Why Photos are Great Tools for Home Sellers
The reality is many buyers choose if they like a home or not simply from the photos from the listing. This is why it is mandatory for home sellers to use great photos.
As online house shopping will only become increasingly popular, home sellers need to take advantage of this. Below are some tips on how home sellers can draw in buyers through amazing photos.
Outside of the House
The first photo that a person will want to see is of the outside of the home. Many buyers will only look at a house if the outside is appealing. If they are not willing to fix up the outside of the house they will not want to fix any problem on the inside either.
One entire side of the house should be in full view. Typically, the front of the house and the back of the house are the areas buyers would like to see. Make sure there are not any cars or people in the picture.
If the house sits on a hill it can be hard to take a good picture. Ensure that the roof line is parallel to the frame of the photo. This will help give a clear image of what the house looks like.
Greet Them Warmly
The best way to make people want to see the house is to make it look warm and welcoming. While this can be difficult in a few photos an easy way to do this is to take a photo of the door. An open front door gives an impression of allowing the buyers to come into the home.
Something some home sellers forget is to take down old signs. Especially, on fences or on doors. Signs that warn to “stay away,” “keep out,” or even “beware of dog” are an unwelcoming sight. Take them down to make sure every buyer feels welcome in the home.
View From Above
An aerial view of the home can show a buyer how big the home is and what size the property is. The photo should only show the house and the property. If any other homes are in view they should be cropped out so only the home for sale is in focus.
Stay True
Some homes are smaller and there are tricks to make a home look larger than it is. Using a fisheye lens should not be one of those tricks used.
Some home sellers think it will help to trick the buyer into thinking they are purchasing a larger house. However, this tactic only disorients them and makes the pictures less appealing to look at.
Flaunt What the House Has
Show rooms that have been updated. Any areas of the house that has new appliances or features should be featured.
Home sellers often think buyers do not want to see the bathroom in photos. This is far from the truth. Buyers love to see well put together bathrooms that are spacious.
Stay Out
It is also important to avoid taking pictures of the home sellers or their family. The buyers do not want to see the previous owners in pictures. This distracts them from looking at the house as a potential home for themselves.
Staging
Every room should be staged before taking photos. Each room should be welcoming and show off its best features. This will help buyers get excited about looking at the home. An excited buyer coming in is much more likely to make an offer.
Be sure to avoid showing any disorganized rooms. Even a small pile of mail is going to give the home a “lived-in look” that is off-putting to buyers. Clean and organize all rooms before taking photos.
Decorations
Buyers love to see a home with tasteful decorations but the decorations should be season specific. It is easy for them to picture their families in the home when the decorations fit the season. Having updated decorations also proves that the homeowner cares for the home and has likely taken care of routine maintenance, as well.
When choosing decorations avoid holiday specific pieces. Not all buyers will celebrate the holiday. Decorate in a more broad manner to show the season instead.
A New Perspective
Showing a new perspective of the home is great. However, what you show is as important as what is not shown. Pets are a huge part of a homeowner’s life. They, unfortunately, should not be shown in any photos. Some buyers do not want pets in their home and will not like to see any animals in their potential home.
The Structure of the Home
Buyers love to see a home with interesting features. Woodwork in a home is an attention grabber. Emphasize these features and try to take pictures that show them. Make sure the pictures natural. A forced photo of a feature is just as bad as no photo.
Home sellers will also want to be sure to focus on the “selling parts” of a home in photos. The parts that need work should be disclosed but not in the photos. Entice buyers with wonderful photos then explain any problems with the home when they are viewing the house.
A Night View
There are few homeowners that take a picture of the house at night. So many buyers want to see a house at night and will even drive by to view it. For this reason it can help to take a photo at night with all the lights on. This will create a warm glow from inside the home and create an alluring photo.
When getting your home ready for photos, sellers will always focus on light. Any rooms that lack natural light should have artificial light brought in. The more light in a room the better. Always open curtains and turn on overhead lights to show a bright, hospitable room.