Author: Rachelle Moore

How to Set Your Real Estate Photography Pricing: 10 Effective Tips for 2021

Working as a real estate photographer is a great way to earn money but keep in mind that you can only profit from this career if you know how to price your offerings. Setting the price of your photos too low can prevent you from earning while setting it too high will likely encourage clients to look for cheaper options.

Aside from investing in companies that provide real estate photo editing services, such as Phixer, knowing how much to charge for real estate photography also contributes to your success. With the right price, you can earn profits and attract more clients in the long run!
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TL;DR: To help you set your real estate photography pricing, take note of the tips below:

1. Study the Competition

One of the first steps in setting your pricing is determining how much do real estate photographers charge in your area. Study your competitors and assess how they charge their services. This figure will help you define your offerings and know where you fit in the market.

If you plan on charging more than local real estate photographer prices in your area, make sure that you can justify it. You need to show the local market why your services are worth paying for.

2. Add Quick Turnaround Option for an Extra Fee

After finding out how much do real estate photographers charge in your area, consider if this amount covers the quality of your photos and services. You can always charge more than the average rates if it doesn’t, but you need to offer something that your competitors don’t have. For instance, you can set your clients extra as long as you can guarantee a faster turnaround.

You can also demand higher fees if clients require edited photos after 24 or 48 hours of shooting them. Charge clients rush rates when they want edits done faster than your standard service.

3. Set Several Images for Clients

Generally, real estate photographers produce around 25-50 photos for their clients. However, there will be instances when they need to provide more, especially when taking pictures of large properties or properties with more amenities.

Determine how many images you will provide to your clients when setting your prices. Consider the time and effort you’ll need to shoot and edit them if you plan to give them more than the average.

4. Charge for Premium Services

Increase your real estate photography pricing if you can offer more than just high-quality photos to your clients. Use these premium services to determine how much to charge for real estate photography. For example, if you have the equipment to produce real estate videos or drone photography, charge your clients more for your premium services.

Videos require more editing time than photos.

On the other hand, drone photography involves using more and often expensive equipment and might even require you to secure licenses or permits first.

5. Consider the Size of the House

Your real estate photography costs should vary depending on the size of the property you’re shooting. Keep in mind that more significant properties will require more resources in taking and editing photos. Generally, it would help if you had different price ranges when shooting for a 4,000 or 6,000 square feet home, which will ensure that the client pays for all of your efforts.

6. Add a Travel Fee

When a client wants you to travel outside your city or state to take real estate photos, always charge them a travel fee. Traveling requires you to spend more time and gas money, which is why you should need additional fees from your clients.

Make sure to consider the average costs of commuting to the client’s location and use this information as the basis of your travel fee. For example, you can add a travel fee to your pricing after 50 KM or 31 miles from your residence.

7. Create a Fee for Surrounding Area Photos

Some clients will ask you to take photos of attractions near their properties. For instance, if the property is near the beach, clients might ask you to take photos of nearby cafes and shops, as well as the beautiful pier. If you have to drive more than a couple of minutes to reach these areas, create a fee for surrounding area photos. Setting a price like this protects your time and energy in taking pictures.

8. Charge for Key Pick Up or Drop Off

Does your client want you to pick up the key to their properties from their offices and then drop them off afterward? Since picking up and dropping off keys requires more effort, charge clients who ask for these services. A few extra dollars, like $20 to $25, is a reasonable fee to charge when doing tasks other than taking and editing real estate photos.

9. Charge Different Rates for Twilight vs. Midday Shoots

Real estate photos during twilight and the golden hour often stand out in the listings. The light is best during this day, and the property creates a unique and appealing look. If clients want to capture the twilight or golden hour in their real estate photos, charge them more in your real estate photography pricing as taking these shots requires more effort.

Taking these photos will need you to be on location during a specific time window because you only have two opportunities in a day to capture these lights – during sunrise and sunset.

10. Test Your Offers and See if Your Rates Work

Setting your photography prices is a trial and error process – you need to test your costs and see if it appeals to your local market. After announcing the price of your services, pay attention to the reaction of potential clients. Are they happy with your rates, or do they find it too expensive?

Consider the feedback of your potential clients and change your prices accordingly. Have an open mind to adjust your rate as you can’t always get it right the first time.

Knowledge Is Power

Knowing your real estate photographer prices is essential because it can determine how much you can earn in the industry. Keep in mind that your real estate photography costs a lot as you need to invest in specific equipment, which is why you should price your services correctly to earn returns from your investment.

