Comments on: Realtor’s Guide to Using Photos in Real Estate Marketing http://photographyforrealestate.net/2009/06/15/realtors-guide-to-using-photos-in-real-estate-marketing/ Helping Real Estate Photographers Be Successful Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:35:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Realtor’s Guide to Using Photos. | Tenafly New Jersey Real Estate http://photographyforrealestate.net/2009/06/15/realtors-guide-to-using-photos-in-real-estate-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-44776 Realtor’s Guide to Using Photos. | Tenafly New Jersey Real Estate Tue, 27 Sep 2011 17:54:24 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/?p=2042#comment-44776 [...] First post [...] [...] First post [...]

]]> By: larry http://photographyforrealestate.net/2009/06/15/realtors-guide-to-using-photos-in-real-estate-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-19145 larry Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:45:02 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/?p=2042#comment-19145 @Mark- I've been a Realtor in the Seattle area for 10+ years and in that market the listing agent must spend money up front to get a listing sold. Just like any other business, you have to spend money to make money. A large percentage of top agents in the Seattle area that have been in business for more than just a few years routinely pay from $200 to $600 an over for top quality marketing photography. @Mark- I’ve been a Realtor in the Seattle area for 10+ years and in that market the listing agent must spend money up front to get a listing sold. Just like any other business, you have to spend money to make money.

A large percentage of top agents in the Seattle area that have been in business for more than just a few years routinely pay from $200 to $600 an over for top quality marketing photography.

]]> By: Mark http://photographyforrealestate.net/2009/06/15/realtors-guide-to-using-photos-in-real-estate-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-19144 Mark Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:22:54 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/?p=2042#comment-19144 It's a simple formula: RE agents ONLY get paid on commission, after the sale. They're not willing to pay high sums of money for services BEFORE they get paid. Consequently, RE agents are only willing to pay $39 +/- for photography. Unfortunately, I know this first-hand as a Realtor and a photographer. It’s a simple formula: RE agents ONLY get paid on commission, after the sale. They’re not willing to pay high sums of money for services BEFORE they get paid. Consequently, RE agents are only willing to pay $39 +/- for photography. Unfortunately, I know this first-hand as a Realtor and a photographer.

]]> By: larry http://photographyforrealestate.net/2009/06/15/realtors-guide-to-using-photos-in-real-estate-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-17843 larry Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:53:54 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/?p=2042#comment-17843 Karl- You raise a good point. It's hard to prove that increased quality is worth the extra cost and to an agent barely making ends meet good enough is a necessity. While working on the update to my Business of Real Estate Photography book I ran into some stats from a 2004 NAR study that "The median income for agents that have been in real estate for 2 years or less in 2004 was $13,000/yr". At the same time the Top 6% of agents were making $250,000/yr and over. I think this huge spread in income explains a lot about the big spread in attitude about marketing. Karl- You raise a good point. It’s hard to prove that increased quality is worth the extra cost and to an agent barely making ends meet good enough is a necessity.

While working on the update to my Business of Real Estate Photography book I ran into some stats from a 2004 NAR study that “The median income for agents that have been in real estate for 2 years or less in 2004 was $13,000/yr”. At the same time the Top 6% of agents were making $250,000/yr and over. I think this huge spread in income explains a lot about the big spread in attitude about marketing.

]]> By: Karl Hoelscher http://photographyforrealestate.net/2009/06/15/realtors-guide-to-using-photos-in-real-estate-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-17841 Karl Hoelscher Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:34:21 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/?p=2042#comment-17841 Thx Larrry - good idea. I do want to make one comment that you made in your insights "The majority of Realtors don’t have a clue what good real estate marketing photos look like or what makes a good marketing photo. They need to be educated. They aren’t dumb, they just are not visually sophisticated enough to know what looks good and what doesn’t in a marketing photo." I am sure this is true in many cases, unfortunately, it is also true that many agents obviously know the difference between good and bad photos, and quite simply, don't really care. The answer with them is all the same 'I'm happy with them they are good enough' Unfortunately as well, there is no 'hard data' that can be shown that suggests a property with good photography sells faster than that with bad photography. And I suppose when it comes down to time and expense, 'Good Enough' seems to to win the majority of the time... Thx Larrry – good idea. I do want to make one comment that you made in your insights

“The majority of Realtors don’t have a clue what good real estate marketing photos look like or what makes a good marketing photo. They need to be educated. They aren’t dumb, they just are not visually sophisticated enough to know what looks good and what doesn’t in a marketing photo.”

I am sure this is true in many cases, unfortunately, it is also true that many agents obviously know the difference between good and bad photos, and quite simply, don’t really care. The answer with them is all the same ‘I’m happy with them they are good enough’

Unfortunately as well, there is no ‘hard data’ that can be shown that suggests a property with good photography sells faster than that with bad photography. And I suppose when it comes down to time and expense, ‘Good Enough’ seems to to win the majority of the time…

