Home buyers used to spend the day touring a few houses with their Realtors or hitting open houses — and they may have even brought along their children, parents, or in-laws. This began to shift before the pandemic as apps like Zillow and Realtor.com made previewing properties easier — and more virtual. Llike many digital trends, this shift was sent into overdrive in 2020. We are now in a time where the first showing happens online, making the photos agents use in their listings more important than ever. And with more types of photography for real estate to choose from, real estate listings are often able to give potential buyers views of the property they simply cannot get in real life.
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) says that 90% of house hunters initiate their buying experience on the Internet, and 25% of homebuyers admit online real estate photography influenced the purchase of their current home. So it is no surprise that more than 50% of all real estate agents hire professional real estate photographers — especially as 3D virtual tours and drone photos have become integral to standing out online. Let’s explore the types of photography that can help your real estate listings stand out from the competition.
Three important photography for real estate for better listings…
Flash photography
It’s a new world for Realtors looking for eye-capturing, jaw-dropping photos, making the familiar flash photography a must-have for every listing. Flash photography allows you to present a property in, literally, the best light possible. “The addition of flash to your real estate photographs gives you a chance to change the light in a room altogether. You can illuminate areas that should be emphasized, even if they are in the shadows of the natural light. You can make up for the spots in a room that natural light cannot access, or balance out the bright light coming in through the windows,” according to Home Track.
Poorly lit photos taken on your iPhone are not enough to compete in today’s increasingly digital home-buying market. If your potential buyers are focused on the dimly lit room that looks creepy and cobwebby, you just may lose the chance to get them through the door. Flash photography puts your properties in their best light and invites buyers to schedule a tour.
Drone photography
Globe Newswire projects that the global drone services market will grow at a CAGR of 19.8% between 2022-2032 — and for good reason. Drone photography has many uses, but in the context of real estate listings, drones provide buyers with views they would never get from an in-person visit.
The panoramic views from above help buyers understand the full extent of their property as well as the surrounding area — this is especially helpful for large or high-end properties. Buyers searching for waterfront property, acreage, or remote properties like to see the property line and get the literal lay of the land. However, drone photography often requires an understanding of the rules and regulations that come along with operating aerial equipment, so be sure to do your due diligence before hiring a drone photographer. Learn more about the possibilities of drone photography with this case study.
Matterport 3D virtual tours
“While pre-COVID, virtual tours may have been a nice-to-have, today they are a must-have to help differentiate a real estate agent from competitors,” Dan Smigrod, founder of We Get Around Network, told Realtor Magazine. Not only did virtual walk-throughs become important for buyers to decide whether they wanted to see a house in person, they were often the only time buyers saw a house before moving from overcrowded, expensive cities to new remote-work locations. Matterport 3D photography is what makes these tours possible.
While it may be tempting to think beautiful flash photography is enough to sell a house, the reality is that virtual tours take a listing to the next level and help it stand out online. A 3D walkthrough helps potential buyers understand a house’s floor plan by allowing them to navigate through the house virtually, but with Matterport 3D the files can also be used for much more. For instance, after scanning a house, we can create a “dollhouse view” for a virtual floor plan or even take accurate measurements. The versatility of Matterport 3D makes it a trusted partner beyond real estate, especially for historic properties like the Mark Twain House.
Standing out with better real estate photography
The importance of hiring a skilled photographer is crucial in today’s real estate market. As Home Track says, “According to a Redfin study of 22 markets, professionally photographed homes priced between $200,000 and $1 million sold for between $3,400 and $11,200 more than asking. Professionally photographed homes sold faster, too, 21 days faster on average for homes in the $400,000 price range.”
It’s evident that a home’s days on market (DOM) can be affected by a single photo. Realtors must keep in mind that the first showing is almost always online, and finding a photographer who offers all three of these photography services puts you at an advantage. Not only will top-notch photos, drone footage, and virtual tours help your listings stand out, your connections with skilled photographers will help you build your reputation and win more clients. To learn more about how working with a skilled photographer can enhance your real estate career, sign up for a free consultation with Capture Visual Marketing.
