Real Estate Curb Appeal: Photographing Your House So It Sells Faster and For More Money

When it comes to marketing your house for sale, appearances do count.

If your home is on the market but you can’t seem to reach the right buyer one simple adjustment could change all of that: good photos.

Many homeowners are posting good, quality photos of their home on multiple websites. If you aren’t doing the same, you could be losing out on some great prospects.

Selling your house can be an emotionally and financially draining experience. You shouldn’t have to spend hundreds of dollars just to get photos to sell your house. With a little practice and some know-how you can take really great photos that sell.

Make sure to snap photos of:

• Front of the home
• Backyard
• Living Room
• Kitchen
• Master Bedroom
• Any bathrooms
• At least one additional bedroom/office space
• Basement

You may also want to feature other areas that could be selling points as well.

Staging the Right Photo

Clean up: One of the most important parts of photographing your home is the preparation work. According to Inman.com, you need to stage your photos to show off your house, not what’s in it but don’t forget to remove the slipcover for chairs. A nice furniture set can highlight the size of your living room, but a photo showing off clutter is going to turn buyers away. Clean your home and tidy up areas you will be taking photos of. Mow the lawn, weed, wipe down walls, touch up paint, remove personal photos etc. Feel free to add a pot of flowers, a strategically placed stack of books or a centerpiece on your table to create a homey feel. Just remember one rule: Any extra objects in your photo should be chosen strategically.

Lighting matters: If possible take photos on a sunny day. With that in mind, open up the blinds and let in some light when you are taking photos. The brightness will make for much better photos. If you are shooting outdoors, wait until the sun is behind you to take your photos for the best lighting.

Make repairs: Your photos are marketing material for your home. Potential buyers do not want to see possible repairs or damage. Add some flowers to the garden and make small repairs to help create better photo options.

Choose the right angle: When preparing to take photos, make sure to grab angled shots of the front of your home. This allows buyers to see how big the home really is. You should take interior photos from the doorway to each room to get the best view.

Getting Technical

Digital photography is amazing. You can take as many photos as you want without worrying about running out of space. It also lets you check your work while you are shooting. Even your cellphone camera will let you see if there is too much light, not enough or if you need a wider angle.

For the best cell phone photos:

Do not use the zoom. In nearly all cases this lowers the resolution and gives you a lower quality photo. If you need a closer shot—move closer.

Check out your settings. Smart phone cameras are a lot more advanced than they used to be. You can change the shadowing, white balance etc., before you even take the shot. You may also want to try a few different modes to see if you get better results.

Clean your lens. If you use your phone often, odds are good that your lens has some fingerprints hanging around. Wipe it clean with a soft cloth and reshoot your photo.

For the best photos overall:

Remember the rule of thirds. Avoid centering the focal point. Instead, picture the view in thirds and adjust the shot to slightly offset the focal point.

Take horizontal shots. Wider shots are almost always better for home photos. Shoot horizontal instead of vertical to maximize what you get in your photo. This can also help the space appear larger in the photos.

Stand still. If you have a tripod, use it. If not, stand as steady as possible or haul out a lightweight bookshelf or stand to keep your camera, and hands, steady. If you absolutely cannot master this step, consider choosing a sports mode to eliminate blur. The faster shutter speed accounts for extra movement.

Where to Post Your Photos

Now that you know how to photograph your home, you may be asking “Where do I post these photos of my house?” There are a few great options for maximizing exposure. The first place you should talk to is your real estate agent. Many times they have a website where you can showcase photos of your home.

Other options include:

Craigslist: You can buy and sell anything on CL. Photos can be added after you’ve finished editing other details about your ad. This site can be particularly useful if you want to rent your home quickly.

Specialty sites: Some popular websites for buyers include Zillow, Trulia, and ForSaleByOwner. These websites get a lot of traffic so these are great options to maximize the number of people who actually see your home listing. If you are willing to sell your house at a discount, you can try posting it on AssetColumn.com  or MyHouseDeals.com, sites where investors go looking for properties at below market value.

Get creative: Don’t forget to think about out-of-the-box options like Facebook “yard-sale” sites and your personal Facebook page. Your friends and family may know people who are interested in purchasing your home.

If you need to sell your home quickly, you can maximize your chances of success by featuring quality photos of your home. Good photos make your home look better and tell the buyers that you care about your home. A visually-pleasing home can go a long way towards getting buyers interested and command a higher value.

One last piece of advice: take lots of photos. Take several photos of each space; try different heights and angles so you have plenty to choose from. Always upload your photos to a computer to see how they really look. The quality can differ significantly between phone and computer.