STAGING PICTURES: WHAT TO TAKE AND WHAT TO AVOID

It’s important to remember that over 90% of buyers see your home for the first time on the Internet. Here, pictures really are worth a thousand words.

Here are some of my pet peeves with pictures I’ve seen:

• Dark pictures.
  Take the time and do it right or don’t do it at all.
• Pictures that aren’t really showing anything.
  Okay, it’s a corner of the room? What’s there? Why do I want to see it?
• Bathroom pictures without a focus (or the wrong focus).
  Please keep the toilet seat down. Why would you take a picture with the seat up? And why would you take a picture specifically of the toilet? Now obviously, you are going to see the toilet in pictures, but make sure the seat is down and take a picture of the whole bathroom -- or as much of it as you can.
• Pictures that aren’t genuine or truly representative of the home.
  Don’t post pictures of what your house used to look like when it was newer or in better condition. This only aggravates and frustrates buyers when they get there.
• No pictures.
  When you don’t post pictures, people wonder what’s wrong with the home. Are you afraid to show pictures? Their other thought is that the agent or sellers just don't care.
• Pictures that show dirty or cluttered rooms.
  First, that shows owners don't take care of their home. It could also give the impression that they don't care about the home or the selling process. Take the time to clean the home properly before taking pictures.

 

This picture does nothing to draw buyers to see this home.

Copyright  2007 by Michael Janssen

Okay, now here’s what you should do.

• Focus on the home’s positive features.
  If you have a gorgeous fireplace, make sure to include it -– both a close-up detail and a broad picture of how it looks in the space.
• Avoid negative features or fix them before taking pictures.
  If you’re bedroom is cluttered, the bed is unmade, and there are clothes all over the floor -– which shouldn’t be the case if you staged your home –- wait until it’s clean to take the pictures. The same goes for a kitchen with a sink full of dirty dishes. What about your home's color palette? Is is too strong or personal, or is it a good staging palette -- meaning it appeals to a wide range of buyers?
• Accentuate the positive.
  If you have amazing views, take pictures of them.
• Don’t be afraid to include pictures of bathrooms.
  Sometimes when people don’t see pictures of bathrooms or kitchens, they assume the spaces must be outdated or just plain ugly.
• Take close-ups shots of special features.
  If you have gorgeous glass tiles on your backsplash or original hardwood floors, take pictures of them. People love details like this. Do you have amazing architectural features, like cathedral ceilings or crown moldings? Details can tug at emotional strings -– just what you want.
• Include pictures of both the inside and the outside.
  People like to see what a home looks like, especially the curb appeal shot. And they always like to see what the backyard looks like. Don’t forget these pictures.

 

If you saw this picture on the Internet, would you want to visit this home?

Copyright 2012 by Highland Homes

Every picture you post on your home’s listing page should be one you’d be proud to show others. If you are embarrassed by them or look at them and think, “I wouldn’t go see this house based on these pictures,” then it’s time to retake them. It’s okay to ask your agent to redo the pictures. Or, if you or someone you know is a great photographer, ask them either for tips or to take the pictures for you. You can also do a virtual tour. Ask you agent about this. There are several options for doing this.

If you are selling a very expensive home, it pays to have a professional photographer come in and do not only photos, but also a virtual tour.

An expensive home like this requires impeccable pictures and possibly a virtual tour.

Copyright 2009 by Mike Whaling

In general, ask yourself what pictures you would like to see when looking at a home? What would you not like to see? If your pictures are already up, ask friends or family members to give their honest opinions. Have you noticed by looking at online pictures that you can tell whether the sellers have taken the time to stage their home? Pictures clearly show the difference between homes that are staged and those that have not been staged.
Pictures are usually the first view buyers get of your home, so make sure you take the time to make them impressive. Pictures should make buyers want to see more.