Impressive images and video are essential to showcase your properties in the best light. But do you have the right tools? Whether you’re hiring a professional photographer or shooting your own listings, know the equipment necessary to take high-quality photos.
Dawn Miller Webb doesn’t make it a practice to list homes on the MLS without photos. But early in 2017, she represented a property that had significant flood damage; it had no flooring, and half the drywall was missing. Her client was selling the home in as-is condition. Webb, a sales associate with Keller Williams Elite Town Center in Virginia Beach, Va., listed the home in the morning, with plans to take pictures of the property herself in the afternoon. But before she had the chance, Webb received a call from Hampton Roads Real Estate Photography. The agency saw the listing online without pictures and offered their services.
“The way they made their pitch was coming more from offering value than selling their services,” Webb says. She hired Hampton Roads owner and photographer Jordan DiCaprio, and despite the condition of the property, his photos highlighted the home’s layout and unique lot. After adding DiCaprio’s photos to the online listing, Webb’s client received six written offers and four verbal ones. “The seller and I were pleased,” Webb adds.
Professional photos not only get more clicks on your online listings but also bring more buyers in the door. “Photos and videos for marketing a property are one of the few items that remain discretionary and can give [agents] an edge,” says Jacy Riedmann, vice president of Amoura Productions Real Estate Photography & Video in Austin, Texas. “Losing a $10,000 to $20,000 commission can and does come down to spending $100 to $200 on marketing media. Top agents understand that kind of leverage and almost never leave it to chance.”
If you’re ready to step up your photography game, you need to make sure you’re hiring a professional with the right equipment and expertise. Here’s what to look for.
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