They find it vital for a positive first impression of a property
Property listing photos remains hugely influential when it comes to attracting buyer interest and securing the best price for a house for sale, research by estate agent photography provider Giraffe360 has revealed.
When asked about their recent house hunt, a huge 93% of homebuyers said that the online photos of a property were an important factor when it came to grabbing their attention while scrolling through the property portals.
An identical percentage of buyers thought that these property listing photos were of great importance when it came to forming the all-important positive first impression of a property.
A high 94% stated they would be more inclined to view a property that was presented online with good photos, an interactive tour, or both.
The survey of over 1,300 recent homebuyers also revealed that estate agents who are not delivering the visual goods are also damaging their own reputation, as well as their chances of selling a home.
Over three-quarters (78%) stated that they would be less inclined to view a property with bad photos, no interactive tour, or both.
What’s more, 40% of buyers said they wasted time viewing unsuitable properties because the photos were poor, or there was no interactive tour, and so they couldn’t tell the property wasn’t for them until they actually viewed it in person.
Also, 62% of homebuyers would offer below asking price for a home they liked, simply because a below par online portrayal had created a bad first impression.
It is not just home sellers who are suffering due to poor digital presentation as 81% of homebuyers stated that a poorly presented property listing would also negatively impact their opinion of the selling agent, making them appear unprofessional, low budget, and giving the impression that they offer a poor service.
“The current market is incredibly competitive and with stock levels remaining insufficient, buyers are falling over themselves to secure a purchase. But that doesn’t mean the basic foundations are no longer important when it comes to presenting your home on the market,” Mikus Opelts, chief executive at Giraffe360, remarked.
He pointed out that a poorly presented property listing can still deter buyers from viewing the property and those that do may even reduce their offer as a result.
“The repercussions aren’t just refined to those looking to sell, and, in this day and age, any agent producing smartphone photos to showcase their latest stock are really shooting themselves in the foot,” Opelts stressed.
“Doing so creates an aura of unprofessionalism and poor service and with the advancements in technology available in today’s market, there’s no excuse.”
The survey of 1,313 homebuyers who have bought a home in the last six months was commissioned by ProperPR on behalf of Giraffe360 via consumer research platform, FindOutNow. It was conducted on April 28, 2022.
