Photo Tips for Selling Your Home
When people search for a home via the Web, in newspapers, or on TV, the first thing that catches their eye is the photo of the home. There is a saying that you never get a second chance to make a good first impression and the first impression of any potential buyer is when they see a picture of your house.
Here are some important photo tips to follow when selling your home:
Tip #1: Make Sure the Weather is Nice
Pictures taken of a home on a rainy, cloudy, or gloomy day do little to impress someone who views your ad. The first impression they get is one of depression or gloom. Your home loses instant appeal. Therefore, even if you have to wait several days, take your photo on a nice and sunny day. Anytime between 11am and 2pm is generally the best time to take your photo. Remember, that’s on a sunny day.Tip #2: Ask to See a Portfolio
If you are using a real estate agent to sell your home (good idea), don’t be afraid to ask them for samples of pictures they’ve taken of homes. You don’t want a “quick snapper”, but rather someone whose experience shows. If the pictures they show you are appealing then it is likely the ones they take of your home will appeal to others as well.Tip #3: Do Some Landscaping
Before you take the outside photo of your home, make sure that the lawn is mowed and the bushes and trees are trimmed. Also, remove any clutter from the yard (toys, yard tools, garbage cans, etc.). It doesn’t matter if you leave your car in the driveway. To some that gives it more of a home appeal but to others it may be a distraction and they may be asking you how much your car costs instead of your house!
Tip #4: Keep It Clean
When taking photos of the inside of your home, cleanliness is next to godliness. It’s vital that become a perfectionist in every area you photograph. Make sure the area is well-lit as well. Natural light (and natural light bulbs) work better than fluorescent lights. Just make sure when you’re taking the photo that there is not a light source in the background because that will wash out your photo. Light sources should be from above or to the sides, but never in front aiming at the camera.Tip #5: Increase Your Resolution
Many digital cameras allow you to take photos at different resolutions. The high resolution photos take up more space on the disc they are being saved to. The low resolution settings allow you to store more photos. You want to set your camera to the highest resolution possible. Also, if you’re ever out shopping for a digital camera, you’ll see listed how many “megapixels” the camera has. The higher the number the better, although it’s rare that you’d ever need a camera with more than 6 megapixels.
So remember: keep it clean, well lit, and of high quality. The appeal of your home will be increased once the photos hit the market.