The subject of Lancaster PA Real Estate listing photos has been coming up this week, so I thought I'd have a little fun and poke around in our MLS looking for "nice" photos to share with my readers. As I've said many times, I'm blown away by the generally poor quality of photography that goes into the marketing of a home.
For this post I selected only homes in Lancaster County, PA being offered at prices between $300,000 and $750,000. I only looked at listings on the market for more than 3 months. You would think there would be a zero incidence of crappy listing photos, but alas...
I put some comments in for each photo - hover over the image for my comment.
Issue #1) Only one photo - and this on listings older than 3 months! Here are two examples of extreme opposites...keep in mind these are $300,000 plus listings!
Issue #2) underexposed interior photos - People, it's not rocket science. Clients expect you to either know how to photograph properly or pay someone who can. Here are a few living rooms:
Issue #3) Overexposed photos - not as common as the underexposed ones, but just as damaging:
Issue #4) Pictures of nothing - pictures of a bed without any context, or table, or a closet? Are these things selling points? Come on!
Issue #5) Just plain bad photos - here are some kitchen
shots as an example.. I got bored after the first dozen...
Overall, I was pretty underwhelmed at the quality of the photographs online. Only a precious few listings has truly superlative photo work. Problem is, real estate agents have access to decent cameras, and can press the shutter button, making them able to take a picture that is not horrible. Therefore, they are not interested in hiring a pro photographer to do it right. Nor are they willing to learn the methods to improve their work. It's all marketing, folks! You've got a duty to promote your client's home and present it in the best possible light (pardon the photography pun)!
So take the time to think about what you are doing...
If you are looking to sell your home, or have had your home on the market with someone who takes photos like these for your listing, call me today! I can promise you something better...promises kept.
Wow, Jeannie - your situation is compelling proof of my point! If you've got a $650K home around here, a primary market for you is going to be buyers relocating from more affluent areas with money to spend. Great photos are going to be mandatory! Thanks for your great comment...
Jeff- I wrote a post this week about this and how crappy MLS info input is done by agents. This is marketing 101, go take a class if you don't know about marketing. You can use Microsoft picture/fax editing software that comes with new computers. Edit the photos, crop the photos, there is a lot to do! I read this post last night at 3 a.m. and my eyes were shutting so I planned to comment today on this post. I did see this one last night. Katerina
Jeff - It is unbelievable how bad some agents are at taking pictures! If they can not do justice to a home they should hire someone who can. With the amount of buyers using the internet these days, it should be mandatory that agents figure out how to use their cameras. I wonder if these agents actually are emailing a copy of the listing as it appears in MLS and Realtor.com to their sellers...I doubt it!
Jeff,
If it weren't so very unprofessional it would be hilarious! Just because someone can afford to buy the "new" technology of a digital camera doesn't mean that they should be allowed to use it!
Tom Sinclair
Fairhope, Alabama
Todd, good comment on labeling photos with their street name!
Jeff, I can only agree with you that some agents seem to have no shame about which photos they select...
Jeff, I love the photo of the clothes in the closet, do they convey? My pet peeve is not enough photo's. Especially at Smith Mountain Lake. If it's a waterfront property, why only one photo, how about SHOWING the relationship to the water? Great post.