Before delving into the case studies, it’s essential to understand the importance of photography in real estate. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) states that 85% of homeowners consider the photos the most important component of a property’s online evaluation.
Listings that have professional images receive over 118% more views online and have a faster sell than those that have low quality images.
Conversely, poor photography can be attributed to amateur equipment, lack of preparation, or poor editing, all of which can dissuade potential buyers from purchasing, this leaves properties that are languishing on the market.
The concealed expenses of poor photography are more extensive than aesthetics. They include:
- Extended Time on Market: Properties with poor pictures have a harder time selling, this increases the cost of carrying properties like mortgages, utilities, and taxes.
- Lower Prices: Subpar images fail to demonstrate the value of a property, this leads consumers to believe it is less significant and offers a lower price.
- Lost Opportunities: Buyers may completely avoid listings if the photos don’t entice them in, reducing the amount of showings and offers.
- Reputational Damage: Poor listings that are consistent with the realtor’s brand can adversely affect the realtor’s reputation, this can in turn adversely affect the ability to attract new clients.
To demonstrate these points, we will explore three instances where poor photography resulted in costly consequences, followed by a discussion of how services like PixelShouters can shift the balance.
Case Study 1: The Cluttered Condo that failed to be sold
Beginning: In 2022, a realtor in Chicago described a 1,200-square foot condo that was priced at $450,000.
The property was located in a desirable central location, but the images of the property were taken by the realtor’s smartphone, which lacked expertise in photography.
The pictures were dimly lit, depicting rooms with personal items like baskets for washing, toys for pets, and unmade beds.
The exterior photograph was taken on a cloudy day, with a car parked in front of the structure, this prevents the observer from seeing anything.
The Concealed Costs:
- Extended Market Time: The condo remained on the market for 135 days, which is longer than the typical length of 45 days for similar properties in the city. The seller incurred additional costs of approximately $9,000 in mortgage payments, HOA fees, and utilities.
- Price Reduction: After 60 days with only a few showing, the realtor decreased the price by $25,000 to attract interest. Even then, the property had difficulty gaining movement, the final price was $415,000, which was $35,000 less than the original price.
- Lost Buyer Interestedness: The platform’s Analytics revealed that the condo had 70% less visitors than other listings with professional images. Buyers attributed the boring images as the cause of their lackÚ“
Lessons Taken: This case study demonstrates how amateur photography and a lack of preparation can detriment a sale.
Overcrowded, misorganized images lack the potential to communicate a property’s potential, this discourages people from scheduling appointments.
The financial burden—which includes the extra costs of carrying the equipment and a lower price for the sale—along with the need for professional photography to create a striking first impression.
Case Study 2: The Million-Dollar Mansion with Self-Paced Construction
Beginning: In 2023, a realtor in Miami described a $1.2 million mansion as the basis of their description.
To reduce expenses, the seller requested that photos of the family’s pets be used.
The images had angles that were misaligned due to the fisheye’s lens, harsh shadows, and inconsistent lighting.
The description also included peculiar components, such as a mannequin in the living+ room, which diverted attention from the home’s superior attributes.
The Concealed Costs:
- Extended Market Time: The mansion remained on the market for over 180 days, which is longer than the average amount of time for luxury properties in the area. The seller paid $150,000 for extra taxes, insurance, and maintenance.
- Significant Price Reduction: After having only two exhibitions, the price was reduced by $150,000. The home eventually had a final sale price of $1.05 million, which was a loss of $150,000 from the original price.
- Missed High-End Purchasing: Luxury consumers, who expect superior marketing, were unaware of the lack of professionalism in the presentation. The realtor later recognized that a competing property with professional images had sold for $1.3 million in just over 30 days.
- Brand Damage: The realtor’s choice to accommodate the seller’s budget reduction strategy resulted in backfiring. The realtor blamed the seller for the low price of the sale, which led to negative online reviews that had an effect on future business.
Lessons Taken: High-end properties have to have images that correspond with their budget. DIY photography, especially with aging equipment or promotional tactics, can irritate intelligent buyers and undervalue a property.
Investing in professional photography is essential for high-end listings to be successful in a competitive market.
Case Study 3: The Rural Retreat with Downward-Facing Images
History: In 2024, a realtor in rural Oregon described a $650,000 country home with 10 acres of land as the foundation of their description.
The realtor’s photos were taken with a smartphone, but several of the images were misaligned due to a technical error.
The pictures also failed to demonstrate the property’s unique attributes, such as a barn and scenic views, and included additional components that were distracting, such as a horse in the living room (intended as a “beautiful” addition).