October 15, 2021
A Complete Step-by-Step Tutorial on Exterior Object Removal

Using a clutter-free photo is vital in real estate photography. A property free of disarray will look bigger and brighter in pictures and leave a lasting and positive impression on potential homebuyers. However, you can’t always declutter before taking photos; it’s best to use professional editing services like Phixer or practice specific techniques in Photoshop to achieve that goal. Both of these techniques are easy to use and effective.

There are different techniques on how to remove objects from a picture using Photoshop. This article will provide step-by-step guides on every process so you can quickly determine which works best for you.
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TL;DR: Here are some of the techniques for exterior object removals:

Technique #1: Spot Healing Brush

One unwanted object removal technique available in Photoshop is the use of the spot healing brush. This technique is ideal in removing small objects in a photo, namely socket holes in the walls or visible spots in pieces of furniture.

Step 1: Prepare Your Photo in Photoshop

To learn how to remove objects from a picture with this technique, start by opening your product photo in Photoshop. Open Photoshop and then select the image you want to work on in the software artboard.

Step 2: Generate a New Retouching Layer

Once you insert the photo, the software will automatically create a background primary layer.

Duplicate a new layer on top of the primary background layer to use for retouching.

Step 3: Close in on the Object for Removal

Select the layer you’ve made and zoom on the clutter so that you can plan how to remove it precisely.

Step 4: Choose the Spot Healing Brush Tool

After zooming in on the object that you want to remove from the image or picture, click on the spot healing brush tool available in the left toolbar of Photoshop. This tool is vital to complete the unwanted objects removal process.

Select the appropriate brush size depending on the size of the object you want to remove. If this is your first time using the spot healing brush tool, take the time to play around with different brush sizes so you can discover one that suits the size of the object you want to remove.

Step 5: Target the Object You Want To Remove

Move your brush to the object you want to erase from your photo. With the spot healing brush tool, any unwanted item on your image will magically disappear.

However, for your photos to look realistic and natural even when using this tool, pay careful attention to the size of the brush you’re going to use and the size of the object you want to remove. Using a brush tool that’s too big will likely erase other essential elements in your photo while using one that’s too small will not remove the clutter altogether.

Technique #2: Clone Stamp

The clone stamp Photoshop tool copies an area into another part of the image. Using the clone stamp tool in Photoshop is also a great way to declutter unwanted items in your photo. This technique removes larger objects as you can select an entire area and replace it with another item. It’s good for copying textures and covering up areas of the property that need work.

Step 1: Open Your Photo in Photoshop

After you’ve selected the image you want to edit, select the model photography images in Photoshop. Go to File and then click on Open New image. A window will automatically appear after you select this option. After that, you can navigate to your image, and click Ok to insert it in the artboard.

Step 2: Click on the Clone Stamp

Click on the clone stamp from the tool panel of Photoshop. Then, hold the Alt key and target the area where you want to use as a sample away from the unwanted objects. It should have the appropriate texture and lighting because that part will be copied as it is.

Step 3: Focus on the Object You Want To Remove

Paint over the object you want to remove from your photo or image, and the clone stamp will automatically fill this area with the sample area you selected earlier.

Technique #3: The Patch Tool

You can also use Photoshop to remove objects using the patch tool. This is another handy object-removing tool that works best with solid backgrounds, like black and white.

Step 1: Open Your Photo in Photoshop

After selecting the image you want to edit, create a duplicate layer in Photoshop.

Step 2: Click on the Patch Tool

Move your cursor to the left toolbar and click on the patch tool. Unlike the clone stamp tool, you must choose the area you want to remove first and then select a sample area next.

Step 3: Create a Line Around the Unwanted Object

Zero in on the area you want to remove and draw a line around it. Try your best to draw straight lines around the object to get perfect and natural-looking photos.

Step 4: Drag the Selection to an Area You Want To Use as Patch Sample

After completing drawing lines around the unwanted object, click on the selected area and drag it towards the section you want to use as a patch sample. This will automatically cover the sample area with the selected area.

Save Your Work

You should save your work once you’re done removing the unwanted exterior objects from your photo. You can do this by pressing the control and S keys on your keyboard or manually selecting Save or Save As from the Photoshop File option. Make a habit of saving your work especially when you’re in the middle of a complicated edit.

Key Takeaway

Contrary to popular belief, using Photoshop to remove objects from your photos isn’t impossible to accomplish. As long as you’re willing to learn and exert time and effort, it won’t be long before you can master the art of removing external objects using Photoshop! You can also outsource this service if you have limited time.

September 30, 2021
How to Sell Your House: A Complete Competitive Guide for Sellers in 2021
Selling your house is a great way to earn profits, especially if you invested in home upgrades that warrant high ROIs for the past years. A homestead is an essential commodity, so you can expect interested buyers to assume ownership of your property.

