Are Professional Photographs Necessary when Selling a Home?

First impressions are everything when it comes to selling a home. Some sellers and even agents think a buyer’s first impression is when they drive up to the property. However, that is usually not the case.

The first impression for most buyers is the MLS listing for the property, specifically the photographs. Every buyer wants to see what a property looks like inside and out. Of course the specifications and description of the property matter too. However, photographs are usually the deciding factor whether or not a buyer wants to view a property. Photographs elicit an emotion that no amount of words will ever be able to do. What’s the saying a picture is worth a thousand words? and in the case of selling a home that could not be more true. So let’s discuss real estate photographs and selling a home.

Are Real Estate Photographs Necessary?
Real estate photographs are a must when selling a home. Most MLSs won’t let agents enter a listing without at least one photo. Some agents have no intention of adding more than one photo, so this requirement doesn’t impact them. While other agents plan on entering photos but they still need to be taken. So in order to get around this MLS requirement they will enter a “coming soon” image or one photo of the exterior.

Taking either approach when entering a new listing is a horrible idea. It is understandable, some sellers and agents are anxious to get a listing entered into the MLS and don’t see the harm in adding photos at a later date. There are several issues with this strategy though.

The main issue of adding a listing without photos is losing potential buyers. Once a property is entered into the MLS as a “new listing” is when it’s going to get the most amount of views. It’s the first impression! The odds of a buyer revisiting a pictureless listing after they’ve ruled it out is probably zero. The time a seller or agent thinks they’re losing by waiting for photographs isn’t a loss at all, it’ll be a complete gain. That is if the photographs of the property are appealing.

Are Professional Real Estate Photographs Necessary?
Almost anyone can take a good photo, but can anyone take the best real estate photo? The answer is unequivocally no.

Sure with a push of the button, a smartphone can produce a great picture. Add some filters and it will look even better. However, photographs taken with an inexpensive camera or smartphone tend to be limited and won’t be able to show a property in its best light. The same holds true for people who have the best camera equipment but have no clue how to properly use it.

This is where a professional photographer comes in. Not just any photographer though, a real estate photographer. Top real estate photographers know how to showcase a property. They know what angles pictures need to be taken from along with the right time of day for the home’s exposure. It takes a certain eye to produce the best photos, an eye a majority of people don’t have.

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Benefits of Using a Professional Real Estate Photographer

A Quicker Home Sale
Statistics show over and over again homes with professional photographs will sell faster and for more money. So for those people who want to know “does professional photography help sell homes?” the answer is absolutely! Even if a property isn’t model-perfect professional photographs have a way of showcasing a home’s best features. They know how to get buyers through the door.

Up to Date
Photographers tend to be passionate about their craft. They have the best equipment and are up to date with the latest and greatest techniques for producing the best photos.

Time Saver
A professional real estate photographer will be in and out! They aren’t going to take a 1,000 photos trying to get the best angle, they already know what the best angle is. Nor will they have to go back to the property to retake photos that didn’t turn out. A professional is also going to send a finished product. So there is no need to fuss with lighting or cropping, it’s already done. The turnaround time for most photographers is usually 24-48 hours max, and waiting a day or two for professional photographs is well worth it.

Biggest Bang for the Buck
Professional photographs will be the best marketing dollar ever spent. The photographs are literally used for all marketing. Online marketing, print marketing, the MLS listing, the list goes on and on. Why spend money on marketing a property with subpar photos? The cost to hire a real estate photographer is going to vary. It all depends on the area and the size of the property. The average professional real estate photography cost in most areas (not the luxury market) is usually $200-$500. THAT’S IT! A few hundred dollars is all it takes to have professional photographs produced.

Final Thoughts

It’s imperative for sellers to know what type of marketing a listing agent is going to do for their home. Top Realtors are going to hire a professional real estate photographer. If the agent plans on taking the photos ask for examples of other listings they have. There are a few very talented Realtors who are capable of taking their own photographs. However, that is rarely the case.

If an agent is going to slap up less-than-perfect photos there is cause for concern about how they’ll be marketing the property. That is if they plan on marketing it at all. Photographs are usually the first impression and one of the cheapest marketing tools. If an agent doesn’t fork out a few hundred dollars for professional photographs odds are they won’t be spending a dime on marketing at all.

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Photographs are usually the first impression for a home buyer, so the quality is important, but are professional photographs required? #realestate #homeselling Click to Tweet

Additional Home Selling Resources

• When a listing agent does their part and hires a professional photographer a seller needs to do their part and make sure their home is picture-perfect. Home selling tips for picture day include preparing both the exterior and interior of the home. Things, like freshening up the flowerbeds, pressure washing the roof, sidewalks, and driveway will go a long way. Preparing a home to sell doesn’t have to be costly, there are several inexpensive ways to stage a home. Sometimes all a home needs is a little bit of elbow grease and a fresh coat of paint.
• Not all real estate agents are created equal, which is why it’s imperative a seller picks a great agent to sell their home. Who they hire will determine how long their home sits on the market and the amount of money it will sell for. A home poorly presented with no marketing may produce no showings, which produces no buyers. The same holds true if the listing agent is unresponsive, they too can lose interested buyers and other agents. While a home that has first-class marketing and a responsive listing agent will draw the buyers in.
• If you decide to sell your home on your home you’ll want to look for a “professional home photographer near me.” While this will be an expense out of your own pocket it will be well worth every penny. Professional real estate photography statistics show homes with professional photographs receive more interested buyers than those without. So this alone is one of the many reasons why use professional photography for real estate when selling a home even if you’re selling it for sale by owner.
• If you are selling your home during the winter months you may want to have professional photographs of your home retaken if it’s still listing for sale in the spring. While “winter wonderland” photos of your home may be inviting when the seasons change your photographs should too.

About the Author

Top Wellington Realtor, Michelle Gibson, wrote: “Are Professional Photographs Necessary when Selling a Home?”

Michelle has been specializing in residential real estate since 2001 throughout Wellington Florida and the surrounding area. Whether you’re looking to buy, sell or rent she will guide you through the entire real estate transaction. If you’re ready to put Michelle’s knowledge and expertise to work for you call or e-mail her today.

Areas of service include Wellington, Lake Worth, Royal Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, West Palm Beach, Loxahatchee, Greenacres, and more.

Are Professional Photographs Necessary when Selling a Home