]]> By: ScottD http://photographyforrealestate.net/2009/06/15/realtors-guide-to-using-photos-in-real-estate-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-17736 ScottD Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:40:13 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/?p=2042#comment-17736 Larry, my mom just pointed me to this article which discusses this topic from a realtor's POV... http://www.thestate.com/home-garden/story/821786.html Larry, my mom just pointed me to this article which discusses this topic from a realtor’s POV…

http://www.thestate.com/home-garden/story/821786.html

]]> By: Claire http://photographyforrealestate.net/2009/06/15/realtors-guide-to-using-photos-in-real-estate-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-17662 Claire Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:11:08 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/?p=2042#comment-17662 I am a licensed realtor and assistant for one of the top selling agents in my area. I take photos of his listings and use these for web marketing, virtual tours and printable brochures, and make sure that they are clear and well lit photographs with minmimal post processing. You have to be realistic about real estate photography, the majority of homes and photos do not look like the ones displayed on this site or the flickr group. I have learned to take the best photo in the most efficient way as possible, moving quickly through the home. Agents cannot afford to pay you much for your time. There are a few agents that still use virtual tour company photographers but not many in this market. You do need a DSLR camera with an external flash for this to work best. Most agents do not know what a DSLR camera is, or a wide angle lens for that matter. They are still using point and shoots, and the results are really bad shots of the front and back, over exposed windows, dark rooms, and lots of digital noise. They then upload about 30 of these really horrific photos to MLS.. So this is the audience that you need to direct your guide to. Hope this helps..Claire I am a licensed realtor and assistant for one of the top selling agents in my area. I take photos of his listings and use these for web marketing, virtual tours and printable brochures, and make sure that they are clear and well lit photographs with minmimal post processing.

You have to be realistic about real estate photography, the majority of homes and photos do not look like the ones displayed on this site or the flickr group.

I have learned to take the best photo in the most efficient way as possible, moving quickly through the home. Agents cannot afford to pay you much for your time. There are a few agents that still use virtual tour company photographers but not many in this market.

You do need a DSLR camera with an external flash for this to work best. Most agents do not know what a DSLR camera is, or a wide angle lens for that matter. They are still using point and shoots, and the results are really bad shots of the front and back, over exposed windows, dark rooms, and lots of digital noise. They then upload about 30 of these really horrific photos to MLS..

So this is the audience that you need to direct your guide to.

Hope this helps..Claire

]]> By: Kyle Eastland http://photographyforrealestate.net/2009/06/15/realtors-guide-to-using-photos-in-real-estate-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-17633 Kyle Eastland Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:47:25 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/?p=2042#comment-17633 I'm an agent, who loves an appreciates good photography but just haven't learned enough yet as far as working in post, extra lightning, etc. Also, my city doesn't necessarily need or supports the outstanding photography I see on PFRE, but I have seen a big increase in the amount of agents using wider angles. Agents around here still take horrific pics (I have seen Polaroids!) and its mostly such basic things as terrible angles, not turning on the lights, not moving objects out of the way. I do my best but have a long way to go, but compared to the majority of MLS photos I see, my pics stand out. My point is, while you are still writing your Realtors guide, you may need some section where you COMPLETELY dumb it down. I would guess most of our agents don't know what verticles are, maybe not even a wide angle lens. I mean, if they won't even turn on the lights, how much can they really care about great real estate photography, you know? I’m an agent, who loves an appreciates good photography but just haven’t learned enough yet as far as working in post, extra lightning, etc. Also, my city doesn’t necessarily need or supports the outstanding photography I see on PFRE, but I have seen a big increase in the amount of agents using wider angles.

Agents around here still take horrific pics (I have seen Polaroids!) and its mostly such basic things as terrible angles, not turning on the lights, not moving objects out of the way. I do my best but have a long way to go, but compared to the majority of MLS photos I see, my pics stand out.

My point is, while you are still writing your Realtors guide, you may need some section where you COMPLETELY dumb it down. I would guess most of our agents don’t know what verticles are, maybe not even a wide angle lens. I mean, if they won’t even turn on the lights, how much can they really care about great real estate photography, you know?

]]> By: Mike Martin http://photographyforrealestate.net/2009/06/15/realtors-guide-to-using-photos-in-real-estate-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-17543 Mike Martin Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:59:26 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/?p=2042#comment-17543 Larry, You paint a bleak picture of how RE works. One in which the running companies doesn’t care about the success or failure of their employees (agents). There must be some reason why an agent chooses to be a CBBain or Windermere or John L Scott, etc. So, if they (the companies) aren’t involved in their agent’s sales success, what do you think it is? Agencies/brokers get a cut on sales. They must have some interest. They control the websites and their photo viewers. In short, you can’t expect a used car salesman to purchase good photography if their car dealership won’t help them properly show the car. Only the very extraodinary will find a way to do so. Larry,
You paint a bleak picture of how RE works. One in which the running companies doesn’t care about the success or failure of their employees (agents). There must be some reason why an agent chooses to be a CBBain or Windermere or John L Scott, etc. So, if they (the companies) aren’t involved in their agent’s sales success, what do you think it is? Agencies/brokers get a cut on sales. They must have some interest. They control the websites and their photo viewers.
In short, you can’t expect a used car salesman to purchase good photography if their car dealership won’t help them properly show the car. Only the very extraodinary will find a way to do so.

]]> By: michael belt http://photographyforrealestate.net/2009/06/15/realtors-guide-to-using-photos-in-real-estate-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-17535 michael belt Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:13:55 +0000 http://photographyforrealestate.net/?p=2042#comment-17535 Hi, I'm an aerial photographer - using a digital camera in a 60- ft mast in the San Diego area. This article is music to my ears because the idea of large scale use of aerial photography is slow to catch on with realtors here in this area... However, getting custom aerial will be as common as the need to have a cell phone - they just don't know it yet... This recession as forced everyone and every industry to do paradigm shifts. When they learn that they can get quality photos at low cost - they will take a second look... Hi, I’m an aerial photographer – using a digital camera in a 60- ft mast in the San Diego area. This article is music to my ears because the idea of large scale use of aerial photography is slow to catch on with realtors here in this area… However, getting custom aerial will be as common as the need to have a cell phone – they just don’t know it yet… This recession as forced everyone and every industry to do paradigm shifts. When they learn that they can get quality photos at low cost – they will take a second look…

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