Frequently asked questions
How important is photography to selling a property?
When it comes to selling a home, great real estate photography is arguably the best return on investment you can make to attract potential buyers. You probably already know that almost all house hunters start their search on the internet. From the comfort of their home, they can search for houses that match certain criteria - most notably price, location and features - and they're shown all the properties that are meet those criteria. Usually, what they’re presented with is a photo, a description of the property and the owner’s or agent's contact details. Research has shown that the quality of the first photo shown there, more than anything else, will generally determine whether they look further at the property or not. If it's blurred, improperly exposed, badly composed or uninteresting, most of the time they'll move on to the next listing and you'll never know that you've just lost a potentially winning sale offer. It's that simple. So photography, especially the first image shown, is very important.
What about floor plans?
Did you know that, after the photos and written details about the property, buyers generally consider floor plans to be the next most useful tool in listings (even more than videos and virtual tours)? That’s because a floor plan is the only digital asset in a real estate listing that can give buyers a true sense—at a single glance—as to whether the home is the right fit for their family.
Foor plans reveal what photographs often do not: each rooms’ dimensions, their location and the flow between them. A buyer can instantly see, for instance, if the kitchen is conveniently situated near the dining room, whether bedrooms open directly onto the living room and whether a trip to the bathroom will involve a walk through a bedroom. Floor plans bring the listing to life and let the buyer interact and imagine themselves in the home without stepping a foot inside. Tenants are also interested in seeing a floor plan with measurements so they know whether their furniture will fit.
How do I book a shoot or floor plan?
There are two basic steps in the process:
You open our website on any smartphone, tablet or desktop computer, click on Book Now and follow the prompts and we will photograph the property on a date and at a time convenient to you, the owner or the tenant.
We conduct the shoot or floor plan, then edit and deliver the photos or plan to you, usually by 5pm the next business day.
Do you only accept online bookings?
We only accept bookings via the Book Now link on our website because:
it’s the best way of gathering all the pertinent information necessary for us to know what you want us to do;
it reduces miscommunications and clarifies expectations between you and us;
it automates our work processes and therefore increases our efficiency (requiring less resources to monitor phone calls);
the system will email you confirmation of the booking;
the system automatically creates an invoice within our accounting software;
the system allows you to reschedule or cancel that booking using links in the email (as long as we get at least 2 hours notice);
the system is available 24/7, even on weekends;
the system ensures a “first-come, first served” approach to bookings; and
subject to availability, it means that you can book a shoot in as little as 2 hours from now.
If you need help to make a booking, please contact us during normal work hours and we’d be happy to go through it with you.
Why do you need the owner or tenant’s name and phone details?
If we’re not meeting the agent at the property but are meeting someone else there (i.e. the owner, the tenant or one of their associates), we ask for that person’s first name and mobile phone number so that:
we can send them a text message the day before to confirm the time in writing (we’ve been to several properties at 10:30 only to be told that the place isn’t ready and that they were verbally told by the agent 2:30, which sounds alike). The text message also requests that they be outside and away from windows and doors while we’re shooting the interior;
we can call ahead to advise our ETA if we’re running early or late;
we can call them direct if they’re not there when we get there to find out how long they’ll be rather than to partake in the aerial ping pong that happens if we have to call the agent, if we can get through; and
they can call us direct if they have queries about presentation or changing the appointment time if they can’t get through to the agent.
Do you only work for real estate agents?
We do work for other businesses, such as short stay accommodation operators, builders, architects, property developers, interior decorators and so on. We also work for homeowners who are selling or leasing their property.
Please note that we charge real estate agents and owners less than we do for other businesses because:
the useful lifespan for real estate photographs is often only a few weeks or months whereas private and commercial photographs are generally useful for many months or years;
real estate agents provide us with recurring income whereas private and commercial shoots are generally one-off;
the amount of time taken to do a private or commercial shoot (including initial discussions, planning, location scouting, the hiring and setting up of equipment and props, editing, revisions etc) is almost always much greater; and
the quality and time required for private and commercial shoots are generally much higher and involves much more attention to detail than real estate shoots.
How much time do you spend at the property?