The Concealed Costs:
- Delayed Sell: The property was listed on the market for 120 days, versus 50 days for similar rural properties. The seller paid $7,500 in costs associated with the transaction, including the payment of a mortgage and the maintenance of property.
- Lower Offer: The images of the downside and odd staging misled buyers, which led to offers that were $50,000 below the price asked. The home was sold for $600,000, with a $50,000 loss.
- Decreased Engagement: The property received 80% of the views that were comparable to other properties, buyers dismissed the property because of the amateurish photos.
- Realtor’s Credibility: The realtor was confronted by fellow colleagues during an awkward situation. The seller’s displeasure resulted in a lost network of referrals, this costed the realtor potential future revenue.
Lessons: Technical errors and misconceptions regarding staging can lead to an advertisement being considered amateurish, this can dissuade potential buyers and undermine faith.
Rural properties that have a reliance on the promotion of unique attributes like land and scenery are greatly benefitted by professional photography that captures all of the potential that they have.
The larger effect of bad photography
These case studies demonstrate a pattern: poor real estate photography is associated with financial loss and indecision. Redfin states that homes with professional pictures have a sell price of $3,400-11,200 more than those with amateur images.
Conversely, listings that have only a single picture take an average of 70 days to sell, while listings that have 20 or more high quality images will sell in just 30 days.
The dangers are high in a competitive market; consumers take just seconds to decide on a presentation. Beyond the financial burden, poor photography can adversely affect a realtor’s standing.
Clients want realtors to produce results, and poor listings indicate lack of professionalism. Negative feedback, lost referrals, and decreased trust can all have a long-term effect on a realtor’s career.
How do you address these issues?
To avoid the dangers of bad photography, realtors can seek out professional services like PixelShouters, which is a leading provider of solutions for real estate photo editing and visual marketing.
PixelShouters specializes in converting raw images into beautiful, marketable visuals that entice consumers and increase sales.
Their budget-friendly, high-end services make professional photography accessible to realtors and photographers of all levels.
Below, we explore the comprehensive array of services offered by PixelShouters and how they address the issues discussed in the case studies.
PixelShouters’ Help
- Real Estate Photography Editing:
- Description: The primary service offered by PixelShouters is to enhance real estate images to make them more accurate, have a better color balance, increase the density of pixels, and improve the sharpness of images.Â
- Case Study Relevance: In Case Study 1, PixelShouters would have been capable of deleting the clutter and enhancing the lighting, this would have made the condo appear larger and more inviting. Their knowledge would have prevented the advertisement from appearing boring.
- Benefits: Enhanced images have a higher attractiveness, increase the interest of buyers, and decrease the time needed to market a property.
- Online Staging:
- Descriptive: PixelShouters digitally augmented properties that are vacant or updated to match the current design trends, this helped consumers to visualize the space’s potential. They provide effective furniture placement and modern fashionable aesthetics.
- Case Study Relevance: In Case Study 2, virtual staging would have replaced the distracting mannequin with tasteful décor, the mansion’s visuals would have been in harmony with its luxury nature. This would have been beneficial to high-end consumers.
- Benefits: Staged properties sell 88% more quickly and have a 20% increase in return on investment, maximizing the ROI.
- Twilight and Sky Replacement:
- Description: PixelShouters takes daytime pictures and converts them into twilight images or replaces flat skies with animated ones, this adds a romantic or dramatic flair to listings.
- Case Study Relevance: In Case Study 1, a cloudy exterior image reduced the appeal of the condo. The PixelShouters’ artificial sky would have demonstrated the building to have a bright, sunny appearance, this would have enhanced the appeal of the building.
- Benefits: Photography of twilight periods is more effective at attracting consumers, particularly for high-end properties, and can lead to higher asking prices.
- Object Removal and Image Redimensioning:
- Descriptive: PixelShouters deletes distracting components (e.g., pets, personal items, or vehicles) and rewrites images to be optimal for display on websites or mortgage boards without sacrificing quality.
- Case Study Relevance: In Case Study 3, removing the horse from the living room and reorienting the images would have rendered the rural retreat more professional and attractive.
- Help: Clean, accurate images that are properly formatted will enhance the clarity of the list and prevent confusion from the buyer.
- Drone Photography Review:
- Description: PixelShouters augmented drone images with text that describes the properties, landscapes, or neighborhoods that are being photographed, this ensures that aerial images are both clear and vibrant.
- Case Study Relevance: In Case Study 3, drone photography would have demonstrated the 10 acres of land, this was a significant selling point that was overlooked in the original description.
- Benefits: Homes with drone pictures have a 68% quicker sell, this is because they offer a different perspective than static images can.
