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Build Your Home Selling Team Part 3- Find a Great Real Estate Photographer
In a previous article, I discussed the importance of assembling a dedicated home selling team to ensure a successful sale. Key players include a professional home stager and a dedicated realtor who truly prioritizes your interests. Today, we’ll delve into identifying another pivotal player: a skilled real estate photographer.
Securing top-tier real estate photos can significantly enhance your listing and give you a competitive edge. If your realtor reaches for their phone to snap listing photos, it’s time to advocate for a professional touch.
Here are insights from one of Anchorage’s premier real estate photographers, Dave M. Davis of DMD Real Estate Photography, to guide your selection process.
4 Tips for Finding the Right Real Estate Photographer- Dave Davis
Why are high-quality real estate photos so important? They are the first part of a listing that a potential buyer sees and also the part of the listing that people spend the most time on – 60% on average.
But the most important reason may be that you have about two seconds to capture a home buyer’s attention. A great photo is much better at accomplishing this than a simple written description.
With that in mind, here are 4 tips for finding a real estate photographer:
Choose a photographer who has real estate experience.
There are many professional photographers out there, but you want someone who has specific real estate experience. Photographing a home requires a different set of skills than photographing a person or a landscape, for instance.
A good real estate photographer knows how to highlight the most appealing parts of your home: recent renovations, a cozy atmosphere, and so on. Look for photographers who highlight their real estate experience or actually use the title of “Real Estate Photographer.”
Ask for a photographer’s portfolio.
Reviewing a photographer’s past work and clients is the best way to see if they are a good fit for the job. A photographer’s portfolio will give insights into the types of homes they specialize in, what aspects they like to highlight, and the quality of the photos they take. Do you like the images? How do they make you feel about the home they showcase?
Call the photographer’s references.
References will give insight into the photographer’s process and can give your personal thoughts on what it was like to work with them. Was the photographer reliable? Was he or she able to turn around the images quickly?
Look for a photographer who can showcase a home with more than just photos.
Huh? Isn’t shooting photos what a real estate photographer does? Of course. But some of them do a whole lot more.
As technology improves, new kinds of media give potential home buyers exciting ways to explore your home. Ask potential photographers to see a full range of their services, and look for someone who also shoots videos, provides floor plans, creates virtual tours, and more. Even if you do not use all of these services, having them available shows that a photographer is innovative and always looking to improve their craft.
So what can you do with all those great photos?
The possibilities are endless! Here are a few great ideas.
1. Put them on the MLS on your real estate listing. 2. Create a website for your home sale. 2. Use them for social media marketing by creating a Facebook page for your home sale. 4. Create a virtual tour or video highlighting key elements of your home. 5. Create great flyers.
Make Your House Stand Out from the Crowd Online
On one project where I served as the home stager, I had the pleasure of collaborating with Dave Davis, our chosen photographer for the property.
Once the home staging was finalized, Dave captured the essence of the property through professional photos, which were then featured on the MLS listing.
DMD Real Estate Photography further enhanced our marketing strategy by developing a dedicated website and a captivating virtual tour for potential buyers.
To maximize our online presence, I crafted a Facebook page for the property. This page showcased engaging photos, detailed descriptions, and integrated links to DMD’s photo gallery, property website, and virtual tour. Targeted Facebook ads were also deployed to reach the right audience.
To elevate the property’s appeal, I produced a video highlighting the home’s exterior and its picturesque gardens. This was shared on both the Facebook page and YouTube, generating buzz and intrigue amongst potential buyers.
The realtor further amplified our efforts by developing a dedicated website for the home sale and crafting eye-catching flyers, both of which were seamlessly integrated with our Facebook promotions.
This cohesive marketing approach not only spread the word but also piqued buyers’ interest. Central to this success was the power of quality photography, enticing potential buyers to experience the property firsthand.
Get Started with an Online Home Staging Consultation
President- Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
Owner- Arctic Paradise Bed and Breakfast
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Wildlife Biologist
Director- Kaleido World Percussion and Dance Company
Director- Tavus Dance Company of Alaska
Lover of music, art, dance and animals.
OMGosh, YES! Photography makes SUCH a difference…I seen some doozies with bad photography!
Haha, usually the doozies are the ones a realtor has taken with their phone. That is when you know it is time to get a new realtor!
This is an important point, good staging and photography is key since many people decide whether or not to even see a home in person based on the online impression.
So true, thank you Lisa!
WONDERFUL tips on finding the BEST photographer to represent a home when being sold!
Thank you Sheri!
You are so right, having well done photos is something you can hardly put a dollar value on! Great blog post, something everyone should think about when they are staging or selling their home!
Thank you! Yes, people are often reluctant to spend more on professional photos but it is the key first step (after staging to get great photos) to get people interested in coming to see your property for sale.
OMGosh, YES! Photography makes SUCH a difference…I seen some doozies with bad photography!
Haha, usually the doozies are the ones a realtor has taken with their phone. That is when you know it is time to get a new realtor!
This is an important point, good staging and photography is key since many people decide whether or not to even see a home in person based on the online impression.
So true, thank you Lisa!
WONDERFUL tips on finding the BEST photographer to represent a home when being sold!
Thank you Sheri!
You are so right, having well done photos is something you can hardly put a dollar value on! Great blog post, something everyone should think about when they are staging or selling their home!
Thank you! Yes, people are often reluctant to spend more on professional photos but it is the key first step (after staging to get great photos) to get people interested in coming to see your property for sale.