How do you get your listing from good to great?
You take your shot… And then you take it again. I’m talking about pictures!
As a real estate investor, I’m always surprised by the photos that agents, or other investors, choose to include with their property listings.
Dirty mirrors, pet food bowls, and broken swing sets are just some of the eyesores that you see when you look at as many listings as I do.
First impressions aren’t just for people… They’re for properties, too.
Now, if you’re selling a fixer-upper, looking for an investor buyer, you can get away with these types of photos because the investor is looking at the property as a business opportunity, not their forever home.
However, if you’re selling something move-in ready, the photos need to convey that image to your potential renter or buyer.
You want the images to help them visualize a safe, lively place where they would be happy to raise their family.
Here are some Do’s and Don’ts for the DIY crowd.
Let’s start with the DO’s:
Now let’s move on to the DON’T’s:
Now, let’s talk tech.
Ideally, you want to invest in a DSLR camera and edit your photos using a computer program like Lightroom or Photoshop.
But, not everyone is ready for that commitment.
Maybe you’re not tech-savvy. Maybe you’re on a budget. Or perhaps you’re running from property to property and need to get each one listed as quickly as possible so that you can move on to the next.
In that case, your smartphone WILL work with a couple of quick tricks:
Another option?
Put down your phone and find a pro. There are professional real estate photographers in any market and they typically pay for themselves.
Did you know that listings with professional photos sell 32% faster, and for thousands of dollars more?
Here’s the big picture: Photos are going to make or break your listing.
This is one area where you want to take your time and put in the work.
Let us know if you have any other property listing tips that you’d like to share by leaving a comment below!
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