Dania Beach, Fla. (May 31, 2024)
 

FirstService Residential featured in the latest Multi-Housing News article highlighting how some potential residents base their decision solely on images and how you can make each one count.

Walking a potential renter through their future apartment or showing off a community's amenities are great ways to turn leads into leases. But what about the future residents who can't attend the community before signing? Or those who don't want to? As the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words.

She continued that images and online first impressions are part of the leasing process and can significantly influence its success. They are an extension of the property, giving potential residents a virtual tour. In the long run, using this media type often helps drive more traffic and convert leads to leases, putting the power of attracting renters in your hands.

Images become essential for multifamily marketers as more people move towards finding their homes through their computers instead of through tours. And shorter attention spans only further the need for these images to be compelling.
 

The importance of images by the numbers

Having outstanding images online is more than a way to spruce your website. It's a game-changer. Data shows just how crucial it is for conversion rates. According to a RentCafe.com study of more than 50,000 national listings, adding images is the most powerful way to boost the conversion rate of an ILS rental listing. Adding more than 20 photos can skyrocket your conversion rates.

Another study done by Brain Rules shows that people remember about 10 percent of the information they've heard three days after hearing it but recall up to 65 percent of the information when an image is used.

Kerri Robins, marketing manager at FirstService Residential Alberta, said signing a sight unseen lease is becoming more frequent, especially for renters from out of town. For renters like these, no photos mean no signed leases.

"Images are crucial to give prospects a first glimpse into their new home," Robins noted. "An image can really make or break whether the prospect moves to the inquiry step and goes forward."
 

Hiring the right photographer

So, what's the first practical step in wowing renters with great images? The photographer, of course. For Stallings, the best way to find the right professional for the job is to scout talent from similar properties in the surrounding area or local lifestyle magazines.

Once the right photographer has been hired, the prep for great images continues. Your input is invaluable even with the most seasoned professional real estate photographer. Most experts recommend providing a shot list and accompanying them on shoot day to ensure your vision is accurately captured and represented.

"I want to make sure that the photographer knows exactly what it is that they're going to be doing," Robins said. Her shot list might include several images of the kitchen, some portrait, and some landscape, with a couple zoomed out, and others close in on the appliances. Then, it might include a featured image of the coffee bar followed by a great shot of in-suite laundry. Next, it could consist of a pan out of the living room.

"The camera is just a tool," Robins said. It's the person behind it that makes the magic happen.

To read the full article, click here.
 
May 31, 2024