How to Take Listing Photos The Right Way

How to Take Listing Photos The Right Way

by | Dec 2, 2015 | Real Estate Terminology, Technology

Putting time and money into taking proper real estate listing photos may seem like a waste- after all, technology has reached a point where most current cell phone cameras are far superior to any camera you would buy from the store 5 years ago.  Snapping a few quick pictures on a  stroll across the property may seem sufficient- after all, the house should speak for itself right?  Wrong.  Even the nicest of properties can turn away potential buyers if the listing photos don’t properly highlight it’s features.  As real estate appraisers, we sort through hundreds of listing photos every day.  Having seen some of the best- and plenty of the worst- we can honestly say that the quality of the listing photos is definitely reflected in the days on market of a home.  Better photos attract more buyers, get more offers, and sell faster- but what do I need to do to really take a good listing photo?   1. Include a shot from the curb.  Everyone’s heard the term “curb appeal” before, and if your home has any, this one should be a no brainer.  Be careful to always take photos parallel with the roof line– or else, you can create “landslide” effect, making it look like the property is on a tilt or needs some landscaping when in reality it’s perfectly flat.    2. Keep people and pets out of the photos (including the photographer in mirrors) Mirrors may help light a room, but buyers don’t want to picture anyone in this house other than themselves- that’s why their thinking about buying it.  Also, not everyone is a dog or...