How you can make 25% more money as a Realtor ® & sell listings faster.

Yes thats right! More money in your pocket.  Who couldn’t use it these days right!

According to the National Association of Realtors, homes with professional photographs sold anywhere between $934 to $116,076 more than those shot from cheaper, point-and-shoot cameras.  Before you head for the store to buy a SLR camera you might want to take a look at what you need to take good real estate photos.  Here are the basics (just to get started):

1. SLR camera
2. Wide angle lens
3. Strobe
4. Tripod
5. Photo editing program for computer (to resize pics for MLS)

Those can add up to a couple grand and thats not even taking into consideration that you need to know at least the basics in photography like composition, exposure and the rule of thirds.

Feeling insecure?  Do you offer yourself as a  “Full-Service Agent”, without professional photographs?  Real estate agents have no excuse for poor quality photos.  Did you know:  9 out of 10 searching to buy a home begin there search online. When asked, future homeowners stated that a photograph was there most useful tool when buying a home. Great photographs are also to thank for less time a home listing is on the market.

If you are looking into differentiate yourself when going on a listing presentation tell the homeowners your hiring a professional photographer to take pictures of their home, odds are your competition wont be doing the same. You can also include it as a option for the homeowner in the advertising part of your presentation, making the cost sellers responsibility . Most sellers would agree to pay with such great outcomes!

With these kind of  results why do great agents choose to not take advantage of a professional photographer?

Is it time for you to update your headshot?

I was looking at my old headshot today and seriously if someone was looking for me today based on that headshot they would not recognize me.  It got me thinking  of a  few things one should consider when deciding if it’s time to get a new headshot.

• Has your hair changed?
• Has your look changed?
• Is your clothing outdated?
• Does your head shot look exactly like everyone else’s. ( BIG ONE)
• Has it been a year? My rule of thumb… at least once a year!
• Does it not portray your personality

For me, it is a combination of all of them.  I have short hair.  I have colored differently.  It has been way over a year and it absolutely does not portray my personality.  Although very nice, I feel I look a little stuffy.  I am very easy going and actually love the outdoors.  I don’t think you can tell by this picture.  You can have a very professional looking head shot taken outdoors and present yourself as more approachable.  You have more options. You decide what you would like to portray.  Your background can include the San Diego Skyline or the steps to a beautiful home.  It’s something new and fresh.  What do you think?

Getting your listing ready for a shoot.

You might think that having that million dollar listing the house is beautiful enough that you don’t need the owner to do anything to be ready for a shoot.  There is a few things that could help though, and I have them here for you to review.

1. Keep pets out of site or in the garage
2. Cars out of the driveway
3. Trash bins should be put in a place as where the cannot be seen
4. Gardening tools and such things should also be put away
5. Lawn should be freshly mowed
6. The house should be freshly swept and mopped
7. Clean and uncluttered counters
8. The fridge should not have anything as in pictures or magnets
9. Personal items in bathrooms should be put away
10. A excess of personal pictures and mementos should be put away as well.  Remember you want them to picture themselves in this house.

If you keep these things in mind and you look around the house when taking the listing you wont have to ask for anything to be done.  If not I have found an easy way to let them know that some of their personal items can be clutter by telling them you want to stage their home.  There is nothing like having that picture perfect home ready . . . [”0*]

Isela Espana Design Studio ~ Photography is Now Open for Business

This weekend I officially started the photography aspect of my company.  I am very excited to get this new venture up and going.  I will be sharing with you my journey as a new business owner and its trials, errors and success’s.