If you’re going to sell a home with or without the help of a real estate agent, there’s a good chance that you’re going to market your property online.
And that means taking pictures, which can have a huge impact on how much interest your property generates. After all, the better your property looks in photos, the easier it will be for people to fall in love with it. But there’s just so much that could go wrong without professional help. If it’s your first time selling a home or simply need a few pointers about taking photos of your home, here are some common photography mistakes to avoid.
Not Tidying Up
Homebuyers want to see a property at its best. Showing them images of a dirty or messy home will NOT convince them to buy it off you. So, make sure to tidy up.
Things that could otherwise be stored like books, magazines, and clothes, count as mess. Consider decluttering before taking pictures. Dirty dishes in the sink don’t add to the charm of your kitchen, so wash and store your dishes, and make sure your countertops are spotless. Homebuyers are not going to be interested in your children’s wall artwork as well, so you’ll want to apply a fresh coat before your shoot. If you have the budget for it, look into getting your home professionally staged for pictures and walk-ins.
Letting People and Pets Into the Picture
Homebuyers want to imagine themselves living in your home. Pictures with your kids and pets are not going to help them with that, no matter how adorable they might be. Try to take pictures while your children are at school and your pets are outside. Don’t be ashamed to kindly ask people to briefly step away from a shot while you’re trying to take pictures from the street either. You also want to avoid mirrors and anything that will show your reflection.
Bad Photography
Posting pictures that are blurry, stretched out, or pixelated is going to work against your sale. Not only are these unimpressive to homebuyers, you could end up presenting an inaccurate image of your home. If your phone’s camera can’t take great shots or if your phone doesn’t have a camera at all, you may want to look into buying, renting, or even borrowing a camera from a friend or relative specifically for this purpose. If a medical condition or disability keeps you from taking stable shots, a tripod (they make these for phones too now) should more than compensate for that. Again, if you have the budget for it, you may want to hire a home photographer to do the job for you.
Bad Editing
The latest photo filter may make a great many things look better than they normally would, but it won’t do anything to enhance your home’s appearance. If anything, your property could wind up looking tacky. Hold off the filters when you’re processing the pictures you’ve taken.
Keep in mind that your home photos won’t be part of a social media update. They’re going on an online ad or print material. Don’t overdo the Photoshop, which may create an unrealistic image of your home.
If you don’t have time for these tricks, however, you can still sell your home to an investor like Blue Hen Homebuyers. As a home investor, we buy all kinds of homes, regardless of their age or condition. Call our offices today at 910-802-2222 to learn more about how we can help you.