Monday, October 20, 2014

Make It Count


Today, the first impression is made in under five seconds and focuses on the sense of sight as buyers scour the web looking at properties.  Clear visually attractive photos have the greatest chance of grabbing a buyer’s attention long enough for them to develop interest in finding out more.  The whole point of the MLS is to get a prospective buyer through the front doors.

As the digital age has transformed photography, so too has it transformed real estate listings.  Today everyone who has a smart phone has a digital camera and the capability to upload those photos immediately to the web.  But, if the purpose of the real estate photos is to attract prospective buyers, how much is a bad photo costing you?  Poor photography is really worse than no photo.  A property that does not show well on the internet is often skipped and gets no foot traffic.   

In addition, when a listing goes live, it is pushed to many other sites, like Zillow.com, Redfin.com, Trulia.com and Realtor.  If there are poor quality cell phone images, those are the images that get sent to prospective buyers.  Even if better photos are added shortly after, the first photos won’t go away and will hurt your marketing efforts.  It is worth a few extra days and dollars to make the best possible impression.

The difference can be quite dramatic between a professional photograph and an amateur one. Lighting, quality equipment and proper training all factor in to create a perfect image.  Professional photography is quite affordable.  A package of 15 photos that include the interiors and exterior will run about $150 to $250 (it varies depending on the size of the house and location). 

Take the time to make sure the house is clean and clutter free before scheduling a photo shoot.  You want the photos to show your listing to the best advantage.  A little extra prep time and you are on your way to getting qualified buyers to come through the door. 



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