Professional real estate photos can help a home sell faster and for more money.
First impressions are everything, and a picture is worth a thousand words. These old adages ring especially true for home listings with professional real estate photos. In fact, studies show that purchasers actually care more about the pictures than any other part of the listing.
According to the National Association of Realtors, 97% of buyers used the internet when searching for a home in 2020. Additionally, more than half of buyers found the homes they purchased on the internet, and 98% of respondents said photos were either “very useful” or “somewhat useful” in their search.
Studies show that not only is an online listing a powerful tool in selling a home, home shoppers actually care more about the photos than any other part of the listing.
The competitive advantage of professional real estate photos.
Since so many home shoppers either start their search online or use online listings, it’s important to catch their interest there first. What you show online should make them want to come see it in person. People have busy schedules, so make it worth their time. Think of it as if the online listing is the first date, and the tour or open house is the second date. A good first impression could lead to a second date.
If you use technology to your advantage and hire a pro to get the job done right, it can be worth the investment. A professional real estate photographer can provide you with several options to help beef up your listing, including drone images and video or virtual tours.
It’s about quality.
If you want professional real estate photos, you have to do it right and hire a pro. A professional real estate photographer (or a professional photographer with real estate experience) will know how to get the job done right and fast. That’s because they have the tools, equipment, software, and most importantly, the experience necessary to do so. Plus, they’ll know how to stage the room, position the camera for the best angles, and edit for the best light.
Poor quality photos will do more damage than you think. Even if you get them to come to your open house, they’ll think back on the first impression your listing photos left.
…And it’s about quantity.
If you think this is a quality-over-quantity thing, think again. When it comes to professional real estate photos, quality and quantity go hand in hand. Buyers want to get a feel for the home before determining if it’s worth their time to see it in person. A digital walkthrough, through either photography or virtual tour (or both), can help.
Having numerous high-quality, professional real estate photography shows that you were thorough. A handful of low-quality phone pictures? Yikes. Many buyers won’t even give your home a chance because you didn’t give them enough to pique their interest. A professional photographer knows this and can give you your money’s worth with a wide selection of top-notch listing photos.
Bang meets buck.
Need more proof that professional real estate photos are worth your dollar? One Redfin study found that home listings that feature professional real estate photos sell faster and for more money. In fact, sellers who chose this route made an average of $3,400 more for their properties. That same study stated that professional photography helps homes sell faster than those without.
Ready to get started?
Okay, so you’ve decided it’s time to bring in the pros. Is there anything you can do to help? Absolutely. To prepare for the photographer’s visit, clean up, simplify, and depersonalize your home. Home buyers want to picture themselves living there, so try to make your home as clean and neutral as possible. This will give the photographer a nice canvas to work with and should help the photography session go more smoothly.
Luckily, we’ve got another blog to help with this undertaking. Good luck, sellers!
A professional real estate photographer can provide you with several options to help beef up your listing, including drone images and video or virtual tours
