Spring is officially here, and that means selling season is upon us. Here at HouseLens, the nation's largest provider of full-motion video house tours, we're getting ready for a surge in appointments as agents get ready to market all those new listings.
In dealing with agents – especially those who are new to using professional photography or videography – we often hear the question, “What should I do to prepare for my video shoot?” For the most part, our answer is the same one you would hear from any good stager: get rid of the clutter, tidy the house, and put away the pet paraphernalia.
With video and photo, however, there are a few additional things you can do to make the most of your shoot – including a few things that are specific to this time of year.
Book for a cloudy day. Your first instinct may be to take advantage of the spring sunshine and book your videographer for a bright, clear day. After all, that's when houses look their best, right? To the naked eye, maybe, but not to the camera. Bright sunshine creates glare and washout. On a slightly overcast day, the videographer has room to fine-tune the lighting, which means better-quality video and photos. So keep an eye on the weather forecast and book for a partially cloudy day if you can.
Close the curtains. You may be inclined to throw open the curtains and let the spring sunshine stream into the house. However, this is another situation where you're not doing the videographer any favors. It's actually better to close the curtains and blinds and turn on the interior lights. (Again, it's about allowing the videographer to fine-tune the lighting.) If you can't bear to shut out the sun, closing sheer curtains or putting the blinds at a downward angle is still better than fully exposing the windows.
Tidy the landscaping. A good videographer will film the approach to the house and a general view of the front and back yards. This means that sellers need to clear away winter debris and make sure spring-blooming shrubs and trees are tidy. Property owners should rake up dead leaves, pick up fallen branches, and keep an eye on trees and shrubs as they bloom or leaf out – that's when they'll be able to spot dead areas that need pruning.
Put away the gear. As the weather gets warmer, sellers and their families will start spending more time outside. When you visit the property, see if they've left gardening gear, toys, or sporting equipment outside. Remind them to put those items away before the videographer comes.
And here's a bonus tip: Don't worry too much about cleaning. Really. Of course, the home needs to be spic and span for showings, but the camera won't catch ordinary amounts of dust or dirt. Simply tidying, wiping down bathrooms and kitchen, and doing a quick turn with the vacuum are sufficient. So if your homeowners get short on time, tell them to save the deep-cleaning for the open house.
Take these steps, and you'll be well on your way to getting the most out of your professional video shoot – and out of spring selling season!
Comments(0)