When it comes to selling your property, having top-notch photography and a well-planned marketing strategy are vital pieces of the puzzle. Since the majority of buyers are searching online, exceptional photos and videos are the most effective way to showcase your house or condo and generate interest. With property prices in the Lake Tahoe basin relatively high, it is essential for sellers and agents to employ professional photographers and thoughtfully designed marketing strategies to establish your property's brand. Agents generally view photography expenses as one part of the overall marketing costs associated with selling properties.
However, merely having high-quality interior and exterior photos is not enough when it comes to marketing your property. Selecting the right types of pictures is crucial if you want to make a strong impression. The first photo that buyers see on the MLS or anywhere on the Internet should be a captivating exterior shot or a stunning interior image that grabs their attention. A picture showing only the front door, a toilet, or a light fixture without providing a wider view doesn't cut it if you want buyers to explore your property further. It's also important that the professionals you hire accurately depict what you're selling. If your deck needs painting, the pictures should show that. The last thing you want is to set buyers' expectations for a picture-perfect home only for them to arrive and discover that the deck needs replacement.
The goal of real estate photography and branding is to tell a story and showcase the best features of your property. Photos of an interior stairway, a fence, or a weathered yard gnome will only entice buyers to skip to the next listing. However, capturing a remodeled kitchen or elegant stonework around the fireplace will intrigue buyers and prompt them to seek more information about your property. It is equally important to shoot photos at the right time of day to avoid shadows or other visual imperfections.
In addition to professional still photos, 360 tours and high-quality video walkthroughs provide valuable marketing tools for your home. While still photos are necessary, they cannot fully capture the experience of walking through a room or the surrounding environment. They don't convey the snow falling outside, the flickering flames in the fireplace reflecting on glistening crystals, or the way sunlight filters through etched glass. Simply placing a series of still images on a website falls short of effectively showcasing your property or making it stand out.
Videos can immerse buyers in the experience of being in the home—roasting s'mores on your fire pit, cooking in your high-end kitchen, and relaxing on the Lakeview deck while a hawk soars overhead. Meanwhile, 360 tours allow buyers to virtually explore each room and become familiar with the floor plan as if they were physically walking through the property, all from the comfort of their couch at home or while waiting in a hotel lobby. These experiences can be created using specialized photographic equipment or virtual reality software. It has become mainstream in the real estate photography world to present each property through various formats across multiple platforms, ensuring your property stands out.
For optimal image quality, many properties require photography at different times of the day to capture the best lighting conditions. The best photographers are always willing to accommodate agents and sellers by capturing images at the optimal time for each property. It's also important to update property photos for each season. If a home has winter photos with snow on the ground and those images are still visible in the listing during the summer, it leaves a negative impression on potential buyers, suggesting that the property is undesirable or has been on the market for too long.
Every property has a unique story that plays a crucial role in its branding and online presence. When selecting an agent, it is important to choose professionals who go above and beyond simply taking vertical iPhone photos of your home. Agents should collaborate with skilled marketers, videographers, and photographers to establish a strong brand and position your home for maximum exposure, achieving the highest value in the shortest possible time. Today, print and web ads, as well as social media marketing, are no longer optional but essential for effectively marketing properties across all areas and price points.