In the 2021 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 84 percent of home buyers find photos very useful. Furthermore, 41 percent of recent buyers said the first step they took in the home buying process was to look online at properties for sale. This is why it is important for your online listing to make a good impression. You want to show that your home is worth considering setting up in-person showings.
Listing photos need to look professional. If you do not want to hire a professional who specializes in residential photography, at least use a quality camera or smartphone that can give you high-resolution images. More so, use a tripod to enhance the stability of the camera and prevent blurred photos.
While it does not directly affect the quality of the photos, a clean and organized house is critical to a successful photo shoot. If you cannot stage your home or hire a professional stager, do your best to clean, declutter, and organize beforehand. Remember that the goal is to photograph your home to look like a model home to entice potential buyers without being misleading. Any clutter and personal items will only distract them from seeing the most attractive aspects of each room and might hinder them from scheduling a showing.
Similarly, listing photos should never be photobombed by you, your cute kid, or anyone living in the home or taking the photographs, which often happens when there is a mirror in the room. Remember that it is your home that should take center stage, so skip the selfies or family shots so buyers can easily envision themselves living in there.
While the intention is likely to show the condition and age of these items, in reality, dull close-up shots make rooms look small and repetitive. So take a step back and photograph your property’s look and flow, focusing on spaces such as the kitchen, bathroom, closets, outdoor living space, and unique home features, so buyers can have the feel of the home just by looking at photos. The brand of the refrigerator can wait until they schedule a showing.
Additionally, it is important not to post seasonal photos, especially with decorations from a holiday one celebrated months ago. For example, if you are listing your home for sale in February or March, you do not want buyers to see photos of your Christmas tree and twinkly lights. So take down all holiday decorations before taking pictures for your listing, unless you want people to think that your property has been on the market since December. Your listing photos should feature a neutral home and reflect the current season to attract more buyers.
Each Multiple Listing Service and real estate websites have different limits on the number of photos a home seller can include. Whatever website you and your real estate agent choose to use, it’s a good idea to upload the maximum photo limit.
