St Augustine Real Estate Photographer

Should I add amenity photos to my listing?

July 4, 2019July 3, 2019 Pipas Imagery

Sometimes the actual house for sale isn’t the only thing that potential buyers are looking for. Instead they might be looking for the full package of not only the perfect home but also the perfect neighborhood with all the bells and whistles. Buyers are often looking for things to do locally and ways to easily socialize with their neighbors. Amenities can be a huge selling factor when home buyers are looking for their new place to call home.

A big part of most neighborhoods is the amenities that are included. If a buyer sees a large monthly home owners association (HOA) fee then their first question is going to be – “What is included?”. Adding amenity photos will help them see right away the benefits of what is available to them when they buy that particular property. This will help the buyer stop wondering and now you’ve captured the buyer’s interest before they have moved on to the next home.

There are many large neighborhoods that have groups of amenities and only certain ones are accessible to some of the subdivisions within them. The future home buyer might be wondering which ones would I have access to with this property. Having the photos in the listing helps them to understand which amenities are available to the home owner and those that are not.

The amenities that are available tend to vary based on the area you are looking at. Some examples of common amenities are pools, tennis courts, gyms, clubhouse, and playgrounds. Some less common amenities can include community lake with walking path, golf courses, or boat launches. Everyone is looking for something!

Ponte-Vedra-Beach-real-estate-photography-14

Uncategorized

Tips to make your listings stand out!

May 19, 2019May 19, 2019 Pipas Imagery

Right now is a peak time in real estate around Northeast Florida. Making your listing stand out from others is important to ensure you get the maximum amount of exposure. Here are a few tips on how to ensure your listing stands out from the others.

Be present for the shoot!

Being present for the shoot helps to ensure that the home is photographed how you envisioned it. The agent and photographer should be working together as a team to create the most compelling images that will present the home in the best possible light.

When at the shoot ask your photographer what can be done to help. Most of the time the first step is to go around the home and open every window blind, turn on all the lights, and be sure all ceiling fans are turned off. Having the agent there to get this moving can help the shoot move more efficiently.

Also the homeowners love to see the agent taking a hands-on approach. This shows them that the agent is invested in making sure their home is presented perfectly! With the agent present it allows the photographer to focus on taking great shots instead of being distracted by the owner or pets.

Add a dusk photo

By using a dusk photo as the cover photo it can quickly draw potential buyers eyes right to your listing over others. The more attention you get from the buyers the more likely you are to get more showings which can turn into more offers. That first impression is key so having a photo that stands out from others is important.

Share on social media

Most buyers in your local area are likely using social media regularly. Be sure to add your listings there. A lot of agents only post photos or links to their listings but there are other things you can do too. A short video slideshow or an exterior drone video can often get a buyer intrigued to want to see more. Video attracts a lot of clients and can be a great way to get additional views of your listing. If you want to take it one more step get an interior and exterior video which shows the whole home to the buyer. That way they can see the flow of the house.

photography

How do I know how many photos I need?

April 2, 2019April 1, 2019 Pipas Imagery

One of the first things you’ll notice on our services page is that our base packages are based on number of photos instead of by square footage. This is set up intentionally to allow each Realtor the opportunity to determine how many photos they think is necessary to capture the home they are listing. I often hear from agents “do you recommend a certain package” or “just shoot whatever you think the home needs”. Before providing feedback I always ask a few more questions and try to get a feel for the property in order to make the best recommendation.

More isn’t always necessary. When determining how many photos you may need, there are several factors come into play including the total number of rooms in the home, the outdoor features on the property, and if the home has any unique qualities. If the home has a lot of character to it then you may want to choose a higher photo package to make sure you capture everything with specific lifestyle shots.

Also, when picking photo packages be sure to think about the neighborhood and property as a whole. Some neighborhoods have amazing amenities and that is what sells the property. Other homes are in a very desirable location and drone photos might be the key to showing proximity to the beach or a great school nearby. At the end of the day our goal as your photographer is to help you intrigue more buyers to want to come out and see the home you have listed so you can get it sold faster and for the most amount of money.

In summary, when looking at how to choose the right package be sure to really analyze the needs of each property individually. We are happy to make suggestions or answer any questions you have so that in the end you get the product you were hoping for.

Fernandina-Beach-real-estate-photography-2

Fernandina-Beach-real-estate-photography-24

Nassau-County-real-estate-photography-23

photography, Realtors

Drone photos can enhance your listing photos

February 24, 2019 Pipas Imagery

There are a lot of properties on the market that a drone photo would provide a great perspective for the potential buyer. Using a drone can capture a prime location (near a school or water) or show features of the home that may not be captured otherwise (size of the land or solar panels).

Before considering getting drone photography for your listing be sure to check with your photographer and verify they are Part 107 certified with the FAA. Any photographer not certified can result in large fines for the agent for using the photos. The next thing to verify is that the property is in an area that does not need a special approval from the FAA to fly in. Some areas close to airports or military bases can have restricted airspace and need an additional approval before drone photos can be taken.

Once you decide you would like to add drone photos to your listing there are a few things to consider to ensure they turn out great!

Remove clutter from the yard like bicycles, child toys, and trashcans. Removing these items will allow you to show more of the land which will result in the perception that the property is very spacious.
Clean gutters out. Since the roof will be clearly visible in most shots it is advised to clear out any leaves or debris in the gutters. This will show the buyers to see that the home has been well cared for.
If your property has a pool, clean the pool deck and remove pool cleaners. Be sure to clean the pool deck a day or two prior to the photo shoot to ensure it has time to dry. Also be sure to remove any vacuums or cleaning devices from the pool as it will make the photos for more eye appealing.
Let your neighbors know that you will be having drone photos done. Giving your neighbors the details about the time and date of the drone photo shoot can help ease your neighbors minds so that they know what is going on outside.

Drone photos are a great way to provide buyers with a different perspective of the home. Here are a few more examples of some interesting drone shots.