need help getting started with my Real Estate/Home Photography service!?
I Really need some extra money, and I have a laptop, professional grade digital camera. So I would like to offer my services as a real estate/Home for sale, photographer. Here where i live in Southern California, Real Estate is a hot market, and many agents just don’t have the time to run all over taking pictures.
My question is; How Can I offer my services? How is the best way to Reach agents and make them aware of my service? Should I actually call offices, and speak with agents, letting them know I can help them?, Should I contact them by email. Or should i just place ads in newspapers and/or online? I really need some help on this one. (I’m hoping to get some replies from actual Real Estate Agents, all replies are welcome & appreciated!)
I did already go ahead an place an ad online, it appears as below. Any tips on my ad would also be appreciated, Thanks
[I will Take pictures of your homes for sale inside & out, for real estate agents, or anyone trying to sell their home!
I take great pictures, and have a professional grade digital camera.
I can work anywhere in the Hemet, San Jacinto, Sage, Idyllwild, Sun City, Menifee, Homeland, Romoland, Nuevo Area's.
I can either immediately put your photos on CD on site, or if your busy and not able to be at location I can Deliver your CD and pick up payment to a nearby location.(must receive payment sameday) Or if preferred, I can email pictures to your computer.
Just send me an EMAIL with the location, what you need done, and I'll get back to you promptly.
I generally Charge $25 for outside (approx. 10 photo's) & $40 for inside & out (approx. 20 photo's) Depending on your locations and needs.
My name is Justin and I live in Hemet, Ca. Thanks]
Since you can’t legally enter the property without the agent there this isn’t going to be a big time saver.
The MLS takes pics of the outside for part of the listing fee to the agent. They pay 5 bucks a shot, but only hire people with a license.
This company, http://www.obeo.com/ makes really lovely video presentations of homes and only charges $75, and they take care of everything, add it to the listing themselves, etc.
February 9th, 2010 at 10:26 pm
Since you can’t legally enter the property without the agent there this isn’t going to be a big time saver.
The MLS takes pics of the outside for part of the listing fee to the agent. They pay 5 bucks a shot, but only hire people with a license.
This company, http://www.obeo.com/ makes really lovely video presentations of homes and only charges $75, and they take care of everything, add it to the listing themselves, etc.
References :
February 9th, 2010 at 10:33 pm
I have worked with several photographers like yourself. Best thing to do is find specific things you can offer to agents, and specific niche markets you want to service. I do several areas of business where a photographer would be truly helpful.
Videos, or virtual tours are what an agent like myself would be looking for. If you could provide a nice video presentation, or slide presentation that could be posted on a website or run on a laptop during an openhouse, that would be great! Now a days a quality camera is so inexpensive that almost every agent has a 12 mp + camera that they can toss around in their briefcase. Heck most phones now are 3.2 mp + . I use my bb storm to take all my photos and you wouldn’t be able to tell! So personally videos are the way to go!
Second…get involved in the BPO (broker price opinion) market. A broker price opinion is a service that certain agents do (I myself being one of them). It’s an appraisal (can’t call it that though, since agents arent licensed appraisers…well most of them, there is the exception.) that the agent does for a bank either looking to foreclose, refinance, or give a line of credit to a client. The agent must take photos of either the exterior or interior of the home. Exterior is simple….drive by, snap a photo of the outside, street sign, and scene of the street (looking down the street). Interior must have all that, plus every room. No artsy photos, just 5 minutes (for exteriors I don’t even leave my car). Now for me if I had a photographer willing to travel in my state I could dish out a lot more productivity, and a lot more orders. For me I only do what I can in and around my area. The thing is you won’t make a lot of money. I’ve used a photographer and could only pay max of 20 dollars. Reason being is that banks only pay out about 45-75 per order.
As far as getting involved in this. Do some research. Personally best way is to combine your service maybe with a home staging service and try to get in front of the realtors at a weekly meeting. Have some take homes about your service, and go from there!
Also email campaigns, and going to trade shows might work. In the state I work we have a yearly realtor trade show. Check it out!
References :
February 9th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
There are sites and companies dedicated just for photos. For instance Fast Snap. Go to fastsnap.com and sign up. You must be available to answer immediately so send to cell or blackberry/smartphone. The orders come in to many people and the first one who grabs it gets it. There are others as well but here is a start
JrP
Philbricks Building Inspections & Field Services
References :
fastsnap.com and contact and work with the same