How good do my photos need to be?
When selling your home, photography is the most important marketing tool that you have. It is likely that the first time a buyer will come across your home will be by using one of the popular property portals such as Rightmove or Zoopla. The first glimpse they will have of your home will be through your property images. If you want to wow your buyer and encourage them to pick up the phone to book a viewing then you need professional property photography.
There are many different standards of photography out there. Browsing through Rightmove you will see a huge variation in quality. Some photos will look better than others and some agents marketing will be of a higher standard than others. Here at Sure Sales and Lettings we always use a professional photographer. We understand the significance of using high-quality marketing to attract the right buyer. Professional photography is probably the most essential element within our marketing to do this.
You have 60 seconds or less to impress your buyer, if your images are not up to scratch they will simply move on. The quality and flow of your photographs is so critical in enticing them to clink into your listing and encourage them to swipe or click through the rest of the images. The whole purpose of your photography is to entice potential buyers into booking a viewing. So your images need to compel your buyer to do so.
If your home is currently up for sale and you don’t seem to be getting many viewers through your door, the quality of your property photography could be to blame. When we help sellers who are struggling to sell their home through another agent, photography is one of the first areas we look at.
Property photography quality
Estate agents use a variety of different methods and standards of property photography. It is not uncommon for an agent to use an amateur photographer or in fact take the images themselves. We have even seen photograph’s being taken with a smart phone or iPhone. As great as these gadgets are, the quality of photograph is not good enough to use to sell your home. A professional photographer will know how to deal with all kinds of conditions to make sure that they have the best shot. They will know how to balance the light correctly, what angle to shoot from and how to compose the image. On top of that they will also know how to edit the images professionally to add the finishing touches and make the photography shine. Photography is a skill and an art, it is doubtful that many agents who take their own images actually have mastered the art and skill of photography. When you employ an estate agent to sell your home, always check that they use a professional photographer.
Lifestyle photography
At Sure Sales and Lettings we take our photography to a whole different level. We use a style called ‘Lifestyle Photography’. We commission a professional photographer with a unique style. The aim of this style is to capture the type of lifestyle your home could offer a buyer. It helps the buyer imagine themselves living in your home and pulls on their senses and emotions. So, for instance, in winter we may want to capture the cosy comfort of a living room.Here we may light the fire and place a glass of whiskey on a side table next to an arm chair that is dressed with a cushion and a throw. The focus would be the fire, the glass of whiskey and the arm chair. Nothing says winter comfort more than that! Another example would be setting a summer scene of a garden table, two chairs, a jug of lemonade, a plate of scones and a couple of glasses. Here we would shoot the table display in the foreground with the pretty garden views in the background. It helps paint a picture of what the buyer can look forward to. It takes a special type of professional photographer to understand and embrace this style of photography and also have the skill to shoot the scene we are trying to create.
Whilst this style of photography is more time consuming and expensive it is an investment we are proud to offer our clients. We want the very best marketing for our customers as we know that better marketing delivers greater results. A home that is photographed by a professional photographer is far more likely to sell for a higher price within a quicker time frame than one without. Why? Because the professional images will attract more viewers. More viewers through your door and a higher chance of an offer or multiple offers you have. Shoddy, amateurish photography can have the opposite effect and put viewers off.
By investing in professional lifestyle photography, you will be building a picture of the kind of lifestyle that specific buyers are looking for. By helping them see this you are likely to get more interest in your home and hopefully sell within weeks. With basic, unprofessional, unimaginative images your home is likely to sit on the market for longer and stagnate. Help your buyers fall in love with your home as much as you did and make the investment. You and your home deserve nothing less than perfect photography.
Want an honest opinion on your property photography? Email us your Rightmove link and we will be happy to offer you our opinion and advice. Email derby@surepropertygroup.com and burton@surepropertygroup.com
Looking for more selling advice? See our blog section on our website https://www.surepropertygroup.com/news/
Andrew Sharpe
Sales & Lettings Director
01283 248841