The average standard shoot should take no more than an hour and basic and rental shoots no more than half an hour, as long as the property is ready to be photographed. Also, we only have about 10-15 minutes time to shoot twilights as the natural lighting goes dark very quickly. Additional charges may apply if the shoot takes longer so it’s important that the property be ready to help keep the time taken to a minimum and that the photographer is not distracted (for example, if the agent or owner decides to discuss or direct the shoot at the property).
Can I tell you how I’d like you to shoot my property?
Sure, but do you know what it takes to produce really compelling real estate photos? We’ve shot over 13,000 properties in the last 14 years and real estate agents have learnt to trust us. When you last boarded a plane, did you ask to see the flight crew so you could let them know how to fly, what controls to use and where you’d like them to take you? Of course not. You put your trust in them knowing what to do.
What time of day is it best to photograph properties?
We normally shoot between 9am and 2:30pm (ie. a 1:30pm start). Outside of those hours, shooting into the direction of the sun can produce more glare and lens flare (as the sun is lower in the sky), shadows become longer, lighting takes on a more yellow hue, light streaming through windows are difficult to control (especially when bouncing off floors and other surfaces) and dirt and smudges on windows tend to show up more when sunlight hits glass. We will shoot outside these times if requested but if you are not happy with any of the images because of the above, we cannot be held responsible.
It's cloudy or raining. Should I cancel or reschedule the shoot?
Photos can often look better when it's overcast or raining. Bright sunlight creates shadows outside and makes it difficult to shoot inside, especially when streaming through windows. Cloud cover eliminates shadows and it's easier to balance the inside and outside lighting through windows. Clouds look much better than blue skies at twilight shoots, too. With exterior photos, we usually replace grey clouds with suitable skies to make our photos look their best. However, it’s up to you.
What needs to be done before the shoot?
It’s essential that the property be ready before the shoot. You should declutter the property thoroughly, that is remove or hide any objects that make rooms look untidy or that cause potential buyers to be distracted from what you want them to see (i.e. the layout of the room). Examples include unwashed dishes, fridge magnets and tea towels in kitchens, hair dryers, tooth brushes and shampoo bottles in bathrooms, colourful toys, small rugs and mats and bins generally, and large family portraits on walls. Don’t forget to also prune trees, clean windows, mow the lawn and do a general tidy-up outside. Decluttering a home is very important - the difference in the sale price between a tidy and untidy home can literally be many thousands of dollars. How many potential buyers have you lost because the property is unpleasant to look at? You may never know. NOTE: As we will not move items due to COVID-19, it is ultimately the responsibility of the home owner and/or agent to ensure the property is clean, tidy, clutter-free and otherwise ready before we arrive. If not, we will have to shoot the property in the state it’s in.
Do you do twilight shoots?
Yes. A twilight photo is one taken, usually of the exterior of the property, just after dusk or before dawn. It is used to showcase interior and exterior house lighting, pool and entertainment areas, features like fire pits, and sunsets, views of the city and the lights from the hills. Real estate agents like twilight photos because they are more likely to grab the attention of the buyer when a home search is performed.
Timing is everything when shooting a building at twilight. That perfect moment — when the sky darkens to an indigo and the artificial lights start to glow — appears during a tiny window of just 10-15 minutes. Shoot too early and the bright sunlight will overpower the artificial lights and the wonderful glow will be lost. Shoot too late and the definition of the structure will be lost and windows and other bright lights will be set against a dull black sky. A well-lit twilight shoot costs a bit more but it looks fantastic, and can result in a quicker sale and/or a higher price so it’s usually worth the extra expense.
Is my house suitable for a twilight shoot?
Any house can benefit from a twilight shoot but the ideal candidate is one that has lots of exterior lighting, a clear view to the house from a distance and large, open windows. Pools make great twilight photos. Contact us if you’re not sure.
Do you work weekends?
Yes, but normally only Saturday mornings. We understand that owners and tenants often request weekend shoots as they work during the week so we try hard to accommodate such requests.
In what way are the photos edited?
All photographs are edited to correct distortion, to crop and straighten photos and to adjust things like colour temperature, exposure, contrast, saturation, clarity and sharpness. In addition, and at our absolute discretion and at no charge, we replace overcast skies with blue ones (usually with some white clouds), darken TV and computer screens, take out camera and flash reflections in reflective surfaces and remove details from car number plates (for privacy). If you require other items be edited, additional charges may apply so, unless that property is vacant, it’s important that the owners and tenants are given our Preparation Guide to ensure that the property is ready before we arrive.
