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As a result of the high demand for “video walk-thru” services, which have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are now offering this service to real estate agents. The primary objective of creating a walk-through video for a property listing is to provide a prospective buyer and their agent with a “real-life” experience walking through a property while limiting the need for the buyers, the buyer’s agent, as well as the seller’s agent to physically visit the property.

Our standard stand alone flat rate for this service is $125, which includes the site visit and video shoot, as well the time required for basic post editing in our studio. Depending on the size of the property and any other unique needs, property attributes or circumstances, there may be additional charges for this service as well. A discounted rate is available if this service is requested along with any of our standard photo packages. Listing agents should inquire for an exact price quote for their upcoming listing.

We will prerecord the walk-thru video of the entire property, including the interior and exterior, on behalf of the listing agent and the seller. We will record segments of each floor and other sections of the property, and then splice them all together into a single video file. The video will not contain any narration or audio.

The final video, which will typically run between 2 and 5 minutes in length, can then be shared live on Zoom calls or by utilizing other delivery methods desired by the listing agent. The video can be narrated live by the listing agent and multiple parties can participate on the video call, including the buyer’s agent and the buyer’s family. Alternatively, with basic video editing software the listing agent can add audio narration and/or music for other marketing and distribution purposes.

We will also provide basic support and guidance to real estate agents who are new to some of the broadcast and distribution techniques described above. Listings agents should contact us for more information.

It should be noted that Jeffrey Wirz Photography has officially been approved by the State of Connecticut DECD as an “essential” business and vendor for the real estate community. This means we have been authorized to provide photography services as long as we adhere to strict guidelines provided by the state to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

When hired for photography and video shoots we always take all of the necessary precautions, including wearing a face mask and rubber gloves, which are then properly discarded following each session. For vacant properties we have Supra eKey access as long as property has an installed lockbox, otherwise we will coordinate a key transfer. If the property is occupied, in most cases we can work together to coordinate an appropriate safety plan with the occupants so we can all adhere to distancing guidelines and to minimize any potential exposure.

Jeffrey Wirz Photography is based in Stamford, Connecticut, and provides real estate photography services to real estate agents and “For Sale By Owner” sellers throughout Fairfield County, Connecticut. To view sample photos and more information, go to the following link:

https://jeffreywirzphotography.com/services/real-estate/

I am pleased to announce that I have officially been approved for an exemption as an “essential business” by Connecticut’s Department of Economic Community Development (DECD). This means I am officially authorized to provide photography services under the conditions that I adhere to strict guidelines of the DECD to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

As a result of the COVID-19 virus outbreak, Connecticut’s Governor Ned Lamont issued an executive order that labeled certain businesses as “essential” allowing them to continue to work as long as they followed certain specific guidelines for operating a safe work environment. While real estate agents were named as essential, real estate photographers were not leaving real estate agents with no choice but to photograph their listings on their own. As a business owner and photographer I applied for an exception that was subsequently granted allowing me to resume providing our valuable service to real estate agents.

The premise of my appeal in the application was to make the point that shooting professional semi-wide-angle views of a property, along with complimentary floor plans, is much better for the viewer than providing mobile phone photos and no floor plans. Basically, if the goal is to minimize the need to visit a property then better photos and floor plans is more likely to accomplish this objective. I also had to demonstrate that I can and will take the necessary precautions to protect everyone.

When hired for real estate photography shoots of both interiors and exteriors I am taking all of the necessary precautions to protect myself, as well as any others who may come into contact with me or the property. This is basically done by wearing a face mask and rubber gloves at all times during the photo shoot. In most cases there are no other individuals present with me, but when there are we always keep a very safe distance to avoid any contact or spread of the virus.

For vacant properties, which is the case more often than not right now, I can usually access the property through the agent provided Supra eKey lockbox. I have access to the lockbox because I am also a licensed real estate agent myself. In cases where there is no lockbox I will either have the agent open the house for me or arrange for a key transfer somewhere else. I have even been known to install lockboxes when provided in advance by the agent. When the property is occupied I will work together with the agent to establish an appropriate plan with the occupants of the home so we can adhere to the mandatory distancing guidelines and to minimize potential exposure.

In addition to providing professional photos, I also provide floor plans as a part of my standard package. The combination of offering professional photos, floor plans and virtual tour links for the property listings we can provide prospective buyers (and tenants) with the best possible “vision” of the property listing while minimizing contact.

Jeffrey Wirz Photography is based in Stamford, Connecticut, and provides real estate photography services to real estate agents and “For Sale By Owner” sellers throughout Fairfield County, Connecticut. To view sample photos and more information, go to the following link:

https://jeffreywirzphotography.com/services/real-estate/

In New England, and just about every where else for that matter, people buy and sell homes during all seasons of the year. Although the peak season for many might typically be in the Spring and Summer months, lots of homes are also listed during the off-peak months. In Connecticut off-peak is during the months of November, December, January and February.

When a property is listed in the late fall or winter months, they usually result in gray exterior photos with very little color, and even worse, sometimes with snow on the ground. The owner may have color pictures laying around, but often they’re not ideal for publishing purposes.

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Of course, it’s still possible to fully market a property during the winter months, and there are lots of buyers looking online during the winter months too, but when Spring comes around and a house is still on the market, the last thing you want is a gray listing when there’s lots of actual color outside. Its a huge missed opportunity to showcase a property when it could be showing it’s optimal beauty, plus it makes your listing look dated without updated full color photos.

And lets face it, if you listed in November or December, and its still on the market four months later, in a market where houses are typically selling within an average of 60 to 90 days, your property is going to be one of the older listings on the market and viewed as a “dated’ property. Plus, it’s competing with newly listed, full color Spring listings.

There is good news at the end of the rainbow. Updating photos is really easy and the cost isn’t as much as you might think. The fact is there is probably no better way to spruce up an old listing than adding a few new color shots to your listing portfolio. The cost of NOT updating your listing photos may actually be even greater than just leaving it “as is”.

There are other benefits to refreshing your photos too. One great benefit for the listing agent is the possibility of getting a new extension on a listing agreement that may be expiring soon. If you signed a six month agreement for a November listing, and you offer to hire a photographer to renew the listing photos, then perhaps the seller will see the added value in renewing the listing agreement with you rather than another agent.

Want to bring new life and color to your gray winter listing? Schedule your Spring ‘exterior only’ photo shoot with us today. We charge a simple $95 flat rate for exterior photos regardless of the style or the size of the property.

Jeffrey Wirz Photography is based in Stamford, Connecticut, and provides real estate photography services to real estate agents and “For Sale By Owner” sellers throughout Fairfield County, Connecticut and Westchester County in New York. To view sample photos and more information, go to the following link:

https://jeffreywirzphotography.com/services/real-estate/