PICTURE PERFECT

The crucial decision to see your home in person is often made on the basis of the photographs, yet if promotional pictures are taken before the home is staged and prepared for market, before it looks its best, you could lose a prospective buyer.

Most of the time, the first view a prospective buyer will have of your home is a picture on a website, or in the MLS listing, or in a magazine. The crucial decision to see your home in person is often made on the basis of the photographs, yet if promotional pictures are taken before the home is staged and prepared for market, before it looks its best, you could lose a prospective buyer.

Here are some tips for making promotional pictures more effective:

Outside Pictures
Trim the trees and shrubs so that the house can be seen clearly. This also helps create the impression that maintenance is a manageable chore.
Mow the lawn and detail the edges.
Store all the small decorative accessories and small pieces of furniture.
Hide construction and landscaping materials out of sight.
Hide trash cans and hoses.
Use only larger scale, neutral containers.
Paint the front door in a third, accent color.
Coordinate flowering plants with the colors of the house.

Inside Pictures
Be sure the rooms are well lighted.
Pack the small accessories on all horizontal surfaces, as well as any that are hanging on the walls.
A few larger things photograph better than many small ones.
Store smaller pieces of furniture to make the rooms appear more spacious. . .

Look at the difference it made to pack many of the smaller items in this living room.

Reduce the number of books and accessories on shelves.
Use plants to add warmth and fill empty spaces.
Pay attention to color coordination and furniture arrangement. Use accent cushions for an infusion of color if needed.

Take some practice pictures of the inside and outside. Examine them with a critical eye and make adjustments as needed before the final pictures are taken. If your house is staged after being on the market for a while, it's crucial to take new photographs that show the house at its best as part of a re-invigorated marketing effort.