The reason professionals are hired to take these images is because first impressions are so important, and it is not an easy task to take flattering images of a building. There could be small potential issues with the building such as a lack of natural lighting, faded lawn or a missing brick. It will be the job of a professional real estate photographer to take an exterior image that shows the property in its best light, so to speak.

This article will take a look at some of the most important things you can do to enhance the appearance of properties in images. Usually, it is as simple as maintaining a clean look!

Being tidy is crucial

If you are preparing to take a winning shot of a property, you want to make sure that the exterior is free of trash and any kind of mess. Naturally, if there are current tenants willing to sell the property, they will likely do a good job of clearing up after pets, children or any other reasons why their front yard could be less than picture-perfect.

Other things you can do to help draw attention to the property and away from other objects include:

• Moving cars away from the property. Not only will they obstruct the view of the home, they will simply be a distraction to people looking at your photo. You want prospective buyers to be able to appreciate the entire structure including driveway and garage space.
• Consider the state of the lawn. Is it faded due to sunlight or covered in leaves? Does it need a cut in order to help the home look more put-together? It is always possible to ask the current owners if they are able to help you make the lawn look presentable for your exterior image.
• Check for any toys on the ground. It is possible that you might not notice a stray dog chew or child’s toy until you have taken your photo and left the site. Ensure the ground is completely free of distractions so that your potential customers can appreciate the beauty of the property!
• Close windows and garage doors. It simply looks a little untidy to take an image with a couple of windows open! It makes the outside of the property look less uniform. These are small details, but could be crucial to piquing the interest of your website visitors.

Showcase special features

Does the home show off some beautiful brickwork or a smartly-designed front gate? If there are any impressive pieces of design around the home, they give you a great starting point for your photos.

Other examples could include a striking front door or roof designed from a peculiar material. Swimming pools or other interesting architectural features also count. Anything that separates your property from images of others is a great idea to include in your exterior hero shot.

Something that can help you show the home’s features in a better light, quite literally, is the time of day you take the image. See also, the time of year!

Taking photos of properties in the spring is often the way to go since plants and trees are in full bloom and the weather is usually pleasant. A moderately sunny day will always make for a nicer image than a snowy mess or singed, dehydrated grass.

In terms of the time of day, this can depend on which way the property faces. You want to avoid long evening shadows created by either yourself or the property, but you also need to make sure the sun is hitting the front of the home to ‘illuminate’ the scene.

Work on your angles

Sometimes, you might not be able to get the right photo by just standing in front of the property. If it is a particularly large or impressive place, you might want to consider using a ladder or even a drone to get an incredible image!

If you use a tripod, you will already know how to set this up for the perfect angle. You want to avoid any shrubbery between yourself and the property, finding an angle that gives you the clearest view possible.

After all, the people that view your image will be chiefly interested in how the property looks and no other factors.

The post Exterior Real Estate Photography appeared first on COLDEA Productions, LLC.

Videos are not only effective marketing machines; they’re also great for listing, branding, and more. There are many ways that you can use videos in your real estate business and so many reasons why you should be doing it.

Videos Are Effective

There are crazy statistics about the effectiveness of video in marketing. For instance, 84% of people have purchased after watching a video, and 82% of marketers plan to increase their video budgets. Beyond that, videos shared on social media generate 1,200% more shares than images and text posts combined. Additionally, marketing professionals who use video increase their revenue 49% quicker than marketers who don’t.

That’s a whole lot of numbers, but here’s the nitty-gritty of it. People who specialize in marketing are increasing their budgets in the video because they see more sales and more shares because of videos. As a person in the real estate market, having your listings get 1,200% more shares on social media could be a game-changer. If more people buy once they see a video, having a video listing could increase your chances of finding the right buyer.

Marketing stats aside, the video has other advantages. For one, you aren’t limited to just twenty-five photos to sell a home. Instead, you have an entire video length to show every piece of a house. Secondly, people remember videos. They only remember 20% of what they hear, 30% of what they see, but 70% of what they see and hear. Finally, videos are still relatively new to the real estate market. Choosing to use videos will give you an added advantage in serving your market.

Videos help build trust, and by choosing to incorporate them into your online presence, buyers in your market will come to trust you as the go-to source, here are 100 video marketing stats you need to know in 2020.

How to Use Videos

There are several different ways to use videos in your real estate business. You aren’t just limited to listing videos. Let’s take a look at all the various ways you can integrate videos.

Listing Videos: A video walkthrough of a house is a powerful visual tool for a potential buyer. Buying a home is an emotional purchase. Giving people the ability to see the house before they drop by can help them fall in love with the home before you’ve even shown it to them. Conversely, it will eliminate all the times that people love the pictures online but are disappointed in the actual state of things.

Testimonial Videos: Nothing speaks more for you than your past happy clients. Creating a video full of your customers singing your praises is much more impactful than stagnant words on a website. Right after you’ve sold a home, make a quick video with your happy customers. You can post these on your website or social media accounts.

Agent Profile: This is a video about the agent. If you’re an agent, it’s a time for you to be authentic and sell yourself. Help your customers get to know you. Videos help humanize you in a way that those park benches and billboards just can’t. If you have a full staff of agents, it’s important to create a profile for each of them. You can display this on your company’s team page.

Neighborhood Videos: Most realtors think to do listing videos, but what about a neighborhood walkthrough? When you’re working to sell a property, a video highlighting the neighborhood can go a long way. Think about restaurants, parks, local businesses, or schools in the area. Bonus points if you can get the actual neighbors involved.

Informational Videos: Shooting a quick video to give your potential customers some free information is an excellent way to show them who you are. Some examples would be: home buying or selling tips, financing advice, or DIY and home improvement tips. Sharing these videos will help establish yourself as the trusted realtor in the community. If you’re posting helpful, non-promotional videos regularly, people will trust your voice, and be happy to watch your promotional videos, too.

Live Stream Open Houses: You can do live streams for many things. For example, you can have a real-time question and answer session about a property or showcase neighborhoods while you’re on your way to a listing. However, one of the most powerful ways to utilize live steams is for open houses. You get the opportunity to walk people through the property, highlighting the best parts, while taking questions in real-time.

Start Using Videos Today

There are several clear advantages to utilizing the power of video in your real estate business. However, you might be concerned with logistics. How can you make videos? With technology, you can literally flip your phone around and start recording.

Obviously, there’s some merit in hiring qualified videographers for listings and neighborhood videos. However, if you can’t afford the expense, don’t let it be an excuse. Any video is better than no video. Save up your budget for those luxury properties and hire a videographer then or when you can.

There’s no reason to not capitalize on this powerful tool. Video is the future of real estate marketing, and you don’t want to be left behind. 

Corey Tyner is a writer and business owner who helps sell your house fast. He is the founder of Cash land buyers Arizona and Austin Fast Sell Home Buyers. As one of the top real estate investors in Arizona with over a decade of experience, his work has been featured on Bigger Pockets, Real Estate Agent Magazine, and several other mainstream real estate investor publications.

The post The Importance of Video in Today’s Real Estate Market appeared first on COLDEA Productions, LLC.