 days on the market, compared to 123 days on the market for other homes. Having attractive photos on your listing site will bring more visitors for showings in a shorter amount of time. Utilizing social media and online listings increases interest in buyers. Studies show that more than 90% of buyers start their search online and most of them will not consider looking at a house that does not have professional, attractive photographs of the property. Increased interest in listings also brings in more offers, which is even more of an added benefit.
The home will sell for more
A report by Redfin shows that out of homes in the $200,000 to $1 million range, those that include professional quality photography in their listings sell for $3,000 to $11,000 more.
You and your seller will benefit
Having a professional website with attractive photography in your listings will be your branding and marketing tool that makes you stand out from the competition. Your sellers will reap the benefits of your efforts by having their home sell faster and for more money.
When you invest in your business, your business will reap the rewards, as well as your clients. Realtors have had to make changes in the way they do business due to COVID-19 regulations, so more and more business is being handled and promoted online. Virtual tours have increased, which would not be made possible without beautiful and professional photography. Finding new and convenient ways to show properties is a must in today’s world.
Contributing author: Melissa Momcilovich