However, you shouldn’t be hasty especially and take photographs just yet. It would help if you prepared several things before hiring companies like Phixer to edit your real estate listing photos. These steps are essential for attracting buyers, providing a smooth buying experience to them, and earning the most profits from your home.
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TL;DR: If you want to know how to sell your house quickly, follow the guide below:

1. Plan Ahead

Proper planning is the key to accomplishing your real estate sales goal, especially if it’s your first time. It would help if you considered the current market value, decide on upgrades, and established a marketing plan at the beginning. These steps will help make a more pleasant home selling experience.

Here are some of the steps involved in the planning stage:

Price it according to market value or have it appraised by a professional

The selling price is one of the most important considerations when selling a house because pricing too high will likely shoo away potential buyers, and pricing too low will prevent you from earning the most profits. Set a realistic price for your home by looking at properties around your neighborhood.

Look for homes with the same size and amenities as your home, and use this information to set the right price. If you’re at a loss, contact an expert real estate appraisal service.

Decide on repairs or home improvements

Avoid wasting money on unnecessary upgrades. Instead, pay attention to what local buyers are looking for and plan your improvements accordingly. For example, if local homebuyers aren’t looking for a steam shower or skylight, then don’t add them to your home.

Create a marketing plan

A marketing plan is essential to stand out from the competition. The real estate industry is thriving worldwide and regardless of where you’re going to sell your house, expect that you’ll have to compete with various companies and agents.

Don’t just at the first chance to list your property online since learning how to sell your house quickly is a long process that requires extensive planning.

2. Prepare the Necessary Paperwork

The bulk of any real estate venture involves compliance and documents. You should prepare the necessary paperwork ahead of time to sell your house efficiently. You’ll typically need several papers before you list your home, when you launch your home sale, while you’re on the market, and once a buyer makes an offer. You will also need to prepare another set of documents before and after closing the sale.

Make sure to prepare these documents as these are what you need to sell your house:

Pre-listing
- Original sales contract
- Professional appraisal form
- Home repair and maintenance reports
Upon Listing
- Mandatory disclosure
- Initial title report
- Pre-inspection report
Pre-launching
- Comparative market analysis
- Listing agreement
- Proposed marketing plan
Buyer Offer
- Purchase offer/counteroffer
- Contingency removal form
- Finalized purchase and sale agreement
Upon Purchase
- Home inspection and appraisal report
- Most recent tax statement
- 1099-S tax form
Getting the documents ready beforehand will ensure a smooth selling process.

3. Stage Your Home

In real estate, home staging is the process of home makeover or preparation to appeal to the most potential buyers who will pay the highest price for your property. Customers are attracted to visual imagery, and they are attracted to beautiful scenery and homey vibes where they can imagine staying a long time.

Therefore, home or virtual staging is what you need to sell your house faster than average. Virtual staging gains popularity in recent years because it empowers sellers to reach more individuals without exerting more time and effort.

Take note of these home staging tips to sell your property quickly:
- Stage where it counts: All the rooms in your house aren’t equal in home staging. Ideally, it would help to focus your efforts on staging rooms that have the most significant impact on a potential buyer’s decision.
- De-personalize the space: Take out personal items, such as your family photos and kid’s trophies, from your home before staging it. When you de-personalize the room, you’ll make it easier for potential homebuyers to envision themselves living in the property.
- Get rid of clutter: You won’t be able to highlight your home’s best features if the space has mess all over. Instead of creating a positive impression, clutter will only discourage potential buyers from investing in your property. A clutter-free home will look bigger and brighter. You can digitally declutter your images with Phixer’s unwanted objects removal service.
According to the National Association of Realtors, the most important rooms for buyers are the kitchen, living room, and master’s bedroom. Exert more time and effort to stage these homes, so you won’t have any problems convincing potential buyers to invest in your property.

4. Produce High-Quality Photos

If you want to learn how to sell your house successfully, invest in high-quality photos. How your property looks in these photos can significantly affect a buyer’s decision. You will need these photos for listings, marketing, and other purposes. Regardless of how functional and appealing your home is in real life, you cannot expect buyers to see it without illustration. You can take high-quality photos by investing in a great camera, using a wide-angle lens, and maximizing natural light. You can also hire a company that offers real estate photography editing services, like Phixer.

5. Process the Listing

After ticking off the tasks from numbers one to four, it’s time to list your property. Listing your home on the right platforms will increase your chances of attracting buyers and selling your house fast. You can register your home on different online listing sites, such as Zillow, Realtor, or FSBO. The more online platforms you’ll use to advertise your home, the faster you can find your buyer.