Do you edit rental photos the same way as you do sales ones?
Yes, the quality is exactly the same. However, we usually only supply web-sized images (1920 x 1080 pixels) as rental properties are rarely advertised on signboards.
Do you charge for additional editing?
Yes, if it’s not of our doing. The price will depend on the amount of time it takes to edit a photo and will be based on our hourly rate.
Will you edit unwanted items from photos?
We will, on request, remove minor artefacts from structural items (such as chipped paint on walls) where those defects will be rectified before the house is sold. However, we suggest caution in case potential buyers rely on retouched photos when they’re making a decision to purchase the property. This is only to protect you as the listing agent from being accused of misrepresenting the property. Also, it can take a lot of time to “edit out” objects from a scene. It’s always far better and cheaper if you arrange to have defects fixed, where possible, prior to the shoot.
Can you add virtual staging to photos?
Yes, or you are allowed to send the photos out to a business that does. Rather than us acting as a go-between and charging you a fee for the service, it’s better to deal directly with them.
How may photos will I get?
The number of photos delivered will be in line with the package selected. You really don’t need a huge number of photos to generate interest and to get people to want to call the agent or visit the home open - in fact, the old adage “less is more” is often good advice because the more photos buyers see online, the more likely they’ll see something that will result in them not wanting to visit the property. Of course, if you want more photos, we're happy to do so, although we will charge more, depending on the additional number of photos and the additional time taken.
Why don’t you offer unlimited photos like other photographers?
Before asking us this, please ask them to define what the other photographers mean by “unlimited” and whether they are happy to supply, say, 500 photos of a property, all fully edited. The ACCC has dealt with plenty of cases where businesses have publicly offered “unlimited” goods or services but actually imposed limits. According to the ACCC’s website, “It is illegal for a business to engage in conduct that misleads or deceives or is likely to mislead or deceive consumers or other businesses.”
How do you deliver the photos?
Photos are sent to you via secure digital file delivery over the internet and will generally be available for at least 6 months. If you find that they’re no longer downloadable, please contact us as we probably still have them.
What is your cancellation policy?
A cancellation fee will be charged if the shoot is cancelled or rescheduled and less than two hours notice prior to the appointment is given, regardless of whether photographs were taken or travel had commenced.
Why do you charge a cancellation fee?
When you engage our services by booking a shoot in, we, in turn, commit whatever resources are required to provide you with materials and a licence to use those materials that will allow you to sell or lease a property in exchange for a licensing fee. That means that we will turn up on time, use our knowledge and expertise to take, edit and deliver images to you, and you, in turn, will pay us a certain amount by a particular date. You and we have a legally-binding contract. Part of the terms and conditions associated with that contract is that, if we are unable to complete our part of the contract through no fault of our own, you are still required to pay us a lesser fee to cover the unpaid amount that we would have earned. It’s not a penalty that’s meant to punish you but rather compensation that somewhat offsets the loss that we’ve incurred in not being able to complete the job and to receive fair reward for our efforts.
I’m a first-time client - why do I have to pay a deposit?
We’ve sometimes turned up at a property to find that the owner (especially those who have engaged our services for the first time) have decided to cancel the shoot without letting us know. Obviously, we’ve committed our time and resources to fulfil our side of the contract, but unfortunately owners sometimes think that there should be no consequences. For this reason, a 50% up-front deposit is required for first-time clients. If the shoot goes ahead, the deposit will be applied to the final payment. On the other hand, if the shoot is cancelled, the deposit will be refunded if the appointment was not rescheduled previously and at least 2 hours notice is given, otherwise the deposit is non-refundable. Depending how our interaction goes this shoot, we may apply the same rules for the next shoots until we feel that we have mutual respect for each other. That’s just how we run our business.
Do you do location shots (e.g. the nearest park, beach, school, train station, shopping centre, etc)?
Yes, as long as it doesn’t interfere with our next appointment. If it’s across the road, we will take the shots without additional charge, otherwise we will have to charge extra for this as it takes a lot of time to pack up our gear at the residence, drive to the location, unpack gear, take the shots and pack up the gear again. Please note that location shots may only be used in relation to the property being photographed.
Can you send me the photos urgently?
