It’s not 1999 anymore—and that means your first showing is going to take place online.  If you want your house to sell fast and for the most amount of money, you need to make sure it looks as good as possible.  To do that, it’s critical that your listing includes professional pictures and videos.

The fact is, people don’t really need to sell their homes with a traditional real estate agent anymore.  While there are a variety of options on how to sell a house—whether for sale by owner, with a flat-fee brokerage, or with an awesome real estate agent like me—presenting a property in the best light possible is non-negotiable in today’s market.

The way people shop for real estate has also changed: over 90% of searches for a new home start online.  The majority of this initial interest won’t involve you (or your realtor) at all.  A prospective buyer will find a property they like on a real estate search engine and may do a drive-by to see what it looks like in person.  Only after these steps (and if they’re still interested) will they call to set up a showing.

Why Professional Photos Matter

The best way to present a property in a way that attracts the most buyers is through professional, high-quality photographs.  And let’s be clear: “professional pictures” mean professional pictures, not simple cellphone snaps (no matter how expensive or fancy your phone is).  What we’re talking about are high-quality, HD images taken with a professional camera and by a skilled photographer.

The statistics on professional photography speak for themselves: properties with enhanced HD images sell 45% faster and 75% closer to the listing price than those without.

Your listing photos should also showcase the main selling features of the house, especially rooms that trigger an emotional reaction.  Kitchen details, your view, and bathrooms are just some of the spots in your home that prospective buyers will emotionally connect with.  You’ll thus want to make sure to take pictures of these rooms in the best lighting possible. 

Clients looking for specific features of a home might overlook listings that don’t include these pictures, so make sure to highlight all the pertinent aspects of your property.  It may not be a selling point to you, but it just might be for the potential buyer.  Some examples of features to highlight in photographs include:

·         Your surrounding neighborhood

·         Common areas

·         Views (in multiple directions)

·         Skylights

·         Great local schools

·         Large closets

·         Multiple shots and angles of the outdoor space

·         Storage

·         Inside of garage

·         Multiple shots of the kitchen from various angles

Use Property Videos To Increase Showings

People are less likely to schedule a showing of a house that looks crappy online; your property video will do the opposite.   While video won’t sell a house the way pictures do, it will increase showings by giving potential buyers a better idea of the layout and flow of the property.  Professional-grade property videos will make your home stand out among a sea of other listings and will catch more attention.

Besides adding value to your online listing, videos provide you with increased abilities to market your home.  Your goal is to increase the number of eyes on your video, which can be achieved through YouTube rankings and social media sharing.  Videos pull more engagement on social networks than any other type of content, so the effectiveness of sharing them to Instagram and Facebook should not be underestimated.

Your video can also be targeted to a specific audience: your ideal buyer.  Facebook Ads allow you to get your content seen to a specific set of demographics, helping you find the best fit for your home’s next owner.

The Bottom Line

It’s clear that adding professional, high-quality videos and pictures to your listing will ensure you get the most money for your property.  If you choose to hire a real estate agent, you should be looking for more than just someone who will stick a sign in front of your home and list your property on the MLS.  Today’s realtors need to function as marketers and should have a real, online marketing plan for your property.  This includes professional pictures and video for your listing.

If you need help navigating this process, make sure to reach out to us and we’ll be happy to point you in the right direction!