There’s more to real estate property images than just point, shoot, and post when taking it, but there are ways on how you can get the most out of it to help you advertise and promote your listings.
Mind you, it’s not easy and you do not need to lose an arm or a leg to get it done right just as long as you know how to do it.
Photographs, staging, floorplans, retouching, and tours don’t need to be painfully expensive and you might be surprised to find out are you read on to the end of this article.
Lasting impressions
First impressions count and catching someone’s attention is exactly what property imagery is all about.
A study published by the Wall Street Journal revealed that the first 20 seconds of a person focusing on an image is critical to influencing what the brain perceives as appealing, making it a major factor for decision-making.
The researchers tracked the eye movements of participants who were asked to look at online listings and found that more than 95% of those who looked at images of home exteriors spent no less than 20 seconds fixated on the image, after which the eyes started flitting all over the page.
After that, 76% of the test subjects looked for property details such as the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, etc. Only 60% went on to read through the property descriptions on the page.
No less than 60% or more than half of the time was spent by viewers scanning the photographs and thrice as much as any other part or section of the sites’ listings.
What property listings need quality images
Statistically, listings found to have high-quality images of the property are 31% more likely to be sold and sell faster.
A different study supported this stating that listings with only one photograph stayed on the market for an average of 70 days, while those with 20 images or more spent no more than 32 days available online.
Moreover, houses with a value range of $300,000 to $1 million listed with high-quality photos were sold for an additional value of $3,500 to $11,000.
How to enhance property images
Here are the key qualities of images that can give property listings the boost it deserves.
Photo quality
This should be the first thing that comes to mind that has everything to do with the size, resolution, sharpness, contrast, lighting, etc.
Standard image dimensions should be at least 2000 pixels wide with a file size of around 1MB to allow for sharper and detailed images when zooming. Also remember to have the images taken in landscape mode which is standard for most, if not all websites where you want your images displayed in.
Make sure the images are clear and sharp, not dark or blurry, and the file must be saved as RGB for online use and not CMYK which is ideal for print.
Always use new and clean photos
Make sure to always post new images, not old or recycled ones whether it’s from an old listing, online album, or social media post.
Don’t recycle photos from old listings or rental galleries. New photos provide more updated views and help set the right expectations with potential buyers who want to see the property in its current state.
Photos should also be framed properly to avoid unwanted photobombs such as clotheslines, hanging wires, dirty dishes, graffiti, or anything that would spoil the image.
Plan and maximise photo-shoot activities
Having images of the best angles of the property inside and out is very important. It will provide buyers with a virtual and realistic view of the property listed. For instance, photos must be taken from the corners of a room to get the most photo aspect possible.
For occupied spaces, make sure to have the area tidied up. If a photographer is hired to take photos, take time to have discussed plans and ideas regarding the images for your listing so you can share ideas that would make your photos work.
Make sure that you have all the basic areas covered for your listing photos especially the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, etc.
Floorplans
A key component in a listing’s photo gallery is the floorplan. Providing the layout of the property makes it more convenient for potential buyers to narrow down the things they need to check out on the property. With floor plans available, it’s one item off their checklist and a step closer to their decision-making phase.
However, it’s not just as simple as a scanned blueprint, but it would be more impactful to have it rendered professionally. Some professional draftsmen can do it for you, but it would be move visually appealing when it is a realistic computer-generated image or even an interactive one that could allow users to navigate and see from all angles through wire-frame or 3D renditions of the property.
Photo retouching
For added measure, photo retouching must be considered a key step in the process. Photos with grey skies, dark rooms, or blemishes can be touched up not only to make the property appear more attractive but to also remove anything that might distract the buyer.
Just make sure to avoid too much retouching that would alter the original image or the property. Also, avoid being too creative or tricky and only use retouching as a way to enhance the property and not misrepresent it, which could potentially turn off buyers for being misled when comparing images with the actual property.
Virtual staging and tours
If a property space doesn’t have furniture, consider virtual staging to give buyers a better idea of room size and space.
There are online services that help design virtual staging, especially if you want to give a good perspective of the property you are selling and how it would portray décor styles for potential buyers.
It can also help you save on costs instead of having your spaces furnished for show and avoids the hassles of redecorating or acquiring furniture and appliances, based on preferred staging options.
Virtual tours can also be a great option where you can go all out to give buyers a real sense of how rooms in a home connect and what spaces are like.