If a picture is worth a thousand words, a bad picture leaves the consumer (or agent) with only one word, "huh?"
Not hiring a professional photographer to take shots of the exterior and interior of properties? Then take a minute to:
Inside
- Open curtains - let the sun in
- Turn on lights.
- Focus on interesting details.
- Remove trash cans & close toilet lids in bathrooms.
- Use floral arrangements in kitchens & dining rooms.
- Avoid shooting into mirrors because your image will reflect.
Outside
- Accentuate space.
- Make sure the lawn & shrubs are manicured.
- Remove evidence of pets.
- Put away children's toys.
- Avoid shooting into the sun.
(Remember to close the garage door)
FRONT
- Crop out sidewalks and streets. (Pictures can be computer edited for better quality)
- Remove parked vehicles.
- Shoot up-close & angled photos.
- Avoid shade on the house.
- Clear anything that is blocking the path to the front door. (Over-grown plants)
Take several photographs of the listing to so you have a selection to proudly display.
I still shake my head when I recall an agent that did not bother to move a huge pink Barbie house out of the way of the Family Room picture, that is all you could see. Or the distinct photograph of a dog's "behind" walking away from the camera with tail up-in-the-air. These were loaded up "as is" without a second thought by the listing agent.
With the copyright of pre-existing MLS photos, agents can no longer utilitize previous efforts. And in some cases, I have no idea why an agent would want to.
I even learned a picture taking lesson the hard way. I wore a fantastic little black sweater that was trimmed in long fur. I snapped multiple shots of a property, only to find out when I got to the office and loaded pics on the computer screen, that practically every photograph contained a mysterious "yeti "... Lesson learned and shared so others may benefit.
Better pictures is one of the best services you can supply consumers with.
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