Potential homebuyers spend 72% of their time searching real estate websites. Most studies show that homes with top-quality images and videos sell faster and for more money. Real estate photography is, therefore, essential for marketing a property. A skilled photographer can make the property look as appealing as possible to buyers. Choosing the right real estate photographer will ultimately improve your real estate lead generation efforts.
With this given, homeowners and real estate agents should seriously consider hiring a professional to showcase the property they are trying to sell. There are other sound reasons why you should hire a professional real estate photographer and FastPromoUSA has broken them down for you here.
Below is a comprehensive guideline in choosing the best real estate photographer for you.
References and Testimonials
There are two easy and best ways to find a great real estate photography company. One is to browse the internet and search for real estate photography companies near you. Check their profile and ratings on platforms such as Google Business and social media. Read through the reviews and filter them out since reviews are generally subjective. However, reviews give an idea of previous clients’ experiences and how the real estate photography company handled bad customer experiences. This will be valuable to your decision-making.
The second easy and best way to find a great real estate photographer is to talk to other home sellers or real estate agents. Ask them for referrals. Ask if they know the photographer you have shortlisted. They’ll be able to give you a review from a professional point of view. It’s a bonus if they’ve already worked with them.
Furthermore, when speaking with potential real estate photographers, ask to see their previous work. Check their websites and social media pages. Their pages and galleries will give you your first impressions. From there, you can gauge if you will like their style and how they present themselves as artists and professionals.
Types of services they provide.
An excellent real estate photographer should offer a wide range of services designed to meet the needs and expectations of clients. To name a few services, drone photography and twilight photography are the current trends in the real estate business. Moreover, in today’s climate, virtual tours are not just cool but also an essential service to those potential homebuyers browsing through the internet. Determine which services you would need, then make sure your choice of real estate photographer has legitimate and extensive experience in those areas.
Additionally, it is not cut and dry, but you could also consider which type of business the real estate photography company is. Are they a small, local business, or do they operate nationwide? Real estate photography companies that operate nationwide have streamlined processes, but, it doesn’t always mean they are more efficient. Sometimes photographers from bigger companies work to a cookie-cutter approach. And if the photographers are underpaid, they may have little investment in making sure they deliver a high-quality product.
On the other hand, smaller, local real estate photography businesses obviously have a lot more to lose. Hence, they will work hard to ensure their clients receive the very best service and in turn, receive more referrals for their business.
Professionalism and understanding of the real estate market
Firstly, real estate photographers should be professional, friendly, and available. When reaching out to one, you should consider their response time and the quality of their responses. Additionally, excellent real estate photographers offer professional guidance in terms of staging the property. This includes ideas on what time to take the photos, where the best light will come from, and what you should do before they arrive.
Secondly, an excellent real estate photographer should have an understanding of the real estate market. This is a crucial consideration for real estate agents looking for a photographer. For example, the last thing agents would want is to have their photographs declined by the MLS because their Realtor sign is in the photographs.
Budget and Payment Agreement
One of the most important considerations when choosing a real estate photographer is your budget. How much money have you allotted to your project and how much is the total price for the photographer’s services. However, if the asking price is more than your budget, try to talk and reach a compromise. If it doesn’t work, look for another real estate photographer that is in your price range.
In addition to this, you should have a written contract even before starting the shoot. This is important and should not be neglected. It will protect you and the photographer in case something happens while the project is ongoing. A written agreement is also a sign of professionalism.
Turnaround Time and Licensing
A professional real estate photographer knows how crucial turnaround time is in the real estate business. When choosing, a home seller or a real estate agent should be confident in the photographer’s ability to produce high-quality photos and videos in a short amount of time. Furthermore, it is important for both the client and the real estate photographer to agree on a timeline and a turnaround time. This will avoid conflict and possible delays in projects.
When it comes to licensing and ownership of the photos and videos, most real estate photography companies have ownership and rights to the photos and videos produced by them. It is, therefore, important that the terms are explicitly laid out in the contract. The photographer should specify what you can and can’t do with the photos and videos they are providing you with. As a client, you should explicitly know who owns the rights to the photographs and what type of license they are giving you.
Another important factor to consider when choosing a real estate photographer is the photographer’s license to use drone photography. Real estate companies that offer drone photography services should have an FAA Part 107 Drone Certification. This certification is required for any commercial use of a drone. Also required is that the drone is registered with the FAA. Here’s a quick read of what you need to know about Florida drone laws.
In conclusion
Several factors should be taken into consideration during the process of choosing and eventually hiring the right real estate photographer. The price, experience, reviews, and licensing are primary among them. There are many real estate photographers in Miami but after weighing the pros and cons, you should be able to make a choice that will satisfy your needs.
NEED MARKETING HELP? FastPromoUSA is a FIVE-STAR-rated provider of professional real estate photography in South Florida. Providing premium real estate photos and videos for better and effective marketing. Reach out to us now!