5 Reasons Why Professional Photography Increases Influence For Realtors
Did you know that listings with professional photos sell for more money?
Not only that, but they sell quicker.
There is a massive difference between a "Professional Photographer" and a "Semi-Professional Photographer". Let me explain with these simple photos. Which photos would make you want to purchase a home?
Did you know that 92 percent of homebuyers (according to realtor.org) use the Internet as part of their home search? That means that listing photos & video are a critical factor — it will determine the selling price of a home, how quickly it sells and whether it sells at all. I’d venture to say that the single most important factor in selling a home is great photography accompanied with great video.
This isn’t only about homes ranging above $1 million; this applies to all homes priced at $200,000 or more. That’s right. Studies have found that good photography helps to sell a home faster and for more money. Keep in mind that with so much research performed online, a good photo can help to get a homebuyer through the door.
In the pictures above, paid photographers took both of the photographs. One was a photographer charging $500 for the shoot of the home; the other was a shoot directed by us with an approximate cost of $2,100.
Here are the 5 Reasons Why Professional Photography Increases the Influence For Realtors!
1- More than 90% of home buyers search the internet when looking for a home
80% of home buyers looked online for a home in 2006. About four years later searching online jumped to 89% in 2010! Today's consumers spend the majority of their time on devices like smartphones, latops, ipads, and tablets. The old ways of marketing are nearly obsolete. The new home buying trends show us that they recognize how useful technology can be and have gotten better at noticing professional work versus point-and-shoot photos.
80% of home buyers looked online for a home in 2006. About four years later searching online jumped to 89% in 2010! Today's consumers spend the majority of their time on devices like smartphones, latops, ipads, and tablets. The old ways of marketing are nearly obsolete. The new home buying trends show us that they recognize how useful technology can be and have gotten better at noticing professional work versus point-and-shoot photos.
If you want to stand out from all the clutter and noise, make it a point to partner or hire a great photographer and/or videographer. You may only have one opportunity to make an impression amongst the many buyers searching the internet, don't make the mistake of settling for the $500 snap a photo and post type of mindset. It's an art!
2- Professional Photography increases the percentage of clicks & sales
Using professional photos can draw more attention to your listings and result in more clicks by potential buyers. Listings that utilized professional photos generated an average 139% increase in clicks compared to similar listings. Although more clicks do not guarantee a sale, it does mean more potential buyers are viewing your listing. Reaching more buyers with your listing betters your chance of finding the right buyer. The Wall Street Journal published a graph to show that in the majority of price brackets, more homes sold that had photos from a professional camera compared to photos taken with a point-and-shoot.
Using professional photos can draw more attention to your listings and result in more clicks by potential buyers. Listings that utilized professional photos generated an average 139% increase in clicks compared to similar listings. Although more clicks do not guarantee a sale, it does mean more potential buyers are viewing your listing. Reaching more buyers with your listing betters your chance of finding the right buyer. The Wall Street Journal published a graph to show that in the majority of price brackets, more homes sold that had photos from a professional camera compared to photos taken with a point-and-shoot.
If you are listing a home in a higher price bracket, you need to use professional photos to match the rest of your competition. If you are listing in a price bracket with little professional photography being used, take advantage and stick out from the competition by embracing professional photography.
3- Hiring a Professional Photographer saves you time and stress
Taking photos takes time. Taking great photos takes experience! As a realtor, you have to drive to the property and go room by room snapping photos. But your work does not stop there. Once you get back to the office you have to pull the images off your camera and place them onto your computer before you can upload them. It is easy to get stressed when something goes wrong with your computer and your photos do not download correctly. If you happened to take a blurry photo, you have to decide to discard it or go back to the property to retake the shot. Otherwise you risk posting a photo that does not meet your standard of quality and you end up advertising your brand in a poor manner when potential clients view your listing online.
Taking photos takes time. Taking great photos takes experience! As a realtor, you have to drive to the property and go room by room snapping photos. But your work does not stop there. Once you get back to the office you have to pull the images off your camera and place them onto your computer before you can upload them. It is easy to get stressed when something goes wrong with your computer and your photos do not download correctly. If you happened to take a blurry photo, you have to decide to discard it or go back to the property to retake the shot. Otherwise you risk posting a photo that does not meet your standard of quality and you end up advertising your brand in a poor manner when potential clients view your listing online.
A professional photographer will not only take the photos, but they will re-size them and send them to you over email or through their website. All you need to do is download the image files and upload.
4- A Professional Photographer may be your greatest teammate!
It is important sellers know you use a professional photographer. Have an outdated headshot? Ask your professional real estate photographer to take a headshot and represent yourself online with a strong, professional photo. Need help creating two-sided brochures? Ask your professional! Is Marketing a headache for you? As your photographer how to get the best exposure possible for your listing.
It is important sellers know you use a professional photographer. Have an outdated headshot? Ask your professional real estate photographer to take a headshot and represent yourself online with a strong, professional photo. Need help creating two-sided brochures? Ask your professional! Is Marketing a headache for you? As your photographer how to get the best exposure possible for your listing.
Think outside the box and take your business to the next level. Ask your photographer if they shoot video. 73% of homeowners say they are more likely to list with a realtor offering to do video, yet only 12% of the real estate industry currently have YouTube accounts. Video is very powerful and can act as the first walk-through for a buyer.
How do you choose a professional photographer?
-Examine what they offer. Ask them if they are willing to work with you to create additional marketing materials.
-Develop a relationship. If your photographer is shooting home after home and doesn’t have time to talk, they are more interested in getting paid. Find a photographer that wants to improve your business and is willing to listen to your ideas.
-Decide what is more important to you. Cheaper up-front cost with inconsistent results, or a little more money up front with consistent, personal service and ultimately a better valued product.
-There's much more that goes into finding the right photographer to work with but one really important quality is "Do you Vibe with them?" Are they easy to work with?
5- Make professional photography & quality video part of your brand!
Let's be honest - As a realtor, you may have to compete with your peers to obtain listings. Professional photography is a great way of improving your marketing portfolio when meeting with potential sellers. If a seller has to choose between a realtor that uses professional photography versus a realtor that uses a point-and-shoot, they are more likely to go with the realtor that uses professional photography. Their home is a big investment and they want it marketed to the best of your ability. Using professional photography, you are solidifying your marketing and showing the seller you mean business.
Let's be honest - As a realtor, you may have to compete with your peers to obtain listings. Professional photography is a great way of improving your marketing portfolio when meeting with potential sellers. If a seller has to choose between a realtor that uses professional photography versus a realtor that uses a point-and-shoot, they are more likely to go with the realtor that uses professional photography. Their home is a big investment and they want it marketed to the best of your ability. Using professional photography, you are solidifying your marketing and showing the seller you mean business.
A lot of real estate business comes from word-of-mouth so it is important you give your clients something to talk to their friends and family about. Show your clients you operate professionally and they will bring you more business.
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