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There are a number of reasons that some homes are not selling these days. It can be because of the number of homes in inventory versus the number of buyers in the market at any given time. Homes can be slow to sell if they are not priced properly or if they are not in selling condition. And they can also not sell if they are not marketed effectively.
With the advent of the Internet, especially in terms of real estate sales, more and more buyers rely on the first pre-impression they get when visiting online real estate market places. Naturally the very first thing prospective buyers look at are photographs of the home, along with price and basic specs. If the home does not seem appealing or if the features do not look good in the photographs provided they often just move on to the next shortlisted home on the website tool (for example www.zillow.com) they are using.
How can you avoid being one of those “passed up” homes? How can you make sure that buyers get a reasonable preview of the home? And how can you ensure that there is enough interest that they want to go one step further and visit the property? The answer lies in how you present the home and what type of first impression you are able to provide.
Capturing the Good Stuff and Camouflaging the Not-So-Good
By virtue of their experience alone (though their equipment also lends a significant hand to the quality of their photographs) professionals have a natural eye to capture images in the most appealing way possible. Whether that means to be able to depict the true size of a room in a photograph or to accentuate the overall look of an area as it relates to other spaces around the room – professionals know how to pull it all together.
Not exactly airbrushing but there are tools and techniques that they use to highlight the more attractive features of a home while downplaying the less desirable things. Being able to show the light bouncing off granite countertops or showing the entire landscaping of a home in one panoramic shot are things that are not typically easy to accomplish using a standard amateur camera.
Hiring the Right Photographer is Essential
All photographers are not created equal. While some specialize in landscape photographs, others in commercial and advertising photography and still others in portraits – it is important to identify one that will be able to showcase your home in the best light. One way to find a good photographer in your area is to contact local or national associations or groups where you may find photographer members who advertise their services by category. Professional Photographers of America is a great resource. Another way is to contact a local publication that prints the work of an architecture photographer. If budget is a concern you can get in touch with a local school, community college or university to get in touch with photography students who will likely have professional equipment and better than average skills.
Less Is Not More – Get EVERYTHING Photographed
Be sure to have the entire property adequately photographed. Even if you do not think the pictures will be needed have them taken so you have them with you in case needed later. This can also come handy in the future if you need to send additional photos to the buyer’s agent or if you want to enhance your existing listing with additional images of the house.
Remember that by hiring a professional you are doing the house justice by accurately portraying the home in a way that will appeal to potential buyers. That is not to say that you should not take pictures of areas of the home that are only average – rather the images taken by a professional will be done in a way that will entice potential buyers into viewing the home and hopefully selling it too!
Images provided by http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=987
