Tips for Relators to Use Photo Galleries

If you’re in the business of selling homes and property then using photo galleries should be a standard part of your practice. But, having good images and optimizing web photo albums to your advantage is a skill that takes a little more work. In today’s market most people spend a significant amount of time researching potential homes before they decide where to actually visit. If you don’t make a good impression with your pictures than you’ll never see those potential buyers walking into your open house. Here are three tips to get you started;

1. Lighting – Nothing is worse than dimly lit pictures full of shadows. Not only will they make the house appear older than it is, they’re very unattractive. Open all the windows to let in as much natural light as possible. Shoot each room from several different angles. Also take shots that show how the house flows from one room to the next. 
2. Staging – An empty house? No! If at all possible take pictures that show the house with items in it. Having an empty room is difficult for people to envision how they will live in the room. It also is very hard to judge size and proportions even if you provide measurements. People want to be able to see how they will live in the home – use images to help them do this. 
3. Living – Many pictures of properties do not show people. There are plenty of arguments for and against this. But, consider including some everyday living shots like kids playing in the backyard, cooking in the kitchen, etc. This goes back to the idea of showing people how they will be able to fit themselves and their life into the house. 
4. Professionals – If you don’t have a good camera or aren’t the best photographer, investing in a professional to come and take images can be a great way to not only get good pictures but network. Word of mouth advertising is still critical and working with other people in your communities’ business network is a great way to spread the word about your services. You may even be able to work out some type of a barter system so no money actually ever has to change hands. 
5. Be Creative – Put yourself in the shoes of a home buyer. They’ve likely looked at dozens if not hundreds of listings, many of which are identical and follow the same “script”. It can be tempting to do the same thing but be creative! You’ll make your listings stand out and likely pique the interest of buyers. If you can get them to an open house and through the door you can use your charm to make the home appeal to them. 

There are many ways for today’s realtors to use technology in capturing sales. It takes time, creativity, and effort but by using web photo albums to showcase your properties you will be on your way to finalizing the sale!