It’s true what they say, “a picture is worth a thousand words”. Selling your property is competitive and the photographs you take of your property are vital to a successful sale. Prospective homebuyers will be scrolling through hundreds of properties online and your photographs could be the one thing that will stop them in their tracks.
You can prepare your house for sale and turn a viewing in to an offer, but without first capturing their imagination and getting the enquiry you may find it very difficult to sell your property at all.
A good selection of well-lit, high-quality images that really showcase your home will help to catch the eye of house-hunters instantly. Don’t forget to include images of any standout features such as built-in storage, a large garden or beautiful views.
Here are 6 top tips to help you take picture-perfect photos of your home and achieve a quick sale at the best possible price…
1. Use a good camera
These days the quality of some smartphone cameras can actually be as good as (if not better than) the digital camera you occasionally dig out for a family event.
If you are using a smartphone, try using the high dynamic range (HDR) setting to capture greater detail in each of your photos.
Are you working with an estate agent to market your property? If so, they will be able to take the best photos of your property for you. After all, they’re the experts in selling homes and understanding buyers, so find out what they can offer you and don’t be afraid to speak up if you’re unsure about the photos they produce.
Did you know many estate agents, including our partners at Bradleys, can now use a drone to capture aerial shots of your property? This can give your listing the edge and could make all the difference when it comes to booking viewings and selling your property. If this is something you're interested in, make sure to ask your agent if this is a service that they offer.
2. Focus on your curb appeal
The best thumbnail image to use on online property portals, such as Rightmove or Zoopla, will typically be a photograph of the outside of your home. First impressions count so make sure you do everything you can to enhance your property’s curb appeal.
Simple tasks like cutting the grass, cleaning the windows and front door, trimming unruly bushes or trees, removing cars and bikes from the driveway and filling empty flowerpots with something nice and colourful can help your property to stand out from the crowd.
Thinking about refreshing your property before selling? Read our quick guide to modernising your home on a budget which could help you achieve the best selling price.
3. Let there be light
Using natural light in the right way can make a big difference to the visual appeal of your home.
Opening all the blinds and curtains to let the light flow in, removing heavy curtains if you have them and taking photos of your home at the brightest time of the day will help to create the sense of a light, airy space.
Still feels a bit dark? Try turning on all the lights and even use the flash during the day. However, it's worth knowing that you should be careful to avoid backlighting in rooms with large windows. Choose your angle carefully so you don’t produce images that are too bright and make the room appear washed out.
4. Shoot from the right spot
You want to showcase as much of your property as possible, but that doesn't mean you should be taking dozens of shots of each room from every conceivable angle. You can capture the right shot quickly if you take the photo from the right angle.
To give your image depth, you should aim to include three walls in each photograph. This often means the best place to take your photos from is the doorway or a corner of the room.
Take your photographs from chest height so as not to distort the images and consider the features you want to highlight, such as a large window or a fireplace, and make sure they are positioned centrally in the shot.
5. Think clutter-free, not lived-in
When it comes to personal belongings, less really is more when it comes to selling your property.
It’s well worth spending a bit of time removing excess furniture, fridge magnets, personal ornaments and small appliances that do little more than distract from the natural features of your home. These items can also make the space look cramped - something you aren't likely to be going for when taking your photos. Read our ultimate guide to decluttering and downsizing to help make this process easier!
Set the scene with a few key items so the viewer can visualise themselves in that space or give them the opportunity to see where they can add their own style.
If you’re selling your property in winter, be sure to photograph your home in a neutral setting, i.e. before the Christmas decorations go up! Not only can decorations make a space feel smaller and potentially untidy, but your images will become dated once the holidays are over. This can give the appearance that you’ve been on the market for a while and may result in potential buyers feeling less likely to want to view your property.
6. Be selective
Less is more! Sharing too many photos of your property could actually put off potential buyers. It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that people will want hundreds of images of your property before they visit, but don't! Be selective with your final choices.
A dozen or so well-lit shots should be enough to showcase every room and provide images of the property’s exterior and garden. More than one angle of a kitchen, living room or large bedroom is fine, as are pictures of large storage areas, particularly in cities where space is at a premium. However, it’s best to avoid unnecessary photographs of stairs, intercoms and other areas that are unlikely to entice someone to view your property.
Ready to begin your own property search? Use these 3 steps to find the perfect property online and, when you’ve booked a few viewings, our guide (including free checklist!) will help you get the most out of your viewing days!
Visit our property and moving home section for more top guides and free resources to help make your move easier.
Did you know, at Homewise, our free Move Simply service helps our Home for Life Plan customers throughout every step of their move?
If you’re over sixty, our experts could help you sell your property, find your next home and even handle all aspects of the process - get in touch with our team to learn how we could support you this year.
In the meantime, you can use our quick calculator to see what your potential moving budget could be boosted to with the Home for Life Plan! It's simple, quick and could provide you with a better understanding of your potential budget.