RealTown's RealTalk

I know this subject was recently discussed. I just wanted to give some examples. My sister is a virtual assistant and expert photographer (anyone in need in Denver, Boulder, Longmont or Ft Collins let me know!) and I asked her to take some photos of one of my listings for web site, virtual tour and flyer use.

Here is a sample flyer with photos that we took - using a digital SLR and lights.

http://www.theagentmarketingtool.com/flyer.php?id=5103

And here is a sample flyer with photos that she took

http://www.theagentmarketingtool.com/flyer.php?id=5105

To me, the differences are obvious - sharper photos, much better composition, more interesting angles.

Which ones do you think your Seller would prefer?

Andi

Mack and Andi Durbin, Brokers

Rooftop Realty

Serving Metro Denver since 1976

303-881-8844

www.rooftoprealty.com

Visit our blog at www.rooftopviews.com

30 years of doing whatever it takes

Andi asked "Which ones do you think your Seller would prefer?"

Personally, I didn't see that much improvement in your sister's photos. The front photo in the flier doesn't even include the front door and shows more scrub brush and trees than house. The long-distance shot looks more like an artists rendition than an actual photo since it doesn't show the concrete flaws that appear in the virtual tour. If she also took the interior ones that are in the VT, scenes like the Family Room and Office leave a lot to be desired as far as decent lighting. The biggest problem with the Virtual Tour software is that when you stitch photos together, it takes the poorly lit photos and the well lit photos and does its best to find a balance, giving up the better lighting in the better shot. I used their software for a number of years and am familiar with how it works. You might also want to keep the prices current since the Webcast tour shows a higher price. One question..........Did either of these Sellers bother getting the house ready for your photo session? I have gone out and seen rooms like Bedroom #2 and kitchen counters similar to what shows in your duplex tour and told the Seller I would come back when the home was ready for picture taking. It's our job to get the Seller to put on a Buyer's hat, stand back, and take a hard look at the way their property shows. Otherwise, no matter how good YOU take pictures they will still end up looking like crap. I still have tapes of Barb Schwarz 'Staging Your Home' to leave them if they need to see what a little effort would do to speed up the sale of their home.

Gene Carey, Broker, GRI, JIM #101

www.VisualTourShop.com

www.View-MLS-Homes.com

Hi Gene:

Thanks for the input. She DID NOT take any virtual tour photos - we did those. She only took the photos on the one flyer in the last email. She had great photos of the front door and different angles of the front. This flyer only has room for 3 photos so we picked the ones we thought showed the property the best. Again, which is why you need a professional photographer.

Although we totally understand staging, the duplex is tenant occupied. When was the last time you got a tenant to stage for you or to let you stage? Generally, you're lucky if they actually let you schedule a showing! And again, those were not photos that the experienced photographer took.

Andi

Mack and Andi Durbin, Brokers

Rooftop Realty

Serving Metro Denver since 1976

303-881-8844

www.rooftoprealty.com

Visit our blog at www.rooftopviews.com

30 years of doing whatever it takes