With social distancing still in full effect and Open Houses put on hold, the best way for sellers to move forward in generating buyer interest are virtual 3D tours.

A virtual tour allows buyers to explore each room completely with 360° movement and gives them a feel for the flow of the home.

In addition, research shows that professional real estate photos can help a listing sell faster than comparable homes without professional photography and that a minimum of six images are viewed more frequently on websites.

In a survey by the National Association of Realtors, homebuyers rated photos as the feature they use most when searching for a home on the web. Online listings with bad pictures or worse, no pictures at all, can cause buyers to overlook your home from the get-go.

According to HGTV (https://www.hgtv.com/design/real-estate/take-better-real-estate-photos), if you are selling your home through an agent, find out who will be photographing your home. Some agents, especially those representing pricier properties, opt to hire professional photographers to get the best shots possible, while others choose to take photos themselves.

According to RE/MAX realtor Estelia Mesimer, virtual 3D real estate tours are not new, but they are gaining a lot of traction now that COVID-19 has limited real estate professionals’ ability to market and show properties.

Estelia uses this technology along with professional photos and staging to create excellent marketing results.

The Photos You Need

To be certain you are getting value for your money, you will need photos that appeal to most buyers. The photographer should focus first on the exterior of your home – its virtual curb appeal. The first photo is the most important because it is going to be highlighted in search engines. After you have an attractive exterior shot, be sure the photographer covers these key areas that help sell your home: Master bedroom and master bath, kitchen, unique/custom features such as crown molding, fireplace/mantle, built-ins, and small areas such as half-bath, pantry, and laundry room.

Honesty in Photography

With the ability to photo-shop pictures, it is very important that the professionals you choose depict an accurate representation of your home. If your porch needs to be painted, the pictures should show that. The last thing you want to do is set a buyer’s expectations of a picture perfect home only for them to come to the property to find out otherwise. Remember, the goal of photography is to “tell” in pictures, the story of your home and show off its best features.

Photography & Virtual Tours Fast Facts

• The best 360 Virtual Tours can get around 5-6 million views a day
• 80% of home buyers search for property online
• 47% home buyers say that 360 virtual tours are very important to a listing
• Buyers spend 60% of their time looking at listing photos, and only 20% each on the listing description and agent description. (The Wall Street Journal.)
• Homes with high-quality photos receive 47% higher asking price per square foot. (cbsnews.com)
• 83% of buyers cited pictures as very important. (investordetails.wordpress.com)
• You have two seconds to grab the buyer’s attention without a photo, and 20 seconds with a photo. (marketleader.com)
• Homes with professionally photographed pictures can sell for up to $19,000 more. (marketleader.com)
• Listings below $300,000 don’t necessarily sell faster with better photos. (The Wall Street Journal)
• Homes listed between $400,000 to $500,000 sell 18% better in the first six months with high-quality photography. (REDFIN)
• The best 360 Virtual Tours can get around 5-6 million views a day
• 80% of home buyers search for property online
• 47% home buyers say that 360 virtual tours are very important to a listing

Bottom Line: To make a good impression on Buyers and support your asking price, start with good quality professional photos and virtual tour videos.

Related Reading:
Top 10 Real Estate Photography Tips (And Mistakes to Avoid) For Beginners, Tanya Goodall Smith
More Data which Demonstrates that Professional Photography Is Essential
The Importance of Professional Real Estate Photography

St. Petersburg Communities

If you’re interested in any of these of communities or live in one of them and are thinking of selling, call Estelia today!

Allendale Terrace
Bahama Shores
Bayway Isles
Coquina Key
Crescent Heights
Crescent Lake
Downtown
Greater Pinellas Point
Historic Kenwood
Historic Old Northeast
Historic Roser Park
Historic Uptown
Isla del Sol
Old Southeast
Placida Bayou
Snell Isle