Say Cheesy! The Importance of Good Photos in Real Estate Listings

If there's one thing that real estate agents should agree on - it's never compromise on the quality of the photos used to promote listings.

Unfortunately, we've all seen those hideous pictures, that appear to have been taken with a 1970s Polaroid camera, with margarine smeared liberally across the lens. Why would anyone think that these sorts of photograph show a property at its best? At what point does an agent think, "I know, this house will be more appealing if I take this picture as quickly as I can, without any thought as to its composition"?

Of course, not everyone has a natural aptitude for photography, and even though things have improved hugely in recent years, thanks to advances in digital technology, it's unfair to expect all agents to be gifted with artistic flare. But surely, the quality of any images that accompany a listing, could be absolutely paramount to the successful sale of a house. Why settle for anything less than a series of clear, descriptive shots? As we know, the majority of property seekers do their homework online these days, and very few will bother to bookmark a home that looks dark and grimy. Remember the old cliche: You only get one chance to make a first impression. That applies here too.

So, how do you get around the problem of poor photos? Take the time to discover how to improve your photography skills. Good, affordable, compact digital cameras have all but eliminated the need to fully understand the technical aspects of photography. You can forget about film and shutter speeds, apertures, dark rooms, and single lens reflex cameras, should you wish, and still get thoroughly acceptable results. Most real estate agents are more than happy to enroll on a multitude of industry-standard courses, covering all kinds of property-related topics. And yes, sales seminars are extremely useful, but if your product isn't appealing, everything you learn will be worthless. Why not see if there are any courses in basic digital photography available, and add another skill to your real estate armory. A few simple rules about understanding lighting and composition should provide all that you'll need to take better pictures.

If finding the time to learn about enhancing your photographic skills proves difficult, or you simply discover that you have no flair, then it is really worth employing a professional, or at the very least enlisting the help of a colleague who is more comfortable behind the lens. With over 90% of buyers searching online, the 1st thing that will catch their eyes are the photos and if they are done well, they will bring people in the door of your listing.

And it's not only the actual property pics that need to be up to standard, we will have all noticed an awful lot of poor photos on real estate agents' blogs and social network profiles. Even if you're showing the world your latest holidays snaps, kid's graduation, or favourite pet photo, make sure its a nice, bright, sharp picture. You might think that it doesn't really matter, and you may be right much of the time. But, there are people out there who make quick decisions based on what they see, and sloppy presentation of your own professional online platform, may well suggest to a potential buyer or seller, that you approach other aspects of your business just as casually.