How much should I spend for listing photos for a rental property?

General Landlording & Rental Properties
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How much should I spend for listing photos for a rental property?

Charles Jessup
Spring, TX · Member since 2016 · 23 posts · 2 votes

Hi biggerpockets, I'm a new landlord trying to put my first house up for rent.  What kind of pictures do you think I should use?  Do I need a $500 professional package, or can I just use my smartphone camera?

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Account Closed
Investor · Henderson, NC · Member since 2016 · 484 posts · 208 votes
10y

Unless you are in an area DESPERATE for tenants, or you have a bad property that is hard to rent, smart phone pics will be MORE THAN sufficient. 

Check out your competition on craigslist. 99% of the pictures are of poor quality and/or misleading. This includes listings by realtors and other professionals.

It's not hard to take pictures of a house.

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  • Allen Fletcher
    Investor · Colorado Springs, CO · Member since 2015 · 252 posts · 131 votes
    10y

    @Charles Jessup if you want to rent quickly then make sure that you spend enough to get a good photographer that can show the property in the best way. The best thing to do is find a friend that does photography as a hobby and has the equipment and knowledge necessary to get good pictures, pay them $50 to take professional grade pictures, and then to edit them for the best layout. You will probably find that $50 will be worth it because of the demand it will create.

    Good Luck,

    Allen Fletcher

    1Reply
  • Robert Melcher
    Residential Real Estate Broker · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2016 · 506 posts · 311 votes
    10y

    we get 40 useable a for $130

    0Reply
  • Russell BrazilBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Agent · Washington, D.C. · Member since 2012 · 17k+ posts · 30k+ votes
    10y

    I pay about $400 total for photographs and pamphlets.

    [email protected]301-893-4635Podcast Guest on Show #192
    District Invest Group545 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
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  • Eugene Kemp
    Ormond Beach , FL · Member since 2015 · 345 posts · 223 votes
    10y

    No more than $50.

    0Reply
  • Charlotte Trusty
    Ridgefield, WA · Member since 2016 · 11 posts · 4 votes
    10y

    I am a professional RE photographer. Don't use a buddy. Someone who photos families won't have the gear or experience to photo a home. Find someone in your area and pay the money to have it done right. You might spend around $100-$150.  If the unit is vacant, make sure to ask if you can use the images again and again - each time you list it - that way your money will go farther. You will also get nice exterior photos, maybe even of the surrounding neighborhood/street. The caliber of renters you will attract with pro-photos are going to be higher. It makes you look better as a landlord, too. win win. 

    1Reply
  • Jeff Gates
    Investor · Cathedral City, CA · Member since 2014 · 481 posts · 170 votes
    10y

    Good pictures do help. But set a budget for about $25-45. Consider that you will use the same pictures for the next three times the property is vacant.

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  • John Hickey
    Rental Property Investor · Chappaqua, NY · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 947 votes
    10y

    @Charles Jessup I agree with @Charlotte Trusty   

    To find the right photographer I usually  ask for a referral from a local real estate agent. With my house flip I knew my agent had the best of the best in photographers so it was a no brainier.

     With the rentals I have a little trick. I goto street easy and Zillow and I look at a bunch of ads.  Whatever broker has the best photographer I call up and give them the exclusive.  Making sure they have access to that photographer.  

    1Reply
  • Account Closed
    Investor · Henderson, NC · Member since 2016 · 484 posts · 208 votes
    10y

    Unless you are in an area DESPERATE for tenants, or you have a bad property that is hard to rent, smart phone pics will be MORE THAN sufficient. 

    Check out your competition on craigslist. 99% of the pictures are of poor quality and/or misleading. This includes listings by realtors and other professionals.

    It's not hard to take pictures of a house.

    3Reply
  • Charles Jessup
    OP
    Spring, TX · Member since 2016 · 23 posts · 2 votes
    10y

    Wow, this was a huge response! Thanks biggerpockets community for sharing your knowledge and experience.

