How much do professional pictures matter?

Question

The realtor I am working with did not use professional pictures to market my duplex rents property that I am selling. I wonder how much do pictures affect the sale of the property? Should I look into taking professional pictures?

Patrick Drury · Answer

@Ben M.I highly recommend you get professional photos done

Joel Allen · Answer

I agree with @Patrick Drury, and the data backs it up.  Professional pictures cost a few hundred bucks, but the ROI is well worth it.  A 2018 study by the Center for Realtor Development found:

- Homes with high quality photography sold 32 percent faster.

-  Homes with one photo spends an average 70 days on the market, but a home with 20 photos spends 32 days on the market.

- Homes in the $200,000 to $1 million range which feature professional photos sell for $3,000 - $11,000 more.

Source:

https://www.rismedia.com/2018/...

Brad S. · Answer

I agree with what everyone else has stated, that professional "looking" photos are important. Now, that doesn't necessarily mean they have to be taken by a professional, but typically they would be and it is not that expensive. I have a current listing where my Seller's were just charged $330 for around 32 pro pics. Also, since my sellers opted not to do actual staging, due to the extra cost, I had a few of the pro photos "virtually staged." In my opinion, that is going to make a huge difference, since the most important objective is to get prospective buyers to physically go see the house and one way to do that is to get them excited about seeing them living in a space, furnished and decorated, etc.  See an example below and ask yourself if the pics "feel" different to you.

**I guess I should credit to where these photos came from - these are not mine or of my listing, I found them on qblends.com. This is not an endorsement for them, just a site I found photos to post as an example.** There are many other sites and services that do this.

Nathan Gesner · Answer

Professional photos can help, but do you really need them? In a hot market, they are less important. I like to take 360 videos when marketing property, but the rental market has been so hot that I haven't shot a 360 video in over a year.

Look at a lot of real estate and you'll quickly learn the photos often make a property look better than it really is. They take pictures at angles designed to hide flaws. They use cameras that balance the light to make a space appear brighter than it is. It's often deceptive, just like so many magazine models. I take good photos with my phone camera, for sales and rentals, and my properties perform just as well as those with professional photos.

Below is one of the most egregious examples. There is no photoshop manipulation, but they took an angle that hides the giant water tower, the power lines, the ugly bushes, the neighboring houses, etc.

Kathleen Osborne · Answer

Professional pictures help you stand out among the competition. It is $125 - $200 well spent.

Theresa Harris · Answer

With most people looking online first, good photos are really important.  Making sure the house shows well in the photos and in person is also important (light, airy, clean....toilet seat DOWN!). Who takes them doesn't really matter.

Diana Dorantes · Answer

@Ben M.  I will say they do matter.  When I'm looking to buy, I'm looking for poor quality of pictures in MLS, then I drive buy, if I like the area then I'll go see.   I can usually get it for less since others see the not so nice pictures and don't even bother to offer or even go look at it.   In other words get professional pictures.

Robert Ruschak · Answer

A  realtor will hire a professional photographer to maximize results and draw ✍️ more attention to a property!

How much do professional pictures matter?

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