The importance of photos in real estate listings

A listing works first by drawing the eye. At a glance, the photos of your property should make potential buyers want to find out more. If a picture is worth a thousand words, imagine how much information a whole album can convey.

As a seller, you only have a few seconds to capture someone’s attention. How do you stand out among all those listings? How do you get the buyer to click? By using superior photos, you’ll be stacking the odds in your favour.

Here are a few tips to create a photo album that will draw people to your listing.

Contents:

• Real estate: Photo quality above all
• Flawless front view
• Savvy order of presentation
• How many photos?
• Pitfalls to avoid

Real estate: Photo quality above all

Don’t underestimate the power of the camera when putting your apartment or hobby farm up for sale. What photos do is help potential buyers picture themselves in the space and imagine living there.  Photos appeal to people’s emotional side, while the description in the listing is for the more rational side.

There is no question that, to get quality pics, a real estate photo professional is recommended. These pros know how to showcase the various living spaces in your home by optimizing colour, lighting and framing, while making sure the results are true to life.

High dynamic range (HDR) technology is preferred by DuProprio because it makes it possible to achieve all the above goals. HDR involves combining a series of photographs taken with varying exposure lengths. This captures all the light data in a room to show it in the best possible way.

Professional-quality photos help potential buyers clearly visualize your home even before they set foot in it. And when you add a 3D virtual tour¹ the buyer can even move around from one room to another. Together, these tools will help maximize your visibility and avoid unnecessary home visits.

Flawless front view

The front view photo must show your home in its entirety. To ensure the eye is drawn only to the building, make sure the landscaping is well-maintained, regardless of the season. Take everything off the balconies and stairways, remove garbage bins and any cars parked in front of the building.

In winter, make sure the entrance is well cleared. “If necessary, remove snow from the roof and windows to let in as much light as possible and also prevent water infiltration and property damage,” advised Martin Desfossés, real estate coach at DuProprio.

Savvy order of presentation

Since you don’t have much time to capture attention, the first photo that shows up in the search engine must attract attention and show the property at its best. Even in winter, feel free to use a house front picture taken in summer if the vegetation adds appeal to your home.

Then, put the best photos at the start of your album. Make sure the major points of interest are visible. You can also place photos in an order mimicking a visit: for instance, starting with the entrance and ground floor, and ending with the upper storeys and backyard.

How many photos?

“You might think a two-bedroom condo doesn’t need as many photos as a single-family home, but just because a property is smaller doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve to be shown from varied angles and viewpoints,” pointed out Martin Desfossés.

At DuProprio, the number of photos to include in your listing depends on the package you select.  Eight photos is the starting point to show the essentials. So, you’ll want to prioritize the front view and main rooms like the kitchen, bathroom and living room. If your package includes more photos (you can even select unlimited photos), present all the secondary rooms along with the yard or patio.

Bonus tips for great real estate photos

• Keep it bright: Choose a sunny day, open the windows, turn on the lights.
• Make it spic and span: Clean up and put away anything that may be lying around.
• Focus on highlights: Bring out your home’s best features, like a hardwood floor or a newly renovated room.
• Use representative pics: If some major rooms are not included in the photos, buyers may be suspicious about why.
• Technical tips: Photos must be taken from eye level, in horizontal format and with a wide angle, to create a roomy feel.
• A little extra: Adding a floor plan is often appreciated.

Pitfalls to avoid

In addition to these good practices to follow when taking photos for your listing, here are a few things to avoid:

• Filters and retouched photos
• Dark, blurry or unlevel photos
• Dirty, messy or cluttered rooms
• Overly personal decor (have you considered home staging to enhance the beauty and value of your home?)
• Not enough photos (one photo does not give people an idea of what the property is like and, in fact, may arouse suspicion)
• Too many photos (you want to make people curious, not show every detail of every room)

Photos to make someone fall in love

You now know how important photos are in a real estate listing. You understand that an impression is made in a matter of seconds. A professional album supported by a well-written description is the perfect combo to tempt potential buyers. Give yourself the best chances of selling by making people feel like seeing the place.

Don’t wait! Stand out by having the best photos in Quebec’s real estate industry!² Every DuProprio package includes a photo shoot during your initial appointment. For more information, watch our webinar now.