If your photos are letting you down then here are some tips to help you out

Posted by John Durrant on Fri 1st June 2007 at 01:54 PM, Filed in Exteriors

It’s not a great way to start a series of articles but there really is no point in pulling punches so I’ll just say it… The fact is that a very high percentage of house photos taken by estate agents lack the quality that their properties deserve.

The other day it was reported that as of now there isn’t a town in the UK with an average house price that is less than £100,000. Yet the standard of photography used to sell these homes wouldn’t be up to promoting a packet of cornflakes let alone someone’s most prized asset; take a look through Rightmove if you don’t believe me. Despite their importance to the marketing process - photos are usually the very first thing that most potential buyers will look at when deciding which houses to spend their precious time viewing - it’s truly amazing how few agents give any thought to their photography or are even aware of what they are missing out on in terms of how excellence in photography helps attract new business. 

You’ll see from these opening paragraphs that I’m not writing these articles to win friends and influence people, that’s not what I’m about; my mission is to help those agents who care enough about their housing stock and their own company image, to improve the way they present their homes to the market. Agents who improve their photography will help enhance the way they are perceived as professional marketing people (which is what estate agents are, partly) as well as their chances of improving their instruction levels. Let’s face it, until a client has used you, the most tangible difference for them to make their choice between other agents and you is the quality of your property marketing details and advertising. Cracking photography really can help you stand out against the competition and it will help improve sales as well!

In a series of 6 articles I’m going to share with you tips, tricks and techniques that I discovered over thirty-seven years as an agent, and latterly as a professional photographer specialising in interiors, exteriors and mast photography; and if you read and use them I genuinely believe they will help improve your business.

The first of the six starts soon and takes a look at the best equipment to use, followed by Knobs and Dials, then by Prepping the Client, then looks at Exteriors, and winds up with Interiors and Lighting. Read these, take them to your heart and put them into practise and you’ll see an upturn in your business; I’m certain of it. 

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READER COMMENTS:

So important to get the photos right on particulars or brochures. Afterall, your trying to entice people to make viewings.

Posted by Peter  on Fri 1st June 2007 at 02:26 PM | #

When will estate agents learn that a good photo will sell a house. Send staff on photography courses and the results will show!

Posted by Martin P  on Sun 3rd June 2007 at 11:12 AM | #

Or, here’s an idea… get a PROFESSIONAL photographer to do it. If you’re hoping to get good shots using a snappy digi-cam or a Canon 450D with an in-built flash, you’ve got no hope.

You get what you pay for guys and sending estate agents on 2-day photography courses will do nothing!

Posted by Luke Sheppard  on Mon 28th April 2008 at 07:29 PM | #

I totally agree with the comments mad theres not point spending say £10,000 refurbishing your new falt/house then letting the agent in with his compact camera and making it look like a cow shead one probelm vendors have nothing to compare to so they appect the agents photography , I am a professional real estate photographer in anyone has property they required photographed in essex , herfordshire east angliea.

Posted by Victor Thomasson  on Wed 14th May 2008 at 09:34 AM | #

I agree there is no point spending money sending agents on a course when they still use a compact camera. What can they possibly learn other than, use a tripod, don’t use auto and take more than one angle?

My brother was an estate agency manager for some time and his agency dominated the local market. They used a professional photographer and it showed!

Now that the property market is getting tough and it’s no longer an order taking exercise agents and vendors will have to improve the marketing if they want to sell property fast.

Darron

Posted by Darron  on Fri 16th May 2008 at 08:04 PM | #

I have just started a letting agent & when ever I take internal photos of properties, other agents pics seem to make the room look larger & have more of the room on view. Is this a special camera or software.

Martyn

Posted by Martyn  on Wed 18th June 2008 at 03:25 PM | #

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