How Great Listing Photography (And The NY Times) Helped Sell This Fairmont Home

November 11th, 2019 by Heritage Realty International Inc.

Fairmont Home for Sale - Heritage Real Estate Co.

The motto of the New York Times, the most well-known newspaper in the United States, is, "All the news that's fit to print." Thanks to the know-how of our broker, the Times recently saw fit to print a Heritage Real Estate listing from one of our great Fairmont homes for sale.

So how did our listing get this prestigious placement? The story illustrates the power of quality visuals and skillful marketing in selling real estate.

Setting the Stage

Broker Heather Neill received a listing for a charming 1927 Tudor Revival house in Fairmont. Knowing the importance of strong visual content in online marketing, Heather followed her customary practice of filming a live video walk-through, posting an immersive 3-D walk-through, and taking carefully composed still photos.

Before long, Heather's postings went viral. One posting alone received upwards of 5,300 views with 1,900 likes. Even more impressive are the 2,700 shares that gave the listing a greater visibility than was ever possible before the days of digital marketing.

Gaining National Notice

One of these shares reached the eyes of the NYT columnist Julie Lasky, who decided the Fairmont Tudor would make a perfect selection for a feature on $225,000 homes in three different states. Julie contacted Heather and conducted a 30-minute interview on the home, as well as the Fairmont area and its history.

The resulting article first ran in the NYT column "What You Get," which focuses on homes, amenities, and prices around the country. Many similar homes in other areas of the country would go for five times as much, or more. The article then appeared in the print version the following Sunday. Total weekly circulation for combined print and digital editions of the NYT is 4.8 million readers.

Before long, driven largely by her detailed and inviting photography, Heather generated seven offers on the home. Ultimately, one of the offers was accepted, making for a happy buyer and seller.

Tips on Taking Good Listing Photos

Our real estate agents, including Heather, offer their top tips for taking quality photos to boost a home's listing.

Think like a buyer. The qualities that attracted you to your home are likely to be the same features that will appeal to others.
Clean up the clutter. Messy may say lived-in to you, but it's a turn-off to buyers.
Make sure windows sparkle. Clean windows allow natural light to shine through.
Pay attention to the view outside the windows. An otherwise stunning shot can be ruined by poor landscaping or toys scattered in the yard.
Always stage your home. Even if you're still living there, rearrange furniture as needed to create a clean, open look. Consider hiring a professional stager who understands current styles and proper placement.
Pay attention to details. Are bedclothes wrinkled? Is the toilet open? Seemingly minor things will stand out like a sore thumb in photos.
Add a pop of color. While neutral color palettes offer the widest appeal, colorful accessories, such as a vase of flowers or throw pillows, make a photo really stand out.

Whether you're buying or selling a home, we go the extra mile to obtain the results you want. Contact us at Heritage Real Estate to get started.

Categories: Sell a Home

Tags: homes for sale, Heritage Realty International Inc., homeselling tips, for sellers