There was a time when you or your real estate agent would snap a few quick listing photos with a cheap disposable camera, and that was good enough. But not anymore, thanks chiefly to the Internet. Because nearly 90% of buyers go online to search for homes, listing photos – quality photos – are now critical. Listing photos impact the sale of your Buffalo home in several key areas: whether it sells at all, how quickly it sells, and the selling price.
When it comes to selling your home in Buffalo, first impressions matter—and they often happen online. Most buyers begin their home search on the internet, which means your listing photos play a major role in whether someone schedules a showing or scrolls past your property.
High-quality listing photos can attract more buyers, generate more showings, and even help your home sell faster and for more money. Here’s how your photos impact your sale and what you can do to maximize their effectiveness.
General Observations About Listing Photos
According to the National Association of Realtors, 89% of buyers who searched for homes online reported photos as the most useful feature on the listing sites they visited. But those listing photos absolutely must be top quality. So if you don’t use a professional photographer (which is advised in most cases) and take the photos yourself, then you at least need to make sure it’s DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) photography.
Across all price levels, sellers who use DLSR listing photos are far likelier to sell their homes within six months than those who use point-and-shoot photos. For example, 64% homes in the $4000,000-$500,000 range sell in less than six months with DLSR photos, but only 46% of homes with point-and-shoot photos sell within that six-month period. For high-end, luxury homes in the $1,000,000+ range, those percentages work out to 35% and 30%.
In addition, with the evolution in digital photography equipment and the rise of more sophisticated online platforms, virtual tours have become increasingly important as a selling tool. Simply put, virtual reality and virtual tours allow realtors to better serve their clients. Digital images are perfect for a quick, professional showcasing of a home’s features, and virtual tours are great for buyers searching for homes long distance.
So, then, if you want a quicker sale, it pays to pay for professional DSLR listing photos.
Listing Photos for a Quicker Sale
As a general rule, professionally photographed homes are more likely to sell, more likely to sell at a better price, and will usually sell more quickly. As we mentioned, because most buyers begin their home search online, this is now a critical aspect of the home buying process. As a consequence, homes with quality online listing photos generally sell faster. The photos get buyers to visit the home because they have a fairly good idea of what the home is like beforehand.
Most buyers decide whether to tour a home based solely on photos. If your images look professional and appealing, buyers are more likely to take the next step. Poor photos can cause your home to sit on the market longer—even if it’s priced well.
Staging your home before photos are taken can dramatically improve results. Decluttering, rearranging furniture, and adding simple décor allows your home to photograph better and appear more spacious.
Here’s some statistical proof regarding the quicker sale of homes with quality photos as against those with poor photos:
- $400,000 homes sell three weeks sooner
- $1,000,000 homes sell four days faster
Quality Listing Photos for More Money
It’s a given that listing photos impact the sale of your Buffalo home, and sharp photos have the greatest impact. The necessary sharpness is achieved through the use of a good camera with a good lens and proper lighting. None of these elements can be neglected for impactful listing photos.
Whether you’re photographing a living room or the front yard, the sharpest photos get the best results. According to one relevant real estate study, homes with the sharpest photos (in the top 10%) sold at or above the list price 44% of the time. And homes with photos of just average sharpness sold at or above list price only 13% of the time.
So do your listing photos impact the sale of your Buffalo home? You bet they do. Quality photos can help you sell it faster and at a better price. But you still have to know what to do with those clear, sharp photos once you have them. You have to know the best online venues where they will have the most sales impact.
Your listing photos are one of the most powerful marketing tools when selling your home in Buffalo. Investing in professional photography can lead to more interest, faster offers, and a smoother selling experience.
If you’re thinking about selling and want your home to stand out online, working with a local real estate professional who prioritizes high-quality marketing can make all the difference.