A Realtor's Guide to Choosing a Media Company
You know you need the best, highest quality real estate media to get and sell your next listing. It’s essential to get eyeballs on your inventory, to help your reels grab attention on Instagram, and to get those saves on Zillow. There’s never been more competition for listings, and all top producing agents are using professional photography & videography now. But as with anything, you want to get the best deal for your money. So how do you choose, especially if you’re not an “artsy type”? You have a few options but they aren’t all built the same. Let’s look at some considerations when choosing the best real estate media company to work with.
This shouldn’t be a casual decision. The media company you choose will be part of your marketing team and is a reflection on your brand. There’s advantages to being monogamous - you can provide your clients a consistent experience, all your media assets will be in one place, and you’ll be well-versed in the marketing tools that company offers, so you can provide tailor-made solutions to your clients. It’s important to choose a company that you feel confident that you can trust.
So how do you decide which company is right for you?
1.) Quality
Let’s start with the obvious. The real estate media company you choose will be creating pretty much all the photos and videos you post on your business social media pages, website, and MLS. The quality of those images will have a direct reflection on you brand. Choose a company whose work you love. There’s several different approaches to interiors photography, from lower quality options like HDR, to more complex processes like photo compositing. Some photographers use flash, some use long exposures, or a combination of techniques. All of these things, plus the photographer’s eye, can contribute to the final look of the photo or video. Make sure you’re happy with the vendor you pick.
2) Experience & Reputation
You want your photo shoots to go off without a hitch, so it’s important you work with a company with experienced photographers with a proven track record, who can deliver consistent results on time. You want to work with a team that’s seen it all and knows how to make your listing look its best. You don’t want to be chasing down photos days after the shoot, or wondering if the photographer is even going to show up. (Ask me about how many times we’ve been called when another company no-showed.) Check reviews, read testimonials, and snoop their socials so you can get a feel for the business. As one of the longest-operating Michigan real estate media companies, Stylish Detroit, has the social proof, and even the photographers newest to our team have hundreds of real estate shoots under their belt.
3.) Services Offered
When you’re thinking about services offered, don’t consider them in terms of a current listing, evaluate them based on your dream listing - the one you would throw serious bank at to promote because it will take your career to the next level. You want to choose a company that can help you step up your game as you grow. Not all companies offer a wide range of services, and it’s so much easier to choose a company that can be a one-stop shot. We offer photography (including aerials, twilights, and complementary sky replacements, and headshots and branding), a full line of video offerings, floor plans, virtual tours, virtual staging, room measurements, and multiple virtual tour options. Whatever type of visual asset you need for your real estate business we can provide it.
4.) Flexibility & Availability
We all know real estate can quickly shift into a fast-paced job when you secure a new listing, so you need a real estate media company that’s agile enough to respond to your needs. If you’re relying on a single person for your photography/videography, you’re completely at the whim of their schedule. Stylish Detroit has a team of experienced photographers available 6 days a week, and we generally book 48 hours out. With a large team and online scheduling (and rescheduling!) available, you never have to worry about booking availability.
5.) Turnaround Time & Delivery
Getting your listing photographed quickly doesn’t mean anything if you’re waiting days for photos. Some companies take 48 hours or more to deliver photos or add extra fees for next-day delivery. We offer next day image delivery as a standard service, and can often accommodate same day rush requests. Videos are turned around in 48-72 hours or less.
6.) Transparent Pricing
There’s nothing more annoying to me than a photographer’s website that doesn’t list upfront pricing. You’re running a business, not planning a wedding, or inquiring about a piece of custom art. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to easily find pricing online. And beware of low-cost places that require membership fees or subscriptions to unlock basic services like next day delivery.
7. ) Communication and Customer Service
Effective communication and excellent customer service are essential when working with a real estate media company. You need a company that’s responsive and easy to reach, with clear lines of communication and a dedicated point of contact. This can help ensure that your needs are met and any issues are addressed quickly and efficiently. Our team is easily reachable by phone, text, and email, and we have dedicated client support during business hours.
Choosing the right real estate company to complement your business can have a significant impact on your real estate career. We find that clients who use a professional photographer for every listing enjoy a much higher client referral rate that results in more listings, increased engagement across their social media channels, and increased client loyalty. If you’d like to chat about what we can do for your business, feel free to contact us for a free consultation.