- Video Editing and 3D Travel:
- Descriptive: PixelShouters modifies property videos and creates 3D virtual tours that allow consumers to explore homes from home. They guarantee videos are agile and tours are natural.
- Case Study Relevance: All three case studies would have benefitted from video tours that would have compensated for poor static images, this would have provided buyers with a comprehensive understanding of the properties.
- Help: 73% of homeowners prefer realtors who utilize video marketing, and virtual tours have an increased participation and exposure.
- Floor Plan Design:
- Descriptive: PixelShouters produces detailed floor plans from images or measurements, this information helps buyers understand the layout and flow of a property.
- Case Study Relevance: In Case Study 1, a floor plan would have described the large amount of space available, despite the lack of organization in the photos.
- Benefits: Floor plans increase the confidence of buyers and reduce the necessity of in-person visits, this speeds up the sales process.
- AI-Powered Additions:
- Descriptive: PixelShouters employs AI-based tools for automatic color correction, virtual staging, and the removal of objects, all of which are intended to streamline processes while still maintaining quality.
- Case Study Relevance: AI augmented the technical correctness of Case Study 3 (e.g., reversed images) and increased the overall quality of images across all cases.
- Benefits: AI reduces the time needed to edit, making professional services more accessible and affordable.
Why Select PixelShouters?
 Other competitors, like VHT Studios, have a tendency to be expensive, but PixelShouters balances the cost and quality of its products, which is ideal for budget-conscious realtors who still want to see beautiful images.
Their services are beneficial to agents who already have unprocessed photos, but need to professionally edit them in order to increase their listings.
- Affordability: PixelShouters has competitive pricing, with basic editing that begins at a fraction of the expense of full-service photographers.
- Quality: Their collective of over 700 writers and artists ensures consistent, superior results that are specifically tailored to each client’s requirements.
- Variety: From image editing to virtual staging and video production, PixelShouters offers a single stop shop for all visual marketing requirements.
- Client Orientation: They cater to realtors, photographers, property owners, and other professionals, ensuring flexibility and personalized service.
For instance, their virtual staging would have converted the chaotic condo in Case Study 1 into a sleek, modern space, while their drone editing would have highlighted the rural retreat’s expansive land in Case Study 3.
Avoid Bad Photography Strategies
Beyond employing PixelShouters, realtors can take initiative to take beautiful pictures:
- Recruit Professionals: Work with experienced photographers who utilize full-frame cameras, tripods, and appropriate lighting. Review your portfolio to make sure its style concords with your philosophy.
- Stage the Property: Remove personal items, declutter, and highlight the potential of each room. Virtual staging is a beneficial alternative to empty homes.
- Schedule the Shoot: Schedule photographs during ideal lighting conditions (e.g., sunrise or sunset for external shots). Ensure the property is spotless and free of distractions like cars or pets.
- Use the Editing Services: Services like PixelShouters can improve images, correct mistakes, and add special effects like twilight’s.
- Review Before Uploading: Ensure images are accurate (e.g., photos that are upside down) and have met the requirements of the MLS.
- Incorporate Video and 3D Tours: Add dynamic content to photos that will engage consumers and exhibit the property’s entire potential.
The Return on Investment of Professional Photography
The acquisition of professional photography and editing services is a high yield investment.
A Redfin study documented that homes with professional pictures have a potential to sell for as much as $11,200 more, while a PixelShouters study reported a 1900% return on investment for a $500 fee that increased the revenue by $10,000.Â
Additionally, professional images increase the realtor’s popularity, attracting more clients and recommendations.
In an industry where perception is the reality, well-crafted listings demonstrate expertise and reliability, this sets apart realtors from their competitors.
Conclusion
The concealed costs of bad real estate photography—longer market periods, lower prices, lost opportunities, and damaged reputation—can have a damaging effect on realtors and sellers.
The case studies of the cluttered condo, the million dollar mansion, and the rural retreat demonstrate how amateur images, technical inaccuracies, and poor staging can adversely affect even the most promising listings.
However, these pitfalls are avoidable with professional services like PixelShouters, which provide a comprehensive range of photo editing, virtual staging, drone enhancements, video production, and more.
By utilizing PixelShouters’ cost-effective, high quality services, realtors can create listings that are visually pleasing and have the potential to attract buyers, speed up sales, and maximize profits.
In a market that relies on first impressions to be successful, investing in professional photography is not only smart, it’s also critical to success.Â
For more information on PixelShouters’ services, visit pixelshouters. Explore additional photography editing ideas at pixelshouters. read more on https://regic.net/
