Did you know – Professional photographs can make realtors or sellers listings sell 32% faster than listings with low quality or even average photographs. To add to this, statistics say that a listing with only one photograph spends, on average, 70 days on the market!
99% of buyers start their search ONLINE! In the “old” days – buyers would drive neighbourhoods looking for NEW For Sale signs – now they can browse on their couch, in bed or in the car! Realtor.ca is like Pinterest!!!!!
I have been noticing a real TREND in Calgary – for agents that are listing homes with BRUTAL photos and providing no extra value – like 3D tours or floor plans…EVEN shooting the images on their iPhones and sometimes not even getting out of their car! iPhone photos never capture the light properly. You can simply NOT get the angles needed to represent the shot or the home best. Tripods work best of course – holding the camera or iPhone leads to crooked shots! Then there are the awkward bathroom shots…..the photo of the TAP alone?! Or a zoomed in plant? Dogs, pets or people (including the photographer!) – IN the pictures – why??!!!!! IF you have hobbies – like hunting – maybe its time to pack those items away. Virtual Staging has taken off. I use it myself to “furnish” vacant properties and showcase what a room CAN look like. However AI and online tools are NOT the way to go….makes the listings look FAKE or cartoon like!
I get it. We are a HOT market. The thought is – the house will sell regardless of what you do or how you represent it! And perhaps Sellers don’t truly know what to expect when they hire an agent?!
Those online photos are that FIRST impression, and first impressions are powerful things! Poor-quality photos can quickly dissuade prospective homebuyers, especially if they look amateur (or DIY). If there are only a handful of images of the property, clients will also search elsewhere. High-quality photos make every property look BETTER. Plus, they represent all aspects of that property, giving prospective buyers an opportunity to view every room and every detail BEFORE calling their agent – or getting in the car.
Professional pictures can also give prospective homebuyers a sense of higher value and quality. Potential clients are going to be far more serious about high-quality, high-value homes. Leading to faster and higher sales!
The search STARTS with the photos – then a showing is booked…
*Fun Fact – sometimes showings are less than 15 mins and they still write an offer!!!!!!
This is because by the time they see the house in PERSON – they have looked at the photos 100 times. Studied the 3D tour. Googled the address and looked at it from above, checked how far it is to their favorite Starbucks, Costco, school, work or dog park! Buyers are SAVVY now. They may have even driven by before they call an agent to view. AFTER the in person showing – they go BACK to the photos over and over to validate their thoughts and LOVE of the home!
They also SHARE the photos! With their parents…their coworkers….their friends….
We all want peoples opinions of course. So if the photos are BRUTAL – those trusted people in your life may not be 100% on board for you to buy it!
*Fun Fact 2 – the bad photo listings are my FAVORITE when representing the buyer! Often they get overlooked and we are able to view in person and see past the photos and offer a great price!
Purchasing a home is no light task. Homebuyers recognize how time-intensive and emotionally taxing a home purchase can be, especially when it comes to navigating lenders and securing mortgages. Most of us don’t have access to a lot of spare time for house-shopping, especially if full-time jobs and families are part of this equation. For this reason, prospective homebuyers will do anything they can to simplify the home buying process. If a homebuyer can be convinced of a home’s value and potential simply by navigating through photos/3D Tour options/Floor Plans – it can make their process easier! They can quickly narrow down their list of candidates by assessing listings alone!
Here’s another mind-blowing statistic. Homes sell higher – if they have professional property photos. Once again, this has to do with perceived value. Professional photos can boost the apparent value of a home, which can compel homebuyers to visit the property sooner.
In real estate – you get what you pay for……and hiring a team that priorities your home and HOW it is marketed is worth every penny!
**FYI – photos shown as examples are NOT from the Calgary market….out of respect for my colleagues and client’s homes.
