So you’re looking to sell or rent what was once your beautiful home? You designed the home exactly the way you love it, but there are certain things that make the images taken for displaying your place better. Today, we look at a few key aspects to keep in mind when you decided to make your home ready for real estate photography.
Clean everything
This really does go without saying, but a clean home sells itself. Of course we’re sure you are very clean to begin with, but pictures can pick up even the slightest issues that we have just become accustomed to. The camera plays on angles and can make the slightest dust look like a desert. And if you plan on showing off the space your house has to offer, you may move a few objects here and there only to find out the wall behind your fridge is in dire need of attention. So keep in mind that your own house may surprise you when you decide to make it ready for a real estate photoshoot.
Lighten up the place
Lighting requires more attention to detail than any other aspect of the home. Whether you still live there or are taking pictures, lighting is a game changer. First and foremost, open the house up to natural light. When preparing home for photography, pull back all blinds, drapes and curtains to let the sun do its job; illuminate your beautiful home. Next, you want to ensure you turn on the lights in your house to further brighten up the place and remove shadows as much as possible. Make sure to use the same type of light throughout the house as well, e.g. only fluorescent lighting or only halogen bulbs. Discrepancies in lighting can create different moods for the house in a real estate photoshoot. This doesn’t work very well when displaying your property. Real estate photography requires consistency to really be attractive to potential buyers or tenants.
Turn off fans and electronics
Your house may be full of electronics with screen and displays. And though we want as much light in the room as possible, these kinds of lights are not good for a real estate photoshoot. Turn off TVs and computer screens. Also, turn off fast moving parts like ceiling and stand fans. If you are doing the kitchen, keep blenders and microwaves off. It sounds silly, but it is good to keep in mind that a peaceful setting is the best setting for real estate photography.
tidy beds mean the world
Everyone loves tidy. Make all your beds! We have seen quite a few times that this simple step is overlooked in a real estate photoshoot. A beautiful home, furnished to exquisite tastes and decorations that make one envious… only to be ruined by an unmade bed. Such a simple thing, yet it changes the whole landscape and somehow it appears to be something easily overlooked. So when you are thinking of preparing home for photography, double tick this on your checklist as this is a terribly costly mistake that we would not want you to suffer for.
Show as much floor as possible
The floor has a huge impact on the perception of value for many house hunters. And of course it does, different flooring can cost varying amounts; some much more expensive than others. With this in mind, is it good practice to show as much of the floor as possible when doing real estate photography. Remove small rugs and mats. A little furniture relocation can also help when preparing home for photography in case you have stylized flooring that is obscured by large furniture. This makes the place look much bigger but essentially provides a clearer picture of what the potential buyer or tenant is paying for.
No personal pictures
We understand it is your property and that it may be full of personal artifacts and articles. But when real estate photography is the purpose, personal material should be put aside. The picture of you and your lovely family may create a wonderful personal sentiment, but it detracts from value allocation. Why? It tends to impose a mental image of how things should be in the house rather than letting the focus go to the house itself. Potential home owners should have the freedom to mentally design the property the way they want or need. Personal material can, ever so slightly but importantly, make it more difficult to do so and so is highly frowned upon in professional real estate photography.
Your property is your property and should be setup the way you love. But when it comes to selling or renting it out, preparing home for photography should focus on what works best with viewers. We hope these tips on getting the best out of your real estate photography helps you in your endeavors. Best of luck and we hope to see your place on bproperty.com
