What Real Estate Media Do You Actually Need for a Boise Listing?
Updated: Sep 22
There are many schools of thought these days when it comes to real estate listing media. Statistics often tell us that buyers expect videos and virtual media. But then you might sell a property in six days with nothing but a handful of photos.
With so many options available, how do you choose the right media for your listing? And what do you really need to market a property well?
Are professional real estate photos necessary for listing a home?
Professional real estate photos should be the bare minimum. Somewhere down the road, someone may have shown you how to take photos with your phone and led you to believe that’s okay, but the truth is buyers are simply not impressed by iPhone photos.
If you want your listing to have the best chance at success, spend a couple hundred dollars and hire a photographer.
How many photos do I need for my listing?
The number of photos a home needs usually depends on the size of the house and the type of home. Most standard residential homes around 2,000 square feet or less need about 25 photos. A luxury home might need more than 25 photos, depending on the amount of detail you want to show in the listing.
For standard homes in the 2,500-5,000 square foot range, you’ll need about 40 photos. Again, if it’s a luxury home, you’ll likely need more.
Empty lots and land listings need far fewer photos. We typically give clients about 10 photos for empty lots/lands.
When do I need drone photography for my listing?
Most homes benefit from a few exterior drone images. You can certainly get away with a few ground shots, but the beauty of the drone is that you can get more diverse vantage points of the house, covering the roof, the yard, and the home’s proximity to nearby amenities.
Drone is necessary when you’re listing an empty lot or land for sale. Ground shots simply can’t capture everything a buyer would want to see when shopping for an empty lot. With aerial shots, you can show property lines and dimensions of the land.
That said, if you’re listing a property with a home that sits on a large plot of land, you’ll likely want to include a few drone shots. Especially if the acreage is a major selling point for the listing.
Do I need a real estate video for my listing?
Video coverage typically isn’t essential for your standard residential listings. They’re nice to have and can potentially sway a few more buyers to take a look, but they won’t sell your listing for you.
However, for higher-end designer homes, video coverage is almost always required. Selling these homes relies on creating a narrative experience for potential buyers, which is difficult to capture with static images alone.
In short, video is great for creating engaging marketing materials for your listing. Sometimes it’s simply nice to have, other times it’s mandatory.
Are 3D tours worth adding to my listing?
3D tours are a great way to add more visual, interactive media to your listings. They can be especially useful for attracting out-of-state buyers.
Larger homes or homes with a complex layout benefit the most from 3D tours. This way, buyers can virtually experience the entire home before stepping foot on the property. And when they schedule a visit, they’re more likely to be seriously interested.
Should I add virtual staging to my listing?
Sometimes, a listing comes to you empty. Or the homeowners don’t want their furniture featured in the listing photos. Virtual staging can rectify both of these issues.
Some realtors prefer to show a property as-is. Others want to focus on the potential. Whether you want to include it comes down to your personal marketing strategy as a realtor.
Before and after virtual staging
Real estate media packages: the best value for your money
Most real estate photographers offer media packages to simplify the whole process of choosing the right listing media. Most packages are based on what realtors actually need to sell a property.
If you’re still stuck on what to choose for your listing, look into real estate media packages. Often, you’ll get a variety of services bundled together at a discount.
We designed our packages around the services that Boise realtors request the most. Check out our services page to learn more.
TLDR; What does a real estate listing actually need?
At the bare minimum, a listing needs good photos. But here’s a list of what we recommend for each property type.
Property type | Recommended Media |
Standard residential home ~ 2,000 sq ft or less | Listing photography + optional drone |
Standard residential home 2,500-5,000 sq | Listing photography + drone + optional 3D tour & floor plan |
Luxury home | Listing photography + drone + cinematic video |
Empty lot/land | Drone photography |
Vacant property/new build | Listing photography + optional virtual staging |
Commercial property | Listing photography + 3D tour |
Need a photographer for your next listing?
We shoot all across the treasure valley — from Boise to Caldwell and surrounding areas. Check out our photo and video services to book your photoshoot today!
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