How to stage your home for a photo shoot
Nothing makes more sense than marketing your home with some flattering photos. At least two adages come to mind. A picture is worth a thousand words (hopefully good words) and you only have one chance to make a “dazzling” first impression. In either case, the pictures you use to market your listing can mean the difference between a multitude of offers or a distinct lack of interest.
Make sure your home is ready for its photo session, considering the following short list as suggested helpful tips.
Accessorize appropriately
Make sure furnishings and décor match the home; meaning, do not take pictures with marble lion heads in your entry way if your house is best categorized as a modest, “middle income” home. Having furnishings and décor mimicking royalty will no doubt cause potential buyers to wonder what kind of eccentric owners lived in the residence and what other inappropriate decisions were made regarding the structure and fixtures. Conversely, tasteful coffee table books and artwork on the walls accentuate comfortable furnishings, which invite buyers and offer a feeling of contentment and relaxation. Ultimately, of course it is important to demonstrate desirability through a clean and clutter-free room.
Check for public access
As noted before, be aware of what home viewers can see when they view the pictures of your listing. Leaving tasteful magazines in view is one thing, having inappropriate or private material out in public view is highly ill advised. The last thing you want to happen is for someone to use a photo to facilitate identity theft. Unfortunately, not every potential “buyer” who views your home photos has the best of intentions.
Do not forget about the bathrooms
The last thing you want to happen is for a potential buyer to see photos of the bathroom that show less than clean facilities or fixtures. It goes without saying that towels, sinks and other fixtures should be in top notch condition devoid of dirt, gunk and imperfections. Clean the bathrooms before you take pictures like you are on a mission – a mission to attract discerning buyers who are well qualified to make you an aggressive offer. Obviously if any porcelain items are chipped, make needed repairs and/or replacements before adding the pictures to the home portfolio.
Clean everything
Before you even consider getting the camera out, make sure your home inside and out resembles a home showcased in a high-end, glossy magazine. Do not simply undertake an ordinary cleaning. Deep clean carpets, steam and polish floors, consider taking down and cleaning drapes and/or blinds if they are in need of a tune up, wipe down baseboards, touch up any paint blemishes, and then head outside and make sure the exterior of the property has no visible defects. The probability of receiving competitive offers is greatly increased if you take the time to be proactive – and use the pictures as compelling evidence of a premium property listing.
Make sure not to overlook the smaller things
Start with the most visible distractions. For example, do you have an impressive TV (make sure it is off when taking pictures) on an art deco stand, but have power and connection cords clearly visible when taking pictures. If you are unable to hide such unsightly necessary accessories, at a minimum take the time to bundle the cords in a neat arrangement using professional cord ties. Have a lot of “goodies” stashed under the bed? Clean out any containers that look sloppy and temporarily move whatever items you can out of the room while taking overview pictures that make it hard to hide clutter. Outside the house, make sure to move any vehicles in the driveway out of the way before taking any photos, verify the driveway is clear of fluid markings, and put the trashcans behind the fence if at all possible.
Staging in relation to timing
Ultimately, avoid taking photos in bright sunlight. Take exterior pictures at dusk when internal and external “soft” lighting can accentuate complimentary and flattering visual perspective.