Have you ever seen photos of a home and been blown away by the differences upon seeing the actual place? Either photo makes the house look completely amazing even though it isn’t. Or pictures make the house look completely drab when, in fact, it is spectacular.
So how do you get your home to look as beautiful as the ones staged for a magazine? Here are a few tips so that you can get spectacular property photos when you are ready to find a realtor and sell your home.
Start by Cleaning and Decluttering
When getting your house photoshoot ready, one of the first things to do is clean and declutter. In photos, the most minute spec on the floor or stain on the wall will show in the image. Additionally, if your house is full of furniture and random knick-knacks, this clutter will show in the picture. When it comes to getting your home ready for photos, try to put away items that make your rooms look junky. Additionally, don’t forget about your walls, countertops, or refrigerator. These are areas where you may put plenty of photos or personal items to decorate.
However, when you are staging your house to sell, you should aim to include items that aren’t personal so that potential home buyers get a sense that the home can be theirs.
Improve the Lighting, Both Natural and Artificial
A lack of proper lighting can make a room dull. Taking photos that don’t allow in enough natural or artificial light doesn’t enable homebuyers to see a home’s true beauty. You may have a room with a spectacular amount of natural lighting. However, they would never know this if the blinds were closed.
When preparing your home for photos, it may also be a good idea to remove or at least open the window treatments. Good lighting speaks volumes, especially for those customers who work from home because they can rely on natural light most of the day. Additionally, those who want much more energy-efficient homes will also be able to rely on natural light most of the day instead of turning on artificial lights to brighten the home.
Get Rid of Gunk on Your Mirrors
You may not be able to see the gunk and grime on your mirrors, but a camera’s lens will. Unsightly things on your mirrors, such as toothpaste and fingerprints, will stick out like a sore thumb in your photos. So make sure that before you start snapping photos in areas that have mirrors, make sure they are crystal clear.
Avoid Selfies With The Mirror
Dirty mirrors may not be the only thing you want to avoid when it comes to mirrors. Since mirrors display reflections, you also don’t want to snap photos that show you in the image. Not only is this not professional, but it may also cause potential home buyers to start making judgments about you and your home.
So when taking photos with mirrors, try to ensure that you don’t include yourself in the image. Try to make sure that you don’t accidentally include someone else in the photo who may be seated on the couch.
Should You Include Pets in the Photos?
In some cases, including a pet in a photo could be a good idea, mainly if you reside in an area of town that is pet friendly. Including a dog or cat may be an adorable addition to your photo shoot. However, it may be a good idea to leave the pets out of your photos when in doubt. Including them could work against you if there are buyers that are allergic to pets.
Besides keeping pets out of the picture, removing pet bowls, beds, toys, and other pet-related items is also a good idea before you take a photo of the space. Additionally, it may not be a good idea to include images of exotic pets such as snakes, iguanas, mice, or tarantulas.
Make Sure Exterior Photos Look Great
One essential part of the house that potential buyers will see is the exterior. Therefore, you should spend a lot of time, effort, and money getting this part of the house photoshoot ready. Hiring a professional pressure washing company would be a good idea to ensure that you don’t have dirty siding or roofs shown in the photo.
It would also be ideal for you to cut the grass or even have a professional lawn care company come out and spruce up the vegetation and lay down fresh mulch. If you’re light fixtures or hardware look outdated, it may be a good idea to get new ones.
Besides making sure that your curb appeal looks great, it is also a good idea to look out of each window of your home before taking photos to see what you should remove before taking the picture. Having a clean, decluttered interior space with a window that displays a yard full of junk isn’t ideal. When preparing for a house photoshoot, make sure both your interiors and exteriors are clutter-free.
Hire a Pro for your House Photoshoot
If doing all these things seems like too much work and decorating isn’t your thing, it is a good idea to call in the experts. Some people try to take photos with their interior decor in the pictures. However, staging isn’t about making a house look like what you like. Instead, it is about appealing to as many buyers as you can. Therefore, the more general you can make your house look, the better.
A home staging pro can help you declutter and eliminate personalized pieces of furniture and decor that will scare away potential buyers. Since the function is a crucial part of showing off your home, they will also encourage you to remove oversized pieces of furniture that don’t allow viewers to see the full potential of a room.
Besides hiring a professional home staging company, you should also consider hiring a professional photographer with experience taking photos for real estate. It may be tempting to take pictures using your smartphone. While newer phones do produce outstanding photos, it will be in your best interest to allow professionals to take your photos. They will know how to ensure that the images are clear and the lighting is proper.
You may also read:
1. 6 Best Indoor Photography Tips – Exposure Guide
2. 10 Essential Tools For Photography That Every Photographer Needs
3. How to Take Pictures with White Background for Amazon, eBay, Walmart like Pro
