Photos are one of the most useful tools for selling your home. They allow buyers to peek inside it from anywhere — their couch, their office or on the bus while they are commuting to work. It’s like having an open house without opening your house.
It is obvious that great photos make a house more appealing, but why is that?
1. We are a visual society. A store like Target takes the time to do beautiful photo shoots of items as simple as laundry detergent. The same thing applies to simple, inexpensive consumer goods as it does to complex, expensive houses. All products sell better when they are presented at their best.
2. Photos provide buyers with their first impressions of a home. When a listing is activated on the Multiple Listing Service, hundreds of on-line real estate search engines pick up the photos that are uploaded with the house information. If the photos are unappealing, most in-line shoppers stop after the first couple of photos without exploring the home any further.
3. The majority of home buyers say they wouldn’t even consider a property that didn’t have listing photos. I am amazed by the number of houses that go on the market without a single photo. This is why I guide my clients so carefully as their prepare their home for the photo shoot date.
4. Professionally photographed homes sell faster than other listings and command higher asking prices. Even for houses that are not in their peak condition, professional photographers are able to make the ordinary look extraordinary. This is why I pay for a professional photographer as part of my listing service.
Dive deeper into this topic with Home Staging Problems to Avoid .
A few tips for photo shoots
● Too much contrast can be distracting. The more colors and objects, the more contrast the room will have. But low contrast can seem muted or boring so the key is to have just the right touch.
These two living rooms are very similar. The first one is simply decorated enough to allow the buyer to see the beauty and light of the space. The second one is so visually confusing that it is very hard for the viewer to understand what is going on.
● Open blinds to allow natural light to fill the space. Bright, inviting photos work best. The brighter the room, the larger it will appear.
The difference between these two rooms is night and day. Let the light pour in! Drapes should always be open during the photo shoot. Light is beautiful and an absolute must when presenting real estate photos.
● Clear all surfaces of clutter. Two or three objects are fine if they are deliberate.
Here is a perfect example of deliberate placement of objects versus a cluttered, near-claustrophobic impression. I love collections of meaningful and sentimental objects. But when it is time to take photos, the collections need to be pared down to allow the buyer to quickly understand and appreciate the space.
What are you waiting for?
There is a lot of interest in homes in our Route One Corridor Communities but a shortage of any properties for sale. If you are thinking about selling, now is a great time to do so. Contact me today to discuss your home’s value and how to take advantage of this great market.
Looking to buy? I will guide you through this intense market and give you the inside edge to make sure that you win the house that you love. Contact me today to find out more.
Free Resource for Sellers!
Click here for your own copy of the Home Sale Pre-market Checklist.
I created this helpful resource to help you prepare your house for the market. It contains helpful reminders about:
landscaping
interior rooms
windows, doors and wood trim
roof
kitchen/bathrooms/basement
Free Resource for Buyers!
Click here for your own copy of the House Hunting Worksheet.
I created this helpful resource to help you keep track of the essential details of each house that you visit. It has places to keep track of:
house facts (square footage, bedrooms, baths)
commute time, schools, restaurants
pros and cons
ruler
furniture fits guides (bed and tv)
Who am I and how can I help you?
I'm Tamara Beauchard - realtor, architect and right-fit specialist
As a top-performing realtor with Re/Max Professionals, I handled nearly $12 million in real estate transactions this past year. I stay on top of the market to ensure that you are confident about the price and the process from our first meeting to the settlement table.
You have an architect on your side! My experience in the design and construction industry means that we can talk about renovations and improvements that will both beautify your home and improve it's resale value.
I'm a right-fit specialist who provides consulting services for people who are not ready to buy or sell right now, but need advice on where to start with renovating or downsizing.
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