Get Your Home Ready for the Photographer

Statistically, home listings with multiple high-quality photos spend 50% less time on the market, receive a 47% higher asking price, receive 118% more views online, and sell 32% faster.

American homebuyers primarily shop for homes online before choosing a real estate agent. They crave lots of interior and exterior photos, and many won't read about a listing that doesn't have them.

For example, a consumer wrote in a forum at CityData.com, "As I am looking at a listing, if there are no photos, I disregard the listing, and if the bedrooms and baths aren't shown, I disregard the listing."  Since your home's listing will include attractive, compelling photos, let's talk about how to get the home ready for its moment in the spotlight.

BUYERS NOTICE THINGS YOU MAY NOT CONSIDER

Cluttered kitchen counters, the toilet seat left up, your agent's reflection in the bathroom mirror as they take photos with their cell phone, dark walk-in closets, pets, and their paraphernalia. 

While you worry about the color of your living room in your listing photos and 3D walkthroughs, potential buyers are wondering if your nasty baseboards are a sign of the condition of the rest of the home. Cleaning the home, from top to bottom, is the first task to accomplish. A thorough cleaning will help people perceive the home as well-maintained.

After that, it's time to get rid of the clutter. With no strange faces peering at them from your family photos, home shoppers are better able to imagine themselves living in the home, surrounded by their "stuff".

Then, play up every room's focal point. This is especially important in rooms viewed from the entryway. There can be multiple ways to define a focal point. It can be one bold piece, such as a large piece of artwork, a rug, hanging lights, or even furniture pieces. A focal point draws the eye more strongly to a particular area of the room.

Although the photographer will adjust each room's lighting to his or her needs, ensure that there are adequate window coverings throughout the home. Often, a room may need to be photographed with the window coverings closed to avoid glare or the sun streaking on the floors.

Then, ensure that every light fixture and lamp in the home has a working bulb.

THE PHOTOGRAPHER CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH

Photographers cannot do the following, move or rearrange furniture, make beds, clean, dust or declutter, pick up toys or yard items. Photoshop vehicles, walls, damaged walls, power lines, wall pictures, cords, and touch personal bathroom supplies such as shampoo, toothbrushes, deodorant, towels, etc.

The latter items, by the way, are important ones to consider because bright, artificially-colored packaging, like on cereal boxes and shampoo bottles are very distracting to the eye.

EXTERIOR PHOTOS

The exterior photos are important because they are digital depictions of your home's curb appeal.

Before the photoshoot, walk around the yard and remove anything that might distract the viewer from the home: cars, garbage cans, kids' toys, and other clutter.

Wash down the driveway and sidewalk and ask the photographer to shoot the photos while they are wet to give a richer appearance.

 It's vital to attract prospective homebuyers through cutting-edge visuals. High-quality real estate photos can give homebuyers that valuable first impression that can lead to a sale.