this agent says you absolutely must use a professional photographer

What Makes Professional Real Estate Photography a Necessity in the Baltimore Area?

Why is professional real estate photography a necessity in Baltimore?

Real estate agent Peter Lorimer shares his thoughts about using a professional photographer in this video, saying:

"You absolutely must, must, MUST have professional photographs taken in a house..."

Why does Peter say real estate photography is so important?

It's because these days people, especially buyers under the age of 40, have grown up in the internet age and are used to flicking past images that don't grab their attention.

"You might have a gorgeous, stunning house, but if your photographs are crap-ola, they're not going to stop on it and they're going to bypass you."

Peter also makes the point that more eyes equals more buyers which equals a better sale.  This is the common economic formula of supply and demand.  When there is more demand for something this helps to increase the price, which is something both sellers and agents want.

"So if you don't have professional photography - just spring for it. It's somewhere between $200 and $400 bucks, generally. And it's a tax deduction."

That's a great point - real estate agents can claim photography as a business expense.

So how much should you pay for a professional real estate photographer in the Baltimore area?  Well, Peter lives in Beverly Hills where photography prices are higher than in other parts of the country, especially when compared to smaller cities and towns.

However, you want to avoid the temptation of working with the cheapest real estate photographer you can find because with photography services, as with any other service, you get what you pay for.  So if you choose a lower priced photographer the chance is that you will probably get a lower quality result.  If you choose a photographer that is above average in price then you will probably get a higher quality result.  Go with quality - every time - your bank account (and your sellers) will thank you for it.

Professional real estate agents should act like professionals.

Peter also states:

"You are not doing your sellers the service you should be."

Home sellers hire a real estate agent to provide professional services for them. They entrust the sale of a valuable asset to an individual they believe to be knowledgeable as well as professional, and expect that person to do the very best job for them.  So if an agent cuts corners for their own benefit to save a few dollars then that is not acting professionally, and is not providing the kind of service an agent should be giving.

This point has also been made by North Carolina real estate agent Leigh Brown in this video:

... where she says:

"(Professional photography is) one of the services that ought to be provided to all consumer listings, regardless of price point... Consumers deserve it. You're calling yourself a professional realtor, and I think it's a professional standard we should all be holding up."

It's worth reading that quote again if you didn't catch it the first time because I think a lot of agents, especially those outside of Baltimore and other major metropolitan areas, miss that point.

Tips for a real estate agent considering a real estate photographer in the Baltimore area:

If you are a real estate agent in the Baltimore area, regardless of the current market conditions, regardless of where you live, and regardless of the value of a home you are listing, hire a professional real estate photographer and follow these tips:

  1. Hire a photographer based on the quality of the photography and not on price.
  2. Be consistent with your photos - don't do it yourself with your phone camera just because it's a low priced home.
  3. The expectations of buyers and sellers are not the same as they were in 1997 - things have changed, and you might need to change your marketing so you don't get left behind.

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