Why Quality Real Estate Photos Matter When Selling Your Home.
Human beings are visual creatures, so photos real estate photos are the first thing that grab our attentions when we are looking at a listing.
But, as anyone who has ever hired a real estate agent can attest, not all agents take professional photography.
Its still quite common here in the greater Ocala area, to see agents using their cell phones to take pictures to use as the real estate photos on the MLS and in their marketing of a property they listed.
Let’s take a look at why I believe professional photos are necessary if you want to shorten the time your home sits on the market and attract more buyers.
1. Professional Photos typically get faster sales.
Homes that have high-quality real estate photos sell as much as 32% faster than homes with lackluster pictures.
This makes sense as professional photos are shot with higher megapixel cameras, are brighter images, aligned and cropped property and home searchers will be more likely to click on your listings when scrolling through their housing options.
Research with the National Association of Realtors show that homes with one photo sent an average of three times as long on the market compared to homes that had at least 20 photos. And, homes with quality photos also sold for more money too!
2. Online photos are essential.
Over 85% of todays home searches start online and digital marketing is essential to get that audience. Your photos are your first impression and poor quality, amateur photos will actually deter a buyer from clicking on your home listing, even if it would have been the perfect fit for them.
Take a look at the photo above of that beautiful log home. If your marketing photos are sub-par, the photo below it with the lot home that needs work is equal to what a buyers perception of the home will be. So, which one would you click on?
3. Social Media
Today you can no longer rely on just the MLS to sell your home. Photos must be used in a variety of social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn and online websites like Zillow, Realtor.com, and other magazines for luxury home listings.
Because these platforms are extremely visually oriented, your real estate photos must be exceptional or they will be scrolled by within seconds of hitting a customers feed. Many agens will run paid social media ads across these platforms to display homes for sale, but if no one look at them, its wasted time and money.
4. Hiring a professional vs. DIY
If you plan to hire a realtor to list your home, I strongly recommend you be sure the agent is using a professional camera with expensive lens, tripods and other equipment that are essential to getting the best photos of your home.
And if you are doing it yourself, don’t be tempted to take your own photos even if you have the latest and greatest cell phone. Professionals will be abel to work magic with the photos that will make rooms look bigger, draw the outdoors in thourhg the windows and other tricks of the trade that an amateur will not be able to do.
Make sure you look at past real estate photos from the agent and/or photographer you plan to hire, so that you are not disappointed in the results after you have spent your money or hired the agent.
The bottom line is when you list your home you want the most money you can, and the first step to showing buyers that your home is worth it is the photographs they see.
And if you are thinking of selling your home, or interested in moving to the Greater Ocala and Dunnellon area, call me today at 352-405-1663.
And you can also check out other essentials to home marketing. Learn about them here.
Ann-Marie Bortz, Realtor
Ann-Marie is a real estate agent in the Greater Ocala, Florida area with over 2 decades in the business. She is a veteran of the United States Air Force and her clients know her as a go-getter and pro-active agent specializing in the luxury market.
