Why have Estate Agents started to do this

NaughtiusMaximus

kdotdotdotdot wrote: »

Taking photos at an angle is called a 'Dutch tilt' or 'Dutch shift'

...pronounced with a silent F.

The photographer forgot the obligatory 'Look, it's a tap, and it works!!!' shot.

PasturesNew

One of my 'favourite utterly pointless photos' is a tight-shot from the top landing showing the stairs below.... just the stairs.

Stairs would be handy in a house; I'd have not expected to find those. What a treat.... must view that one! Stairs! Luxury!

NaughtiusMaximus

PasturesNew wrote: »

I find that some agents are using some kind of "brightness filter" that makes grim and grimy black holes of Calcutta look modern, fresh and bright.

Then there's the other EA habit of (very badly) photoshopping bright blue sky into the exterior photos, looks awful.
(ETA - as already mentioned in the post by AdrianC I initially missed)

When we sold in 2017 and were getting quotes from EAs, one of them proudly made a point of telling us they did both the sky thing and brightened the interior photos, it was actually one of the factors which persuaded us to go elsewhere.

SallyDucati

When I was looking one of the estate agents had photos of the bathrooms shower head in every listing. Close up, at a jaunty angle. I could tell which agent listed it the minute I saw a shower head.

Exodi

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

I agree.

Making rooms and gardens look bigger than they actually are must surely be counter-productive as when the property is actually viewed it becomes a disappointment.

From a strictly commercial standpoint, I think this type of creative photography will typically be of benefit to the EA:

Scenario 1 - Estate agent takes realistic pictures, rooms look small and are small - few views but viewers aren't disappointed
Scenario 2 - Estate agent takes creative pictures, rooms look big but are small - lots of views but viewers are disappointed.

The added advantage to scenario 2 is that the estate agent could easily go back to the seller with 'look how many views I've got and it's still not selling, perhaps you should consider lowering the asking price?'. Ultimately, the estate agent doesn't really care if a house sells for £240,000 or £220,000.

Also, googled Dutch Angle (first time learning about it today, thanks for that!) and it states 'the Dutch angle is one of many cinematic techniques often used to portray psychological uneasiness or tension' :rotfl:

NaughtiusMaximus

Exodi wrote: »

From a strictly commercial standpoint, I think this type of creative photography will typically be of benefit to the EA:

Scenario 1 - Estate agent takes realistic pictures, rooms look small and are small - few views but viewers aren't disappointed
Scenario 2 - Estate agent takes creative pictures, rooms look big but are small - lots of views but viewers are disappointed.

The added advantage to scenario 2 is that the estate agent could easily go back to the seller with 'look how many views I've got and it's still not selling, perhaps you should consider lowering the asking price?'. Ultimately, the estate agent doesn't really care if a house sells for £240,000 or £220,000.

I don't really see any advantage to the EA there. Surely with scenario 1 they could easily say 'Unfortunately there has been little interest in your property, perhaps you should consider lowering the asking price', at least the EA isn't wasting time and money by sending someone out to handle numerous viewings which come to nothing.

DigForVictory

Dear gods. Still, next time I get a stressed text "Biscay lousy", I shall forward in the link along with the recommendation to eat a hearty breakfast. (the latter is my trusted & effective method of getting over seasickness, the former I look forward to hearing the results....)

newsgroup_monkey

I wouldn't buy that house. All the rooms are on the wonk.

Exodi

NaughtiusMaximus wrote: »

I don't really see any advantage to the EA there. Surely with scenario 1 they could easily say 'Unfortunately there has been little interest in your property, perhaps you should consider lowering the asking price', at least the EA isn't wasting time and money by sending someone out to handle numerous viewings which come to nothing.

But this has the risk of the seller blaming the estate agent for lack of views and going down the road. If you're flooded with views, it hard to argue the property has been marketed badly (which is ironic given this thread is a testament to the opposite).

GBNI

Much like the estate agents that take close ups of random items such as vases etc which I'm fairly sure the seller will take with them...