Amazing real estate listing photos actually do have a major effect on your home sale, so don’t you think that blurry iPhone photos will cut it.
According to one study done by a real estate photography company, top-notch photos can make your house sell 32% faster than a house with low quality or average pictures. That’s not just for million-dollar mansions, either. The study, conducted by VHT Studios, took houses of all values into account.
This past year, 51% of buyers purchased a home they found online. That means that your bang-up real estate photos could cinch the deal before a buyer even sees the house. Photography newbie? We’ve got you.
We interviewed top agents in the business, scoured real estate blogs, and did a ton of research on the art and science that is great photography. With that, we bring you the best and the brightest guide for how to take real estate photos that are just as good as a professional.
How to get your house ready for breathtaking listing photos
No matter what your house is worth, it’s possible to make it look like 10 million bucks. But first, to prepare properly for listing photos, all of that extra stuff you have lying around has got to go.
According Bill Gassett, a top real estate agent expert, “Buyers want and need to see the full potential of your house to picture themselves in it, but that can be difficult to do when it is covered up in your things—no matter how important they may be to you.”
First, declutter and clean every room
Start with the kitchen and take everything off the counters. That includes your toaster, microwave, blender—any kitchen appliances, utensils, towels, oils, etc. need to find another home. If you have the space, you can neatly organize them in your kitchen cabinets or pantry. Then, scrub down every kitchen surface possible. That includes any rust that’s shown up over the years, burned substances that make your stovetop look speckled instead of white, and of course, the kitchen floor.
After completing your work in the kitchen, tackle the living room. Remove anything besides furniture and table lamps. Clear shoe racks in the living room or entry way, take down jackets and hats off of any coat racks, and hide pet beds. Then, clean every inch of the space, making sure to vacuum once you give the room a solid scrub.
Now, do the same for every other room. Take away everything besides large pieces of furniture and light fixtures. That means all toiletries in the bathroom need to find a different home.
Get creative with storage
If you still live in the home and need to access things like shampoo, your blender, etc., Sissie Carter Horne, the #4 top real estate agent in Newnan, Georgia, has a clever solution for organizing it. First box it all up and label the boxes so that they are easily accessible. Then, stack the boxes in your garage where your car would normally go. This allows the natural flow of the house to stay intact, and visitors can still walk around the boxes to see the rest of the space.
If you have excess items that you no longer need or want, now is a great time to sell or donate them. It’ll make your move easier, your closets more available for items you do need and have to store for showings, and it will make the home much easier to stage.
Stage your home for its close-up
Now that you’ve cleaned and decluttered the house, you’ll either need to stage it yourself or bring in a professional staging company. Un-staged homes do not photograph well, and according to our research, staged homes can fetch an offer 1-5% higher from buyers.
To make your house feel professionally staged, you’ll use objects and pops of color to create small “vignettes” in each room. These vignettes suggest how the room might be used. For example, if you have a set of outdoor tables and chairs, put two wine glasses and a bottle of wine on the table. Other popular staging choices include: a bowl of fruit on the dining table, bright pillows on the couch, or new white towels hanging in the bathroom.
We have more suggestions when the time to sell is on the horizon....Whatever you do, don't leave your living room looking like this....
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