Don't hold it against me!

Many of my clients are real estate agents. I know what you're thinking. I have heard (and experienced first-hand) all the stories. I'm here with the good news in Portland and Vancouver.

There are real estate professionals out there. I work with them. Feel free to check my page for links, or check out my gallery, or view my profile on www.linkedin.com (sorry for the shameless google plugs!) They are relieved to hand off photography of your most expensive asset to someone they can trust (that would be me) because your home will look better and sell faster. (Yes, our REPs can use our still photos in their marketing.) Virtual tours are an art form, not something to slam out.

When you get ready to sell your home:

Interview people like you would your next employee. They work for you. If you get a bad feeling, act on it. March on to the next one.

Find out which camera will be used to take listing photographs. Is it a wide lens (or will you only see a couch against a wall)? Who takes the photos? If the agent whips out a camera and wants to start snapping, resist. The receptionist, on her way to drop off the dry cleaning and grab a latte (again, pass!)? You want someone who is focused on the work.

This is the busiest time of your life. Your agent should be supplying you with an easy-to-understand set of guidelines to help you prepare for your photo shoot. Most homeowners are anxious to do whatever they can. They just need a list to remind them. After all, keeping the house in this condition is pretty important too.

Go online and compare the marketing they do on current listings with the technology that's available. Ask if they use virtual tours. Not *slide shows* -- interactive virtual tours. That line has become blurred, but you can tell the difference. Again, scope out our gallery.

Dawn Shaffer

RMLS and Photo Limit

Great news!

Our local MLS (www.RMLS.com) has doubled the limit on still photographs allowed on listings from 8 to 16! (I may be the last person to learn about this lol)

I love photographing listings and helping my realtors put "their best foot forward," so I'm going to offer to email the still photos again to my realtors. They can then freshen their listings. Life is good!

Virtual tours and slide shows are arguably the fastest way to a buyer's heart, and we do it all for you!

Dawn Shaffer
All About Virtual Tours
We're All About Your First Impression!