Key Takeaways

Learning how to sell your house is challenging, but you can always do it as long as you’re willing to follow specific guides and stay committed to your efforts; it won’t be long before you can enjoy the profits from your newly sold home! Prepare all the documents, photos and listings to ensure a smooth selling process.
September 16, 2021
What are Top 5 Fascinating Facts About Real Estate Twilight Photo Editing?

The real estate photography industry is fast-paced and continuously evolving to fit the needs of both agents and buyers. There are many techniques born out of changing market preferences and standards. In recent years, social-media-inspired aesthetics inspired trends that led photo editing companies to offer services like virtual twilight.

While there have been no formal studies or statistics on the psychological effects of dusk editing in real estate photography settings, sunrise and sunsets have undeniable appeal aspects.

Why did twilight photo editing become a trend, and what fascinating facts should you know about it?
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Twilight Photo Editing

Most expert photographers would tell you that lighting plays a massive part in the overall appeal. While real estate photography is different from live model shoots, it still follows the same lighting and color aesthetic principles. Instagram influencers rave about the importance of the golden hour, which is around an hour after sunrise and an hour before sunset.

This hour also gives free ambiance lighting for your listing when you’re doing outdoor photographs. There are many ways to attain this effect. To find out more, check out this Twilight photo blog post by Phixer.

Fascinating Real Estate Twilight Photo Editing Facts

1. Special service offered by professionals

Most photography professionals know about the golden hour, but it’s challenging to capture all shots within a limited timeframe. The demand for these unique golden hour lighting conditions inspired day to dusk photo editing from premier real estate photography editing companies.

It may be shocking to know that there is such as thing as a virtual twilight or digital twilight effect.

2. Twilight drives up curb appeal

People often look for properties in the hopes of permanence, so they want a sneak preview of what they look like in different lighting conditions. Twilight shots could also showcase accessories and fixtures that look better in darker states.

Shots from different times will help buyers decide if they like how the property feels in the daytime or even in the dark.

3. Twilight improves your listing’s the luxurious vibe

Buyers often choose properties with excellent value for money, especially those with foreseen long-term rates. However, they may not be ready to spend too much money. Luxury does not usually come with a particular price point but with an emotional aspect.

You might need a day to dusk photo editing service to improve the overall effect. Clients will be more likely to purchase a house or land if they can have luxurious days with the property’s views.

4. The actual act of taking photos during twilight is challenging

The golden hour lasts for at most 60 minutes, and there may be issues during that time. Aside from the actual technical problems, the tricky lighting may require additional reflectors or lighting equipment. Even the most competent photographers may have difficulties in creating the desired output.

Most photographers shoot the property during different times to attain the perfect twilight effect by combining them in post-production.

5. You don’t have to be a twilight photo editing expert

You may want a twilight photo, but you already conducted your photography sessions. Fortunately, experts like Phixer can offer Twilight editing to enhance your current photosets. You don’t have to learn about the complicated processes because they can do it for you and perform the necessary changes.

Final Thoughts

Real estate photo editing companies have improved their offers to include advanced techniques like virtual twilight and home staging. Check out twilight editing if you’re looking for ways to enhance your property appeal in a listing thumbnail or improve your aesthetic pull for a marketing campaign.

September 2, 2021
Certified Experts Best Camera Choice for Real Estate in the Year 2021

A real estate photographer’s ability to succeed in the industry depends on the quality of the tools such as cameras, lenses, and lighting equipment. The wrong camera won’t translate your vision into high-quality real estate photos and prevent you from creating a trustworthy brand in the industry.

Invest in the best camera possible to stand out in real estate photography and build a name for yourself. The most excellent camera specs, coupled with editing services from Phixer, will allow you to succeed in the long run.

What are the best cameras for real estate, and what are the specifications needed?
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TL;DR: Here are some of the best camera choices for real estate photographers in 2021:

1. Sony a7 III & Sony a7R III

Photo Credits: Sony

The Sony a7 III is an excellent option if you’re looking for a compact and fast camera with incredible resolution, quality HDR processing, and offers the best dynamics. Unlike other cameras, the Sony a7 III doesn’t need much adjustment per frame.

The Sony a7 III HDR allows you to produce high-quality photos even when shooting in dark or bright areas of the house. This characteristic enables you to highlight the property’s best features regardless of the environment’s lighting conditions.

The Sony a7 III is one of the best cameras for real estate photography because its 42-megapixel sensor produces high-quality, stunning images of 7952 x 5304 pixels. This type of sensor is what you need to print large images or make tight crops of real estate photos without losing out details or compromising quality.

