Selling a home is all about “curb appeal,” or the first impression a property conveys to potential buyers as they pull up in front. A house that looks unattractive reduces the chances of a sale.
These days, a property’s “pix appeal,” or attractiveness in photos posted in online listings, is equally important. A large percentage of potential home buyers use the Internet as their first action when searching for a home. So, your online photographs need to paint the right picture in their minds.
Follow these tips to create professional photos of your property:
Lighten up
For exterior shots, shoot in the middle of the day when the sun is shining & the sky is blue. For interior shots, turn on all the lights and use a flash. The flash adds in all of the correct colours and fills in the shadows, making the room look brighter.
More is better
Homebuyers want to see more than just the front of the house. Buyers also want to get a look at the living room, kitchen, dining room, family room, master bedroom/bathroom and the backyard. Include your residence’s best features, such as a home theatre or an exercise room.
Most Multiple Listing Services allow many photos online. For town houses, include shots of amenities such as a pool, tennis court or gym as this showcases the entire development. If your home has a spectacular view, say of a beach, water, mountains, park or golf course by all means post photos of it as well.
Get a clear shot
Remove clutter from an area before photographing it. Clear counter space and remove fridge magnets, children’s toys, dirty dishes and other distractions. For outside shots, put away refuse bags and remove the car from the driveway. Try not to include telephone poles, wires and other homes in the scene.
Give it your best shot
Quality counts when taking photos, and cell-phone cameras don’t cut it. A camera with a wide-angle lens is ideal, but “point and shoot” digital cameras also do the job.
For a clear photo, place digital cameras on a tripod or something solid so the camera is steady when the shutter goes off. Set the camera on its highest resolution. If you decide to just use the photos online, you can always decrease the resolution. Never use fewer than 72 dots per inch for online photos. If you don’t have a tripod, bend your elbows in towards your body, using your chest as a stabiliser to reduce movement. Consider using a broom in the house as an option to rest the camera on for stability.
Edit
Improve a shot using basic photo-editing software. Crop out ceilings or unnecessary background and adjust the brightness or contrast. Taking the photo is the first step, editing is where you take an ordinary photo and make it extra-ordinary.
Cherie Eilertsen
Picture perfect for Real Estate
Cherie Power 