Listing Photos - Dos and Don'ts

First impressions are everything. Sellers have a brief chance to capture buyers’ interest, and it all starts with making sure that your listing photos shine.

How to prepare for quality photos, twelve tips from real estate professionals.

1. Avoid ghostly reflections of people or the photographer. Be cautious when photographing rooms where you might catch your reflection in the windows or mirrors.

2. Resist the urge to take photos of a room from outside of the house, through a window or door. Stalker angles can create unintended impressions.

3. Deep clean and declutter to prepare your house for photos. Remove all personal items such as family portraits, knickknacks, and other collectibles. Countertops filled with small appliances can give the impression of insufficient kitchen storage or counter space.

4. Move all signs of pets outside the camera field, including dog beds, cat boxes, toys, and feeding bowls.

5. Ditch that fly swatter you keep handy, and eliminate any sign of pest preventive measures such as traps and sprays. If you are about to list a home that has a pest problem, be sure to have it treated first by a professional exterminator.

6. Avoid photographing visible signs of damage, such as water stains, cracked walls, or broken fixtures, suggesting unresolved issues.

7. Cleaning supplies in a photo can give the impression that a big cleanup has just happened. Move these items out of the camera’s view.

8. Don’t waste your advertising space with poor-quality, blurry or out-of-focus photos.

9. Never include close-ups of everyday home items – you are selling the home, not the furnishings.

10. Interior photos are best taken on a bright sunny day, with windows and blinds opened, curtains drawn back, and lights turned on.

11. Photos should always be up-to-date, showing the current state of the house. Decorations should feature a neutral home or reflect the current season.

12. Maximize. Interested parties want to see as many photos as possible.

Your listing agent knows the best way to showcase the features of your home. These few simple tips will prepare your home to shine.