Professional staging tips to capture high-quality
photographs for your real estate listing
Ready to list your home for sale? Real estate pros often use professional staging companies to showcase a property. If you’d rather save some money, you can achieve the same results yourself. Get started with great listing photographs that showcase the best of what your home has to offer. High-quality images are key to making your listing stand out online and in print. Check out a few pro tips from a seasoned real estate photographer.
Get Rid of the Clutter
Remember that you will be moving soon, so use this step to begin packing items from around your home. Pack or throw out anything you can do without until you are in your new home. Clear off all horizontal surfaces such as shelves, counters, bookcases and other furniture. Be sure to leave decorative items so rooms don’t look bare.
Clean Your Home
Cleaning is one of the most important projects to achieve the best listing photos. Photographers use high-definition cameras that can pick up dirty windows or stained carpets. Pay special attention to bathrooms, kitchens and utility rooms. Make the beds and fluff couch cushions and pillows.
Aerial Photos
If your photographer is planning to shoot aerial or drone photos, let your neighbors know. This can keep folks from thinking someone is spying on them or invading their personal space. Pro tip; move garbage bins or other outdoor clutter into the garage for aerial photographs.
Repairs
Take care of any repairs or upgrades around the home that you’ve been putting off. Potential buyers notice everything. Simple projects such as touch-up painting, repairing nicks in wood flooring, and replacing cracked glass will improve your pictures.
Yard Maintenance
In this technology driven world, online images may provide potential buyers with their first impression of your home. Most MLS listings require the first image to be a front view of the entire home. Be sure to mow the grass often and rake any leaves/debris left behind. Freshen mulch beds and trim bushes, hedges and trees to achieve a neat, tidy first impression.
Garage
If you use the garage as your primary storage space, clean it out. Rent a portable storage container and fill it with important items from your garage. This can then be stored offsite while you list your home. Throw out anything you can. If you are listing your home with a two or three car garage, buyers need to see lots of open space. Boxes of old Christmas decorations, beach chairs or unused furniture can make the space seem smaller.
Lighting
Lighting is an important element for capturing great listing photos. Most photographers prefer to shoot with natural light as opposed to using a flash. Open the curtains or blinds, let in as much light as possible. Check to make sure bulbs in all fixtures work and are the same color. Light bulbs come in different colors or temperatures. Mixing soft white bulbs with bright daylight bulbs can create an uneven scene and affect how your pictures will look.
Take a Walk
Plan to leave the photographer alone in your home during the photo session. There is nothing more irritating than to capture a great shot only to realize that the homeowner can be seen in the reflection of a mirror. Stay out of the way and things will go quicker and less stressful for the photographer.