|
Home | Finance | Real Estate
The Photo Often Sells the Home
By: Lesa Parham
It's no mystery in the real estate business that first impressions count for a lot. That's why the first impression a buyer gets of your home had better be a good one. And where do they first see it? Well, if they come for a viewing they'll see the exterior of your home, but chances are good that they're there because they've already seen it, or at least pictures of it on the internet. Whether on the Multiple Listing Service or on a Realtor's® web site, the photographs taken of your home for sale will be the first impression a lot of buyers see. So take care that these photos are flattering to your home.
Ideally, these photos will be taken on a nice day, but even if it's the middle of winter, you can still make your home look appealing. Make sure it's at least daylight. This will make the interior of your house look brighter, and give you an opportunity to showcase outdoor features as well. Keep curtains open, and turn on lights so that the photos will be bright. Make sure the house is clean—you want your home as tidy as it would be during an open house. Turn the TV off, and never, ever, make the furniture the focal point of the photographs. You are selling the home here, not your stuff.
Deciding who takes the pictures is a big one. If your Realtor® offers to do it, have a look at the other photos they've taken. Don't be afraid to ask, it's your right to have the best. If you aren't satisfied with the quality of shots, consider hiring a professional photographer. Spending a couple of hundred on good photos that really make your home pop will be worth it.
Some things to look for in good pictures are lighting, angle, focus, and exposure. As I said before, make sure the rooms look bright. However, you don't want overexposed shots. If you are doing the photographing, or are working with an understanding Realtor® on it, experiment with the difference between using flash and no flash. (On a digital camera, you can see the results instantly.) Flash can be great for illuminating dark areas, but it can create a weird effect sometimes. It can bring out the flaws in a surface. It is probably best to leave the camera's flash off, and use windows as natural light sources and lamps to direct light to where you want it.
When photographing something, your main feature should be centered. Other than that rule, you want the composition to be balanced. What that means is that dark and light colored shapes are balanced in the frame. Ideally, there won't be a dark hallway taking up half the frame, for example. In general, trust your instincts with shots. Some will truly capture what you are looking for, and others may fall just short. Choose only the best for public display online.
When it comes to exposure, if the photographer is experienced, and using reasonably good equipment, then this shouldn't be a problem.
As I said, if the agents other photos look like they were taken by an amateur hack, then trust that they were, and hire yourself someone who will make your home shine online.
Article Source: http://www.ezarticles.info
|
