Spring into Action: How to Prepare Your Listings for Real Estate Photography
Spring is in the air - the weather is warmer, the days are longer, and people are getting outdoors more. Spring is also associated with new beginnings and growth, as plants start to bloom, and animals come out of hibernation. Additionally, Spring holidays such as Easter and Passover bring families together to celebrate and enjoy each other's company. These gatherings usually take place in the home.
Why Spring is an Ideal Time to List a Property
The nicer weather will bring potential homebuyers are also more likely to attend open houses. Inventory almost always rises in the Spring because the largest number of buyers are actively searching for a new home during April, May, and June
There is increased demand and higher prices for homes listed in the Spring as families with children prefer to move in the summer to avoid disrupting the school year.
The Spring season offers many opportunities for sellers to take advantage of their properties' best features. By listing your client’s property during springtime, you can increase its curb appeal with fresh landscaping or other exterior improvements that will make it stand out from the competition.
Tips for Preparing a Home for Professional Real Estate Photos
Preparing a home for professional real estate photos is crucial in attracting potential buyers and securing a successful sale. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
1. Declutter and depersonalize: Remove all clutter and personal items from the home. This will help the property look more spacious and appealing to potential buyers. Remove any personal items, such as family photos and excessive décor, to allow potential buyers to envision themselves in the space.
2. Clean and tidy: Ensure the home is thoroughly cleaned and tidied, including surfaces, floors, and windows. This includes cleaning out the garage and making sure that all of the clutter is gone. Encourage the homeowner to consider having a professional cleaner come through before any potential buyers come over so the house shines like new!
3. Spruce it up: A fresh coat of paint on interior walls and on the front door are small updates that can make a huge difference in the home’s appeal to a potential buyer. Update the kitchen. Clean up and organize the kitchen. It's important to remove any clutter from countertops and cabinets, which can be distracting in photos. Replace worn or dated appliances with new ones to make your home look modernized and updated.
4. Make it Scent-sational: Add some fresh flowers and plants to make the space feel more inviting. Traditional spring flowers like tulips, daffodils, and hyacinth begin blooming toward the end of March. Fresh flowers instantly spruce up a room and create a pleasing aroma that make it smell like a home potential buyers can imagine themselves in.
5. April showers bring May flowers: And challenges to photographing properties in the Spring. While the weather experts do a better job forecasting the weather than Puxatawney Phil, the weather during the spring is always unpredictable. Do your best to schedule your listing photos when the weather is dry and sunny, but be prepared to make changes when Mother Nature throws a curveball.
Stage the Space
Staging is a process that involves preparing the home for a potential buyer — or "setting the stage." It’s like a “facelift” for your property that showcases the home in its best light and creates an atmosphere where buyers can imagine themselves living there.
One of the most important things a seller can do to prepare their home for professional photos is to create a focal point in each room. This can be as simple as arranging furniture so that it creates a natural flow from room to room and highlights the home's best features in a way that creates an inviting atmosphere.
A great way to create a focal point is by using color: Paint one wall of the living room red, for example, or hang a large piece of artwork above the fireplace mantel. Your real estate agent will also want you to make sure there are no clutter issues--remove any items that don't belong in the rooms they're currently occupying (like toys) and store them elsewhere until after photos have been taken!
Read more about how staging can make a huge difference when selling a home!
Natural Light is the Key to Spectacular Photos
Many factors contribute to stunning real estate photos, but none is more important than natural lighting. Hiring a professional photographer who knows how to use natural light to their advantage is the key to setting your photos apart from the competition. Natural light refers to the ambient light supplied by the earth’s natural resources – the sun or the moon – not with a camera flash. Natural light also includes lights you'd find naturally in the environment, such as streetlights, lamps, etc.
The golden hour, sometimes called the "magic hour,” is the period of daytime, roughly the last hour before sunset and the first hour after sunrise, that is the most ideal time for capturing the best photos. It’s during this time that the sun is low on the horizon and creates a warm, soft light that highlights the sky and the environment below.
Photos taken at this time of the day have an almost magical quality that distinguishes them from other photos taken at different times. The light at this time gives your photos a soft, golden tint that artificial light can't replicate. Whereas, during midday, when the sun is usually at its highest point in the sky it creates shadows that can be extremely harsh.
To take advantage of natural light, open curtains and blinds to let the light shine inside and make sure there are enough windows in each room so that it's bright and airy. Also, keep in mind that mirrors bounce natural light around the room, making it seem larger than it really is—this plus an abundance of natural lighting makes any space look spacious!
First Impressions Make a Lasting Impression
The saying "you never get a second chance to make a first impression" emphasizes the importance of making a positive initial impression. This is particularly true in real estate, as it can have a lasting impact on how potential homebuyers view the home – and maybe even your brand! A little bit of effort can go a long way to leaving a great first impression that captures buyers’ interest and makes them want to see more.
Enhance the curb appeal of the property by tidying up the exterior of the home, including the lawn and landscaping, to create an appealing first impression.
The yard and porch area should be clean and free of any junk or broken items.
If there is a garden, make sure it’s spruced up as well.
Wipe down any outdoor furniture and make any minor repairs that are needed.
Clean windows inside and out so they sparkle in the sun.
Let the Pros Capture Your Photos in the Best Light Possible
You can do your part in ensuring your sellers’ properties are ready to go to market by following the above tips to capture the true essence of the property and helping potential buyers envision the home as their own. A professional real estate photographer can help showcase the property – inside and out – in the best light and capture its unique features. This collaboration between the two will ultimately result in increased traffic to your listings and a quicker, more profitable sale!
Spring into action now and book your next listing with our team of expert photographers at OM Media!
