The Impossible/Possible Balance

The Trick of Creating More with Less

An observation specifically aimed to help Estate Agents.

Over recent years there has been a massive move in how Estate Agents do business. Yet again it is the internet to blame. You would have thought these high street leaders would have seen it coming, but many seem slow to react.

And still today despite all the evidence as to the amount of properties sold on-line, how many persist with town centre real estate?

As a professional photographer for over 30 years, these changes have affected my business too. Since specialising in property photography, EPC's and Floor Plans, I've grown closer to the clients themselves. Maybe I can ask questions that are too scary for the Estate Agents themselves to ask?

What to ask?

I ask what do you like or dislike about your dealings with your Estate Agent? I also ask how they found out about the property they wish to purchase.

The answers to the first question are another blog post altogether, but the second is relevant here. More than 9 out of 10 people I ask, say they found their next home on-line. I then ask what was it about that particular property that they liked, what caught their eye? Around 8 out of 10 said the photographs. They could imagine fully what the house was like before even going to view it. Some said they were put off by bad images. Dark images, over bright images, images from funny angles and images with clutter and unmade beds etc!

Getting the Balance Right

Like life, Estate Agents have multiple options to capture the essence of a property.

1. DIY - or get the untrained office boy or valuer to do it. You may think this is cheap, but is it? The quality is certainly the lowest. Then you've still got to pay for the time of whichever member of staff is short-listed to take the photos.
2. MIDDLEMAN - you can pay a princely sum to contract out a professional photographer to take the photos and edit them for you, maybe even create a slideshow. Average costs to the vendor average around £350+VAT. At least one phone call takes care of everything.
3. THE PROPERTY PROFESSIONAL - Top quality with all the advantages of the middleman, yet a faster more personal service. And if you think about it from £39 for a 1-2 bedroom house, this is exceedingly good value.

True Worth

If you think about it a home with professional photos will sell faster, and for a higher price. So unless you like your vendors jumping ship to go with another Estate Agent your only choice is option 2 or 3.

I've personally seen a house with no interest have professional photographs taken and the house sold in 2 weeks for £10k more than what the vendors had been expecting. Can you now see how a little investment in hiring a professional can result in a truly massive return?

PWP Property Services

If you are a North East Estate Agents and want to find out more about our photography, EPC and Floor Plan packages, give the man that can a call Dun-Can on 07795 681 507. Thank you

Web:pwp-propertyservices.co.uk          Email: duncan@pwp-propertyservices.co.uk