Are You Ready For Your Close Up? Photographing Your Home For Sale

The saying goes that the camera never lies but, as any professional photographer will tell you, it can certainly be induced to interpret! When you're listing your home for sale, whether with a Realtor or independently, in the modern, online market place first impressions really do count and it pays to pay attention to the images you use for listing your home. In this post we look at some of the top tips from professional photographers which means the sale of your home is just a click away – and ensures that clicking away is not what potential purchasers do!

 

Lights, Camera, Action

 

• Lighting is crucial to any professional image and avoiding dark, murky or grainy images is essential. Use all the lighting in each room and add additional lights to illuminate darker areas or corners.

 

• Use the best quality camera you have access to and use a stand or tripod if you have one. Blurry selfies are fine for Instagram or Facebook but not for listing your home!

 

• Action shots are best avoided so keep people, pets or complete strangers out of the shot. Use props – a half full glass of juice - to give the impression the space is lived in. Potential purchasers need to imagine themselves in the space, not you!

 

Space Creation

 

• Whether it's a spacious family home or compact (but desirable) condo creating the impression of space in an image is harder than it might seem. Thankfully you don't need a wide angled lens to make a room look larger, simply take the shot from an angle or corner, which will create a sense of space and depth in any area, big or small. To enhance the affect, place a chair or vase in the foreground of the image which will add a greater sense of depth and space to the image.

 

• Presentation also helps to focus the eye on detail and create a sense of space. Tidy clutter away, fluff cushions, drape throws in advance of your photography session. Rooms should look homely, attractive and ready to live in but not lived in to the point of requiring a major clean-up operation.

 

• While technology doesn't yet allow for the smell of baking bread and brewing coffee to waft from the screen of an MLS listing, it's still worth adding some attractive touches to your images, flowers or other decorative touches will make an already welcoming home feel that bit more enticing!

 

On Location

 

• Outdoor shots are often as important as indoor ones when it comes to selling your home. Shoot you images on a clear bright day – whatever the time of year – to give your property it's best aspect.

 

• However, if there are overshadowing trees or buildings avoid too much bright direct light, a slightly over cast day can work better, one with clear light but not very defined shadow!

 

• As with indoors, tidy all clutter, cars, garbage cans and excess people from the shot. Also avoid taking images when seasonal decorations are in place - the property is what is important here so ensuring you minimize any distractions is crucial.

 

 

How Much Is Enough?

 

When it comes to how many shots to take it's important to avoid over-kill. Internet browsers are notoriously lacking in attention spans and bombarding them with images can have a negative effect. While a single shot is never enough for the content hungry home searcher thirty, however, might be too many. Limit yourself to the exterior shots, maybe two or three at most, the main living area, kitchen and dining areas, master bedroom and main bathroom plus a single shot of additional bedrooms. Additional angles or shots of living areas are also a good plan but keep these to a minimum.

 

Professional Help

 

Finally, there's nothing like a little professional help and when it comes to selling your home this advice is a true as ever! Top Realtors are experienced in not only selling but presenting homes and, if in doubt, allow your Realtor to get to work and create that Internet ready image for your home for sale!