Quality listing photos capture more than your home’s best features.
According to a study by the National Association of REALTORS®, 98 percent of homebuyers who searched for a home online listed photos as one of the most useful features of real estate websites.
After all, this is the age of the smartphone and tablet, when photos are running wild on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, so when buyers come across a listing with no visuals, it will send a message—warranted or not—that there’s something wrong with the home.
Before the camera even comes out, it’s important to make sure the house is in pristine condition. This means removing clutter, adding some color and getting the house as tidy as possible.
Our photographer ensures that sufficient photos are taken to capture enough angles to give a good overview of the exterior, interior and even the surroundings. While some listings simply show just the kitchen and bedrooms, it’s important to include enough photos to really grab the attention of prospective buyers. In fact, the more photos you show, the more time potential buyers will spend looking at your house online, upping their interest.
One mistake we often see in photos of other listings, is that whoever took the photos, didn’t make sure that the verticals are are completely vertical, so it looks as if the room is going to fall in. In-proper use of a wide-angle lens when shooting up or down can result in the walls are converging instead of standing parallel to one another. Therefore, it’s important that the person shooting knows what they’re doing.
It’s also important when shooting outside to be sure photos are taken of the front and back of the house as well as any features such as a deck, pool or garden, which can be used as selling points.
Also before having your home photographed, be sure the lawn is properly trimmed and any clutter like trashcans or sports equipment has been removed.