Home Sweet Home: Week One

As many of you might already be aware, one of the services we offer here at The Digital Shore is home video tours. We partner with real estate agents and private renters to provide video tours that highlight the best aspects of any home. These tours can be used on websites or apps like Zillow to give customers a greater insight into potential properties. Video home tours are not the only media tools available to showcase a property, so it seemed like a good time to discuss these options on the blog this month. 

We’re beginning with a look at professional photos of properties. It might seem like a given that properties available for rent or purchase should have high-quality pictures to aid the buying process, yet it never ceases to amaze me just how many homes on apps like Zillow are missing these vital additions.

So, Why Professional Pictures?

The main reason to use these photos is the most obvious one. Professional photos can highlight the best aspects of a property, and it gives a better sense of the home or apartment to potential buyers/renters. This means that there’s a greater possibility that the home will be sold or occupied, which is the best outcome for everyone. The Center for REALTOR Development found that homes with high quality photos sold 32% faster. A home with only one photo available stayed on the market for an average of 70 days while a home with 20 photos only spent 32 days on the market. 

The second reason is for ease and accessibility. Having professional, high-quality photos allows interested parties to browse properties quickly. The availability of these photos don’t just make it easier on potential buyers; it also makes it easier on the ones selling or managing the property. It leaves realtors only having to receive contact from genuinely interested buyers, and it keeps them from having to show the property multiple times. 

Tips To Remember:

-Lighting in any media situation is key. It is debatable about whether natural or indoor lighting is better for these photos, but it’s more important to be consistent with whichever method you choose. 

-Include both exterior and interior shots of the property. While most people will focus on the rooms and layout of the property, exterior shots are still helpful, especially for those shopping for a home from a different city or state. 

-Highlight the best features in every room. Highlight the new countertops in the kitchen or the spacious walk-in closet in the master bedroom. Walk through the space before you start taking pictures so you have an idea of which areas to highlight. 

-Declutter to the best of your ability. Clutter is a normal thing in every home, but those small things really stand out in photos. Make sure homeowners or renters have items like coffee tables and countertops cleared off and keep decorative items to a minimum. 

So, have you seen benefits to using professional photos for your properties? What tips would you have? Comment and let us know! 

And if you have any questions regarding our video home tours and services for real estate, find out more here.