Why Vacation Rental Properties Should Invest In Professional Photography

Regardless of how long you’ve been in the vacation rental game, you’ve likely heard about the positive impact good photographs of your property can make. 

And while you may be able to capture good property photos with your smartphone camera or some other device, we imagine you’re hoping for better than good revenue. Who can help? A professional real estate photographer.

3 Reasons to Hire a Professional for Your Vacation Rental Photos

For all the supporting research and data points, here at DMD Real Estate Photography, we believe investing in professional photography for your vacation rental properties boils down to just three reasons:

• Professional listing photos build vacationer trust

• Quality photos can help justify higher vacation rental rates

• Experienced real estate photographers know how to showcase your STR property

Don’t leave your short-term rental (STR) business’s success to chance. Rely on a professional photographer to capture the images you need to draw your vacation audience to book. You won’t regret the investment.

Professional Listing Photos Build Vacationer Trust

Consider this: travelers seeking an Alaska STR are betting on a property as a perfect home base for their vacation experience virtually sight unseen. Because of this, you need bright, crisp, inviting photos that your potential renters won’t be able to pass up. 

Quality photos can spark that initial connection - much as you’d feel on a first date! This creates a foundation of trust that your rental will provide the vacation experience they want.

Pro Tip!

According to one FlipKey study, “Travelers are 83% more likely to inquire about property listings that contain over 20 photos.”

Quality Images Justify Your Alaska STR Rates

Trust us, short-term renters know whether your photos were taken by a professional photographer or not. Investing in quality images for your listing assures a potential renter of your commitment to the property as well as your caliber as a host and business owner. 

Additionally, vacationers are seeking a getaway. Give them a glimpse of an Alaskan vacation home that is inviting, beautiful... and different than usual. Most are willing to pay a premium if it ensures a better vacation. 

The better the pictures, the greater the interest. The greater the interest, the more bookings you get. Basic economics tells us that higher demand equates to higher rates. 

Pro Real Estate Photographers Know How to Showcase a Property

The fact of the matter is, a professional real estate photographer knows what attracts potential renters (and buyers) to your property. Here are a few ways we do that...

Accurate Staging 

We know that staging your vacation rental home should accurately depict the property a client will walk into once they book. This means removing personal property and clutter and highlighting the amenities a vacationer wants, needs, and expects.  

Capturing a Property’s Story

Our professionals listen to clients, considers their goals for the property, and captures the property’s character in ways you wouldn’t necessarily even know to think about. Often, shoots involve the use of ladders, lighting, props, and even drones! It’s a special skill set that requires experience. 

Post-Production Editing

The other behind-the-scenes value of hiring a professional for your vacation rental property is all the back-end editing that takes place to capture your rental perfectly. They are also able to view the property from a more objective standpoint and can offer unbiased advice on what will appeal to your target audience. 

DMD Real Estate Photography Knows How to Increase Your Bookings!

As lines between real estate and tourism continue to blur here in the Alaska market, a firm grasp on today’s real estate market requires knowing how short-term rental trends continue to affect it, as well. In turn, our best practices and recommendations are informed by both Alaska tourism and real estate markets. 

We are in the unique position of understanding what you, as a short-term rental property owner, need in professional gallery photos in order to successfully target vacationers and draw them into your STR listing.

To learn more about how DMD Real Estate Photography can showcase your STR and/or to review our team’s portfolios, reach out! 

Retro Trends Are Making A Comeback: Showcase Them in Your Photos

If you are a successful Alaska real estate agent, then you already know that staging sells homes. But when listings are staged on-trend, they help build your potential homebuyers’ dreams. 

Based on the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR’s) 2019 Profile of Home Staging, we believe the way you stage can increase your closings (and help you close faster, too). Why? Because nearly three-quarters of homebuyers already have an idea of what they want in their ideal home before they start the buying process.

The reality is, with so many homes to choose from (and such easy access to them), if a buyer can’t visualize living in your property from the get-go, there’s no incentive to pursue it any further. This is especially true in Alaska with so many out-of-state buyers and a much shorter selling season. 

• 40 percent of buyers’ agents say home staging affects most buyers’ opinions. Importantly, they are willing to offer an average of 5 percent more for a well-staged home.

