It is safe to say that most real estate agents are not professional photographers. However, most carry smartphones with them – phones with cameras.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!It’s all too tempting to skip the expense of a professional photographer and take listing photos with that handy dandy iPhone.
So, while your clients work hard to get the house ready for the market, their real estate agent walks through the house, snaps phone pictures, then slaps them on the MLS and calls it a day. .
Listing pictures matters
Let’s get into the figures. The National Association of Realtors has found that 92 percent of homebuyers begin their home search online. Of those people, 98 percent say that listing photos are the most important information they look for.
Almost all of them!
Then there’s Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA’s Institute for Behavioral and Experimental Real Estate studies. This study shows that the typical homebuyer won’t even look at a listing that doesn’t include photos, and the first things they look at when they look at a listing are the photos.
Finally, another study found that listings that included professional photography received 61 percent more views than agent-generated photos.
So, okay, we know that listing photos are an important aspect of generating interest in a home that’s on the market. But there is more.
The photo intro series is shown above. to see more, Click here.
pro vs amateur
Now, here’s the study you should be paying attention to. Not long ago, the Wall Street Journal reported that “at the closing table, listings with good photos fetch anywhere between $934 and $116,076 . . . on listings using photos from point-and-click cameras.”
Your listing clients are paying you to market their homes so that they can make the most money in the least amount of time. The value of hiring a professional photographer is obvious.
How to choose a real estate photographer
As you gain experience as an agent, you will expect home sellers to ask you about your past marketing efforts. Therefore, ask the photographers you interview the same questions. Ask for recent listing photos. Then, request the following:
- Names and phone numbers of agents for whom they have worked.
- A detailed list of what is included in his fee. Pay close attention to how much post-production work is included in the price.
- If the license fee isn’t on that list, ask if the photographer charges one and how much it is.
- Ask whether he will retain copyright of the photos.
Don’t neglect your due diligence; Call the agents each photographer has worked for.
Choosing the least expensive photographer is easy, especially as a new agent with limited funds. Avoid that temptation by understanding that listing agents who use professional photographers make more money at closing than those whose listings include bad photos. (Redfin)
Welcome to the world of real estate!
Homes & Life magazine is the ultimate “coffee table lingerer”! ,And it costs less than sending greeting cards! , Click here
2. Your Free 12-Month Strategic Marketing Plan
The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 12-month guide that strategically defines what to market and when to do it. The four major market segments include niche market, geographic cultivation, sphere of influence, and past customers. , Click here
3. BusinessBase, SOI building system
The most effective thing you can do to build a real estate business is to be more visible, more engaging and more often remembered. BusinessBASE™ not only checks these boxes but is also a business-building machine. In two easy steps, you can begin building a strong sphere of influence that will provide you with a lifetime of repeat business and referrals. , Click here
4. Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan
The free interactive real estate business plan allows you to enter your business goals for this year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closings, and so on, are needed to reach your goals. , Click here
5. The Becoming a Listing Legend Free eBook
Ready to take a giant leap in your real estate career? If you’re looking for inspiration…and the tools and methods to dominate a market and rise to the top in real estate…you’ll find them in this free book. , Click here