The Sony a7R III is an excellent buy for aspiring real estate photographers like you. Because it’s mirrorless and has 42 megapixels, using this camera will allow you to make the best real estate photos with ease. This camera also offers plenty of room for wide shots and crop details with plenty of resolution.

If you’re looking for a camera that you can use in making a good real estate video production, the Sony a7R III is your best bet.

2. Canon EOS R

Photo Credits: Canon

You may be looking for a user-friendly camera because you don’t have complicated camera controls. The Canon EOS R is a mirrorless frame camera known for its beginner-friendly settings and flip-out screen. This feature allows you to shoot high-quality photos even in bright lights, confined spaces, or higher angles.

A camera with a flip-out screen also enables you to shoot around corners in tips that aren’t usually possible when using a non-tiltable screen camera. The Canon EOS R adapts to old lenses with excellent RF glass, which produces impressive videos.

The camera has all the features you need to take unique and high-quality real estate photos and videos, the Canon EOS R!

3. Olympus OM-D E-M1X

Photo Credits: Olympus

Some clients want to see the photos while you’re shooting. Your ability to show pictures to your clients during the shoot may determine how often you get hired. You can impress them with your photos on the spot. Use the Olympus OM-D E-M1X to deliver pictures to your clients fast. The in-camera Wi-Fi transfer to the iPad enables you to show your shots within minutes.

The Olympus OM-D E-M1X also has an excellent dynamic range and super-fast focus for angled shots. The camera’s light weight supports a longer duration for handheld shots. It’s great for real estate photography because its fully articulated LCD screen makes it very easy for anyone to compose vertical and horizontal shots. The screen also displays important information when taking photos, like the exposure, highlight and shadow clipping, and histogram.

4. Canon EOS Rebel T6

Photo Credits: Canon

You may want to invest in the best entry-level model on your first purchase. If you’re looking for an affordable yet high-quality camera, invest in the Canon EOS Rebel T6. This camera has the essential features you’ll need for you to make the best real estate photos. The Canon EOS Rebel T6 is a lightweight gear with a Pentamirror viewfinder and is compatible with most Canon lenses.

Aside from being the best camera for newbie real estate photographers, the Canon EOS Rebel T6 is also very easy to use and set up. After you set the date, time, and location when you turn on the Canon EOS Rebel T6 for the first time, you can immediately start using it.

Although the Canon EOS Rebel T6 is an entry-level camera, it still packs a lot of great camera technology, allowing you to take stunning real estate photos every time. This camera has a high-performance processor, nine-point autofocus system, and an 18 MP sensor. With these features, you’ll be able to shoot sharp real estate photos in good lighting!

5. Nikon D750

Photo Credits: Nikon

The Nikon D750 is a high-end camera that allows you to take great real estate photos. It can take around 1,230 shots at full charge, which means that you can roam around and take fantastic outdoor property pictures for hours. This camera comes in full black and has a red stripe below its shutter button, creating a classy yet clean look.

The 51 AF system will help you take crisp photos of building corners, and its 24.3 MP resolution sensor will also allow you to shoot any real estate property and capture even its most minor details.

If you’re looking for a camera that allows you to take high-quality real estate photos regardless of the light conditions, the Nikon D750 is a great option due to its 24.3 megapixel sensor and four image processing-engine. You can guarantee to produce clear and sharp real estate photos with a great balance of color and contrast reproduction with this device. You can get the same even if you’re shooting inside a dark room or full daylight.

Final Thoughts

Aside from obtaining the right camera for taking real estate photos, it would help if you found the right post-production partner. Hiring a professional real estate editing company enables you to create professional looking-outputs, streamline your processes, and utilize technology in your shoots.

August 19, 2021
3 Reliable Editing Techniques of Removing Objects Inside the House
Beautiful listing photos are essential in real estate sales because they provide initial impressions for potential buyers. However, your photos may have unnecessary background items and furniture that cost too much money or time to move. You can guarantee the best possible appearance by having a clutter-free background, and there are plenty of ways to do this process.

Real estate photography services like unwanted objects removal are in-demand, but there are several ways to edit images through photo processing or manipulation programs like Adobe Photoshop. For example, you can perform basic cut and clone stamp methods on your own.
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TL;DR: Here are some of the object removal techniques that you can do yourself while real estate photo editing:

Object Removal Editing Techniques

1. Lasso and Delete

The lasso allows you to draw freeform sections using a selection border. It is an essential Photoshop tool to master when you’re decluttering items from the image. The lasso tool is versatile and easy to master, and you can use it for any photo.

