3 Things To Consider When Hiring A Real Estate Photographer
According to cbsnews.com, homes with high-quality photos receive 47% higher asking price per square foot.
Which means as a Realtor, professional listing photos are key to attracting qualified buyers now more than ever. However, if you're like most agents the thought of dropping a ton of money a new camera and taking the photos yourself every time just doesn't make sense.
So the next and only option would be to hire a real estate photographer, but you may not know where to start, or what things to review when looking into who you should hire.
The obvious things to consider first would be:
- Are they in your local area?
- Do they have previous experience or a portfolio of work?
- Do they have testimonials from other happy clients?
Though beyond that, there's still many other important aspects to think about in order to ensure that you choose the right person to photograph your listings.
To help make this process easier, I've created this simple guide that will walk you through how to ask the right questions when hiring a real estate photographer so you can avoid wasting time and get your listings on the market fast.
So lets dive right in . . .
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Question #1 - What is your availability and expected turnaround time?
When most real estate agents get a new home listing, getting photos taken and posted online quickly is essential. Therefore, it's always a good idea to start off the conversation by asking the photographer about their availability.
Some photographers will require you to book photo shoots days and even weeks in advance. Try and look for a photographer that is willing to work around you and your clients schedule and can typically offer same or next day availability.
The next thing to consider is turnaround time for the photos. Depending on who you work with, it could take anywhere between a week or as little as a day. Do your best to avoid working with photographers or companies that will charge you extra to get your photos back in a timely fashion.
Questions #2 - What's the price and what is included with my session?
No one likes getting extra fees or last minute charges that they weren't planning on. That's why it's a good idea to be upfront with your photographer and request a quote or estimate in writing. Most photographers should be able to provide you with an estimate based off of basic information about your listing. (Location, square footage, travel time, etc.)
Every photographer offers different pricing and packages so it's important to know what's included with your session, specifically the amount of photos included. The average real estate listing has at least a dozen photos. So make sure you choose a package that includes at least this many photos to get the most bang for your buck.
*BONUS TIP: Try and negotiate 15-20 photos so you have extra options to choose from and promote on your social media & website.
Questions # 3 - Is there a first-time or repeat customer discount?
You already know you're going to sell more than one home this year. So hiring a photographer for multiple listings and not just one is inevitable. Ask your photographer about what sort of discounts they offer for repeat customers as well as for referrals. This can help keep your costs as a Realtor down so you make more on every listing.
Also, ask about first-time discounts so you can see their work and guarantee quality work before you commit to additional projects with that photographer.
In summary, the process of searching for the right real estate photographer can seem daunting but it doesn't have to be if you just start by asking the right questions. In the end, the time and money spent will be worth it to have beautiful listing photos that Wow your buyers on the first impression.
About Utah Home Photo
Utah Home Photo was founded by Colton Marsala and has been serving the Greater Salt Lake area since 2015. We are here for your corporate and real estate photography needs and are dedicated to making a difference in your business!
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