Successfully marketing a real estate property in Houston, TX requires a professional photographer and videographer to help elevate the property and attract the best possible tenants. Even the most luxurious properties featuring gorgeous views of downtown or sitting in highly sought-after neighborhoods like River Oaks need more than just a For Sale sign out front. The most crucial component of a successful real estate listing is the photographs and videos of the property. The main photo is the first thing that potential buyers see. As such, it often serves as the initial deciding factor. Use a picture that captures attention and makes people want to click or learn more. Rely on a professional photographer to make this a reality.
Services Offered by Professional Photographers in Real Estate
When you hire a professional photographer, you can choose to get more than the typical photos of the inside and outside of your Houston house. Most photographers offer at least one additional service, which may include:
• Drone photos or videos: pictures or videos taken from the sky and looking down on your Houston property, highlighting its size and proximity to popular landmarks like Discovery Green or Buffalo Bayou Park
• Floor plans: a precise layout of your home mapped out like a blueprint, typically with room names and size specified
• 3D virtual tours: an immersive experience making viewers feel as if they are seeing every corner of your Houston home through their computer screen
• Virtual staging: furniture and items purposely brought in and arranged to showcase each room or entire home
Benefits of Professional Photography
It Shows Your Houston Property in its Best Light
Photographers take pictures for a living, so they can take one look at any room in your Houston home and know which angle will show off natural light best or how to highlight tall ceilings. They know how to utilize tools at their disposal to make each room and key feature stand out to an audience. They also understand that not every room needs showcasing, as some may not help sell or rent the property. Therefore, they will not waste time photographing that room.
It Makes Your Houston Property Stand Out
Professional photography is one of the most powerful marketing tools for your Houston rental property. It typically leads to more clicks on a listing and more people booking a showing.
The Photos Can be Used Again and Again
The only way to save time and money on retakes is to secure a professional photographer the first time. If you try taking pictures on your phone, for instance, you may notice that a shot is slightly blurry when transferred to a bigger screen.
Photos Will be High Resolution
The last thing anyone wants is to click on a picture of your Houston property to see it bigger and find the image is blurry or distorted. This happens when photos have low resolution, as those taken by phones often are. A professional photographer will only provide high-resolution images that can scale without any sign of pixelation.
Advantages of Professional Videography
Attracts Potential Buyers or Renters From Afar
3D video tours and aerial drone videos provide the complete package, which often means buyers or renters do not need to ever step foot on your Houston property to make an offer. Having this available means expanding your reach beyond those in neighboring towns like Sugar Land or The Woodlands to people in other cities, states, and even countries.
Bumps Up the Sticker Price of Your Houston Property
Just like with professional photographers, a professional video of your Houston home automatically makes it seem more enticing and more expensive at the same time. The allure of these additional features is enough that buyers often do not mind paying more.
Cuts Down on Floor Plan Confusion
When potential buyers or renters see pictures, they get a pretty good idea of what to expect from a Houston home. However, they rarely see the hallways and other transitional areas. When they visit the property in person, narrow hallways and scrunched areas can become an instant deal breaker. With a professional video of the property, you can reduce the number of people who come in with high hopes and leave with disappointment, which frees up time for serious buyers or renters.
Picking the Perfect Photographer/Videographer for Your Houston Property
Do not hire a photographer claiming to have worked in the real estate industry without researching first. Not all photography is the same, so you want to be sure that you hire a photographer who truly knows what to do when capturing your Houston property. Before making your selection, consider these factors:
• Past work: Is there a complete portfolio including at least one property with all important shots in the portfolio? Do you like how these pictures showcase homes in Houston?
• Fine print: Are the photographer’s terms clear? Do you agree to those terms? For example, are you free to alter the pictures, or does the photographer own rights to all images?
• Policies: Will there be a charge if you have to cancel or reschedule? What happens if there is rain when the photographer is scheduled to take outdoor shots?
• Turnaround time: How long will it take to get the pictures after they are taken?
• Additional services: Does the photographer offer a website promoting your Houston property? Is this where you will have to go to retrieve the photos, or will they be sent to you via email?
• Communication: Have you been able to get in touch with the photographer thus far? Has he or she responded promptly?
Preparing Your Houston Property
Even if you select a photographer that offers virtual staging, there are still some things you will have to do to prepare your Houston property for professional photos. Ideally, you want to clean anything that appears dirty and eliminate any visible clutter. Run down the following checklist to ensure you are prepared.
• Thoroughly clean bathroom fixtures
• Thoroughly clean the kitchen sink and all counters
• Make all beds in the house
• Remove any items that indicate pets live or lived in the space
• Hide any personal photographs or mementos
• Put coats, shoes, hats, and other accessories in closets
• Remove any furniture and decorations that are not needed
• Turn on all lights in the whole house
• Pick up the yard and landscape, if necessary
Final Words
Correctly marketing a Houston property is ultimately key to its success. The most important part of that marketing plan is amazing photographs highlighting features and spectacular videos showcasing space. Secure a professional photographer and videographer for your Houston rental property today.
If you’re looking for professional property management services in Houston, TX, contact Specialized Property Management. Our team of experts can help make your rental property stand out from the competition while providing top-notch service for both owners and tenants alike. Don’t wait – reach out to us today!
