We are all visual creatures and like our eye candy
It’s who we are as human beings. This even applies when doing something as mundane as searching for a Vallejo rental home. Honest. Don’t believe me? Take a look at the following photo of a world famous hunk. He’s a real beefcake with women drooling over him and magazines putting his face on the cover and on and on. Look close…. (but no cheating and trying to read ahead)
Ladies, are you ready to swoon yet? Are you weak in the knees and ready to buy a new dress to try and impress this guy? Ready to crawl through the computer screen to plant a big ol’ smooch on him?
Come on now. Don’t tell me that you aren’t that shallow. Don’t tell me that you just want a nice guy / sincere guy / good provider / someone you can talk to or what not. We are all visual creatures. We can’t help it. We respond, on some level, to things (and yes, to people) that are attractive. We all look at things that are "easy on the eyes." Do you think that the guy above had all the girls chasing him?
I ask because that photo above is this guy below…
I bet there’s a lot more swooning going on now than there was just a moment ago. Be honest. It’s true. Quit trying to crawl through the computer screen.
Do you see the difference that a simple photo can make in terms of the response it gets and the impression that it makes? (Ok, a simple photo and maybe some makeup, contacts, a little good aging and probably some vitamins).
But the point is clear-
Second photo -- parlays his good looks into becoming a world famous sex symbol with an Italian villa on a picturesque lake.
First photo -- wallflower at the high school prom.
THEY ARE PHOTOS OF THE SAME GUY!
So…… if photos can make THAT striking of a difference, why don’t people place more value on the photos of homes for rent that they place on line?
Consider this shot of a home taken from Google….
Compare to this shot of the same home taken by Delgado Property Management and recently rented for $2,700 a month in Vallejo during the “slow” time of the year…
To repeat- They are photos of the SAME home.
Do you see what difference a simple photo can do in terms of the response it gets and the impression that it delivers? (In this case the second photo ISN’T even aided by makeup, contacts, good aging OR vitamins). Given the makeup, vitamins and other advantages George has over the home, I'm going to venture to claim that I just might be OK with a camera!
We are all visual creatures. We often don’t realize how powerful our responses to visual cues are but it is undeniable. This is why Delgado Property Management places such importance on our listing photos. We want out photos of homes to elicit the “Second photo” response so that folks are crawling through their computer screens in excitement.
Let the “other” property managers’ homes end up as wallflowers.
Mark Delgado, DRE#01880416
President/Managing Broker
Benicia and Vallejo, Solano County rental homes and rental listings
I routinely take photos of my rental homes * updating photos for properties in my portfolio help with the marketing and keeping owners informed.
GREAT post!
Great post and great examples...there's a reason for photoshop - use it if you have to! But don't use it to misrepresent a property because that leads to disappointment more often than not...kind of like seeing those movie stars when they're not all made up - they look pretty 'next doorish' when it comes right down to it!
You know the three best ways to get good photos? They do NOT involve megapixels! The three best ways are:
1. Understand composition. Yes, kind of like a painter or artists. Understand angles, leading lines, the rule of thirds etc.
2. Understand good lighting. Do you see the "golden hue" on the photo I took. That was planned timing to take advantage of the best lighting.
3. Invest in good lenses. The "glass" is so much more important than megapixels, photoshop or any other sales technique out there designed to part you and your money.
The point is well made ... it's NOT the subject, it's the final photo.
Featured in the Group "Whacked!!!"
Excellent post Mark and terrific shot you took of the house.
Mark,
Ha ha!!! I recognized George right off. Every dog has his day.
Those are both great illustrations on the importance of presentation. Love this post, suggested!
I love this post Mark! What a creative way to make a very valid point! Excellent! ... and just for the record ... I had no idea who that wallflower was. :-)
Point well taken. (But just so you know... I feel in love with my husband before I ever saw even a photo of him) Mind you I wasn't upset when I found out he was handsome.
Hi
Thanks for this post. I must admit I had no clue to who the first photo was. In my humble opinion, beside price, great photos and plenty of them are right up at the top of the list of what is most important for selling a home. The $250 it costs me to hire a great photographer I use frequently is probably the best marketing investment I expend on my listings.
Wow! Proves we all have bad photos out there somewhere.
Mrk, love the analogy. We might all want to print out George's pics (before and after so to speak), and bring with us to listing appointments, especially when recommending to stage a property.
