In today's online world, your property photos
are your first impression encourage a buyer to come see your listing in person.
Its estimated that 77% of buyers start their search for property online.
Additionally, buyers increasingly explain that viewing professional photos is
extremely to their buying experience. This means a large determination of
whether a customer will call you back is the photos and the price of your
property. While no two properties are identical, there are common areas every
listing should cover. Good photos are not only essential for online listing
platforms, but they are key when developing flyers, Facebook posts and even
when the same is shared across networks through forums like WhatsApp.
We estimate that at least six photos as the
minimum needed when offering land for sale. 22 to 27 pictures is the ideal
range of photos for houses for sale according to Zillow research. We estimate that land listed
for sale with fewer than six photos will be about 20 percent less likely to
sell.
Walk through
the property before taking photos
Each property is different from the last.
Before you start taking photos, walk through the property to help you determine
the number and placement of the photos. As you walk around, remove any
threatening signs like Do not trespass, Usikojoe hapa etc. The goal is to
create a welcoming feeling with your listing photos. As you walk around, you
will start to identify the best angles and
any items that need to be removed. Some items that we don't notice will stand
out in a photo. If you want some decorative items, leave 1-3 items.
Exterior Photography for properties for
sale
An exterior photo is usually the first image
a potential buyer sees when reviewing properties online. That photo is
important so ensure you get the right angle and determine the important
features to highlight. Capture Popular local features or any features that
justify the price. Take photos that make the area popular. If the property is
next to other developed properties, make sure you capture this. If there is a
river, ensure this is captured as well. Other features that add value include
capturing roads (murram /tarmac), neighboring schools, police stations
When taking exterior photos, it is best to
capture images when the sun is behind the camera but illuminating the front of
the property. You'll avoid shadows and the house will be perfectly lit. For
apartments and houses listed for sale, a night-time exterior shot can create
the right amount of contrast to make your photos stand out.
Interior photography for properties for
sale
Whether you are taking photos of apartments
for sale, penthouses or villas for sale, the most important photos are the
interior ones. For a house the typical photos should cover a photo of every
room (living room, kitchen, dining area, master bedroom, library, office)
including bathrooms and photos of the front yard and backyard that was
described above. There should photos that capture each feature such as laundry
room, garage, and pantry.
Before taking any photos, ensure the house
has been cleaned and there is no debris around. Additionally, take away small
items that could be lying around like toothbrushes and combs, electrical cords
or wires, TV remotes etc.
We recommend having the lights on when taking
photos of houses for sale. Having the lights on makes the rooms warmer and it
feels more welcoming. You will however need to make sure that the lights do not
distort the color of the house, so make sure that you adjust white balance when
post-processing.
While having the lights on is the rule
of thumb, experiment and see what works best. At times, for houses with large
windows, opening the windows may provide enough natural light which works just
as well as having the lights on. Additionally, natural light is a big seller.
You may also opt to use camera flash if you notice that the light bulbs
in the house have different color temperatures.
Whatever decision you make, be consistent
throughout the photos!
As you take the photos, ensure that there are
no people captured within the photos, including you. While mirrors in a house
is be a selling point, you want potential buyers to picture themselves in
the mirror not you.
Capture features that help your listing stand
out. Some of these include bathtubs, solar panels etc. If the view is one
of your property's selling points, make sure you show it off. Find a way to
capture it with a part of the house in the shot, like the balcony. That way,
buyers can picture themselves there.
Tips for shooting great real estate photos
Portray an honest representation of the
property. If there are any items not working, show them as well. If the land
being offered for sale is next to a slum, do not surprise a customer during a
visit. Capture that as well. If the house needs remodeling in certain rooms,
capture the same and the customer will decide before visiting if they are up
for it.
Take tons of photos: even though you will not
need every photo for your online listing, take many more than that, so you can
pick the very best images in editing. The additional photos come in handy if a
customer asks for more, you will not need to go back to the property to take
them.
Use landscape orientation: Horizontal
orientation makes it easier to capture full breath of the properties.
Take photos that highlight the layout: Buyers
are interested in the layout of the property.
Leave doors open between rooms: This provides
buyers with an idea of how different rooms connect.
Conclusion
Good photographs remain important for your
listing. As the adage goes, a photo is worth a thousand words. However, don’t
obsess over this. You don't need a lot to achieve beautiful real estate
pictures. Nowadays, most phones have good cameras that can work in taking
professional photos. If you decide to hire a photographer, ensure they have a
good resume and an impressive work done in the past. This ensures you will not
be disappointed.
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