Here are the steps to unwanted objects removal using the lasso tool:
- With the lasso, select the item/s you want to remove.
- Erase the object/s by pressing delete on the keyboard.
- With the lasso, select a part of the image that’s similar to the place you just cleared.
- Copy and paste to the site of the removed thing/s.
- You may need to zoom in and out several times to smoothen the cut edges.
The lasso and delete method is easy enough to understand and execute for even graphic beginners or those with non-graphic backgrounds.

Pro: Beginner-friendly method for a real estate photo editor.

Con: Challenging to cover up the deleted area realistically.

2. Clone Stamping

The clone stamp tool replaces a part of your image with a section within the same photo. The tool clones pixels or objects to create a more photo-realistic touchup or edit and often replicates areas or scenes to extend a pattern. The result makes photographs look like a real estate photo editing service took care of the post-production.

Here are the steps to using clone stamping for object removal:
- Plan the areas to copy.
- Pick the clone stamp from the toolbar.
- Push Alt on the pixels that you want to copy until it turns into a crosshair.
- Select the surface or objects that you want to copy over.
- A small plus sign will indicate that it will copy the selected area to the current spot.
Pro: Looks more natural than a lasso cut and paste.

Con: Harder to control, especially on images with uneven lighting.

3. Spot Healing Brush

The Spot Healing tool removes small details like blemishes and wrinkles. It’s an essential part of the real estate photo editor arsenal since it can remove small objects like switches and glasses.

Here are instructions on how to use the spot healing brush:
- Select Spot Healing Brush.
- Select Content Aware.
- Brush over the surface you need removed.
Pro: It only takes a few seconds.

Con: May have different results, especially for bigger items.

Option for Newbies

The mentioned steps and tips are excellent for personal and commercial purposes. However, if you tried the most reliable techniques but still couldn’t get rid of the unwanted objects, you can let a real estate photo editing service declutter the images for you.

Final Thoughts

The competitive real estate industry includes some of the most promising sales techniques. Therefore, it’s essential to brush up on real estate photo editing, especially when dealing with multiple listings. Moreover, you can rely on Phixer’s object removal if you need mass decluttering within a time constraint.
August 5, 2021
Top 5 Most Common Mistakes You Should Avoid When Selling Your Home
Real estate properties are some of the most in-demand assets this year. As more people are moving in and out of suburbs, there are more homes on the market. Hiring an excellent real estate editor would give you a beautiful photograph adequately showcasing your home to would-be buyers.

However, the image is only part of the overall process. It would help if you avoided rookie mishaps to prevent expensive blunders and maximize the sales value. You could even offer the same service to other people.
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TL;DR: Here are some of the most prevalent mistakes that people should avoid when selling the home:

1. Skimping on Listing Photos

One major mistake is not setting a budget for listing photos. Ideally, you should hire a real estate photographer to ensure that your photographs can compete with other real estate images online. However, if photographers are too expensive, you can take photos yourself leave the post-production to an expert real estate photo editing service like Phixer.

Here are some reasons why you should take listing photos seriously:
- First impressions last, and listing photographs could be the deciding factor between click or scroll away.
- The real estate industry is highly competitive, and while you are taking photos with your phone, other companies are hiring experts for the job.
- People like visually attractive listings.
Either way, you should never skimp on the quality of your photos; whether you hire a real estate photographer or a real estate editor is entirely up to you.

2. Submitting Natural Photos

Some people shoot and upload without checking the output. As a result, you may think that posting the listing earlier takes precedence over an attractive listing photo. However, you’ll eventually find out that the length of time doesn’t matter as much as the quality of the photograph.

If you don’t have time for post-production, you can hire a real estate photo editing company to create a virtual showroom using an improved version of your current space.

3. Not Anticipating the Costs

You might be selling your home to cut corners or earn money, but don’t forget to account for the selling expenses that go with it. While you may quickly put the fees on top of your selling price, you should also consider the current price on the market.

Here are some of the costs you should consider when selling your home:
- Home inspection and appraisal
- Agent commissions
- Cleaning and renovations
- Real estate photography or editing
Make sure that you’re ready for the charges before putting your house up for sale. Some of the fees, like agent commission, only need to be paid after the deal, but it’s crucial to prepare, especially if you want the highest market value.

4. Doing it Yourself

One of the most critical mistakes that new home sellers make is trying to do the sales process all by themselves. Instead, it would be best to rely on professionals like a realtor and a real estate photo editing company to ensure adherence to corresponding standards and protocols.

5. Unrealistic Pricing

This mistake centers around not having a proper home appraisal before posting the home on real estate listings. If you don’t ask experts about the actual price on the market, you will end up giving a price that’s too high or too low. Both extremes would be bad, so you should appraise your home first.

