I’m going to go out on a limb and state there is nothing more important to your home’s marketing plan than its internet photos. In a 2007 NAR survey, 84% of respondents stated they used the internet for their home search. In sophisticated, upscale markets like Buckhead, Sandy Springs and Dunwoody; I’m confident the percentage is even higher.
That little, internet thumbnail picture will be your home’s first impression to the real estate market. It’s absolutely imperative you put your best foot forward.
Buyers moving to the Atlanta area can be a little overwhelmed by the choices of homes on the market. They can be presented with dozens and perhaps hundreds of home pictures to sort through. Subconsciously the buyers aren’t choosing homes, they are rapidly eliminating homes, trying to narrow their list for appointments. You have to pique their interest with the photos, or your home will be tossed aside like a get-rich-quick flier stuck under a windshield wiper at the mall parking lot.
If the agent thinks taking photos of your home is a 10-minute exercise with a pocket camera, I would seriously consider using a different real estate agent. I take internet marketing photography very seriously. I’ve made a substantial investment in camera equipment. I also spend quite a bit of time reading real estate photography websites to ensure your house looks inviting to potential buyers.
Here are a few of the worst examples I’ve seen of actual photos taken from the MLS:
Now the previous examples of a messy kitchen with a clothesline, an agent who was too lazy to get out of his car and a bathroom with no toilet paper are a bit extreme; it’s still very common to find agents who take pictures with poor lighting and lopsided vertical lines.
On the right is a recent FMLS picture of a Buckhead home, with poor lighting and slanted vertical lines that make you feel like you’re looking at an interior shot of a boat. It’s hard for me to believe the agent couldn’t take 10 seconds to make sure her camera was level.
If you have any questions about real estate photography, please feel free to contact me.
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It’s interesting that info that was sited almost 4 years ago is still relevant. Professional photography can benefit both the agent and the seller in many ways. I’m still surprised at the sheer number of agents that site some of the very same NAR stats but never do anything proactive to address the fact that the real estate industry is changing. Good post.