The most recent data from the National Association of Realtors states that about 90% of homebuyers begin their search on the Internet. What does that mean? The FIRST SHOWING of your home is actually ONLINE. The walk-through tour of your home is, in essence, your second showing - if your REALTOR® has done their job right. Since purchasing a home is one of the biggest decisions of many peoples lives, proper photography can invite buyers in and help to reduce their fears. It is imperative that photos of your home are uploaded immediately when your home hits the MLS and goes live for buyers to see.
What's the big deal? Just think - do you stop to look at the house on Realtor.com that has 0 or even 3 photos when the one next to it has 24 images? Or suppose there are several dark, blurry, or shadowed pictures of just a few choice rooms. Potential buyers may wonder what else might be hidden or "wrong" with the home.
Ask your REALTOR® what photography services they provide. Do they use a professional camera, or even hire a professional photographer, such as OBEO? Do they include a virtual tour of your home? Do they provide suggestions on simple changes that can make your home photograph better? More importantly, do they believe that pictures are one of the first things they should get when selling your home, or are they going to "get back next week with their camera" after listing your property?
Homebuyers want a home they can picture themselves living in, so here are a few things you can do to make the images of your home more inviting and attractive:
•Tidy-up, Organize, De-clutter, Repair
Think about potential buyers. You probably aren't hoping to sell your home to an investor looking for a fixer-upper steal of a deal, so your home shouldn't give off that impression! Pictures of your home should target the audience you think will be buying - retirees, empty-nesters, first-time buyers, down-sizers, up-sizers... most people moving are excited to start fresh, so your home should have that "move-in ready" and fresh feel, and your photos must reflect that.
Start by eliminating anything that can make the room look cluttered, such as toys, magazines, newspapers, knick-knacks, etc. Make sure the home is cleaned thoroughly. Trash must be removed, shelving dusted, tables and countertops should shine, mirrors and windows free of streaks. Buyers will notice right away if there are tattered blinds, dirty dishes in the sink, a full trash-can, or a cluttered countertop, so don't make the mistake of ignoring these areas. Make sure needed repairs are done. Remember, online viewings are most often your first showing, and nothing is worse than a home that screams work-in-progress!
•Setting The Stage - Action!
Make sure to remove personal items and unneeded decorations. The goal is for the buyer to picture themselves living in your home, and this is hard to do if there are family pictures and heirlooms in every photograph. Show off your homes most beautiful and unique features - something as simple as nice flowers on the kitchen table, a freshly drawn bubble bath, or glowing fireplace can speak a thousand words to a potential buyer looking for their home-sweet-home.
If possible, have your home photographed on a bright and sunny day. Natural sunlight inside and outside will be much more appealing visually and give a warmer, yet larger, feel to rooms. Make sure your photographer is taking several photos of every room, from every angle. Speak up if they are snapping a single quick shot of the basics - the MLS offers up to 24 photos, and enhanced sites such as Trulia.com, Realtor.com, and Zillow.com often allow additional photos to be added and enhanced with detailed descriptions. Photos should be sorted and edited before they are presented to the public. Remember, you are the boss, you hired them to market your home to it's fullest potential, so don't accept less.
The buying public starts their home-search online, so it is imperative to put your best foot forward and present your highest-quality pictures for them to view immediately with the initial listing. Doing so gives you an advantage over other homes on the market and leads to more showing requests, putting you in the position of a speedy sale at the price you deserve.
Ashley Hamerlinck is a licensed REALTOR® in IL & IA. For more information on how to get your home staged-to-sell and picture-perfect, email me at ashleyhamerlinck@gmail.com, visit my website www.ashleyhamerlinck.com, or find me on facebook.
