Estate agents & photography
Discussion
Are there any estate agents on here?
I am interested to know your views on using professional photography for your property particulars etc. I do a lot of work with estate agents and I have noticed that on the whole the photography they use when promoting properties is frankly dire (Out of focus, low resolution, poorly framed, no image correction, to dark, random subject matter, taken on a mobile rather than a SLR, house on a weird angle etc - usual happy snapper stuff).
Decent photography make a massive difference when presenting a property; so I am interested to know the reasons behind not using a professional photographer.
Is it solely a cost issue?
Do you you see any value in it?
Is it a convenience factor - why get someone to take the photos when the agent can do it at the sale time as the valuation? Just another thing to manage?
Is there a price point where you feel that using a professional photographer would be something you would consider?
Anything else that I havent thought of?
I am in the position to help a friend out with some photographic work and try to sell in a service to the agencies I work with, but before I approach them I wanted to get some ideas of what a typical agents concern might be when it comes to using a service like this - just so I can present a strong case.
Thanks for the time.
I am interested to know your views on using professional photography for your property particulars etc. I do a lot of work with estate agents and I have noticed that on the whole the photography they use when promoting properties is frankly dire (Out of focus, low resolution, poorly framed, no image correction, to dark, random subject matter, taken on a mobile rather than a SLR, house on a weird angle etc - usual happy snapper stuff).
Decent photography make a massive difference when presenting a property; so I am interested to know the reasons behind not using a professional photographer.
Is it solely a cost issue?
Do you you see any value in it?
Is it a convenience factor - why get someone to take the photos when the agent can do it at the sale time as the valuation? Just another thing to manage?
Is there a price point where you feel that using a professional photographer would be something you would consider?
Anything else that I havent thought of?
I am in the position to help a friend out with some photographic work and try to sell in a service to the agencies I work with, but before I approach them I wanted to get some ideas of what a typical agents concern might be when it comes to using a service like this - just so I can present a strong case.
Thanks for the time.
I know a bit about photography and I know a bit about estate agents, and I think that for normal houses selling professional photography is hopeless. Nobody cares about good pictures any more, now that everybody has a camera in their pocket and thinks nothing of pointing it in the general direction of the subjects, tapping the button, back to the office, straight onto the computer, straight onto the website, Rightmove etc.
Could have more luck with firms that make and sell kitchens etc, they need good pictures.
Could have more luck with firms that make and sell kitchens etc, they need good pictures.
I'm not an Estate Agent or a Photographer, but have been looking at houses and chatting to those that show me round so have some input: Estate Agents are getting squeezed on prices and rather than taking 1% of high priced houses, they are doing it for a fixed fee. That combined with some areas not having much to sell, means they are not making that much money.
I doubt they would want to pay for an outside photographer.
I doubt they would want to pay for an outside photographer.
Depends on the agent and area. Where I am professional photography wins me instructions and also has a huge impact on the number of times my properties are viewed on Rightmove etc.
I pay £150+VAT per house and that's a 24 hour turn around of about 15 shots.
If I didn't use professional photography I would lose instructions and sell less houses. Same goes for most the agents around this area - south Oxfordshire.
If I was selling 200k terraces I wouldn't be using a professional! The client doesn't expect it for the fee they're paying.
If you have an area of housing stock with decent average values, walk in to the independents and introduce yourself. Repeat this until you get a shot. Build a local portfolio and if you're good the larger agents will start to notice.
I pay £150+VAT per house and that's a 24 hour turn around of about 15 shots.
If I didn't use professional photography I would lose instructions and sell less houses. Same goes for most the agents around this area - south Oxfordshire.
If I was selling 200k terraces I wouldn't be using a professional! The client doesn't expect it for the fee they're paying.
If you have an area of housing stock with decent average values, walk in to the independents and introduce yourself. Repeat this until you get a shot. Build a local portfolio and if you're good the larger agents will start to notice.
I'm going to be selling a circa £200k refurbed terrace in spring by and I'm insistent my on a professional to take the shots, which I will then supply to the agent.
This will be to my cost but if a £200 photo shoot generated a sale of £200k, it's obviously a lot more beneficial for me to spend that than the agent out of his £1500 budget.
To be honest I'm also considering writing the blurb as well as doing any second viewings. All I want the agent to handle is first enquiries and to get it on rightmove.
This will be to my cost but if a £200 photo shoot generated a sale of £200k, it's obviously a lot more beneficial for me to spend that than the agent out of his £1500 budget.
To be honest I'm also considering writing the blurb as well as doing any second viewings. All I want the agent to handle is first enquiries and to get it on rightmove.
My local area's estate agents are woeful at photos and descriptions. There is maybe one that i would give a 7/10.
Only in the past year have a couple of them started putting floor plans in listings.
Whilst i'm waiting for my planning permission to be sorted out a relatively new estate agent in the area has a house that i was interested in. Listed before Christmas with 1 picture for viewings in January, and now were into January there are 5 pictures listed from a 3000sqft house with accomodation arranged over 3 floors. I cant even be arsed to call and arrange a viewing. I dont get why sellers put up with it.
