Attract Buyers to Your Next Listing with These Photo Secrets

When it comes to marketing a home for sale, let’s face it, buyer interest starts with scrolling through hundreds of photos online. In fact, more than 90-percent of homebuyers start their search online, according to National Association of Realtors survey.

That means if you’re listing fails to have show-stopping images to spark buyer interest, plan to have more days on market. Homebuyers will invest more time online researching listings, before ever requesting a showing. So, it’s important that the images highlight the property.

While we work with professional photographers here at Chicagoland Home Staging to capture the perfect shot, many listings are still being misrepresented online. When the bad listing photo pops up online it’s not only doing a disservice to the seller, but it’s completely turning off buyers.

So when selling a home it’s key to exploit the home’s unique features and lifestyle through an image to gain more leads increasing buyer traffic and offers. Here are five areas to pay attention to when promoting a listing:

First Impressions From the Curb

The first shot presented in the listing should be a wide shot of the front yard and exterior. Take the photo from the curb in order to get the entire structure, as well as landscaping, front door, driveway and other positive features buyers would desire in the shot.

Highlight the Kitchen + Baths

Kitchens and baths are rooms that will lure buyers to your front door. So add a picture of them in the listing’s slideshow. Plan on doing small repairs and clearing countertops. In the bathroom, Remove all personal hygiene products before the photo shoot, make sure the room sparkles – and please remember to keep that toilet seat down.

Now, what if these spaces are NOT updated? Put it this way, if the listing doesn’t have an image of them the buyers will most likely think, “why?” No photo translates into outdated space.

Family Gathering and Entertaining Areas

Next, snap some photos of the home’s gathering and entertaining areas. If the home has an open floor layout with multiple areas, then try and get an image of the entire space before going in for each room’s close up. In these pictures, make sure the areas are clean, clutter-free and promote furniture arrangements that maximize the room’s depth.

Create an Outdoor Oasis

Show off the backyard patio, pool or outdoor kitchen as you would when entertaining. That means before a photo shoot make sure the pool is clean, furniture has cushions and umbrellas are up. Plan on taking these images before winter, so buyers can imagine spending the summer in this backyard, as opposed to others.

Capturing the Perfect Shot

Lighting is key when it comes to capturing your home. Try to shoot at dawn or dusk for the most flattering natural light. It’s also important to turn on all the lights before shooting each room to avoid dark corners. Open up blinds and drapes, but avoid backlighting by having the light from the window coming from the side or behind you. This will help deter glare or overexposing the room. Plus, take a photo of the room with and without the flash to see what works best.

Shoot a variety of shots from different angles – from above, below and at eye level. Create interesting images by positioning focal points to the left or right of the frame away from center.

If you have any other positive features or additional rooms your neighboring competitors don’t have, take a photograph of those areas as well to stand out. Need help getting your home ready for picture day, contact Chicagoland Home Staging for an instant home quote in DuPage County!