Why Real Estate Photography is Important

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By James Winston

The hunt for a home for most buyers begins online, and first impressions matter! You’ve got just a few seconds to make a good impression before a potential home buyer swipes to the next listing. And in a red-hot housing market, virtual staging and quality real estate photos are crucial to snagging multiple offers. Here are some tips to maximize your home’s visual appeal.

Stage the Home

House hunters need to visualize their family in your space– so having a blank slate to work with is important. Stage your home by de-personalizing it. Your real estate photographer doesn’t want to take pictures of pictures. Remove all photographs from the walls, personal items from the bathrooms, all clutter, and even some furniture to make the rooms look larger. A key part of the staging process is to make the space open, inviting, and neutral. Remove bold paint from walls and replace it with neutral colors. It’s also a good idea to hire a professional cleaning service to give the home a deep clean. Remember, people want a home that feels move-in ready.

Boost Curb Appeal

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While you’re decluttering the inside of your home, don’t forget about the exterior. Before the real estate photographer arrives, you should take a closer look at the landscaping. Simple tricks to boost curb appeal include mowing the lawn, pruning trees, and adding Dallas native plants, (scarlet sage stands out in photos.) Don’t feel like planting a garden? Just put some potted plants around the porch. Don’t forget to trim the shrubs and remove any trash.

Leave the Photos to the Pros

Once you’ve staged the home, you’re ready to move on to photography. And no, this isn’t a task to complete with a smartphone. Schedule an appointment with an experienced real estate photographer to come out and shoot full resolution, high-quality photos that will truly capture your home’s potential. If it’s raining on the day of the photo session– reschedule it. To get the best exterior shots, Mother Nature needs to cooperate. Aim for either early evening or morning shots for the exterior.

Utilize Footage

Drone shots add pizzazz to your online photo album. Drone shots and aerial footage are also important for 3-D tours and exterior images. Include drone shots of the local area, such as hiking trails, parks, playgrounds, and unique attractions. Your buyer will want to know about all the conveniences in the area.

Selecting the Featured Image

Woo potential buyers by carefully selecting the featured image for the listing. It’s the first view internet users will see, and if the photo is appealing, it will prompt potential buyers to keep swiping through the rest of the photos and click for more information about the property.

The bottom line? Photos sell homes, and hiring a professional real estate photographer is worth the cost. After all, the goal is to stand out from the rest of the listings and to have a quick, easy home-selling process. The proof will be in your final offer.

James Winston is a home stager and freelance writer. He enjoys upgrading homes with all the latest gadgets and improving landscapes.