In today’s real estate market, buyers are more likely to start their search online. Statistics show that 41% of homebuyers use the Internet to search for homes. In addition, 10% of homebuyers searched online for information about buying their first home.
These statistics show that potential home buyers would love to see pictures of their dream homes when they search online. Therefore, it is important to ensure your house has the best photos while online.
One of the most important aspects of online home shopping is real estate photography. Good real estate images can help your home sell faster and for more money. In this ultimate guide, we will cover everything you need to know to prepare your house for real estate photography.
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The Importance of Real Estate Photography
Before we dive into the preparation steps, let’s take a moment to talk about the importance of real estate photography. According to a study by Redfin, homes with professional photographs sell faster than those without professional real estate photography.
In addition, listings with professional photographs receive more online views than those without. These statistics show the importance of investing in professional real estate photography for your online listing.
Steps to Prepare Your House for Real Estate Photography
1. Clean and Declutter
The first step to preparing your house for real estate photography is to clean and declutter. A clean and decluttered home will look more spacious and inviting in professional photos. You can start by removing any excess clutter, such as mail, magazines, and other personal items.
Put away any unnecessary furniture, such as extra chairs or tables. Clean all surfaces, including countertops, floors, and windows.
2. Stage Your Home
Staging your home is the process of arranging furniture and decor to highlight the best features of your home. According to the National Association of Realtors(NAR), 82% of buyer agents said staging a home made it easier for buyers to visualise the property.
Consider hiring a professional to help you stage your home to create a warm and inviting atmosphere for potential buyers. If you can’t afford to hire a professional, there are plenty of online resources that can help you stage your home yourself. For instance, you can search for YouTube tutorials to help you stage your home professionally.
3. Pay Attention to Lighting
Lighting is one of the most important aspects of real estate photography. Ensure your home is well-lit by opening all curtains and blinds. Replace any burned-out light bulbs and turn on all the lights in the house, even during the day.
It is not recommended to depend on artificial lighting in a room unless the house is already dark and all the lightbulbs in the room are the same.
If you have any dark or dimly lit rooms, consider adding additional lighting to brighten up the space. However, you can always focus on daytime photography, where you can access more natural light to make your photography look more professional.
The importance of finding good-quality light should not be underestimated, as the goal is to create attractive visual images with a “wow factor†so they stand out among the competition. Balancing between natural daylight and artificial light appropriately helps capture flattering pictures that appeal to buyers while still providing complete accuracy and details of each spatial element within the residence photographed. Paying attention to such detail can help improve the overall effectiveness of real estate marketing, with its visuals standing out among other listings on listing sites online and offline supermarkets alike.
5. Make Repairs
Before the professional photographer arrives, make any necessary repairs to your home. Remember that no one would like to buy a home that is in bad condition, even without photography.
Testing appliances, such as wiring, is also integral to making sure everything is functioning before photography begins. Taking an extra effort to ensure there are no issues with the plumbing and drainage systems will ensure that no one has a negative experience during their time photographing the house. Making these necessary repairs before photography can also save money, as some photographers charge for each hour spent on site as well as any added work required due to unseen damages caused by wear and tear. It’s worth it to make sure everything works correctly before hand, so all your hard work pays off when potential buyers come around for showings.
Before you can call your real estate photographer, ensure that everything is functioning as it should be. For instance, test to see whether the wiring is intact; check the sinks and the drainage system to ensure it’s functioning well.
5. Curb Appeal
When putting your home on the real estate market, curb appeal is an important aspect of selling a home. Curb appeal describes how visually attractive the exterior of your property appears to potential buyers, and it can create lasting impressions of the homeowner. An untidy and cluttered yard often turns off buyers at first sight. Try to make a good first impression with potential buyers by making sure your backyard is clean and well-maintained. If you have an existing lawn, be sure to mow it regularly, as well as trim bushes and hedges that are overgrown. Remove any unnecessary pieces or debris, such as children’s toys, garden tools, and anything else that won’t enhance the visual appeal of the front yard.
6. Be Prepared
On the day of the photoshoot, be prepared for the photographer’s arrival. Ensure all the rooms in your home are clean and tidy. Remove any personal items, such as family photos or toiletries, from view. Turn off all TVs and electronics, and open all curtains and blinds. Finally, make sure all pets are safely secured in a separate room or outside.
If you have pets in your home, make sure they are safely secured in a separate room or outside before the photographer arrives. This will help the photographer avoid any unnecessary distractions during your session. If there is a need for a pet to be present in the photo shoot session, make sure they’re well-behaved or have been trained for picture-taking first. By being prepared ahead of time, you can relax and enjoy your photoshoot experience without worrying about anything else.
Conclusion
Preparing your home for real estate photography is an important step in selling your home. By following these six steps, you can ensure your home looks its best when you present the photos to potential clients. A well-prepared home will attract more potential buyers and increase the likelihood of a successful sale.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to ensure a property sells faster?
The best way to increase the chances of a successful sale is to ensure the property is in good condition. In addition, it’s an added advantage if you share high-quality photos and videos with your target audience.
What is the best way to capture a photo of the interior part of the house?
The best way to take an interior photo is while the camera is in one corner. That allows you to capture the three walls and everything else in the room.
How do real estate agents take photos?
Most real estate agents use drones to capture excellent photos of their properties for listings. Drones can take photos from any angle at any point. That saves time moving around with a camera and tripod, which is tedious. As a result, it is easy to capture several real estate photos in a short while.