It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about meeting new people or finding a new home—first impressions make a difference. You could put the deal of a lifetime out on the market and still come off with no bites if you don’t showcase it properly. And now, with the rise of virtual home tours, the right pics matter more than ever. Don’t fret, though—you have an expert here to help. Let’s walk through a few of the big real estate photo mistakes to beware of when selling.
Examining Little Details of Big Lawns
Taking a photo of a strip of grass doesn’t actually strike viewers as impressive. Though little details do matter, when it comes to your lawn, you want to go big. Give your buyer a sense of perspective by including pictures of your entire yard. This will also do wonders for your curb appeal!
Going Blurry
If you were given a choice, would you end up scheduling an in-person tour of a home with blurry photos? Probably not! Go for crisp, clear pictures, with a good balance of light and shadow. If you need assistance, ask your Realtor—he or she can help!
Cornering Your Buyers
Showing off just one corner means your buyer won’t get a comprehensive sense of what a room looks like. Instead, remember: as a general rule of thumb, you should always have at least two corners present per photo. After all, you want to make sure that potential bidders can get a sense of what living in your house feels like.
Forgetting to Rotate Photos
Unless your home had a truly out-there builder, we doubt it was constructed sideways. This is one of the easiest real estate photo mistakes to avoid—so don’t fall victim to it. Instead, for photos that may have accidentally come out sideways, remember to rotate your photos before posting them so they correctly portray your home.
Only Capturing the Outside
We said first impressions matter—but you don’t want the first impression to be the only one! Make sure you capture photos of the outside and in the inside of your property. That way, you can really sell the screen appeal.
Forgetting Neutrality
More than a few listings across the nation have gone viral this year—and for the wrong reasons. From rooms filled with mannequins (yes, really!), to endless trash, to ghostly hideaways, people will notice anything unexpected. Remember, you want to go neutral! That means clearing trash, clutter, personal photos, and anything else that stands out. If you want to learn more about staging your home, read one of our earlier blogs!
We Wish You Wouldn’t Go for the Fish-Eye Lens
Too avant-garde? Maybe. Fish-eye lenses also skew the sense of proportion! As you take pictures of your house, go for the dependable wide-angle lens look. You can also use a tri-pod to better capture your listing.
Closing the Drapes
Spring has sprung—and we all love basking in the sunlight. This includes buyers, who will want to see the natural light in your home. Throw open those drapes!
Summary
The best part about selling your home? Seeing how excited its buyers are to make happy memories in their new house! You can show them why you loved your property—and why they’ll love it too—by taking accurate, appealing pictures. Plus, keeping in mind our real estate listing photo mistakes can also show you how to streamline the selling process.
Ready to get started? Ryan Roberts can guide you through the real estate market from day one! Contact him here. You can also learn more about maximizing your success on the market by reading our blog here.