Home Photos Do’s and Don’ts Part 2
Following up on our list of home listing’s “Photos Do’s and Don’t” here is Part Two of what kind of pictures you should use in your home’s online profile.
Do: Use a Bird’s Eye
Getting an aerial photo of your home and property is highly recommended, especially if you have a lot of land to showcase or find yourself on a desirable plot like waterfront.
Don’t: Use a Fish-Eye
Home photographers sometimes use a technique to make a home’s space appear to be larger than it actually is by leveraging a fish-eye lens. This is okay as long as the potential home buyer does not end up actually visiting the home before buying, but since you are trying to get potential home buyers in the door, this photo trick can end up backfiring. If a potential home buyer is coming to your home thinking that there is a huge open floor plan he or she is not going to be happy to discover that the room is really much smaller than depicted; realizing they have been tricked they could walk away from your home altogether.
Do: Emphasize the Best Views
You know those views that you catch yourself staring at on a daily basis? Make sure you capture them on camera to share with your potential home buyers. Also include the context of where the view is seen from (the front porch, the kitchen window, etc) so that your potential home buyers can envision the complete picture and how it all fits together.
Don’t: Emphasize Your Family Pets
Home buyers want to picture themselves in your home which can be difficult to do if your photos include your pets. It is good that you love your animals (and who can blame you?) but keep them out of your home’s online photo profile.
Do: Consider the Background
Professional photographers understand the importance of the photo’s backdrop, working to allow the background to help accentuate the foreground. If you are taking these photos yourself, no problem; but think about how you can incorporate your home’s great backdrops into the photo.
Don’t: Consider Using a Screenshot
Sites like Google Maps can make it easy to find a street level shot of your home but that does not mean you should use it. Selling your home fast requires you do not cut corners, so get yourself a camera – or even a smartphone – and do the work to present your home as well as possible.
You do not need to be a professional photographer to take great pictures. While actual cameras oftentimes are worth the investment, you can get away with quality images from a smartphone. The bottom line is understanding that custom “staging” your home’s online profile is just as important as actually staging your home’s rooms. When you are ready to sell your home, give our team at Puck Realty a call at 919-842-5900 and let us put our years of experience to work for you!