You, as the real estate agent, and the real estate photographer are both very busy. Time is limited and there is usually a long list of things to do or maybe that next meeting is starting in a couple of hours. So there is no time to waste during the photo shoot. If you are scheduling a photo shoot and, of course, want to get the best photos then it is incredibly important to plan ahead and get the property ready for the photo shoot. This should not be done during the shoot or even the same day before the shoot.
What does the real estate agent and the home owner need to do to get the property in the best shape before the photographer shows up? I will answer that question in this post.
But before I do, take a quick look at this video which I found on another blog. A real estate agent suggests some great things you or the home owner can do to stage the home. This should be done before potential home buyers visit and also before the photo shoot.
Why Is the appearance of the home so very important?
The first view of any home by a buyer will be the photographs the real estate agent makes available. This is a first impression that needs to be right. The real estate agent has an opportunity to showcase the house and make the best impression. Let's be clear that the better the impression is, the more buyers will be eager to visit the house. A bad impression, and bad photos, the buyer can just click the mouse and move on to another house and maybe another real estate agent. So since nearly everyone looking to buy a home is using the internet as their first step, the first thing they see are the photos, so those first impressions are important. It is too easy for a buyer to just skip to the next house.
So what can a real estate agent do or encourage the seller to do so the home and the photos are as attractive as can be? Here are a few easy things you need to do to make those real estate photos do a great job for you. If you need something more thorough, and read through to the end of this post, you will find a link to a very complete document that I would be happy to send to you. It's free!
Think about making the rooms bright and light. Check all the lights and make certain they are working properly. Replace all dead bulbs and try to match the color temperature with other lights in the same space. Turn on all lights before the photographer shows up to the shoot. This also saves time later. Open up the curtains and the blinds and let in outdoor light.
Remove the clutter. Clutter makes rooms look... well, cluttered. The rooms can look smaller. The best photos are not of the 'lived in' look. We all like to be comfortable in our homes. But we may not realize that we have collected so much stuff on the window sills, counter tops or tables. These should be cleared away. They can always be put back later. We want photos which show buyers the beauty of the home, the potential of the home and the photos should not distract the buyer with all kinds of clutter. For example, think hotel bathroom on your last vacation. Buyers will be attracted to homes with bathrooms that look more like a beautiful bathroom at a spa. They will not be attracted to multiple tooth brushs in a cup, or hair dryers on the counter. Hide these things so your bathroom will look its best. And so will the photos.
Move furniture around to make the room look inviting and the best it can be. Maybe you prefer your favorite easy chair lined up to easily see the television, but remember the buyer will not be watching the television while walking through your home or looking at the photographs. Hotels line up furniture to attract people to a beautiful and inviting seating area where they might feel comfortable and eager to sit down. Most buyers will look at photographs and envision how they might enjoy this type of space with friends and not likely where they can sit down and watch the 'tube'. Again, it is so important to arrange the furniture and do it before the photographer arrives.
Don't forget to clean the home before the photo shoot. It’s very important that you present a clean and tidy home. The rooms should be cleaned and all things should be picked up and put away. Clean floors are very important. I have seen multiple listing photos with dirty laundry on the floor and open closet doors. There is no need to have photos looking like that. Many potential buyers will just click the mouse and move on the the next house. While I am a pet lover, some buyers do not enjoy pets or their things and can be turned off to your home. So it is a good idea to remove all signs of pets living in the home. Don’t forget to prepare the outside of the home. The front view is typically the first picture a potential buyer will look at also. There can be a lot of work to do outside, so it is important to think about this way in advance. The outside can also get cluttered with things left around. There can be garden hoses, plant pots, bicycles, garbage cans, chairs which need rearranging and so much more. The lawn should be trimmed, neat and tidy.
If you want a more comprehensive list of things you or the home owner can do to help make the best photographs, you may request a copy of an extensive list I have put together. You can also add your name and email address, if you like, to join my blog posting list. This way you will be the first to know when I publish a new and helpful post to this blog. Thanks for reading. And get your guide here!
