When browsing Rightmove, what’s the first thing within the property listing that you look at? The description? The floor plan? I am guessing it’s probably the photographs of the property. As estate agents in Bishop’s Stortford, we speak to plenty of potential purchasers on a daily basis, and 99% of them tell us that they head straight for the photos when looking at a property listing online. A huge percentage don’t even read the description!
Can you believe that MOST estate agents in Bishop’s Stortford are not currently using professional photographs to market your properties? If buyers are judging your property by photos alone and you’re relying on your photographs to ensure you get enough viewings, how can you afford NOT to have the best possible photos, taken by a professional photographer when selling your home?
The other day I was speaking to Stephen Brown, estate agent trainer and coach (www.sjbconsultancy.co.uk) and he told me a very sad tale. It’s the story of a home owner, just like you and their struggle to sell their property. Here it is (thank you Stephen for allowing me to share!):
“The vendor had future plans that meant they needed to sell within a specific time frame, a month. The agent contracted promised they could deliver a sale within a month and the property was quickly on the market. Very poor and distorted photographs were taken, that it had a truly negative impression of what actually was a decent property.
As we are all very much aware virtually all buyers start their search online. So the photographs give the first impression of the property to potential buyers. The photos are, whether you like it or not, crucial to the decision on whether to view a property or not.
Two stressful months later the property was still on the market and had not had one single viewing. The price was not the issue, as it was very competitive and reflective of the market, but the photos just put buyers off. That was until a few weeks later a gentleman decided to take a risk and view the property. He couldn’t believe his luck when he saw the condition and size of the home, and swiftly made a cheeky offer, which unfortunately the vendors were compelled to accept. Their plans had been delayed that it was costing them daily, and the stress had been too much. They had, had no viewings and were desperate to start their new life.”
So what can you do to ensure that this isn’t you?
- Do your research – have a look at the estate agent’s existing photos on their property listings to see what sort of quality you can expect (for example, have a look at ours at www.personalpropertyshop.co.uk/propertysearch) . Do they look like a professional photographer has taken them? If yes, then that’s a good start.
- Ask if they use professional photography – pick an estate agent that uses a professional photographer, it shows they’re willing to spend that little bit more on your marketing and make sure you get the best possible price, in the shortest possible time frame.
- Get recommendations – word of mouth speaks volumes, so ask your friends and family, which estate agent did they use to sell their property? What were the quality of the photographs like?
All this is why we (and some other top estate agents we know) ensure we use professional photography when marketing your property. A picture speaks a thousand words, so make sure yours are professional and show off your property at its best. It’ll pay off when you get a great offer on your property and get that little bit extra from your sale.
Here’s an example of the contrast between good and bad property photos.
A property that was on the market for 9 months with another estate agent:
Our photo used, and we sold the property in just 5 days!
Is your property currently on the market? Want a free review of your property photos? Then drop me an email at angela@thepersonalpropertyshop.co.uk and I’ll give you an honest opinion on your current photos.
What to read next? ‘7 ways to achieve the best price when you sell’