Photography is a critical factor when marketing your home. If you get it right, you can attract buyers from far and wide with your arresting images and promise of an enviable lifestyle. If you get it wrong, it can hurt the sale price.
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Time is of the essence as photographers have an allotted amount of time for the shoot, so if your place is ready to go, the photographer can spend the time getting great photos.
Real estate photographer Geoff Beck from Ridgidigital in Albury/Wodonga has been shooting houses for more than 15 years and has photographed thousands of homes.
He shared his best tips for making a home look its best in photos.
Decluttering
You'll be moving anyway, so why not start packing now? Prior to photography and going to market is a great time to clear excess clutter.
Overflowing bookcases, cluttered study areas and kids' rooms bursting with toys don't photograph well. These spaces will always look more open and spacious with excess belongings removed.
Beck suggests nominating a spare bedroom or garage to store packed items. "Not every bedroom needs to be photographed, so sacrificing one for storage is often a good option."
BATHROOMS
Bathrooms are a real selling point, and a little effort here can go a long way. "Everything needs to be removed except for towels and anything decorative," says Beck. That means no shampoos, soaps, loofahs, toothbrushes, hair dryers or shavers.
A shower screen with a thick layer of water deposits and soap residue isn't going to be a good look. "A clean bathroom is an inviting bathroom, and the name of the game is to make things appealing."
kitchens
The kitchen should be clean and clutter-free, Beck says. "While the fridge is a great central place to attach unpaid bills, kid's sporting timetables and mementos, this never makes a kitchen look great in a photo."
A few appliances on the kitchen bench is fine, but if they are looking a bit tired, put them in a cupboard.
Lights
Make sure all ceiling lights are working, and keep light globes a consistent colour, either warm white, or cool white/daylight.
"Warm white globes help a home appear more inviting, but if your preference is for cool white then go with that," says Beck. "Just don't mix them as mixed globes don't look good in photos."
Pay attention to consistent globe colours for your exterior lights as well, especially for a twilight shoot.
