It is not easy to prepare a property for sale. It is typically the reason why most homeowners hire a real estate agent to assist them. Staging, photography, videography, marketing, negotiation, and paperwork can all be handled by real estate agents. As a Real Estate Agent, it may be tempting to consider taking photos of your new listing on your own, especially since modern cell phones produce stunning images. Many mobile devices are capable of shooting in 4K resolution, delivering HDR (High Dynamic Range), and even taking 360-degree panoramic photos. Despite technological advancements, there are a few reasons why professional real estate photography for each new listing is still more cost-effective for real estate agents.
1. Most homeowners anticipate that their real estate agent will hire a professional photographer to photograph their property
When a homeowner sees their real estate agent arrives and shoot some quick photos with their personal mobile phone, the Real Estate Agent may appear cheap, unprofessional, and unwilling to cover the cost of professional real estate photography. Shooting with your DSLR camera will not make you look more professional. Impressions are everything, and you don’t want to come across as too cheap to hire a great photographer.
2. Hiring a professional real estate videographer is an excellent way to promote your business
Consider each new listing as a source of leverage to help you grow and promote your brand. There are numerous creative ways for real estate agents to highlight a listing by adding a personal touch today. Employ the services of a videography company that can mic you up. They will advise you on what to say to entice viewers to view the listing. Producing a high-quality video is worth the extra cost because it attracts more attention and increases brand awareness. Take a look at this fantastic example.
3. The asset is time
Time is of the essence, and how you use it as a real estate agent is critical to your overall success. Consider each hour you work during the day to have a monetary value. For example, if your goal is to earn $500,000 in a calendar year, your hourly rate must be at least $250 per hour. Keeping this in mind, the expense of hiring a professional photographer is justified. You could, of course, purchase your own drone or camera. However, it is preferable to devote your time to more productive tasks that will help you grow and attract more clients.
4. Avoid adding to your liability
Always outsource key roles to professionals as much as possible. Whether it’s staging, cleaning, photography, videography, or moving, you should never attempt these tasks on your own. Sure, buying that new drone to take aerial photos of the property surrounding your new listing may appear to give you a competitive advantage, but what about the liability? Do you have a Transport Canada SFOC (special flight operating certificate)? What about the coverage? Don’t fall into the trap of attempting to cut costs on items that may increase your liability.
5. Make a name for yourself as an amazing real estate agent
The effort put into getting the property on the market and selling quickly is how most sellers judge the quality of their real estate agent. Hiring a professional photographer and videographer who understands how to capture a property from the best angles, in the best lighting, and with the best editing to make it stand out is well worth the investment. Not only will your clients be pleased that you hired a company with a good reputation, but you also have the opportunity to provide them with some of the best images of their property they have ever seen. To give to the homeowner as a keepsake, you can create a photo book from the professional photos from the photoshoot. Add some subtle branding, and you’ll always know when someone is looking at your book.
It’s not always easy to find a professional real estate photography company that specializes in video, aerial, and quality. OTBx Air brings together a talented team to help you save time while delivering exceptional quality.
