If you are looking to set your listings apart you are in the right place! With a degree in interior design and as a past real estate agent, I know the importance of staging and professional pictures for selling a home. Kimberly Kay Commercial and Real Estate Photography sevices the Santa Barbara County and San luis Obispo County. (Solvang, Buellton, Santa Ynez, Los Olivos, Lompoc, Santa Maria, Nipomo, Santa Barbara and more).
I truley believe that great photos help sell a home. The world we live in today is a digital one and searching for a home is no different. Buyers now have apps that let them search by location and neighborhoods. Online searching maximizes the ability to compare and contrast homes on the market by selected features. Most of this is done before a potential home buyer connects with a real estate agent.
Having your home picture ready is critical in ensuring the very best picture. You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. Prospective buyers will make their decision within seconds about whether to invest the time to make an appointment to view your home in person. If your photos are out of focus, crooked, too dark or too light, low resolution, poorly composed, etc., it causes an emotion in your potential buyer that makes them want to skip over your listing and go to the next property listing in the search results.One of the most important and highest value activities you can do in the home selling process is making your house look its absolute best for its photo shoot. Time spent here can dramatically increase the number of viewings, reduce the time it takes to sell your home and help ensure that you get the highest price possible.In order to get the most out of the photo shoot of your home you will want to have completely prepared your home prior to your appointment. Think “model home”, not “well lived in”. You are moving anyway, so it’s time to pack all the loose items and personal stuff into tubs and throw it into the closets and the garage. The photographer will NOT be photographing the closets or the inside of the garage. Not only is there not enough time to go through the home and stage as the photographer goes through the house room by room, but if the photographer is spending a lot of time figuring out how to dodge around stuff and moving stuff around during the photo shoot, there is less time available to creatively evaluate best angles, composition and lighting. Here are points to consider as you prepare for your photo shoot. You will want to give yourself enough time beforehand so that you’re not rushing around just before the shoot.
PRE-PHOTOGRAPHY CHECKLIST
GENERAL
REMOVE
Always maximise space to create a larger look & feel. Remember, less is more!
o Family Pictures
o Personalised Ornaments o Memorabilia
o Animal Food Bowls
o Animal Bedding
o Animal Toys
WINDOWS & MIRRORS
o Free Of Streaks
FLOORS
Remove these items to enhance perception of floor space size in photos.
o All Trash Bins Out Of Sight
o Rugs
o Floor Mats
o Door Mats
LIGHTS, LAMPS & FANS
o Turn On All Lights/Lamps
o Replace Any Faulty Globes (especially important for dusk/twilight shoots)
o Keep Fans Off Lounge / Living Area
CLEAR
o TV Remotes, Video Game Equipment
o DVDs
o Any Visible Electrical Cords
o Books, Magazines & Additional Clutter
o Pedestal Fans
Tip: If you have a nice coffee table book & homewares you can display them tastefully on the table.
Keep any cushions to a minimum & neatly arrange.
LIVING AREA
CLEAR
o TV Remotes
o Video Game Equipment
o DVDs
o Any Visible Electrical Cords
o Books
o Magazines & Additional Clutter
o Pedestal Fans
Tip: If you have a nice coffee table book & homewares you can display them tastefully on the table.
Keep any cushions to a minimum & neatly arrange.
KITCHEN / DINING AREAS
REMOVE APPLIANCES
o Put Away Dishes
o Hide Small Appliances
o Bench Tops Clutter
o Visible Child-Proof Equipment (for example on doorways, cabinets & cupboards)
Kettles, coffee machines etc are all okay as long as they don’t clutter your bench space. The idea is to style your space like a display home.
o Clean All Appliances, Free Of Streaks
o Replace Oven Light (if blown)
o Turn On Oven Light For Extra Ambiance
o Clutter Free Refrigerator (magnets, kids’ drawings, fingerprints, calendars, etc.)
Tip: It is always a good idea to set any table with your best cutlery & perhaps a centre piece such as a candle or flowers, lower height is better. White plates have the best affect in photos. Neatly presented flowers/fruit are always welcomed in the kitchen/dining/living areas.
BATHROOM / EN-SUITE
SHOWER
o Shower Screen Free Of Streaks
o Keep Toilet Lid Down
REMOVE
o Remove Trash Bins
o Tissue Boxes
o Used Soap Dishes
o Bath Mats Off Floor (makes bathroom look larger)
o Remove Most/All Products Lying Around
Tip: Put out freshly co-ordinated Towels. Neatly double folded looks best – use matching colours for most attractive results.
SWIMMING POOL
REMOVE
o Pool Cover
o Cleaning Equipment,Toys
o Any Debris, Make sure your pool water is balanced and not “green”.
ENTRY
REMOVE
o Shoes
o Bags
o Floor Mats
o Any Other Clutter
OUTSIDE AREAS
REMOVE
o Real Estate Signs
o Noticeable Large Weeds,Fallen Palm Fronds
o Cars,Caravans & Trailers
o Garden Hoses, Garden Tools
oToys, Bicycles & Skateboards
o Pet Utilities
o Trash Bins (hidden in the garage is best)
Sweep/remove stains from driveway & paths.
Groom the lawns & garden. Rake any leaves on-site & cover any dirt with mulch.
Outdoor furniture should be wiped clean and arrange cushions so they look their best.