Real estate marketing is changing fast. Find out what it takes to market your real estate listing in a new world post-COVID-19.
2020 is throwing the world some real nasty curveballs, and it looks likely to continue for some time. COVID-19 has affected almost every person and industry all over the world.
The real estate industry is not immune to the sudden economic downturn, and the threat that the pandemic poses to the ways we do business. Your ability to respond with agility, creativity, and speed is going to be vital if your business is going to survive and thrive during this difficult season.
When it comes to marketing real estate, the internet has assumed more importance than ever before. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, travel has been limited to most people. They have been instructed to stay in their homes except for essential business. They need to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Once these restrictions are lifted, it is very likely that people will continue to be reluctant to go out and visit properties in person, making it critical to have as much information online as possible.
This is our new reality and nobody knows just how long this is going to last. What we do know is that the way people will be buying and selling homes IS going to change. Likely, forever.
If you want to ensure that your real estate photography business is going to survive and thrive through this season, you need to evolve. Start by making use of some of the incredible online tools that are available right now to help homebuyers continue to visit homes remotely, especially during these times of social distancing.
Let’s take a look at some of the most important tools at your disposal in the real estate marketing field:
- Single Property Websites – Create a beautiful website to help your property stand out online. Add photographs, 3D tours, floor plans, amenities, and neighborhood information, and connect it all to your client’s email so they can start capturing more interested buyers.
- Virtual Staging – Turn photos of an empty room into a fully staged masterpiece that catches the eye and inspires home buyers. It’s not only a great way to save time and money but it also limits the amount of foot traffic in/out of the home.
- Real Estate Video – Video is a more popular sales tool than ever before. In particular, drone footage has become extremely popular when it comes to real estate marketing. It can give a grand overview, show a sense of proportions, and allow you to get a new perspective on the property. All in all, it adds a whole new layer of glamour and information to a property listing.
- Virtual Tours – Using the latest 3D technology, consumers can literally ‘walk through’ each room and level of the home they are thinking of buying. It allows potential buyers to ‘walk through’ rooms, inspect every amenity, and get a sense of the layout of the property without ever having to leave their couch.
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How Much Do These Services Cost
As a real estate photographer, you’ll have to be smart about selecting the best provider(s) to work with in terms of both quality and price. Here are some cost averages for 2020.
- Single Property Websites – from $9 to $29
- Virtual Staging – from $25 to $150 per room
- 3D Virtual Tours – from $10 to $50, but you’ll need to buy a special camera first (Matterport or iGuide are the two leaders in the space) which can cost $3,000 to $5,000
- Real Estate Video – from free (DIY) to $5,000 depending on your skillset and equipment needs.
How Much do I Charge for These Services
That all depends on the market that you’re operating in, and what your clients are willing to pay for your services.
Our recommended pricing is as follows:
- Single Property Websites – starting at $50 per site
- Virtual Staging – anywhere from $50 to $200 per room depending on your market
- 3D Virtual Tours – anywhere from $50 to $200 depending on your market
- Real Estate Video – anywhere from $50 to $5,000 depending on the listing and video requirements
It’s a fact, the real estate industry has and will continue to change after COVID-19. Once real estate agents and home sellers and buyers begin to recognize that fact, there’s no doubt that they’ll be moving more of their marketing online.
For real estate photographers, it’s easier than ever to use the services of companies like PhotoUp which offer a full suite of services. PhotoUp offers everything from real estate photo editing to virtual staging and single property websites, all wrapped up into a single platform built specifically for real estate photographers.
Let PhotoUp help you become a one-stop-shop for digital real estate marketing and help save your clients time and money in the process.