Conclusion

Selling a home is a big decision, and it’s vital to deploy help when you need them. Companies like a real estate photo editing service or real estate agency will allow you to make the best possible choices regarding property sales. You should trust the experts and maximize your returns for a stress-free sales experience.
July 22, 2021
Top 5 Best PC for Real Estate Photo Editing in 2021 to Attract Buyers
2021 is a great year to improve your real estate photography skills and remain competitive. Several real estate photo editing service companies specialize in post-production, but sometimes you may need to do some of them yourself. A high-quality desktop computer is an excellent investment, especially when you have adequate editing skills.

Before you check out the top PCs for real estate editing, you need to know more about the photo editing programs and desktop specifications required to run them.
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Photo Editing Applications for Computers

The primary reason why you should get a desktop is to accommodate your photo editing software. You can use a convenient real estate photo editor on your phone to get the job done. However, you may need to use more intensive editing software for larger photo touchups and image manipulations.

The minimum specifications of your computer will highly depend on the kind of programs you’re planning to run. Here are the minimum specs for Adobe Photoshop that works with any OS (Operating System):
- AMD (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.) processor or Intel® with 64-bit support;
- 2 GHz or faster with SSE (Streaming SIMD Extensions) 4.2 or later;
- 8GB RAM (Random Access Memory);
- 2GB GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) memory;
- At least 4GB available HDD (Hard Disk Drive) with added installation space needed.
While you can run Photoshop with the minimum specifications on any OS, you will have issues with functions that require more power.

TL;DR: Here are some of the best real estate photo editor PCs in 2021 in no particular order:

Top Real Estate Photo Editing PCs

1. 24-inch iMac (2021)

CPU: 8-core Apple M1 chip

GPU: 7 or 8-core Apple M1 GPU

Storage: 256GB to 2TB SSD

Pros:
- Great new design with seven vibrant colors
- Nice built-in webcam
- Excellent 4.5k Retina screen resolution with anti-glare
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Mac mini better alternative
- Few ports
- 16GB maximum RAM
- SSD upgrades are expensive
You can edit up to 8k videos on heavy video software like Final Cut Pro. However, the RAM limit might inhibit multi-tasking.

2. M900 Lenovo ThinkCentre

CPU: Intel Core i7 Processor

GPU: Up to NVIDIA Quadro K420 2GB DVI (Digital Visual Interface) and DP (Display Port)

Storage: 1TB HDD

Pros:
- Exclusive GPU
- Powerful CPU
- Up to 64GB RAM
Cons:
- Limited ports
Can handle heavy-duty image manipulation with most software that runs on Windows OS. You can expand the RAM up to 64GB.

3. M1 Mac mini (2020)

CPU: 8-Core Apple Silicon M1

GPU: 8-Core M1 GPU

Storage: 2TB SSD

Pros:
- New M1 hardware
- Minimalist aesthetic
- High-performance Machine Learning
- Small and compact design
Cons:
- eGPU incompatible
- 16GB RAM limit
- Two thunderbolt ports
- Separate peripherals
Suitable for photo editing but less expendable than other desktops.

4. 28-inch Microsoft Surface Studio 2

CPU: Intel® Core™ i7-7820HQ

GPU: GTX 1060 6GB or GTX 1070 8GB NVIDIA® GeForce®

Storage: 1TB or 2TB SSD

Pros:
- Powerful and intuitive system
- Surface pen
- Top-notch and one-of-a-kind technology
- High resolution
Cons:
- Expensive
- 32GB RAM limit
If you are doing a professional real estate photo editing service, you can edit 2D and 3D images.

5. HP Pavilion Wave

CPU: Intel® Core i3-6100T or i5-6300T processor

GPU: AMD Radeon R9 M470

Storage: 1TB HDD

Pros:
- Stylish and unique cylindrical form
- Practical and clever audio solution
Cons:
- No visible audio port
- Unflattering specs
- 16GB RAM limit
The HP Pavilion Wave acts more like an entertainment hub than a PC, but it can still function with graphics editing software.

Final Thoughts

Real estate editing is one of the most in-demand skills in 2021, and you need an excellent computer to handle complex information and illustrations. Ensure that you check the software specifications you want to use, as most real estate graphic applications have different requirements.
July 9, 2021
Top 7 Hottest Real Estate Marketing Trends to Expect in 2021
Marketing helps promote businesses for more visibility and sales. The buyer demands are growing and becoming more complex, and real estate companies are becoming more competitive. You need to develop creative marketing tactics like virtual staging service to drive more sales if you want to succeed in the industry.

