It’s true what they say, “a picture is worth a thousand words”. Selling your property is competitive and the photographs you take of your property are vital to a successful sale. Prospective homebuyers will be scrolling through hundreds of properties online and your photographs could be the one thing that will stop them in their tracks.
You can prepare your house for sale and turn a viewing into an offer but without first capturing their imagination and getting the enquiry you may find it very difficult to sell your property at all.
A good selection of well-lit, high-quality images that really showcase your home will help to catch the eye of house-hunters instantly. Don’t forget to include images of any standout features such as built-in storage, a large garden or beautiful views.
Here are 6 top tips to help you take picture-perfect photos of your home and achieve a quick sale at the best possible price…
1. Get to know your equipment
This is more important than your average "selfie" so get to know what your smartphone is capable of before you just point and shoot. Try using the high dynamic range (HDR) setting to capture greater detail.You'll be amazed at the difference just this makes. Most phones now offer the ability to take different ratio pictures not just landscape and portrait but using wide-angle and telephoto lenses too. Consider how you want to frame whatever it is you're trying to capture and look at the different options your phone gives you.
Consider also using a drone to capture aerial shots and video of your property. This can give your listing the edge and could make the all the difference when it comes to booking viewings and selling your property.
Using a tripod will give you the stability to take clearer, sharper snaps too! 2. Focus on your curb appeal
The best thumbnail image to use on Igniv will typically be a photograph of the outside of your home. First impressions count so make sure you do everything you can to enhance your property's curb appeal.
Simple tasks like cutting the grass, washing the windows and front door, trimming unruly bushes or trees, removing cars and bikes from the driveway and filling empty flowerpots with something nice and colourful can help your property stand out from the crowd. 3. Let there be light
Using natural light in the right way can make a big difference to the visual appeal of your home.
Opening all the blinds and curtains to let the light flow in, removing heavy curtains if you have them and taking photos of your home at the brightest time of the day will help to create the sense of a light, airy space.
Still feels a bit dark? Try turning on all the lights and even using the flash during the day.
However, be careful to avoid backlighting in rooms with large windows. Choose your angle carefully so you don’t produce images that are too bright and appear washed out. 4. Shoot from the right spot
You want to showcase as much of your property as possible, but that shouldn’t mean taking dozens of shots of each room from every conceivable angle – get the right angle and you can capture the right shot quicker.
To give your image depth, you should aim to include three walls in each photograph. This often means the best place to take your photos from is the doorway or corner of the room using the wide-angle lense option.
Take your photographs from chest height so as not to distort the images and consider the features you want to highlight, such as a large window or a fireplace, and make sure they are positioned centrally in the shot. 5. Think clutter-free, not lived-in
When it comes to personal belongings, less really is more when selling your property.
It’s well worth spending the time removing the excess furniture, fridge magnets, ornaments and appliances on the kitchen counter that distract from the natural features of your home and make the space look cramped.
Set the scene with a few key items so the viewer can visualise themselves in that space or give them the opportunity to see where they can add their own style.
If you’re selling your property in winter, be sure to photograph your home in a neutral setting, i.e. before the Christmas decorations go up! Not only can decorations make a space feel smaller and potentially untidy, but your images will easily become outdated if you haven’t sold by Christmas. This can give the appearance that you’ve been on the market for a while and may result in potential buyers doubting wanting to view your property. 6. Be selective
As with personal belongings, less is more. Sharing too many photos of your property could actually put off potential buyers. It’s easy to think “the more the merrier” when taking photographs but don’t fall into the trap - be selective with your final choices.
A dozen or so well-lit shots should be enough to showcase every room and provide images of the property’s exterior and garden. More than one angle of a kitchen, living room or large bedroom is fine, as are pictures of large storage areas, particularly in cities where space is at a premium.
However, it’s best to avoid unnecessary photographs of stairs, intercoms and other areas that are unlikely to entice someone to view your property.
If you're still not happy with the photographs you've taken, hire a professional photographer to do it for you. When you consider what you are saving by not using an estate agent, £150 on a local photographer may make sense.
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