Ins and Outs of Home Listing Photos for Sellers
Most home sellers understand that their online home listing needs photos of their home. However, many homeowners do not realize that the type of home listing photos they use can play a big role in how fast their house sells, as well as how many people look at their house.
VHT Studios, a Chicago-based real estate photography network, found in a study that houses with professional home listing photos sold 32% faster than those without. The real estate agency Latter & Blum found that buyers viewed listings with professional home listing photos 118% more than other listings.
To help you get the most out of your home listing photos consider the following tips.
Choosing a Photographer
Selecting a photographer to use for your home listing photos is not as simple as picking a name off of a list. There are many things that need to be considered.
For starters, you want to find a photographer who specializes in real estate. To further weed through your list of photographers look through online portfolios to see which ones know how to photograph the house for the purpose of sales and marketing.
You are not looking for the pictures to appear “artsy,” but to clearly communicate what the house looks like, while making it look great.
Ask what type of equipment the photographer will be using. A full frame camera is crucial for high quality listing photos. Simply using a smart phone will not be enough to duplicate what a professional photographer is able to do with the right equipment.
A Valuable Test
If you want to see how talented the photographer is, ask to look at pictures of small rooms such as a half bath. It is difficult to photograph small areas like this, while still making them look good.
You want each room in your house to photograph well to be included with your listing. Finding a photographer who knows how to do this can make all the difference.
What Pictures to Include
The most important picture is going to be the exterior of the house. These are the photos that the majority of all listings have, even if they do not show any interior pictures.
You want your home listing to stand out above the rest though, so you always want interior pictures from your photographer. Important areas to include are the kitchen, master bedroom, mater bathroom, laundry rooms and bathrooms.
Any special feature your house has that sets it apart should also be included. If you have a big fenced in back yard that many buyers desire, include a professional photo of it.
Since you want your photos included on the MLS, you want to make sure that your photographer is taking horizontal photographs.
90% of homebuyers begin their search online. Listings with quality photos are viewed more than the other houses on the market. You want to have as many potential buyers view your house as possible, which means your home listing photos matter.