Picture this (pun intended)
You’re sitting on your couch looking through homes on Zillow. You’re scrolling through stopping occasionally to look at something that interests you.
Then, you flip through all of the photos of that home and think you might want to check it out in person. Odds are pretty good that home was well-photographed and looks amazing in the pictures. Odds are also good that you skipped over several homes that were just as nice but the photos didn’t capture your attention.
This might lead you to wonder why so many home listings seem to have been photographed with what looks like the early 2000’s Razr phone (you remember those flip phones, right?).
Why Are Listing Photos Important?
I believe that a home’s listing photos are very important and are the foundation on which a successful marketing plan is built. Consider the following statistic:
94% of Millennials and 84% of Baby Boomers used the internet to search for their most recent home purchase (according to NAR 2015 Survey)
The first time that your home will be seen is probably through the pictures that a prospective buyer sees online, which makes quality photographs one of the most important marketing tactics your Realtor (or you if you attempt FSBO) will employ.
Are Bad Photos to Blame When a Home Doesn’t Sell?
I don’t have any statistics to cite, particularly because there isn’t an objective measure of what a “good” photograph is, but I can tell you from personal experience that I’ve seen countless homes that didn’t sell and it’s clear that the listing Realtor or owner probably used a cell phone to take the photos. The photos just aren’t good enough.
And if you think cell phone photos can do the job, just take a look at the Instagram world. If you’re not familiar with Instagram, it’s a social media platform designed specifically for users to create content with their phones! But the most successful instagrammers (and the ones who are making money from their accounts……yes, you can make money posting pretty pictures on Instagram) use professional photography.
The difference is clear.
The 3 P’s of Home Selling
Not all homes that don’t sell can specifically blame bad pictures or a lousy Realtor. A home must meet the following 3 main criteria of getting sold, i.e. the 3 P’s of home selling.
- Pricing
- Product
- Promotion
Pricing is usually the number one reason a home doesn’t sell. If you’re asking too much for your home, you’re simply not going to sell it.
Product refers to your home. Does it smell nice? Is it updated (i.e. no wood paneling walls, gold fixtures, etc.) If your home is missing the features that are expected in your area? It’s going to be hard to sell.
Promotion refers to the marketing and photographs of your home. This is your Realtor’s job and should not be the reason your home doesn’t sell. Otherwise, your Realtor simply did not do his or her job.
Beautiful photos are essential for this piece. If you currently have your home listed and your Realtor used their cell phone to take the photos, I recommend you respectfully ask them to either use a higher quality camera or hire a professional photographer.
Great Photos Means More Money in Your Pocket
If I haven’t already convinced you that quality photos means you’re going to be more likely to sell your home, consider this quote from a Wall Street Journal article:
“listings that use professional cameras gain anywhere between $934 and $116,076–as measured by the difference between asking and final price–over listings using photos from point-and-click cameras.”
Check out this infographic that shows what types of photography mistakes are made and the impact of professional photography on the sales price on a home.
What do you think?
Are you convinced that good listing photos are important? I hope so.
Some Realtors might be upset with me posting this but I think it’s important for consumers to understand how important quality photos are for selling their home. If you have any questions or are interested in listing your home, let’s chat. You can call or text me at 636-667-9549.
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