We generally send work out to clients by 5pm the next business day. The reason is that the photos can be edited any time during the day or the night, and this can give inconsistent results (particularly the exposure levels). We’ve found that we get the best results by further adjusting all the photos at the same time the following morning.
We operate on a “first come, first served” basis which means that we do not, as a general rule, prioritise one client’s work over another’s. However, we appreciate that sometimes clients will need the photos urgently (for example when the shoot is done on a Friday and a home open is scheduled on Saturday or Sunday). While we feel that rushing things can lead to compromised quality, we can expedite editing and delivery of the photos (as long as the shoot was done in the morning). When this happens, our editors will immediately stop what they’re doing and start working on your photos to get them back to you as soon as possible and an urgent turnaround fee will apply. You can advise us that you require urgent processing at the time of booking in your shoot (but please also read the next point).
Why have I been charged an urgent turnaround fee?
If you ask for the photos to be delivered urgently (whether or not you have selected the “Urgent turnaround” option when booking the shoot), we will treat this as an urgent turnaround case and will get our editors to drop everything in order to work on your photos as a top priority. When this occurs, an additional urgent turnaround fee will apply (please see the previous point above for details).
Why can’t I download the images?
First, check to see if an email from Hightail has ended up in your Junk or Bin folders. Then follow the advice in this article: “https://hightail.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/203468410-Not-Receiving-Email-Notifications”. If that doesn’t help, check the security settings in your web browser and in your anti-virus software - if they’re set too high, they may prevent you from downloading zip files from the internet. If you still can’t download the files, please contact us. NOTE: Changing browser and anti-virus software settings may make your computer vulnerable to security threats. Seek professional advice if necessary.
What if I don’t like the photos?
If you or the home owner are not happy with the photos we deliver to you, we’ll re-edit the images or re-shoot what we need to at the property (please let us know ASAP before you use the photos as this signifies acceptance of the photos). Our number one goal is to keep you so happy that you’ll keep using our service.
Occasionally, we’ve not been able to satisfy agents and/or owners, no matter what we do. When this happens, there will be no charge, as long as you notify us within 7 days after receiving the photos and the photos have not and will not be used. Thankfully, this has only happened in just 2 out of over 13,000 shoots (which means that in more than 99.98% of property shoots, we’ve had satisfied clients).
Why do my photos appear too light or dark, or alternately too warm or cool, on my monitor?
The most likely reason is because your monitor hasn’t been set up properly. Try adjusting your monitor’s brightness, contrast and colour temperature controls to mid-range levels and, if possible, using an sRGB colour space, a colour temperature of 6,500° Kelvin, a gamma point of 2.2 (if it’s a recent monitor - older Macs used 1.8) and HDR and similar “enhancements” turned off. We calibrate our monitors every month or so using a Datacolor Spyder5PRO Advanced Monitor Calibration system to ensure that our photos meet industry standards and we receive very few complaints (perhaps once or twice a year) and most often it’s because the monitor on which the photos are being viewed on is badly set-up. We’re happy to re-edit the photos but we must advise caution because, over the years, we’ve found that the viewing device used is set too bright or too dark or it’s never been properly calibrated to an industry standard. The danger is that changing photos to suit one device could have a detrimental effect on viewing the photos on everyone else’s devices.
Can I send a copy of the photos (or the link to the photos that you’ve sent to us) to the seller?
No. Per our Terms & Conditions, we allow you to use the photos in any way to market the property; sending a copy of the photos to owners is not considered to be marketing the property. We’ve encountered situations where photos have been downloaded many dozens of times by owners, often to send to friends and relatives. When there are so many people involved, some will inevitably comment that the photos don’t do the property justice or that the sale price seems low. While they mean to be well-intentioned and helpful, it can cause friction between all parties involved with the result that the owners suddenly become unhappy with the photos or with the sale price. Instead, we suggest that you send the owners the link to the URL of the property on one of the real estate websites before the listing goes live.
How are the fees determined?
Our fees are based on a fixed fee plus a variable fee according to the number of photos taken and the time taken to shoot the property. All quoted prices prior to photographing a property are good faith estimates and may vary where unforeseen circumstances occur during the photography session. It’s therefore important that the property be ready and that people at the property stay well away from areas being photographed and do not disturb the photographer.
Can you give me a cheaper price?
No. We believe our fees are fair, competitive and provide excellent value for money.
