Great Photos Essential to Attracting Homebuyer
Want to sell your home for the highest price in the shortest period of time? You have to use all the tools available to attract a buyer.
And that starts with the number and quality of photographs included in your home marketing.
Too many homeowners and real estate agents use fuzzy, grainy photos taken in poor light. Rooms are strewn with clothes or dirty dishes or even populated with people or animals.
And the explosion of smartphones has created an epidemic – vertical photos of horizontal subject matter. Homeowners and agents who never bother to turn their phones sideways routinely offer photos that slice off crucial visuals while including unnecessary stuff in the foreground.
That is not how you attract a buyer.
Should Your Hire a Pro?
A professional photographer can do wonders to make your property look like a model home. They have the technical expertise, the equipment and the software to do more than you might ever imagaine.
But it will cost you, from $100 to $500 (high-end property with aerial drone photos).
Professionals use high-quality photo equipment, and the difference is clear. Many also use High Dynamic Range photography to produce vibrant images and beautiful colors. HDR software combines multiple exposures of the same photo and blends them together to create one image, with the best exposures and colors throughout. Here is an example:
In a normal single exposure, the shadows on the front would have been too dark to provide any detail.
If you plan to photograph your own home, here are some tips to help generate the most buyer interest:
Front
Buyers want good curb appeal, and the front photo is the best way to pique interest. Listings that do not start with a front photo are more likely to get passed over.
- Move all vehicles from the driveway. You don’t want your home to look like a used-car lot. Close the garage door.
- Shoot the home from directly in front and off to both sides, so that you can find the best angle.
- Crop out as much of the neighbors’ homes as possible, as well as the street and sidewalk
- Consider the time of day. Early morning and before dusk are best, when the light is low and warm. You don’t want shadows on the front, so make note of when the sun best lights the front of the house. (If the house faces west, for example, you’ll need to photograph it later in the day.)
- Make sure the grass is mowed and the bushes trimmed. Remove toys, tools and debris.
Back Yard
- Stow or trash excess debris, toys and yard furniture. Clean up after pets. Cut the grass and prune trees and bushes. You want buyers to visualize their Saturday barbecue with friends.
- Take photos from all four corners of the yard to showcase the space.
- Take care not to shoot into the sun. Avoid shadows where possible.
- Take lots of photos of the pool, built-in barbecue and any other outdoor amenities. This will be among the biggest showcases of the yard.
Interior
You’ll need a wide-angle lens to properly photograph most rooms. But not too wide. The photos should not be distorted. You’ll also need a camera with a decent flash that covers the entire room.
- Open blinds to maximize the light in the room. Turn on all lights in every room. Turn your camera flash from auto to ON so that it fires on every photo.
- Pay attention to the edges of the camera viewfinder, not the center of the frame. Make sure you include as much of the room as possible. Do not just shoot pictures of furniture; you want overall views.
Stow clothing, dishes or any other item that doesn’t help stage the room.- Photograph every room from multiple angles. Pick the best angle later.
- Close trash-can and toilet lids. Open shower curtains. Close cabinet doors.
- Avoid mirrors – camera flashes draw attention away from the photo content.
- Turn off televisions.
- Remove people and animals from rooms before you photograph.
Amenities
If the property is in a community with common facilities, make sure you get photos of features that will attract a buyer, including:
- Swimming pools
- Clubhouses, especially fitness rooms and kitchen areas.
- Sport courts and golf courses
- Gated entries
Thinking about selling your home? Want to know what marketing strategies work best to get the highest possible price for a house? Call us today at 951-778-9700 or use the form below for a 10-minute consultation.
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Photograph Your Home to Sell Faster | Marketing Your Home for Sale | Selling a Home | Brian Bean and Tim Hardin Dream Big