30 Jul PHOTOGRAPHY DONE WELL
Photography Done Well
You never get a second chance to make a great first impression so your property photographs need to be good enough to grab a potential buyer’s attention and make them want to come and view. A little preparation and a small spend could yield big results and a quick sell. View your property from the mind-set of a potential buyer and give them what they want to see.
Some obvious tips
Make sure all furniture is clean and magazines, paperwork, stray clothing and general clutter should be removed. Pillows and cushions should be plumped up and curtains straightened and tied back.
Sinks, baths, showers and taps, should be sparkly clean, free of any mould or limescale. Kitchen surfaces should be clear, with food packed away and all floors should be washed, polished or vacuumed.
If you have any missing handles, chipped paint or cracked tiles, it’s worth getting them fixed in order to make the best impression possible.
Finally, make sure the garden looks tidy and colourful; weed each and every area including the drive and remove any stray leaves from the grass and corners. Potted plants and bright flowers make your property look inviting and it’s worth investing in some if needs be.
Light
Your rooms should be bright and vibrant, so in an ideal world the pictures would be taken when the weather is nice and the sun is out. Even if the natural light is adequate it’s never a bad idea to turn on a few lights.
No volume of light will be able to hide very dark or heavily patterned walls. If you really wish to give selling your home the best chance possible, think neutrals or pastels – you want to leave a blank canvas on which the buyer can stamp their own authority.
Depersonalise
Although you’ve spent years painstakingly making your house your home, for the photographs it is time to clean away and de-personalise, no matter how hard that may be. Take down photographs of loved ones, certificates, awards and other items, to allow others to mentally superimpose their objects in place. It needs to feel generic in order to allow someone else to visualise themselves living there.
Pets and Animals
They may be very dear to your heart but removing all evidence of cats and dogs is important – you might love them, but prospective buyers may not, they may even have allergies or phobias. Tidy away litter trays, food bowls, dog beds or any other tell-tale signs. Vacuum well and deodorise carpets and furniture.
Make space
Space to breathe and live is a precious commodity, so consider removing excess furniture like chairs and tables that may constrict and clutter a room and in turn create an impression of claustrophobia. Move furniture around and experiment with various angles to create an ideal composition. Pull sofas and units away from the wall a few inches, create wall space, take down pictures where necessary.