Aerial View, Real Estate Photography Brisbane Ipswich

Thursday 11-Mar-10

Understand "free" photography offers

Free photography can mean a number of things.

Poor quality shots taken with a pocket camera, or by a non-professional photographer.
These images are generally inferior, and simply do not make your property look the best it can.
If your property is not looking its best, you cannot expect to achieve the best price for it.
"Free to you", because the agency will absorb the cost of professional photography themselves.
Before you sign anything, check for any "strings attached" with the offer.
Often, the photography can only be used with that one agency, and severely limits your marketing options.

We see this scenario regularly...

A vendor signs up with an agency, and has the "free" professional photography.

For what ever reason, the property does not sell by the end of the contracted term.

The vendor then decides to try a different agency, and asks for those free photos to use elsewhere.

First agency says NO!

Hang on, wasn't it free, why can't I have them?

This is often due to the agency paying for the pictures, and does NOT want to give them away, for a competitor to use.

You are now back at square one.

At this point, you do what you should have done in the first place...

Invest the small amount in our services, so YOU have control over when, where, and who uses the images.

When is "free" really free?

Only when the agency gives you all the images, at no cost, and without any watermarks or branding, burnt onto a CD so you can them elsewhere for the purpose of marketing your property.
If you have any doubts about this, call your agent, and put them to the test, NOW!

What to do now?

Compared to the overall cost of selling, professional photography is insignificant, yet the more important consideration.

It is recommended that the vendor pays for professional photography, then you have the flexibility of engaging different agents, should you decide to. Also, having a CD of pictures to keep, makes great memories of your "old place".