Month: July 2022

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Why Sellers Should Use High-Quality Property Photos 

property photos

When selling a home, good-quality property photos help you attract more buyers and achieve a higher asking price. What’s not to love? A three-minute read.

One of the golden rules of property selling is not to skimp on photography. And you don’t have to take our word for it – look at the results of a recent survey of home buyers.*

A survey of 1,300 people who had purchased a property within the past six months revealed three critical things:

  • Photography creates a powerful first impression (and we all know first impressions count). 93% of respondents said they formed an opinion of a home based on the imagery.
  • Dodgy photos cost sellers money. 62% of buyers said they’d make an offer below the asking price if the pictures were poor.
  • Good photos generate viewings. 94% of buyers were more inclined to view a property that was marketed with good photos and/or a video tour. Meanwhile, 78% said they’d be less likely to view a property if the photos were howlers.

Why quality pics matter

As most smartphones have decent cameras, you might assume that anyone could grab a few snaps of a property, and no one would be the wiser.

But most prospective buyers are sophisticated social media users and scroll through countless high-quality images online every day.

When buyers see dubious, poorly lit snaps they assume that the seller either doesn’t know what they’re doing or is desperate to offload (both options are likely to prompt a reduced offer).

Conversely, good-quality photos are a sure-fire recipe for attracting higher offers. Property photographers know all the lighting and perspective tricks to ensure a property looks light, bright and welcoming.

But wait, there’s more!

One issue that we’ve noticed in our agency, but didn’t come up in the survey, is that many buyers share the listing of a property with family and close friends before making an offer.

The buyer may be wobbling and want a second opinion or relying on the Bank of Mum and Dad for help with the deposit. So, it goes without saying that you want the images in the listing to be good quality.

We always use high-quality photography here at Chamberlains, as we know it gives sellers the edge. Get in touch with us to learn more about our comprehensive property marketing strategy.

* Survey by Giraffe360.

 

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Top Tips for Successful Property Inspections

property inspections

Inspections are a key part of managing a tenancy so it’s imperative that landlords get them right. Here are some top tips to ensure landlords don’t miss a thing. A two-minute read.

We’ve all heard the horror stories about nightmare tenants who trash a rental property, leaving the landlord up to their neck in repair bills and legal costs. Or maintenance issues that were left and became problematic.

Thankfully, there are ways landlords can minimise these risks and one key strategy is to conduct regular inspections.

Landlords are often diligent with inspections at the start of a tenancy, but things tend to slide over time. This is a big mistake as inspections allow landlords to:

  • Spot mould, leaks, damp or blockages before they become major problems.
  • Guard against subletting and illegal activities.
  • Identify property damage – intentional, neglectful or accidental.
  • Protect themselves in the event of a dispute. (Many insurers won’t pay a claim if the landlord hasn’t been vigilant.)
  • Avoid end-of-tenancy disputes, as issues are dealt with during the tenancy instead.
  • Set the tone of the landlord/tenant relationship. If they know you’re on the ball, tenants are more likely to treat your property with respect.
  • Build trust. Tenants will be grateful to you for sorting out minor issues without prompting.

So, we all agree that inspections are critical, but how can landlords ensure they nail them? Here are seven top tips.

  • By law, a landlord can’t just turn up unannounced – you must give at least 24 hours’ notice. Be reasonable when arranging inspections; you’re trying to work with the tenant, not against them. There are legal procedures to follow for booking an inspection, entering the property for an emergency or if a tenant constantly avoids an inspection.
  • Have a systematic approach. Use a standardised form, and go from room to room, taking photos and notes. Use the check-in inventory as a guide.
  • Don’t just look inside; ensure the tenant is maintaining the garden according to the rules set out in the rental agreement. Also, check pipework (inside and out), drains and electrical sockets.
  • Test alarms and extraction fans.
  • Ask the tenant if there is anything they want to discuss.
  • Once you’ve completed your inspection, sign it and share it with the tenant (ask them to sign it, too).
  • File the inspection so that you have a paper trail in case of a future dispute.

If you don’t have the time or expertise to conduct regular inspections, contact us here at Chamberlains for more information about our tried and tested inspection processes.