From Homescape

Have you ever searched for a home online and suddenly found yourself scrolling through all the pictures like it’s your own family photo album? Well, you’re not alone. According to a California Association of Realtors survey, “Multiple Photographs/Slideshows” continue to be the online feature with the highest rating among all online features, followed by “Map/Directions.” The online format allows for more photos to be posted with an MLS Web listing for the fraction of the price of a single ad featured in a local newspaper.

Days on the market
Another study cited in a recent Rismedia article compared the number of photos on a listing to the number of “days on market” (DOM). The findings show that listings with more photos sold faster. Listed below is the average number of photos to days on market, according to the analysis:

* 1 photo = 70 DOM
* 6 photos = 40 DOM
* 16-19 photos = 36 DOM
* 20 photos max = 32 DOM

The report also found that homes whose listings included more photographs had a better chance of selling for more on the market than those with a single picture. Despite these recent findings, only about 12 percent of agents actually post the maximum 20 photos allowed by MLS standards.

I personally will skip over a home listing with only one photo, compared to a post with six or more pictures. For some reason, I feel that a home listing that does not feature multiple pictures may have something to hide, even though that may not be the case. Most tech-savvy homebuyers searching the Internet have little time to spare. The listings that provide them with the most detailed information will most likely be the ones that will motivate them to schedule a viewing. Agents and independent home sellers need to take advantage of their multimedia options if they want to maximize their results.

Photography 101                                                             

This photo of a home for sale in Nashville, TN highlights the home's shabby front yard. This property should have been photographed from a direct front angle of the home, which would have showcased less of the yard.

Not all homes are photogenic. People need to remember that a photograph is a marketing tool, and just as you wouldn’t post a listing with the wrong address, you don’t post a photo that reflects the home’s less glamorous side. I was searching listings on Homescape.com this week and was amazed when I saw pictures of homes that were cluttered with furniture and had unkempt landscapes.

If you have weeds taking over the backyard, don’t photograph that section of the yard. If a room has too much junk, clear it all out, then properly stage the room and photograph it. In real estate, a picture is worth more than a thousand words — it’s the difference between a sell-tomorrow and a sell-next-month.                                             

Got hot local housing tips or a story you want to share? Contact Amy Le at openingdoorsblog@homescape.com