Have you ever had a formal photoshoot or headshot taken? Perhaps you’ve had one for work or arranged one for your family. If so, chances are you dressed up and made yourself look your best.
That’s the right mindset to be in when selling your home. too. You want to make every room look as attractive as possible because, these days, many buyers will view pictures of your listing—usually online—before they actually come to see it. I’ve discussed the topic of what buyers are looking for in a previous blog post, but to get them in the door first you’ll need photos as inviting and alluring as possible.
So, how do you make your home look “picture perfect”?
An effective technique is to walk around your home with a camera. You don’t need to take any pictures,. just visit each room and view it through the camera lens. Look at the room from different angles—as though you were a Hollywood director planning a shot!
Then, ask yourself the following questions:
- Will the room look cluttered in a picture?
- Does the room appear to be spacious and comfortable?
- Is there anything in the shot that stands out as distracting or negative?
- Will removing, adding, or rearranging furniture and/or other items make the room look better in a photo?
- Does the room look better at certain times of the day? When does it get the most natural light?
- Are there any other changes you can make to the room to make it look better in a photo?
Some advice I give to all my sellers is, if possible, to consider:
- Refreshing the walls with some new paint (white or as light/neutral as possible)
- Changing the lightbulbs to be as bright as possible
- Adding some plants
- Thinking minimally! (You may need all the furniture in the room as it all serves a purpose to you and your family, but if removing some of it will help the space become bigger and brighter then consider storing it somewhere else temporarily.)
After you’ve gone through this exercise, you’ll likely have a clear idea of what changes you need to make to ensure your listing looks its best in photos and video. If in doubt, there’s no one more qualified to help give you advice than an experienced realtor. Feel free to reach out anytime!
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