Basics of Property Management: Screening Potential Tenants
Photographs That Speak A Thousand Words
Jesse Obrien
It is ideal for someone to tour your property in person and for each room of the home to speak for itself, but this is not always possible. Many people will want to know right away what type of residence they will be viewing. Real estate photography can help you land a sale, and you are much more likely to avoid disappointing a potential buyer if they are certain of the layout of your home and the features that it offers.
Why Professional Photographs Matter
The lighting that is utilized during a photography session, the type of camera that is implemented, and the manner in which each room or feature is decorated will have an impact on a potential buyer. Photos will showcase the detail that is displayed in a room.
Imagine looking for a home yourself and being presented with some low-quality photos that only portray one or two main areas inside of a home. The low quality may make beautiful woodwork or ornate trim seem less than spectacular and the omission of pictures of other parts of the home could result in you thinking that this home would not be spacious enough for your needs.
Some real estate agents, including full-service agents, will hire their own photographers to conduct photoshoots of properties they are selling. Staging is used to highlight areas inside of a home and to give a prospective client some insight on how each room can be utilized.
How You Can Contribute
If you hire an agent who provides you with examples of high-quality photographs and advertisements for properties they have sold in the past, then you will have an idea of how much work will go into creating compiling photos of your own home. You also have the option of furnishing photos yourself or hiring a photographer who you are familiar with, if you are more comfortable with that idea.
You can also select some items in your home that you would like to use during a photoshoot. This can include current furnishings, paintings, or decor items that you own that you think will make each photo more attractive to your target audience. Cleaning your home and having landscaping done, prior to a photoshoot, will guarantee that your residence looks its best. This will increase the odds of you being satisfied with the array of photos that you acquire from the shoot, and attract potential buyers.
For more information about using real estate photography to sell your home, contact a local real estate office.
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For the last several years, I've used a property management firm to help with my rental properties. One of the tasks that they handle for me is screening applicants who would like to move into one of my vacant units. Their expertise has helped me lower my tenant turnover and find people who want to stay with me for years. Part of the process is a tenant screening credit check. Before any further contact takes place, my manager orders credit reports from at least two agencies. That is enough to tell us if an applicant is a good financial risk. Assuming the references work out, I meet the candidate and make the final decision. If you own rental properties, let me tell you more about the benefits of having a property manager. I'm betting you'll find this type of arrangement will work for you too.