Whether you’re thinking of selling your home, or want your existing listing to be updated with fresh photos, the truth is that pictures are worth a thousand words. And in this case, they can be worth thousands of Ringgit.
That’s right! First impressions make a big impact, and that has direct consequences on how easy or hard it will be to sell your property, at the price range YOU want.
A dirty and messy home may indicate that the current owners are neglectful. This, in turn, might mean a much longer time to even get any interest in the property, so potential buyers will move on to the next listing.
Technology To The Rescue!
Over the last few years, some pretty hi-tech camera technology is readily available on our smartphones, and it has been exponentially improving ever since.
It has given rise to the inner photographer and/or videographer in us, allowing everyone to instantly capture crystal-clear moments that will last forever.
This powerful tool has been used by many, especially marketers, to make their products and services appeal to their audience, with compelling pictures that tell a story.
Now, you can just as easily hop on the bandwagon, and give your property the best attention (read: photoshoot) it truly deserves!
There are a number of things to consider when it comes time to sell your home. This list takes you through four important considerations you should look into, to help you plan and execute flawlessly the sale of your dreams:
1) Clear the clutter
Take a good look at your home and decide how you want to begin clearing the clutter. The last thing you want is a glimpse of your dirty underwear, peeking out from under the bed, for the world to see.
If you struggle with storage space, it might be a good idea to divide your home into sections and prepare each section for the shoot, and then making your way through the rest of your home.
Cleaning up can be a tiring full-day affair. To reduce the burden, enlist the help of family, or engage a cleaning service to speed up the process. This will also allow you to focus on the next part of preparing your home for a shoot: Decorating!
2) Decorating and staging
Think about what appealed to you when you are searching for pictures of beautiful homes. Was it the well-planned layout? Or maybe it was the decor? We may not remember what appealed to us, but we know how it made us feel.
Giving your home a cosy, comfortable, and inviting atmosphere while making it look livable, will speak volumes to potential buyers and help them envision their own lives in the space.
For unfurnished homes, why not go for the simple minimalist look? Not only will you save money by needing less, you can also do so by using upcycled items, or simply borrow some items from family and friends.
Here’s an example for the living room: Use an old saree as drapes, a kain sarong as a table runner, and hang some old plates on the wall for art. Top it all off with a pile of pillows/cushions on the sofa for an inviting feel.
The key part to bear in mind is that sometimes, less is more! When it comes to making a house look more like a home, small touches like adding a stack of books/magazines to a table, and even adding a basket of fruits to the kitchen table, are all good ideas.
PropertyGuru Tip
Take the time during the cleaning and decorating phase to note down the best time of day when different parts of your home receive the most amount of natural light. Then, when it comes time for the photoshoot, you’ll be able to snap photos of the rooms bathed in the warm glow of the sun!
3) Natural and artificial lighting
Your home is now prepared and you’re armed with your smartphone. But first, have you picked a nice, hot, sunny day for the shoot?
Chances are, if it’s the monsoon season, you’ll only have a small window of opportunity before the skies turn black, and the sudden thunderstorms (literally) rain on your plans.
Lighting is a very important aspect to consider in all of this. So, it pays to give a lot of thought while setting up your space, to determine if you will need additional lighting to create beautiful shots.
Natural light is the best option in most cases. But your chance to shoot certain areas of your home might be limited, based on the orientation of the property, and weather conditions.
If, however, you prefer to shoot at night to give your property a more ‘romantic feel’ to it, make sure the lighting used is of the warm kind. Having glaring fluorescent lightbulbs will only make your home appear cold and unwelcoming!
4) Right angles
When shooting different angles, be sure to keep the camera straight, and enable the gridlines to help you "see straight" throughout the entire process.
Doing this helps avoid distortion in the images, giving you a picture-perfect home for buyers. Another tip is to utilise a sturdy tripod, so you don’t have to worry about shaky hands, resulting in blurry images.
This will also help you take pictures from the same height throughout the entire home, for a more uniform look.
The ideal height for any real estate photography is about 5 feet. Too high or too low, and you risk shooting too much of the ceiling or furniture, and not enough of the actual room itself.
As a condominium and a bungalow are obviously vastly different in terms of size, choose the best angle that looks natural and feels balanced for your property type.
A good tip to remember is to give potential buyers a clear picture of the layout. To do this, you will want to shoot in a variety of locations to showcase the flow of each room or space, to one another.
What Else Can I Do To Give My Home More Appeal?
Doing your own photoshoot can be rewarding, especially if it involves acquiring a new skill, or enhancing your current skillset.
Planning ahead by preparing your home and paying attention to the details like decor, lighting, and angles, will greatly reduce the amount of time you will need to spend editing your photos.
Now that you have some ideas to roll with for a great photoshoot, why not expand your creativity? In this digital age, technology can be used in many more creative ways to enhance the buyer’s experience.
Why not think about virtual reality (VR) tours as well, on top of awesome photographs, to make your property more attractive to buyers? Who knows, acquiring the skills for VR might even open up new side income opportunities!
Want to know how to prepare your own home for a VR tour? Take a look at our Virtual Property Tours: Buyers And Renters Guide Edition, to get a few tips on how to make a great first impression!
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