Even if your home is jaw-droppingly gorgeous, it won’t matter how stunning it’ll look to the would-be buyer in person if it doesn’t come out well in pictures. These days, no one visits a house without first checking out its exterior and interior through pictures, be it through an online listing or through printouts made by a realtor. Given that 92% of buyers use the Internet in their home search, it’s crucial that photos of your home are taken with care and attention.
Clutter
Toys, laundry, and even extra furniture can add an element of chaos to an otherwise neat and attractive photo. Rather than seeing the parts of a room that truly stand out, buyers might find themselves drawn towards clutter in the corners of the photograph. Clutter is the enemy of any good real estate photograph, so make sure you don’t have any in your photos.
Poor Lighting
Part of the difficulty in shooting a picture of the inside of a home is that the photographer will often have to compete with bright light coming in through the windows. To combat this common problem, consider taking photos in the early morning, about 30 minutes after sunrise or before sunset- this way, you’ll have pleasant natural light filling the room without an air of competitiveness.
Blur
Like with doing well in school, one of the cornerstones of quality photography is focus. Feel free to use a tripod if it helps, but whatever you do, make sure the shots you take of your home are clear and sharp. Blurry shots have a tendency to make the seller seem unprofessional, so you’ll want to avoid them at all costs.
Pets and Small Humans
While we all know how adorable kids and pets can be, they don’t belong in your home’s real estate listing! Potential buyers are supposed to be able to picture themselves living in your home, and they won’t be able to if half of the pictures they see include someone else’s family. Keep your children and pets out of the shot- you’ll be grateful you did.
Too Much Photoshop
While a little retouching is fine (in fact, it’s probably a good idea to adjust white balance and contrast in your photos before putting them up), you’ll want to avoid retouching your photos to the extent that they appear unreal. Another downside to overdoing it on the editing side is that it might spook potential buyers, leading them to believe you’re trying to hide something.
Source: For Sale by Owner