Are professional photos and videos really necessary to sell a home?

Put yourself in the buyer's shoes, would you look at a house that did not present itself in the best possible light? Photos are the first thing the potential buyer is going to see. If those are horrible, then you have a much lower chance of selling for your desired figure. And the fact that photography is so inexpensive in relation to the value these days, I have no idea why I still see some agents or homeowners doing it themselves. If I see a homeowner or agent in a bathroom photo, I know they have no idea what they are doing and can probably negotiate a great deal for my client or myself.

Yes, for any listing over $200,000 and for nearly every Spring Hill listing. Buyers now filter on photo quality before they read a single word of the description, and 94 percent start their search online. In Hernando County, my listings with professional photo + drone + twilight shots get 3 to 5 times the online engagement of listings shot on a phone. On the Nature Coast, aerial and video are especially important because buyers outside Florida are trying to visualize the lot, pool, and proximity to water from afar. A $400 photo package that moves the home 5 days faster pays for itself 10 times over. Skip it and you pay for it in DOM. -- Kevin

Professional photos and video are no longer "extras"—they are your primary sales force. In 2026, nearly 98% of buyers start their search on a mobile device, and listings with professional photography receive 61% more views and sell up to 32% faster than those with amateur shots. High-quality video and 3D tours act as a "digital showing," filtering out "looky-loos" and ensuring that the people who book in-person tours are already 70% sold on the home.

Yes, they matter more than most people think. Your photos are what get buyers in the door. If the home doesn’t look good online, it doesn’t get showings. And fewer showings usually means weaker offers. Professional photos make the home feel brighter, cleaner, and more inviting. Video helps buyers understand the layout before they even step inside. It’s not just marketing, it directly impacts how many people show up and how they perceive the home. You might not see a line item that says “+10K for photos,” but you’ll feel it in the level of interest and the strength of the offers you get.

Yes—professional photos and video absolutely make a difference. In today’s market, your listing is competing online first, and high-quality visuals directly impact how many buyers click, schedule showings, and emotionally connect with the home. Well-presented homes not only attract more traffic but often sell faster and for more money, while poor photos can cause buyers to skip the property entirely—even if it’s otherwise a great home.

Its the easiest and most cost effective marketing that you can do. Think of it this way, you have to sell your home online before you can sell it in the real world. Most buyers are looking online first and if the photos aren't great then will likely pass on it. Also I recommend including the floorplan, most real estate photographers will include this and it makes a big difference.

A good realtor partner will only choose professional photos and often will pick up the tab on them. They give a better first impression than cell phone photos.

Short answer, yes. Professional photos and video are absolutely necessary if you want to maximize exposure and price. Buyers today start their search online. Your home is competing with many others, and if the photos do not stand out right away, buyers will scroll past it without ever seeing it in person. Professional media helps in three major ways. First, it brings in more showings. Better photos and video lead to more clicks, more interest, and more people walking through the door. Second, it creates an emotional connection. It is not just about showing the home, it is about helping buyers picture themselves living there. Third, it can impact your final sales price. The more attention your home gets, the more demand you create, which can lead to stronger offers and better terms.

Yeah… this is one of those things that people think is optional, but it really isn’t anymore. Buyers are shopping online first. Your photos and video aren’t marketing fluff—they’re the first showing. If the media doesn’t grab them, they never even walk through the door. I’ve seen it over and over. Same house, same price range. The one with great photos gets all the traffic. The one with iPhone photos sits and starts getting price reductions. Does it impact price? Indirectly, yes. More eyeballs equals more showings. More showings creates competition. Competition is what pushes price and terms in your favor. And here’s the part most people miss. Bad photos don’t just “not help”—they actually hurt. They make your home feel smaller, darker, and less valuable than it really is. So could you sell a house without professional media? Sure. Are you leaving money on the table and slowing things down? Almost always.

Are professional photos and videos really necessary to sell a home? Short answer: they’re not technically required, but in today’s market they’re one of the highest-impact things you can do. In many cases, they directly affect how many buyers show up and how strong your offers are. Here’s how it plays out in the real world: Your listing lives or dies online first Before anyone schedules a showing, they’re scrolling. If your photos don’t stand out, buyers skip it If they do, you get clicks, saves, and showings Professional media isn’t about looking fancy. It’s about getting attention in a crowded feed. More attention = more showings = better offers This is the part most sellers underestimate. Better photos and video: Increase click-through rates Keep buyers engaged longer Drive more in-person showings More showings create competition. Competition is what drives price, not just the list number. It’s not just photos anymore Strong listings today typically include: High-quality interior and exterior photos Video walkthrough or listing video Floor plans or 3D tours (when appropriate) Video in particular helps buyers: Understand layout Feel more confident before booking a showing Travel from further distances (especially relevant in rural markets) Where cheap photos actually cost you money Listings with poor photos tend to: Sit longer on the market Require price reductions Attract lower-quality offers Even if the home is solid, bad presentation makes buyers assume there’s a problem. Local reality in places like Stark In smaller markets like Stark and surrounding Coos County: Buyer pools are smaller and more spread out Many buyers are coming from out of town or out of state They rely heavily on photos and video before committing to a drive If your listing doesn’t present well online, those buyers never show up. Is it “necessary” or just standard? At this point, it’s both. You can sell a home without professional media, but you’re competing against listings that have it. That puts you at a disadvantage right out of the gate. Bottom line: Professional photos and video aren’t just marketing extras. They’re what generate demand. In most cases, they don’t just help your home sell faster, they help it sell for more by creating stronger buyer interest upfront.

