Inman

FSBO website rolls out professional photo package for consumers

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Looking to sell a home faster? You may want to look to professional, high-quality photos to do the job.

ForSaleByOwner.com, one of the biggest platforms for homesellers looking to offload their homes without an agent, has unveiled a professional home photography offering to its customers.

Within 24 hours of selecting the service, which costs a minimum of $149, a seller will be contacted by a professional photographer.

In two business days, the seller will have 25 images and a virtual tour to accompany their listing, along with a YouTube video one day thereafter, according to the listings site.

“Professional photography is a key value-add for sellers,” said Lisa Edwards, director of business strategy at ForSaleByOwner.com.

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The Pro Photo package is currently being tested across select regions.

Realtor associations and brokerages have already recognized the importance and usefulness of professional photography.

Lyon Real Estate, a Sacramento-based brokerage, recently partnered with VHT Studios, a photography service, to give agents quick access to professional photography.

As part of the alliance, agents can have a photographer on-site within three days of scheduling; photo editing will be complete within one to two days.

Photos will be integrated with Lyon’s content management system, and a proprietary MLS override will allow agents to upload high-resolution images to their MLS.

With high-quality images holding more value when it comes to selling a home quickly, demand for aerial images and videos captured by unmanned aerial systems (UASs) should increase.

One aerial imaging firm, Hendrix Consulting Group, was recently granted a Section 333 Exemption and Certificate of Authorization for UAS operations throughout the U.S.

These exemptions provide operators legal entry into the National Airspace System and a “competitive advantage in the UAS marketplace,” according to the FAA, which has identified the civil operation of UAS for commercial purposes as a high-priority issue.

Email Erik Pisor