Only in the past year have a couple of them started putting floor plans in listings.
Whilst i'm waiting for my planning permission to be sorted out a relatively new estate agent in the area has a house that i was interested in. Listed before Christmas with 1 picture for viewings in January, and now were into January there are 5 pictures listed from a 3000sqft house with accomodation arranged over 3 floors. I cant even be arsed to call and arrange a viewing. I dont get why sellers put up with it.
I honestly don't know how some estate agents get by... I've even viewed properties that have horrid photos; because I know that nobody will have arranged to view the place - and the seller is more likely to take a silly offer! A place I have up for sale now; I had to take with agent and tell him what angles / how to frame stuff - and I'm no photographer. I think professional shots... or at least, decent shots make a world of difference.
Saltyjohnson, Rangerover, FrankAbagnale- out of interest what is the average price point for the properties you sell? Just trying to establish whether its something that the agents I deal with would entertain or whether its worth me approaching agents that deal with the upper end property wise.
As a side note - if you didn't pay a professional photographer and had the photos done in house. Would you ever consider paying to have image correction done on the photos you had taken? Straightening images up, removing the pinch / bloat from using wide angle lenses, lightening pictures, adding warm glow to the interior shots, cutting in blue skies, making the grass greener etc?
As a side note - if you didn't pay a professional photographer and had the photos done in house. Would you ever consider paying to have image correction done on the photos you had taken? Straightening images up, removing the pinch / bloat from using wide angle lenses, lightening pictures, adding warm glow to the interior shots, cutting in blue skies, making the grass greener etc?
Edited by moustachebandit on Wednesday 25th January 11:38
Glad to see that agents & home owners understand the importance of good photography.
I am literally amazed at the sort of imagery some estate agents think is acceptable. Sadly in a few instances they also seem completely blind to the issue and dont see how decent photography can help their business or shift properties. I have sold a number of properties and in every instance I took the photos and gave them to the agent as the one they initially took wouldn't have been out of place on the pages of Gumtree!
Here is a question for the home owners who have taken their own photography or possibly sold a home on something like Purple bricks / Tepilo etc - would you pay a nominal charge to have you images "enhanced" so bright sunny skies added in, rooms lightened etc?
I am literally amazed at the sort of imagery some estate agents think is acceptable. Sadly in a few instances they also seem completely blind to the issue and dont see how decent photography can help their business or shift properties. I have sold a number of properties and in every instance I took the photos and gave them to the agent as the one they initially took wouldn't have been out of place on the pages of Gumtree!
Here is a question for the home owners who have taken their own photography or possibly sold a home on something like Purple bricks / Tepilo etc - would you pay a nominal charge to have you images "enhanced" so bright sunny skies added in, rooms lightened etc?
I think a quick photoshop touch up is ok; lighten / add contrast - I'm not sure changing the sky and the like wouldn't be a bit much.
I don't know what some estate agents think they are being paid for. Our last agent said it was an extra, to have professional shots taken.... this is on a place selling for £695,000. I would have thought pro shots would be included... after all; we all want it sold, right?
Most agents stick something on Rightmove and let the phone calls roll in; or so they hope.
I don't know what some estate agents think they are being paid for. Our last agent said it was an extra, to have professional shots taken.... this is on a place selling for £695,000. I would have thought pro shots would be included... after all; we all want it sold, right?
Most agents stick something on Rightmove and let the phone calls roll in; or so they hope.
Anything from about 500k up to £10m, the odd one of higher value. We have professional photography across the board on all houses. If a potential client is sat in their sprawling mansion looking at £500k investment properties, it's important that at the end of that process they still perceive us to offer a highly professional service.
I wouldn't use a service whereby photos are improved once I have taken them. It's time that is better spent selling houses and also I think there is an art to setting a shot - a skill I/my staff don't have and are happy to pay for.
I wouldn't use a service whereby photos are improved once I have taken them. It's time that is better spent selling houses and also I think there is an art to setting a shot - a skill I/my staff don't have and are happy to pay for.
Edited by FrankAbagnale on Wednesday 25th January 16:12
moustachebandit said:
Saltyjohnson, Rangerover, FrankAbagnale- out of interest what is the average price point for the properties you sell? Just trying to establish whether its something that the agents I deal with would entertain or whether its worth me approaching agents that deal with the upper end property wise.
As a side note - if you didn't pay a professional photographer and had the photos done in house. Would you ever consider paying to have image correction done on the photos you had taken? Straightening images up, removing the pinch / bloat from using wide angle lenses, lightening pictures, adding warm glow to the interior shots, cutting in blue skies, making the grass greener etc?
£1-2mAs a side note - if you didn't pay a professional photographer and had the photos done in house. Would you ever consider paying to have image correction done on the photos you had taken? Straightening images up, removing the pinch / bloat from using wide angle lenses, lightening pictures, adding warm glow to the interior shots, cutting in blue skies, making the grass greener etc?
Edited by moustachebandit on Wednesday 25th January 11:38
I would never consider anything less that a professional high quality shoot for anything I sell or let.
I saw a message today trying to sell me the service you mention.
It's not for me but there could be something in it for volume based agents in the uk.
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