How to Prepare your Home for Property Photography

Make an informed choice

If you have decided to put your home on the market, you as the homeowner will most likely explore a smattering of Estate agents to ask what their marketing charges are and how much they feel your property is worth. At this stage, the two most common choices are - choose to go with the highest property valuation or the lowest agent fee's. However there may be more important factors that you should mull over before making your decision.

It can be very helpful to ask for recommendations from people you know and check for reviews online. Local community Facebook groups are often a great place to ask too, especially if the agents you are considering are based nearby.

Selecting an agent renowned for their exceptional customer service can significantly alleviate the overall stress of the process. Timely and assured responses to your inquiries are crucial. It's advisable to pose open-ended questions regarding the agent's strategy for promoting and advancing the sale of your home, seeking to gauge the authenticity of their approach.

Look for quality

Numerous estate and letting agents have been observed taking shortcuts, a trend that hasn't escaped the scrutiny of professional photographers or the extensive pool of potential buyers and sellers. Instead of opting for the services of a professional property photographer, many estate agents resort to hastily capturing images using a smartphone or inexpensive point-and-shoot camera.

Regrettably, they often overlook even the inclusion of a basic floorplan. When prospective buyers show minimal interest in such listings and the property remains on the market for extended periods, the suggested solution by the estate agent frequently revolves around lowering the asking price – a prospect that may not align with your preferences as a seller.

Our foremost recommendation is to assess the quality of an estate agent's other property listings before committing to any contractual arrangement. This can provide valuable insights into what you can anticipate from their services. As first impressions carry substantial weight, ensuring that your property boasts professionally taken, visually appealing photographs and includes a floorplan from the outset of the marketing process remains one of the most effective strategies to pique the interest of potential buyers and secure a successful sale.

Declutter & Depersonalise

When selling a home, a homeowners top priority is to sell their property for the best price in a reasonable timeframe. Obviously, each homeowner will have different price expectations, however presenting your home in a positive way is the only way you will push potential buyers to pay the best price for your home.

One of the first steps in preparing your home for property photography is decluttering and depersonalising. Remove any unnecessary items and personal belongings, such as family photos, excessive decor, or knick-knacks. This allows potential buyers to envision themselves living in your space, rather than feeling like they're intruding on someone else's home.

A clean home is not only more visually appealing but also more photogenic. Before the photography session, deep clean your home from top to bottom. Pay special attention to areas that are often overlooked, such as skirting boards, light fixtures, and windows. A spotless home will shine in the photographs.

Fix those small fixes you haven't quite gotten round too. If a potential buyer arrives at your home and the door handle feels like it may fall off, or there is a stain on the hall carpet, an unpainted section of skirting board or even a light fitting that doesn't work, this can put a buyer off. If they visit two houses of similar size and price, but the second home has none of these little fixes but has an outdated ensuite for example. 92% of buyers would offer asking price on the second property.

A thoughtful approach

Arrange your furniture to showcase the best features of each room. Create a sense of space by removing any oversized or unnecessary pieces. Aim for a balanced and harmonious layout that allows potential buyers to see the flow of each room.

Staging your home can make a world of difference in property photographs. Consider adding fresh flowers, decorative pillows, and tasteful artwork to make each room feel warm and inviting. Neutral colors tend to photograph well and appeal to a wider audience.

It may also be useful to return any bedrooms being used as home offices back into being bedrooms for the purpose of photographs and viewings. While an office may be perfect for you, it may stop viewers and potential buyers from seeing it as a third bedroom and they may dismiss your property as being too small or not write for their needs.

Kerb appeal

Making your house look presentable from the outside can really help with that all important first impressions for potential buyers. It might not be the biggest home on the street but just a few little touches can make a visitor feel more welcome. Trim the front hedge, the overgrowing tree and ensure the path is jet washed or perhaps the addition of a hanging basket or a window box may suit the property well. It's small things like this that will increase the appeal and plant the seed that the home is well cared for and respected. A freshly cut lawn can also do wonders for viewers impression of the property and it looks gret in property photographs too.

If you have a viewing booked, avoid parking on your driveway to give the suggestion of space and avoid distraction. If possible, park your car(s) further down the street to leave plenty of space outside your property. If road parking is limited, discuss with your Estate Agent in advance about alternative options so that they can confidently answer queries during the viewing.

If you have a summer viewing and a garden with garden furniture in. Why not set it up with all the cushions and parasols that would be out if you were using it. This will let potential buyers see the possibilities with your outdoor spaces too.