What Message Do Your Real Estate Photos Send to Potential Buyers?

Imagine browsing the properties for sale in your neighborhood, such as Nashville, Spring Hill, or Franklin, when you come across one with some rather bad pictures.

It’s difficult to see anything in the room since it’s a little gloomy inside, and the windows can be primarily white because it’s so bright outside. 

The house is shown in a lived-in state, so while it’s not spotless, it resembles a typical family home with a few toys and papers scattered about the living room, a slightly messy kitchen, and noticeably disorganized beds.

What Impression Does Those Real Estate Photos Create on You?

With poor real estate photos, the seller or real estate agent communicates how they are as sellers.

If you compare listing prices to similar properties currently on the market, do you think the realtor is asking a little too much for a house with that level of presentation?

Would you rush to the agent if you were a buyer, anxious to check through before someone else snatches it up?

Or, if nothing else works out, do you believe you have plenty of time to complete it?

Do you think you would offer a low price because you believe the seller has low expectations when it comes to your offer on the home, or would you want to offer your highest reasonable price?

Those poor real estate pictures can lead you to believe that the seller would likely accept a lower price because the real estate agent trying to sell the house thinks it doesn’t need professional photography.

Consider Yourself a Buyer: How Would a Buyer Think?

It would be helpful to think about the photographs that will be used in a real estate marketing campaign from the perspective of a buyer and all the subtle messages that a buyer takes up when browsing the photos online.

The real estate agent, though, must also take into account what such images communicate about them and their work:

1. Do poor real estate pictures make a home appear of good value compared to other houses on the market?

2. Do mediocre real estate photographs motivate consumers to act quickly before the property is gone?

3. Do unprofessional real estate images convey the idea that the agent selling the home is the most experienced and skilled in that area?

To each of those questions, most people would typically respond “no.” Poor real estate photographs don’t give any value, but realtors don’t take unprofessional images to get a lower asking price or to avoid looking professional.

Most real estate professionals who use poor photos do so because they cannot distinguish between good and bad photography. If the real estate agent wants to learn more about what makes a great real estate photo, it’s not something to be ashamed of.

Ask an Expert in Your Local Area

Speak with your local Nashville real estate photographer if you want to understand more about the distinction between excellent and poor photographs, but make sure they are good because not all photographers are the same.

Real Estate Photographer Pro is a Nashville real estate photographer that can help you with professional real estate photos and videos. Just send us a message if you would like to work with us.