Hi Jon, While professional photos and videos are technically not required, I would certainly call them necessary. The first showing and first impression occurs as soon as a buyer pulls up your listing online and the difference between professional and non-professional photos are obvious and completely change the perception of the home. In my experience, the cost is well worth every dollar spent in terms of the return on investment. If you're interested, I wrote a blog recently on my website about mistakes to avoid when selling your home. Here's the link: https://pillarrealestate.com/blog/selling-in-2026-avoid-these-costly-errors

Not only do you need professional photos, but I would recommend a professional video as well. The photos are an invitation for Buyers to come see your home, so first impressions matter.

Yes, they absolutely matter. From what we’ve seen in Longview, professional photos are not just a nice extra. They are one of the biggest factors in whether a buyer even decides to look at your home in the first place. Buyers usually see the home online before they ever step foot in it, so if the photos are dark, crooked, or do not show the home well, you can lose interest before the showing ever happens. Video matters too, especially when it is used the right way. Not every single house needs some huge cinematic production, but strong video and social media marketing can create a lot more attention, more shares, and more urgency around a listing. That can absolutely help drive better activity and sometimes stronger offers. In my experience, great marketing does not sell a bad house for an unrealistic price, but it does help a well priced home get in front of more of the right buyers. That is where it can affect both interest level and final sale price. The more serious eyes you get on a property early, the better your chances of creating competition and putting the seller in a stronger position. So no, I would not call professional media just standard marketing fluff. In today’s market, it is part of presenting the home the right way and giving it the best chance to stand out.

Great question. At this point, professional photos and video are a necessity and should be one of the very first steps in your marketing. Most buyers are seeing your home online before anything else, so if the visuals do not immediately capture their attention, they may never schedule a showing. But strong visuals are just the starting point. A well-curated marketing plan should also include SEO-driven listing descriptions and strategic online posts that help your home get found and stand out. It is not just about putting a home on the market, it is about positioning it in a way that creates interest, drives traffic and ultimately leads to stronger offers (giving you more power and choice).

In my market, it's standard practice. But are they really necessary to sell a home? Not really. The market is so hot right now that you could take them wth your iphone! Sellers want them, so to get the listing, you need to be prepared to wow them with your marketing.

There are professional photos, and then there are professional photos and media. Why do car companies, cell phone companies, etc., put so much into their media if it did not work? Next, this competition between realtors to deliver the best is an evolution for digital housing consumption. Yes, it works in balanced and in buyer markets. When it is a seller's market, you are getting multiple offers, etc., without even a photo. When you are fighting to get buyers into your home, you need two things: 1. the home to look its best, and 2. for the media to show it off. My favorite model is professional photos and media with Zillow Showcase. It meets the standards of media I like, and it gives my sellers many competitive advantages. Curb Appeal starts online, not in the car in front of the house.

Absolutely. Professional photos capture your home in a way that iPhone snaps just can’t quite grasp. First, it’s what gets people through the front door. Buyers today have high expectations for high quality media. A well lit and nicely composed photo reel are going to make them want to stop and look through the listing vs scrolling past it. Folks tour your home for about 30 minutes before they decide if they’re going to put in an offer or not. The details of that offer are decided at home, while they scroll through your listing photos over and over again. Professional photos are a non-negotiable for me. Video is a nice addition but not necessary in my opinion. The images are what the listings show. You have to dig a little deeper to see the video, good for marketing but not the same for capturing active buyers.

Yes. The first time a potential buyer sees your home is likely to be online. If the home doesn't show well in the photos you may miss out on one or multiple offers. Be sure the home is represented accurately. Any modifications using AI need to be disclosed.

It is essential! This is what consumers see first and what attracts them to the property. It is not just about listing photos but overall online presentation of the property.

Yes. My job is to make the property look as best as possible to achieve the highest price in the shortest amount of time via as many media channels as possible.

I think it has to do with your market. Here in Connecticut, we still have an extremely competitive seller's market and often times, I see "professional photos coming soon" on the remarks and 2 days later the property is under contract. Photos are a must to show case the house, but video not so much.

Great question—and honestly, the answer is yes… but maybe not for the reason most people think. Professional photos and video don’t just make a home look nice—they control the first impression. And in today’s market, that first impression usually happens in about 2 seconds on a phone screen. Here’s the part that often gets missed: Buyers aren’t comparing your home to “average” photos… they’re comparing it to the best listings online. So if your photos don’t match that level, your home can feel like it’s priced too high—even when it’s not. I’ve seen it firsthand—same neighborhood, similar homes… the one with strong visuals gets more clicks, more showings, and better offers. The one with average photos sits longer and ends up negotiating more. Video adds another layer. It helps buyers understand flow, space, and lifestyle—which is huge for out-of-town buyers or anyone narrowing down options before they ever step inside. Can a home still sell without professional media? Sure. But the real question is—are you leaving money or momentum on the table? In my experience, great marketing doesn’t just sell the home… it positions it to sell better.

Hi, great question! Professional photos are a must since most buyers start their search online. Also, it's important to include twilight pictures, as stats show buyers are more likely to click on listings with sunset or evening shots. Also, if it's in your budget, drone shots can be very beneficial, especially if there are points of interest in the neighborhood, such as parks and waterways. Videos can easily be created by the photos taken and your agent should be able to convert to a video format. Best of luck in selling your home!