Most estate agents aren't taught to be estate agents (how much training do you need to use a tape measure and put an ad in the paper?), can't imagine there would be any training on taking a half decent photograph. Didn't they used to employ a Pro to do this before they all started driving round in Porches?
Estate Agent's are they taught?
- Thread starter Neil79
- Start date
My step dad is an estate agent and has always taken the pictures himself as he's fussy.
Even did it himself before he started driving round in a Porsche
Looking on his website now and they look alright, won't win any awards but aren't bad like the op has described.
Even did it himself before he started driving round in a Porsche
Looking on his website now and they look alright, won't win any awards but aren't bad like the op has described.
Associate
Seriously dude?
I wouldn't buy a Swiss watch based on a photograph in the same way I wouldn't buy a house. I buy my watches in person, in a shop - if I'm dropping £10K + on an item I don't do that on the basis of a photo of it!
I agree that rubbish pictures aren't a positive feature, but realisitically the photos will be pretty unimportant compared to location, size and price. When I've bought houses I've never once given a toss about the decor etc or how they look in the estate agents photos - all that is easily changed once you've bought the thing.
I wouldn't buy a Swiss watch based on a photograph in the same way I wouldn't buy a house. I buy my watches in person, in a shop - if I'm dropping £10K + on an item I don't do that on the basis of a photo of it!
I agree that rubbish pictures aren't a positive feature, but realisitically the photos will be pretty unimportant compared to location, size and price. When I've bought houses I've never once given a toss about the decor etc or how they look in the estate agents photos - all that is easily changed once you've bought the thing.
I totally disagree, photos are still important enough to get you to even consider a viewing of the house. No pictures or they are a bit rubbish then you may not even bother.
It's the same, if not more important with rental properties.
At the end of the day, you can try and pretend it doesn't matter, but it does, as somebody else will have better pictures than you for a similar property and would likely get more viewings.
Crap photos also say a lot about whether they are trying to hide something.
I'd say decent photos are more of a necessity in the rentals market than in the buy/sell market, but they are important none the less. Whilst you might not like it, a lot of first impressions on both the estate agent and their properties are formed very quickly. If they can give you a s****y (<- LOL) leaflet for each house on nice paper and with some decent quality photos in it, it does make a difference. If it didn't help at least a little, good estate agents wouldn't bother, would they?
BTW, tongue firmly in cheek, just jealous
Ironically for most part it's true though
Whilst he loves his car (has always wanted one and recently was able to get one) he does cringe occasionally at the thought of the impression it must give to some people when pulling up to their houses.
For every person who likes it, which can be a good ice breaker/conversation piece, I'm sure there's someone who just thinks 'cretin'
All his stuff is done with a point and shoot as well, although he goes through them quite quickly as they get flung around quite a bit. Out of all the ones he has had over the years (seem to remember some Ricoh ones he had that were good as they had a decent wide angle) he reckons a recent Nikon Coolpix thing was the best, only cost £100 or so.
Soldato
It depends how much you stretch them.
Soldato
Yup.
Couple of months ago Mum showed me the listing of a house she was selling. The estate-agent had taken the worst photos known to man. I kid you not, my drunken iPhone photos are better than what they came up with.
I was tempted to go down with the DSLR and get some proper photos myself and get them to use mine instead!
Having said that, the house got plenty of viewings and was due to exchange contracts today - so despite not being good with a camera the estate agent did their job!
Associate
when my uncle was selling his 800k house they sent a guy with a 5yr old compact that had the flash selotaped on. he told them to **** off and got me in to take the shots instead.
