Eye-catching visuals like high-quality photos are a game-changer in the real estate industry. Aside from making a home stand out among the sheer number of options available in the market, excellent real estate photos bring out the full potential of a home.
With 97% of homebuyers utilizing the internet in their home search, the significance of professionally captured images for homes to attract and entice buyers to explore your property further has never been more crucial. It helps create strong first impressions, increase interest that leads to a high number of inquiries and viewings, and faster sales.
But remember—professional photographs are just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to making your home sell faster. There are several key steps you need to take to ensure your listing photoshoot is optimized for success.
1. Clean and Clear Out
Do a general cleaning of the property. Wipe all tables, countertops and glass surfaces. Clear out clutter including laundry, toys, work papers and trash in bins. Items with a personal touch like family portraits, certificates or vacation souvenirs should be removed. This helps potential buyers envision the home as a blank slate, ready to be filled up with their own memories. To create more space, furniture may be rearranged or temporarily moved out. You can also take the extra mile by calling an interior stylist or a professional home stager to improve the layout of furniture and design of rooms.
Don’t forget to enhance your property’s curb appeal – mow the lawn, touch up landscapes, apply a new coat of paint to your home’s exterior, install outdoor lighting, and give your driveway and sidewalks a thorough pressure wash, among others. Homes with strong curb attract not only capture the attention of a larger pool of potential buyers but also leave a lasting, positive impression, often translating into elevated market values.
2. Walk Around
Before the day of the actual photoshoot, take a walk around the property. Look for attractive and unique areas of the house that can catch the attention of potential buyers, such as a relaxing game room or a cozy home office. Create a list of these details along with the main rooms and features to make sure that all are covered on the day of the photoshoot. Also, look around for litter or areas that were missed out after decluttering.
3. Schedule Ahead
Pick an ideal time and day for the photoshoot. Natural lighting, when timed correctly, enhances the aesthetics of the property. Early mornings or late afternoons are perfect for that bright but soft sunlight through the windows of the property. Scheduling ahead of time also ensures that current occupants, if any, can work with the time of the photoshoot which may last for a few hours.
4. Plan Your Equipment
Having the right set of equipment assures the quality of raw photos. A camera with flash and a tripod paired with a remote trigger can capture clear and bright photos even before editing. This setup also ensures consistency in the perspective of the photos. A rule of thumb in real estate photography is to set the tripod at a height of five feet which mimics the eye level of your buyer looking around the property. The use of drones for aerial photography has also been on the rise. It can provide unique perspectives that can help buyers appreciate the property’s immediate surroundings and location.
5. Partner with a Professional Real Estate Team
Want to take the hassle out of the equation? Partnering with a seasoned real estate team will help you accomplish everything you need to do for a stellar listing photoshoot. They have a deep understanding of the local market dynamics and knowledge on how to market your home in the best way possible. With an established network of professional stagers and photographers, they can connect you to trusted experts who can transform your property and capture it in the best light.
As the top-ranking real estate team in northeast Indiana, the Regan+Ferguson Group stands out in providing exceptional marketing strategies for its clients such as the production of listing photographs, videos and reels. If you’re thinking of listing in the near future, you can be assured that we will always put a “plus” in everything we do to help you gain the best possible outcomes.