Real estate marketing is gaining more interest, especially in the digital space. Companies are venturing into more creative approaches in real estate listings and sales. Marketing is adapting to the changing times and consumer demands, so it’s essential to catch up and update your practices.
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TL;DR: Here are some of the exciting trends in the real estate industry in 2021:

1. Virtual Staging or Virtual Home Staging

The first marketing technique is virtual staging or digital home staging to promote clean and decluttered spaces. This kind of home staging allows buyers to see the future potential of a room or area and be more accessible and intuitive. Modern technology has allowed digital enhancements without the stress of actual renovation through virtual imaging software.

Virtual home staging is suitable for the following applications:
- Virtual Reality (VR)
- Augmented Reality (AR)
- Social media posting
- Demographic/psychographic audience targeting
- Video advertising
Real estate editing companies like Phixer deploy improved home staging techniques to generate more sales and interest in apartments, homes, and other real estate properties. You can even take it a step further by allowing custom furniture with a few clicks.

2. Property Microsites

A website is one of the most popular applications in modern technology, and a microsite is a temporary website that serves a particular purpose. The primary benefit of having a site is that it becomes the perfect avenue for modern technological applications like virtual staging.

A microsite has the following uses and benefits:
- Customizable and programmable to include visual effects.
- Easily shareable online, primarily social media platforms.
- Robust lead generation tool.
- A limited-page website with lower cost.
- Add widgets and deploy Application Programming Interface (APIs).
Microsites are ideal for promotions and events that run for a limited period, and it is one of the most visually pleasing ways to show your property. In addition, it can function as a signup sheet or a dynamic announcement page.

3. Live Videos

In 2021, more people prefer watching live streams or live video content, especially on social media platforms. The various community lockdowns have inspired creativity from buyers and sellers alike. Realtors have been artistic in publishing live video content on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and other platforms.

You can make live videos doing the following:
- Showcasing the neighborhood sights.
- Demonstrating the house’s exciting and unique features.
- Touring the entire home and property.
- Talking about the remarkable history and other relevant information.
The great thing about live videos is that it’s a more intimate approach to selling. In addition, you don’t need to invest in a studio because you can use any device, such as smartphones, tablets, or laptops, to conduct the live show.

4. Virtual Tours

Source: https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=RLr58gha4kQ&mls=1

A virtual tour is one of the more advanced applications of a virtual staging service. A 3D walkthrough or 3D virtual tour is an immersive 360-degree video tour using visual rendering software. It’s similar to Virtual Reality (VR), but VR is more interactive and engaging with other elements. The virtual tour is 3D yet static or inactive.

Benefits of virtual tours:
- Saves travel time for both client and realtor.
- Gives the firsthand experience feeling to the potential buyers.
- Interactive brochure to would-be buyers.
- Showcases your company’s technology.
- Accessible online at any time.
Virtual tours are nice to have, but you should consider the return on investment. For example, if you’re selling a single house or unit, it may not generate a higher profit. However, if you’re selling around five to ten apartments with the same features, virtual tours would be worth your buck.

5. Drone shots

The invention of drones was a game-changer in the real estate industry, making beautiful panoramic sceneries easily obtainable. Although drones are pricier than an average camera or device, they can showcase sights that are impossible to access quickly.

Drone devices can help you in real estate marketing because of the following functions:
- 4K videos taken via drone.
- Showcasing unique top views.
- Beautiful aerial shots.
- Showing areas that are impossible to shoot by handheld.
People love drone shots, and a rising number of vloggers and influencers use drones as their way of showcasing beautiful sights. So it would make sense if real estate companies also take advantage of the same technology.

6. Automated Marketing Tools

Modern technology has dramatically improved the way businesses do things. For example, several years ago, small businesses had to hire personnel to provide customer support. Right now, you can automate most of the business processes that would substantially help your company.

You can use automated marketing tools such as:
- Chatbots for your website or social media accounts.
- Calendar schedulers for appointments with potential buyers.
- Autoreply software for email inquiries.
- Mass marketing emails.
- Recorded video replies.
Every growing company should invest in automated marketing tools because they allow you to get back to your customers quicker. Aside from that, these tools have more affordable subscription fees.

7. Social Media Marketing

The real estate industry has always been dependent on listing websites, but social media marketing is dominating, especially in 2021. Facebook may still be a favorite for real estate agencies. Realtors have been using image-heavy social media Instagram and video-heavy Tiktok to promote properties for sale.

These platforms may have younger audiences, but exposure to those platforms will enable you to build a niche in venues catering to the younger generation.

Conclusion

The different industries have marketing practices that change and evolve every year. Real estate marketing is an excellent tool to extend your reach and enhance the appeal of buyers in the industry. Techniques such as virtual home staging will take your listing and property to the next level in 2021. Start with a good marketing plan and work your way towards more creative real estate promotional methods to elevate your sales goals.
June 25, 2021