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We had our house listed for a year with realtor-taken pictures, which I thought looked okay. Relisted it a few months later with different realtor and he had a professional come in and take pictures. Wow - what a difference!! I didn't know my house looked so good! Anyway, we had an offer in 6 weeks. Can't say it was the pictures, but they sure didn't hurt.
We just listed our house. When we interviewed the realtor, I asked her if she used a photographer or if she did her own photos. She said she takes them herself. It didn't bother me because I looked at her other listings and thought the pictures were good.
The photos are much better than those taken by a professional last time we sold.
Sometimes the photographer is better, but sometimes the realtor is. I would not have chosen a realtor whose listings had bad photos.
I take lots of photos of my properties. I will even go back and take sunrise or sunset pictures, lay down on a floor to get the sweep of the staircase. I get appalled at some of the photos agents put on the MLS of homes or the ones that reuse the previous agents photos from listings. I think one of the reasons my properties get showings is because I take lots of photos and put the best ones up. I also use video marketing with direct emailings for my listings. My properties get direct views by agents the minute the listing hits the MLS.
I'm not a professional but I try to make the home look at good as I can, even when it is a fixer-upper short sale.
Mine too! Am currently looking for house and am amazed at how many listings have that!
The more pictures the better! Whenever I see a listing that only has 4 pictures (all outside) I can't help but wonder what they're hiding. Also, if they state in the listing description 'great view' or 'pool' or anything else like that why wouldn't they include a picture of that detail?
So glad that Bird'sEye and StreetView are available!
I take good photos - but the professional I use takes fantastic photos - so I use him. For the price, it is soooooo worth it. $80 for 40 photos and the slide show. Time saved. House looks fantastic. Client happy. Home sold faster.
With so many buyers using the internet to find a house, your photos are your only tool the buyer will ever see. If you have poor photos, you wont sell the house. Simple as that.
With so many buyers using the internet to find a house, your photos are your only tool the buyer will ever see. If you have poor photos, you wont sell the house. Simple as that.
I do agree with you that the photos are important. However, not the "only tool".
For example...I had buyers that were choosing the homes they wanted me to show them, based on the photos on MLS. The home they were looking for was somewhat unique so we didn't have lots of homes to choose from.
Some of the homes online had crappy photos and so they deleted those. However, I knew the n'hoods and I convinced them that we should see a couple of them.
Sometimes the photos look better than the home and sometimes the home looks better than the photos!
One of the homes that I showed them had only 3 photos and they weren't even good photos. That is the home they purchased. Seeing it in person makes all the difference even with crappy photos!
So...sometimes a knowledgable Realtor is a good tool too!!!
I always have professional photos taken on homes priced over $400,000. But like Vicki, I always tell my buyers to realize that some photos are insanely flattering and some are horrible and don't even begin to tell the true story of what might be a great house. I also explain that the listings with obviously BAD photos are more likely to be ultimately sell for a lower price.
The photos and text DO make a difference for sure in the number of showings a seller will get. Which, of course, will likely affect the ultimate sales price.
That said, I absolutely HATE fish-eye photos. They are misrepresentations, imo, of whatever space has been photographed that way. There is an ass for every seat and making a yard appear massive is a huge turnoff for buyers who are looking for low maintenance - hello, BabyBoomers. Also, those who ARE looking for a massive yard get furious when they see it is the size of a bowling lane.
As an onsite I am responsible for taking all my own photos. I learned very early in my career what to do when it comes to taking pics for MLS. I'm not saying I am a professional but I can tell you that my pics are better than a MAJORITY of agents with listings in MLS.
That being said one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to listings in MLS....photos of the neighborhood entrance monument. I don't know why, but that just seems like a space filler to me and for some reason it irks me. If your decision to purchase a house is based on the entrance monument to the community....you my friend need some help.
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Anyway, we had an offer in 6 weeks. Can't say it was the pictures, but they sure didn't hurt.
