The No. 1 thing home buyers on the Internet want to see is photos. A buyer might easily think you are hiding something if there arenʼt photos of the home. Some sellers tell us they donʼt add photos because they want shoppers to come out to the location and look at the home in person. From our many years of talking one-on-one with the users of MHVillage, we can say with authority that what will bring shoppers out is seeing great photos of a home they are interested in. Listings without photos do not attract curious buyers and are frequently skipped without further consideration. Take the time to get appealing, attractive photos that show off the best parts of your home and yard. Some tips from HGTV:
- Stage your home. You want to show off the space, not what’s in it. Make sure your home is clean, and clear out distracting items like toys, refrigerator magnets and the like before taking photos. If this leaves your home looking a little dull, accents like a vase of fresh flowers can spice it up.
- Use as much natural lighting as possible. Open the curtains and turn on all the lights to make a room look bright and open. Rely on the camera’s built-in flash as little as possible; it creates unattractive shadows and reflects off mirrors and windows. You should also avoid taking photos on rainy days or at night, as this will produce gloomy photos. For exterior shots, take pictures on an overcast day so the sun doesn’t cast dark shadows on your home.
- Choose the best angles and compositions. The best way to show off a room is to shoot from a corner or doorway to include as much of the room as possible. This provides context and makes the room look more spacious than a tight shot does. When photographing your home’s exterior, stand at an angle to the home rather than straight-on, allowing buyers to see the home’s depth. As much as possible, avoid photographing objects that obscure your home, like poles and wires.
- Don’t make your home look like something it’s not. While you want to make your house look as good as possible, don’t mislead buyers. For instance, a photo taken with a wide-angle lens can make a room look deceptively large. Buyers will be disappointed and irritated when they view your home and see that your seemingly huge bedrooms are actually quite small.
- Take lots of photos. Digital cameras and even smartphones give you the freedom to take as many photos as you want, so experiment with lots of angles and camera settings. Review the photos later and choose the ones that best represent your house.
Check back tomorrow for Part 5!
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