If we start charging one client less than our other clients, they’ll expect the same price in the future. Then, once those other clients find out we’re charging them more than one of their competitors, they will either go elsewhere in disgust or demand the same rate. A “race to the bottom” is never a good business practice.
How do you invoice us?
We generally issue invoices immediately after shoots via our accounting software. Payment is required within 14 days (prior to the shoot in the case of owners who are selling their own property). Our ABN and bank account details appear on our tax invoice statements. When paying by EFT, please include the invoice number or send us a remittance advice by email so we know which invoice the payment relates to - if we are not advised, we will allocate payments to the oldest invoice outstanding.
Do you accept payment by way of cheques, credit cards or PayPal?
No, we only accept payment via EFT to our bank account, the details of which appears on all invoices.
I don't charge Vendor-Paid Adverting. What can I do to convince vendors to at least pay for professional photography?
A search on the internet will dig up much research that suggests that homes that are photographed professionally generally sell quicker and often sell for more than those that are not because good photos attract more potential buyers. The basic cost of photographing a typical Perth residence is only about 1% of the total commission paid by the vendor to the agency. Also, you're more likely to sell before you lose the listing so it’s in your, and your agency’s, best interest to promote the use of professional photography to sell the property.
How can I convince owners to use you?
Simple. Show them our portfolio page
Are you registered for GST purposes?
Yes. Our ABN appears on all our invoices.
Do you have a current National Police Clearance?
Yes, and we’re happy to show it to you.
What sort of equipment do you use?
The truth is that, to a certain extent, the equipment we use isn’t really that important (in fact, web photos only need to be 2-3 megapixels in size, so you don’t really need a camera that’s got a sensor with 40 or 100 megapixels). It’s more to do with many years of building knowledge and experience, about understanding how light works, knowing how to control, modify and supplement the light that’s available, applying psychology in choosing the best composition that will result in eye- and brain-pleasing images, determining what camera settings to use, deciding how many different exposures to take and knowing how to blend and edit multiple photographs into one final image.
Clients don’t hire photographers for their gear. They hire them for their ability to produce great images. The type of tools builders use to build a house is of no concern to the home owner who only care that the finished house be well made, that it meets or exceeds their needs and expectations and that it doesn’t exceed the agreed-upon budget.
Where are you located?
Mount Richon, in the hills behind Armadale.
How far do you travel?
Anywhere within the Perth metropolitan area. For properties outside of the Perth metropolitan area, we usually charge an hourly rate, in which case please call us to discuss.
Do I have to be there?
No. We have been doing this full-time for many years and agents have come to realise that we know a thing or two about real estate photography. It’s up to you but we’re happy to either meet the agent, owner or tenant, pick up the keys from the office or use the keys that are left in a lockbox at the property.
Any issues with tenants and strata titled complexes?
We occasionally encounter security and privacy concerns from other owners and tenants within complexes, as they are entitled to privacy and quiet enjoyment of the property they own or are leasing. We will endeavour to do our best to carry out our duties but reserve the right to leave if we feel our safety is compromised. It is the owners or agent's responsibility to ensure we have the appropriate permissions and safe access to the premises (including common areas) so that we may complete our work. Failure to do so will still result in us charging full price for the shoot.
We do not have any rights as far as access to properties under the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 goes and tenants may demand that we leave at any time. Accordingly, we tend to tread very carefully in tenanted properties. This means that we will generally not move their belongings except where we have their permission. It is up to the owner or agent to be on site and to request permission from the tenant if they require that items be moved so they don’t appear in the photo.
How does licensing work?
With very few exceptions, the person who presses the shutter button owns the photo that’s created. Because they own the image, THEY determine how those photographs are to be used via licensing agreements, which spell out in what way the images may be used, the geographic regions within which the images may be used, the time period parties are allocated to use the images, the exclusivity or non-exclusivity of the arrangement and the terms applicable to the relicensing of the images. A written licensing agreement is meant to legally protect both parties’ interests in how the images may and may not be used.
You are already familiar with licensing. When you “purchase” a song through Spotify or Apple Music, you don’t actually own the song. You have a licence to listen to the song on any of the devices you own devices for your own personal entertainment - that means you can’t make a copy of the song and send it to your friend, use it in your YouTube videos or sell it because that becomes commercial usage. Likewise, when you buy a ticket to travel on a bus, you don’t own the bus - the ticket gives you and you alone a single licence to travel on the bus until you reach your destination. It’s the same with photos.
