Why you should Use a Real Estate Photographer for your listings

I came across a blogpost on ActiveRain.com that did a great job of explaining the benefits of hiring a professional photographer to shoot your listing. I thought it would be a good read for realtors thinking of hiring a professional photographer. Interestedly, there was one statistic in the article really got my attention:

92% of homebuyers use the internet to search for a new home but they will not linger on a photo longer than 20 SECONDS! Which means those photos better grab their attention to keep them looking. Talk about a first impression. So if the main image of your property is not professional, appealing, and intriguing, they will move on.

Following are exerts from the blog that may help with your decision to hire a photographer:

…With many realtors having access to smartphones with cameras or even their own camera and lenses, it's easy to try to shortcut the professional photographer piece and attempt to take your own photographs. Especially with the trend to post everything on social media. However, today's consumers are also savvy enough that they can quickly spot an image taken by an amateur versus a professional. You don't want a potential homebuyer’s first impression of the listing to be anything less than perfect.There are many reasons that you should hire a professional real estate photographer for your listing.

• It will set your listing apart. Using a professional will give your listing a professional image. If you tend to sell properties that have been foreclosed or other property in a lower pricing category, one where sometimes there are not professional photographers used, using one will make your listing stand apart from the others and give it a step up on competing properties. Standing out in a crowded real estate market is one of the most important keys to selling homes and the photographs you use can provide a quick and easy way to set yourself apart from the competition.
• It will put you on a level playing field if it's a high-value listing. (I am going to interject here with another interesting stat. A study by Redfin found that despite listings with professional photography generates a higher sell price, half of $1 million-plus listings in the study only used a low end point and shoot camera.) In places where many homes list for more than a million dollars, if you want your listing to be competitive with the others, you must use a professional.
• The property will be more appealing by using professional images by an experienced real estate photographer. Sellers are proud of their homes and the area they live. To provide top-notch customer service, you should be able to offer them services that will adequately show off their homes. Real estate photographers have the tools necessary to make your listing shine. They know how to use composition, color, and lighting to make the images more attractive and appealing to potential buyers. Little tricks, like making a room appear spacious and airy or with more light can get a prospect in the door that you might have lost otherwise.
• Appeal to online buyers. With so many buyers and potential buyers doing their searches online, it's imperative that your online listing shows off the features in such a way to capture a buyer's interest quickly. Photos that appear to be done by an amateur will result in the viewer leaving your listing and looking for other, more visually appealing properties.
• Save precious time. It's time-consuming to walk through a property and take numerous flattering pictures of every room. Add to that the time that it will take you to upload and edit the images properly and you're looking at many hours of work, at a minimum. A professional can have this done in a much shorter time frame and free you up to focus on selling the property and getting new clients through the door.
• Provide more options to your sellers. Real estate photographers are usually able to provide you with additional professional services to aid in selling the property. These may include virtual tours, professional floor plans, and videography. These are important tools to appeal to long-distance homebuyers. Some photographers also offer high-quality print services which are beneficial to promote the property when doing open houses and other local events.
• Sell the property faster. Studies show that online listings with more professional photographs sell faster than those with just a few photographs or those that have amateur photos. In some cases, it has been reported that this could be several weeks faster.
• Improve your professional image. The extra money you spend on a professional photographer will earn you a reputation in the industry as a true professional that goes above and beyond for their clients, leading to more business for you.
• It's a marketing investment. The money spent on professional photography for your listing will come back in the form of quicker sales and more future listings for you. It's a very effective tool to help establish your brand in the highly competitive real estate industry.
• Using a professional photographer increases the odds that your listing could go viral on social media. Social media loves great images. If your photographer is able to capture one amazing image of the property that you can share, this increases the views of that property and increases the number of people that your real estate business comes into contact with.

Remember as you begin your search for a real estate photographer that not all professional photographers are created equal. It's important to interview photographers, ask specific questions and find the right person for your real estate needs. If you have any questions and want to know more are our Real Estate photography services visit www.PropertyMarketingTours.com and send us your question.