Bad Seller Photographs - the difference between ’snaps’ and ‘marketing photographs’
August 27, 2007
There is a difference between photographs and ’snaps’ of your home.
Taking good photographs of the home for sale should be one of the more straight forward tasks in a home selling maketing strategy. The majority of home buyers review properties online, before they decide to go visit a home. As a result, if the photographs of your home are poor, your chances of recieving a request to see your home from a prospective buyer are similarily poor.
Put simply, taking shortcuts by serving up ’snaps’ of your home for buyers to view (bad photos), translates into no buyers asking to see your home. Take the time and spend the little extra to ensure that good photographs are taken of your home for sale. These photographs are the first impression of your home for most potiential buyers.
First impressions count, make the effort and ensure that your take good photographs.
Please review some of our favourite ‘bad mls listing photos’ from Broward county, South Florida.
Feel free to send us your’s, or submit them as a comment below - your bad photos are welcome here.
Such a beautiful corner… must have that room for me.
Is this shot really necessary?
Fuzzy living room.
The dining room - just as fuzzy - so it may be the kitchen - who knows?
Why? What does this photo add to the listing?
I know that we are in Florida - but this photo is really blue, blue, blue.
Fuzzy photos seem to be the norm this month - must be some fuzzy logic?
Does the house come with the trucks?
Looks like a nice pool - hard to tell with the plant in the way?
Comments
One Response to “Bad Seller Photographs - the difference between ’snaps’ and ‘marketing photographs’”
Got something to say?
Some Of Our past Stagings.
Lived in/Occupied Property
Town Home Staging
Beach Front Condo
Single Family Villa
Akanke, you are so right. It takes focus, (personal) time and deliberate planning to get good photos. This is why I have a call in to a professional photographer so that we can team up and give the sellers the best that there is to offer.
08/27/2007 07:11 PM by Ginger Foust
——————————————————————————–
You should see some of the ones I see on our mls. Some of the shots they take, I’m like - what were they thinking.
08/27/2007 10:07 PM by Mike Mitchell
——————————————————————————–
Akanke, the very least a Realtor should do for their commission is provide really good, magazine quality, listing photos. If you don’t have the equipment and talent to do it yourself, hire a professional. It will be the best money you spend.
08/28/2007 12:24 AM by Susan Peters
——————————————————————————–
Great examples of poor photo choices. I love the ones where countertops are completely overflowing. I spend a lot of time taking and retaking photos, love that digital camera…thanks for sharing!
08/29/2007 11:49 PM by Debbie Malone
——————————————————————————–
Pictures market homes better than words. If buyers see pictures like these on the internet they will not even consider going inside to look.
09/11/2007 09:41 PM by Ann Krewson
——————————————————————————–
good post. Photos are something Realtors should take pride in. the sellers really appreciate it and buyers too.
it make me sick to see cell phone quality photos. we should have standards
09/14/2007 12:50 AM by Matt Dunshie-Realtor
——————————————————————————–
Oh gosh; YOU HAVE hit on my PET PEEVE! Where do these people GET the impression they are marketing a home with photos such as your examples?
It should literally take HOURS to properly do your photos, if you don’t have time, go back JUST to do the photos! I mean these people are hiring you to DO YOUR JOB! I rake, sweep, spray off or clear clutter when taking photos, anything out of place will draw attention away from the shot, so GET rid of the clutter, move it to the last room you shot, and HOPEFULLY the owners of the house are GONE! Even my best friend, here she shows up STANDING in the bushes of her front yard in her house marketing photos! Everyone wants to watch and they are always in the way! In a reflection or whatever, you need to do this alone!
Rule number one, NO PEOPLE, NO VEHICLES, NO PETS, NO TOILETS! Goodness, everyone knows what a toilet looks like! Farm animals lend an aura to the country property, domestic PETS DO NOT! I do always take a complementary shot of their pet, and I keep it for my critter gallery….but NOT in the marketing!
I also avoid any photos of straight on the garage, I DOWNPLAY the garage in the photos! Garages are ugly, and if the door is not completly straight, FORGET IT! Do not take the full on shot of the garage, get it from the side, don’t leave the garage out, just DOWNPLAY it!
A drab blah neutral photo can get pizazz just adding in some colorful object but then the eye is drawn to the object. Straight level photos that follow the rule of the thirds, keep the light coming in from photographers left shoulder, inside photos NO flash is best. There is a new camera feature on some cameras, it takes one with and one without flash in sucession, then you can choose out later!
09/16/2007 10:11 PM by Barbara Adams
——————————————————————————–
Love those trucks-areTHEY for sale? What are these people thinking…..
10/05/2007 12:55 PM by Kathy Riggle
——————————————————————————–
A lot of times I see agents try to use the MLS photos to help give potential buyers a sense of layout, which of course is not correct. The photos are a means to showcase or highlight specific areas of the home to attract poential buyers. Virtual Tours, blueprints and walk-throughs do a much better job conveying direction inside the home
Believe it nor many agents are far from “tech savy” — With little to no knowledge of how to propery use a camera or individual settings to maximize the picture, to working with simple image editors like Photoshop. Any agent would benefit greatly from taking some extra time to learn to use these valuable tools.
I think the thing that surprises me MOST is that their clients’ either have never seen the published photos or give the OK to them. When on sight and taking pictures I may snap off anywhere from 30-40 on the exterior alone to review and tweak later. Once the photos are compiled I always show a proof to my client. Just seems to make sense
10/07/2007 11:10 PM by John Agnello
——————————————————————————–
I am SO in agreement with all the frustration experienced w/realtors. If you want to see an amazing virtual tour, check THIS out - (open to full screen after it starts and make sure speakers are on). This is a very inexpensive way to excellently market. Why more agents don’t use it is a mystery to me. Pics are the very first impression many buyers get - you would think it would be ESSENTIAL to them to create a wonderful impression right off the bat. I just don’t get it!
Melody