While we maintain ownership of the photos, we grant you a non-transferable, non-exclusive, limited licence to use the photos for any purpose in relation to advertising, marketing or promoting the property being sold or leased, including to store, archive, edit, print, display, reproduce and transmit the photos as long as payment is received within 28 days from the date on our invoice. The right to use photos in relation to a particular property is limited to the life of the sale or rental contract with the current owner of the property. However, if the property is not leased or sold at the end of that contract and a new contract with the same owner is drawn up no later than two weeks after the original contract ends, the licence will extend without further charge while that later contract is in place. All efforts must be made to remove materials from web sites, social media etc following the end of the listing.
Photos may not be sold, leased, reused in a later sale or leasing of the property, or otherwise transferred to any other person (including to the owners of the property or to other agencies), unless where expressly agreed to by us in writing.
Location photographs taken or provided in relation to a property may only be used in relation to that property and not in relation to any other property.
Use of photos outside of these guidelines will constitute a breach of our copyright. We reserve the right to use the photos for promotional purposes and to relicence the images - this includes to other real estate agencies.
Why don’t you have a social media presence?
In a word, copyright. According to the Australian National Association for the Visual Arts:
Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube all have user Terms of Service which include clauses related to copyright ownership of any material that is uploaded to the platform…By the platform holding a non-exclusive royalty free license of any images and videos uploaded to the platform they are being given the right to use and distribute these images for any purpose they see fit without the permission of the copyright holder of any licensing fee being paid. It should also be noted that a ‘transferrable’ and ‘sub-licensable’ license means the license can be transferred or sub-licensed to any other individual or company without your knowledge and without your permission. Essentially the copyright holder (the artist) is giving up some of their moral and economic rights to copyright in images and video that is uploaded to social media platforms.
How are your licensing fees based?
Our licensing fees comprise two parts:
Content creation. This covers the time, skill, effort and expenses that are necessary to produce the images.
Usage. This is the value we place on how our creative content is used after they’re created and for how long.
As our client, you purchase a restricted licence to use our images, however we own the images. It’s similar to hiring a car - you pay a fee and get to use the car (with certain usage restrictions and time limitations) but the car rental agency always remains the owner of the car. Accordingly, owning a car costs a lot more than hiring it.
How can I get to own the photos?
You can’t. To transfer outright ownership of the photographs to you would cost much more than the cost of licensing them for a limited amount of time (i.e. for the few months while you have the listing) or an unlimited amount of time (e.g. when using them to advertise a short-term rental).
I’ve paid for the photos so why don’t they belong to me?
The basic rule is that the person who takes the photo owns the photo. We don’t pretend to be lawyers but here’s a great video that explains how licensing and copyright works (it’s US-centric but nevertheless 100% of what it contains relates exactly to the way copyright works in Australia).
What about if the owner wants a copy of the photos as a memento?
That’s fine, especially where the owner’s have good memories of the place. We actually encourage agents to send us the owner’s email address after the property has been sold (i.e. after settlement day) and we’re only too happy to email the high resolution images to them free-of-charge for their personal use. We suggest that the owners use the photos to create photo books, with a copy given to each of their kids to remind them of happy times at the property.
Can I have the raw files?
No because raw files are, quite literally, the raw data that is captured by the camera sensor. Raw files have to be converted into some other format, such as JPEG, before they can be viewed on a screen or in print. We never give those out.
What happens if I infringe copyright?
Copyright infringements of our materials will generally result in a letter of demand being sent to the person or company using the images without permission. If you receive a letter of demand from us, you should seek legal advice immediately. Using images without permission may prove to be very costly (one such case in Australia resulted in the court awarding $14,350 plus costs for a single image), so it’s always better to obtain the appropriate licence than to be hit with a copyright infringement claim.
Why don’t you have many (or any) reviews or ratings, except on your Testimonials page?
We could contact owners of properties we’ve shot after they sold the property to ask what they thought about the photos and then, if they were happy, ask them to post a favourable review on Google and various social media sites but we don’t. We could also offer owners a reward (such as a gift card) if they gave us positive ratings but that would be, at the very least, not be very morally correct. However, every single one of the testimonials on our web site are unsolicited and were sent to either us or via the real estate agent concerned.