• 53 percent of agents agreed that good staging decreases time on the market, too.

• 83 percent say staging makes it easier to visualize a property as their future home.  

So, really, your only question should be how you stage, not whether you should. 

Well, you may have noticed a number of retro trends making a comeback over the last few years. As we end another decade, so too the cogs of interior design continue to turn. 

Four Decades of Decor: These Retro Trends Are IN for 2020

We’ve thoroughly enjoyed the revival of clean, sleek lines found in midcentury modern style over the last few years. However, you may notice a shift in a variety of directions from here: 

The 1920s & ‘30s Art Deco Revival

Seems the more ornate designs found in the Art Deco period are popping up in furniture everywhere - bold colors, standout geometric patterns, or strong materials.

A Pop of 1970s Nostalgia 

The rich textures (like velvet and velour), bold colors (deep greens and bright florals), and big ‘70s floral prints are appearing on fabrics from furniture to wallpaper. 

A Nod to the 1980s Mixed Metals and Natural Elements

The use of mixed metals and resurfacing of natural elements like bamboo, wicker, and ratan nod to the best of the ‘80s, too.

The Retro Footprint: Layouts on Homebuyers’ 2020 Wishlists

Not only should you focus on interior design trends, but what areas of the home are making a resurgence as well. That way, you can focus your design on those spaces especially. Here are three spaces Southern Living thinks homebuyers are renewing their interests in...

Luxurious Laundry Rooms

Adding themed wallpaper and incorporating wicker baskets in your storage solutions can get buyers excited about their least-favorite tasks.

Seating Areas in the Master Bath

With the rise in the popularity of self-care, evolve your listing’s bath into a spa-like retreat by creating a perch in front of a mirror for the beauty routine or a catch-all next to the tub for candles, towels, and books. 

The Return of Formal Dining Areas

Homeowners are reportedly planning to treat the dining room as a gallery - making them "wow" spaces. Incorporate a large statement piece to help buyers visualize entertaining in their new formal dining space. 

Staging On-Trend May Not Matter If Your Listing Gallery Isn’t Good

A few knock-out pieces from your local estate sales could be all you need. There are even options for agents who have limited warehouse space, shopping time, and/or marketing budget. For instance, did you know we offer virtual staging, as well?  

Of course, none of this matters if the pictures themselves are subpar. NAR says that 63 percent of their survey respondents always recommend professional listing photos. Why? Because there’s no point in investing in staging if your target audience can’t see the images clearly. Or if the chosen angle leaves a lot to be desired. Or… you get the point.

That’s where we come in. The pros at DMD have shot just about every type of property in Alaska using a wide variety of tools and techniques - including drone photography and virtual tours.

To find out more about how DMD can capture your Alaska listings in a way that speaks to current home design trends, reach out! 

Introducing Photographer and Drone Pilot Jeremy Cubas

Trusting DMD Real Estate Photography with your listing photos means having access to the latest technology and the wealth of experience and knowledge our team members apply to the property images we capture for you. 

While Alaskan native Jeremy Cubas spends most of his time molding young minds at the Mat-Su Campus of UAA these days, we’re lucky to have him work with a number of our best Wasilla-area clients’ listings. 

Why? 

Because Jeremy has an unparalleled ability to assess a property, understand its story, and capture images that can ingrain themselves in the minds of potential homebuyers until they just have to make an offer. 

He brings more than a decade of professional photography experience to every property shoot, and over the last few years, his interest in drone piloting has taken his techniques to new heights...literally!

Why drone photography? Jeremy describes it as an almost out of body experience as the drone’s soaring point of view mixes with his own while taking pictures. He says the best part about using one is capturing property images you could only get were you able to truly fly. Drones can reach heights we can’t on our own, and provide totally unique angles we would never have otherwise - even with normal modes of flight such as planes and helicopters.

His unique perspective and the continued evolution of his craft are exactly what makes Jeremy Cubas an integral part of DMD’s ability to consistently contribute fresh ideas and new perspectives to our clients’ real estate marketing efforts. 

Jeremy knows how to help your potential buyers envision their Alaska dreams with your property listings. We love having him as an available resource to our clients. 

For anything from questions to marketing brainstorm sessions, reach out to us here at DMD Real Estate Photography!