    It’s obvious that people’s experiences differ a lot on this topic. This helped me get a ballpark idea of what other people are paying, so I appreciate everyone who responded.  I'm an analytical guy so I made a graph of what people said they would pay:

    Since 6/8 responses said to use a professional, I'm going to do that.  If anyone knows a good photographer in the north Houston area, let me know.  

    1Reply
  • Charlotte Trusty
    Ridgefield, WA · Member since 2016 · 11 posts · 4 votes
    10y

    @Account Closed why be like the other 99%? Wouldn't you want to stand out in the crowd? I'd like to see your photos! Here are mine so you can compare: http://www.houzz.com/pro/charlotte-trusty/trusty-r...

    For the record, it IS hard to photograph houses. It takes technical skill, education and training, a keen eye and a ton of gear and software. 

    0Reply
  • Account Closed
    Investor · Henderson, NC · Member since 2016 · 484 posts · 208 votes
    10y
    Originally posted by @Charlotte Trusty:

    @Account Closed why be like the other 99%? Wouldn't you want to stand out in the crowd?

    Depends on the area I guess. I have people begging for spaces. No reason to spend extra money on marketing when I have so many applicants beating at my door.

    0Reply
  • John Chapman
    Investor · Dallas, TX · Member since 2009 · 718 posts · 913 votes
    10y

    I drop about $80 for professional shot, though I don't do it for all of them.  (There is no question that they are much better than anything I could do.)  In my market, it is by no means necessary, but I like to have some professional shots because (1) it does drum up the rental demand even more; and (2) I like having them for my portfolio to show to bankers, partners, etc.  Showing money sources professional photographs of your recent projects definitely makes you stand out, in my opinion.

    2Reply
  • Charlotte Trusty
    Ridgefield, WA · Member since 2016 · 11 posts · 4 votes
    10y

    @Charles Jessup I did a quick search and this guy looks good, with great pricing. http://rockbait.com/

    Good luck!  :)

    0Reply
  • Sean Kuhn
    Minooka, IL · Member since 2013 · 353 posts · 85 votes
    10y
    I have always used my camera phone and turned the lights on and opened the blinds. There's no reason to hire someone
    2Reply
  • Dawn BrenengenBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Raleigh, NC · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10y

    @Charles Jessup I pay $170 for a professional to take photos of my sales listings.  I take my own rental listing photos, but I also have decent equipment a little bit of knowledge to be able to do so.  

    This is a rental listing (photos by me):

    http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2936-Golden-Oak-...

    This is a sales listing (photos by pro)

    http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/915-Chapanoke-Rd...

    Podcast Guest on Show #101
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  • Randall Jacobs
    Investor · Friendswood, TX · Member since 2016 · 88 posts · 51 votes
    10y

    Professional photos for a rental may be necessary in other markets, but I have been in the Houston market for over 10 years and never used anything more expensive than a cellphone picture. It's more about pricing and location. Get that right and you won't need any pictures at all. ☺

    Randy 

    1Reply
  • Johann Jells
    Rental Property Investor · Jersey City, NJ · Member since 2011 · 1k+ posts · 876 votes
    10y

    I have a photo and design background, and take them with a compact cam that has a wider than average lens. For most listings, you'd be FAR better off posting a ton of DIY pics and investing your money in someone doing a clear floor plan drawing. Too often photos can't convey the plan, and it eliminates a lot of showings to people for whom the layout is a problem. The one below I did, it's not to architectural spec, but it gives the needed info, particularly combined with the photos.

    0Reply
  • Trey Watson
    Investor · Phoenix, AZ · Member since 2015 · 191 posts · 152 votes
    10y

    rockbait.com- 100 bucks

    1Reply
  • Fred Heller
    Real Estate Agent/Property Management · Houston, TX · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 827 votes
    10y

    Don't waste your money on the pretty pictures. For every rental property I manage, I get by with cell phone pics. And I've never had a rental on the market more than a couple of weeks.

    Having said that, make sure the pics are nice. Don't take pics on a dark and cloudy day. Wait for a sunny day. Clean up any clutter, etc.

    I've seen some God-awful pics on MLS listings. Just ran across this one today....

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