How Important Are Listing Photos?

March 04, 2022

According to the National Association of Realtors 2021 Profile of Homebuyers and Sellers 95% of buyers use the internet in their home search. And what’s the first step getting a buyer’s attention on the internet? Beautiful photos, of course! A home’s listing photos are one of the most important assets in getting the best market exposure and the best price. In fact, a 2013 study shows homes with professional photos (taken with a DSLR camera) sell 3 weeks faster and for thousands more. We can only imagine what updated numbers would show! A good real estate agent will arrange and pay for DSLR photos so there is no reason for a seller to provide their own.

 

Professionally presented photos make all the difference

Bad photos give buyers the impression of a bad house while even a heavy fixer can look great with properly composed photos highlighting its potential. But it’s not just the lens – many hours go into editing shots behind the scenes to correct colors, remove glares, straighten angles, and help windows look natural.

Below are some homes we found with bad listing photos that could have easily been avoided. We did some quick corrections to show how much better they could be with a little professional attention:

(drag the slider to move between before and after)
Feeling blue? Just say no to DIY photos.

(drag the slider to move between before and after)
Look ma, no hands! The angle of the walls gives me vertigo, the floors give me a headache, and they didn’t show what seems to be a lovely view outside. A professional photographer could have easily captured the blue skies and water view. It’s too late to do anything about that now but 10 minutes of corrections with professional software did make this photo ten times better.

It’s pretty obvious here where homeowners or agents have stepped in to shoot the photos themselves. A buyer might wonder “if they can’t get professional photos taken what else have they cut corners in this home?” Here are a few more examples of sloppy photos that no seller should be ok with:

This living room doesn’t seem inviting. What is that dark hole on the right ? Welcome, step in to the abyss.

If this property isn’t just screaming out it’s $2.4 million dollar price tag then I don’t know what is. Got $2.4 million burning a hole in your pocket for this place?

Did someone have a few too many? Maybe there was an earthquake because everything seems to be sliding towards the neighbor’s house.

Make sure your home’s photos shine

Once again, professional photos won’t cost you a dime. Nope, but not having high quality photos could cost you tens of thousands of dollars. Make sure you work with a Realtor who understands the value great photos will bring to your home (and your wallet). Contact us to make magic happen today!

 

 

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