The Dos and Don’ts of Safeguarding Old Real Estate Photos

Old real estate photos are normally part of running an realty editor business or even a real estate business. They are there as a result of the continuously growing set and is normally the case when taking real estate photos for listing purposes. How we manage the storage of these photos is dependent on our intent to store them, and in most cases, we choose to make them available for any future need that may arise.

Also note that real estate photos have been around since the digital age. This means we still see and own developed images on those floppy photo papers that depict stunning properties we’ve listed before. However, these old real estate photos are susceptible to the elements of aging and manifest in different unsightly ways. These may come in the form of stains, fades, or even folds and creases. Without the proper care, our intent on taking real estate photos for the long term will not come into fruition. The images that have turned into bad real estate photos will simply go to waste or even be too far down the hole to be recovered.

With this, we take a look at the dos and don’ts of keeping and safeguarding old real estate photos. We see how the current-day technology helps us to ensure the integrity of these images, more so their legacy and their history.

Why We Keep Old Real Estate Photos

Real estate business would have many uses for old real estate photos. The ability to preserve them and reuse them for the right business reasons will be useful in showcasing how a property may have stood the test of time or even just being part of the company’s portfolio. For whatever reason, taking real estate photos does have its merits and preserving it for the long haul serves many purposes.

1. Keep the history intact

Real estate companies use these old real estate photos as a reference and as part of their portfolio. The reason being is that they want their clients to appreciate their rich history being in the industry for a long time and helps build credibility. This becomes a cornerstone for trust and confidence as more and more people trust a long-running business that has a proven track record and thereby help the business continue its journey to grow and expand.

2. Archive property images for future reference

A home may still be there after years have passed. The real estate photos that have been kept properly may serve its purpose once more of advertising the home and giving off a vintage charm in the process. This may not always be the case though as homes go through renovations but those that do keep their looks were made in the sturdiest way possible, which is a great selling point.

The Dos

Properly taking real estate photos that have seen many decades and safekeeping them for many more years to come requires technology to come together. Ensuring you know the right steps can enable you to get the most out of the process of safeguarding old real estate photos.

1. Digitalize them for easier reproduction

Scanners have come a long way in bringing physical images to our computers. They might not have the same pixel quality as a digital camera would produce but nevertheless, you have taken the first step in the immortalization of an image. This can also branch out to different purposes such as easier distribution, photo reproduction, and so on.

2. Retouch as necessary for optimal imagery

Do not hesitate to retouch old photos. This will be the key to ensuring they can serve the purpose of being commercially presentable once more. Open your most reliable photo editing software and start correcting. This process will need to go hand-in-hand as you now scan the image but do not get the perfect standard of quality. Furthermore, you may want to check out specialized software incase your images have folds and creases. You will need to remove them permanently from the digital version.

The Don’ts

Of course, there are things to avoid when dealing with old real estate photos printed in a photo paper. Some of them won’t be as obvious as you think.

1. Leave them on an album to fade

We love to store these photographs on an album and line them with a layer of plastic covering to keep them flat and safe. Little did we know that over time, they develop stains and tints that render the real estate photo unfit for reuse. Much like how watches develop patina, their effect on photos is on the opposite end of acceptable. This is why you must make an effort to digitalize them immediately.

2. Expose them to sunlight and heat

One of the things that we do not easily see is the chemical make up of the photo paper and the image. When these are exposed to the elements, they start the process of degradation which ultimately results into fading. Such elements you might want to avoid is contact of old real estate photos with direct sunlight for prolonged periods. Others would be extreme heat and some would be simply to avoid getting them wet. Whichever the case is, have them digitalized. It won’t hurt to transform them into something you could control rather than an old piece of photo paper that will eventually give out and lose its glory.

Final Thoughts

Managing to safe keep old real estate photos is possible with today’s technology. The numerous ways we can preserve them in digital means is a way for us to keep them in their best state for whatever purpose they may serve. Our reasons for taking real estate photos might be obvious but keeping them for decades is another and for any reason you may have to do this, you are covered for as long as you make sure to use the technology available. Lastly, there are also things to remember to avoid when dealing with physical real estate photos that have seen their fair share of years. If you are afraid of how bad real estate photos might be when you unearth them, go and revive them anyway. You’ll never know what will come out of it unless you try.