Hard to Photograph Listings

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 19:41:16 -0600

I think one of my favorite things about getting a new listing is taking the pictures of the property.

I enjoy REALLY looking at a home or a piece of land, trying to figure out would be the best shots. Typically, I will take an entire roll of film, or in the age of digital cameras - I'll use up all of the available shots. Afterwards, I sort through the pictures, deciding which ones "best" highlight the property. For me, the ultimate compliment is when my pictures remind my clients of why they love their home or land.

I'll admit, some places are harder to photograph than others. I've noticed that lots and small tracts of acreage tends to present some of the biggest challenges. Looking at the MLS and Realtor.com, it appears many agents don't even attempt to photograph these types of listings. Many agents will have just one shot - the view from the road. Often times, it is just a bunch of trees or a wide open spaces.

With hard to photograph listings, I try to look a little closer. I try to put myself in the buyers shoes. If I was buying the property myself, what about it would appeal the most to me? For example, I have a listing at 322 Doe Run in Caldwell, Texas. It is 3.44 acres, mostly wooded that is situated on a corner that is selling for $14,500. When I was taking pictures, I didn't want it to be just another lot listing. I wanted to show that it is a special place. Even if the amount of acreage is too large or too small, I'd still like to show what property in this area offers. Maybe someone might decide the Bryan College Station, Texas area would be a great place to raise a family or to retire at. (Hmm...that's part of the underlying purpose of many of my posts on AR.)

I'll share some of the pictures I took. The first two pictures are a little more on the "boring" side but they will give you a good idea of what I was trying to work with: A tract of land on a nice, quiet country road.

Here is a view of the property from the road, which I have taken at an angle. It allows the view to see more of the property from this angle.

I think the trees look nicer from this angle.

Below is another view from the other road.

Both of these pictures serve a purpose of giving a realistic, street view of the property. However, when a buyer or even an agent is flipping through numerous listings, I'm not sure that they alone will sell the property alone. (Actually, this is not a bad looking country road.)

As the listing agent, I want to try to get the potential buyer involved with the property somehow.

So, I get out and start walking the property, taking pictures of what ever catches my fancy.

I took 25 pictures of this 3.44 acre property.

<This one ended up being my favorite and I use it as the primary picture.

Personally, I've always been drawn to meadows and cleared spaces (clearings). My eye tends to follow the trail into the distance. It makes me want to find out what is at the end of the path. What do you think?

Given that I'm a horse person, I find myself wondering - is there enough room to ride horses? Obviously, not all buyers are horse people, so I try put myself in their shoes.

Could this be a nice homesite? I want potential buyers to ask questions. I want them to want to make the drive to see the property.

Although this picture is nice, what else would a buyer possibly find captivating about this property?

Well, there are lots of trees.

Beauty abounds in nature.

Some people might find this picture relaxing. Some might find it interesting.

Some might say, "Well, it wouldn't be too hard hard to clear that yaupon (the brush) out with a dozer." That could be a nice shade tree.

Wildflowers

Although it was not spring when these pictures were taken, there were still wild flowers to be found.

I could see a family buying this place and going out there on the weekends. If they had children, I know that the children would enjoy picking flowers.

Although I have been teased about this picture looking like dog poop, if you will look at it closely, you will see that it is a

Deer Track >>>>

People always seem to notice tracks. And what could be more fitting, deer tracks on Doe Run?

Since this property is part of the Beaver Creek subdivision, I decided to take a picture of one of the lakes that all of the residents are allowed to use.

Not only do the residents have access to their 3.44 acre retreat, they can go fishing whenever they want.

On my actual listing, I placed this picture last. I also made sure to clearly indicate the use of this lake is a benefit of buying within the subdivision. I do not want to confuse anyone and make them think that this is on the property or is a view from the property.

Well, hopefully, this will give you some ideas about what kind of pictures that you can take for land/lost listings. You may have to go out more than once to take pictures, but to me... that is part of being a listing agent. If you don't like to take pictures, find somone who does.

Bottom line: Always put yourself in the buyers shoes.

Good luck.

Localism: Caldwell, TX

Hard to Photograph Listings