The success of your photos begins before the photographer arrives. Put your best foot forward.
Home Preparation
A few things to Remember:
time of Day
Knowing the aspect of a property (its orientation on a compass) will help you identify the best time for photographing the exterior; different orientations make for different ideal shooting times.
- East-facing properties, morning is the best time to shoot.
- West-facing properties, afternoon is great.
- North-facing properties, any time between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. is ideal.
- South-facing properties, you’ll want your photos taken first thing in the morning, or last thing in the day.
The reason for properties with different aspects being photographed at different times is because you want the sun to be behind you when you’re looking at the home. This way, the photos will be bright and saturated with color, instead of getting lost in the shadows. Additionally, for most property shoots, you don’t want the sun in the photos because it causes flaring and will obstruct the view of the property as well as cause exposure issues. Times when the sun is nice and high in the sky work the best, unless going for a look.
Space, Space, Space!
Decluttering helps present the amount of space visible in the room. Most buyers are looking for the most space they can get, so why not get rid of the unnecessary belongings that take up floor space? Buying a home is a long term investment, with most people accumulating furniture and other property over the years. Remember, less is more! Show potential buyers that your listing will suit them now and later.
Cleanliness
Another trick to great photos is making the home appear as if it hasn’t been lived in. Paired with decluttering, a clean home speaks to potential buyers. What a dirty home does is make people imagine all of the work they’ll have to do when they move in. Scrubbing floors, bathrooms, and kitchens is not something you want people to think about while viewing photos.
Pet belongings can also make people imagine the worst. Even if the home is pet friendly, the mind of a potential buyer will go straight to thoughts of pet hair, urine, or even bugs. You don’t want to exclude people with allergies or no pets from taking your listing into consideration.
If it looks used, get rid of it
As a rule of thumb to play into the cleanliness factor, if it looks used remove it. Especially for bathrooms and kitchens, things like bar soaps, bath towels, rugs, and personal items can be distracting from your home if they are not in brand new condition.
Remember, if there are any questions or concerns be sure to ask the photographer if you don’t know what should stay, or what should go.
Pet belongings can also make people imagine the worst. Even if the home is pet friendly, the mind of a potential buyer will go straight to thoughts of pet hair, urine, or even bugs. You don’t want to exclude people with allergies or no pets from taking your listing into consideration.