And by the way, the first pic still shows the good looking guy we know, he just has a bad hair cut and ugly glasses...
Mark, that first shot made my stomach queezy! I doubt I would ever have looked at the house! Now, George? I got it right!! And, I didn't cheat. When I was little I would have had a crush on him as a kid too! Great analogy!
Very clever post, Mark. Let's do it again with a girl photo. 8-) You are so right, though. A good photo makes all the difference.
HI Mark,
that goes both ways with photography, and real life, great pictures help, but to much "make up" tinkering and editing can actually back fire, we recently showed property to people that had picked the home because of the pictures to arrive at a big
disappointment
I do agree that you don't want to put too much "make up" when shooting a home (or staging for that matter). But, to use another analogy- think of going on a date. You put on a clean shirt, you shower, you comb your hair just right, maybe spray on a little smell-good. You are still YOU but you are showing yourself off in a positive manner to make a good first impression. Is that considered misleading or overselling when done on the scale that us common folk have done it? I'd say no, it's just putting your best foot forward.
The message I am trying to convey in listing photos is think of that good first impression. Think of showing off the home with it's own version of a clean shirt, shower, hair combed etc. It's just putting the home's "best foot" forward.
Mike- I had started with post with a "girl photo" in mind, like you suggest. But, I remembered my audience and most decision-makers when it comes to where to move to AND most real estate agents are women. So, I switched up to appeal to the majority of the eyeballs likely to see this post.
I did a serious double take on that photo!! Yes image is soooo important and there are many FREE listing flyers, Google flyers, Activerain property flyers, Craigslist flyers, QR codes, Virtual tours, non realestate commercails to send to your database etc. etc. etc.... You just have to check it out a bit!
Craig - Visualshows.com
Hi Mark - I'm stunned at some of the terrible photos that agents are willing to put on the mls. Its astounding particularly in this difficult market with TONS of inventory.
Great photo (yours, of course) and while we are a visual species, your analogy does work better for men than women. We don't mind eye candy in the least but we do fall in love with our ears.
Hi Mark. Excellent comparisons of what photos to use and which ones not to use. There is not doubt your Property Management company is at the top of their came with your beautiful photos of your listings. Many agents have become to careless with their MLS photos. I would hire a professional if I couldn't take a decent photo.
Congratulations on a Nice Featured Post too.
Mark, I'm so glad you mentioned composition skills in one of your comments above! Composition (or the lack of it) seems to be one of the most important skills lacking in the majority of real estate photos.
Hi Mark--you are so right about the photos. And I'm shocked at the high school photo of George Clooney. Bottom line on photos--that's also why we suggest that sellers stage their homes. Photos count.
Bad photo of a house???
Worse is NO PHOTO OF A HOUSE.
I see market reports all day long with no photo of a house, any house. How can a reader put anything into context with no representation of the written text???
Please, give me one photo of a house.
Wow, great visual explanation! This deserves a Feature on AR! Great job!
Hi Mark, You're preaching to the choir here. I cringe when I see some of the embarrassing pics in the MLS.
Mark, that's a fabulous piece on the importance of photos. No wonder it was featured--certainly a good choice. I'm subscribing to your blog, looking forward to many more great lessons. Thanks!
Hi Mark,
This is a great reminder, and I love the visual examples. A well done photo makes a world of difference in presentation!
Hi Mark, great post! Oh, and anytime you put George in a post, let me know, I'm there.
Mark, This is great and I went to push feature and it already was!! Congratulations. You have a way with pictures and words!
Love this post... but mostly cuz I love the Clooney. You are right on for sure! Kathy
Our photos on our listing site have elicited numerous responses from folks who seem them. We've heard "Delgado only gets the nice homes" and we've heard "we've been following your listings page for a while now."
It really is amazing the difference that quality photography can make. In our case it is both helping to shape our reputation and how the public views as and it is also helping to develop a "backlog" of interested renters who keep tabs on us- all because of our photos and presentation!
HI MARK! My mom always said never pass over the kid with the glasses - they usually go far in life! People like things that look good - that's all there is to it! Bad photos, no looks - good photos - sold and rented!
A good photo can make all the difference because we do like eye-candy.
Nice Shot Mark! Google is good at a lot but photography from their moving car is not one of them.
Hi Mark....point well made....I'm advocate for this as well...I see many listings (for sale) on the MLS...with very bad photos or no photo at all....that I don't get!