Pictures speak a thousand words. 9 out of 10 home buyers search internet photo’s when looking for listings. They are doing their research online, gaining their information and comparing homes. So what are those pictures worth for a residential real estate listing? If the images are well done, they can result up to a 3.9% increase in the final sale.
What is a well-done image? One that enhances the scene- a photo that tells more of a story. As a stager, I review a lot of listings and it still amazes me to see images of rooms that do nothing for the home.
Here are some of my ‘cringes’ and simple suggestion to correct the problems to make your home attractive to buyers
- Dead body in the bed- Yes the covering pulled over the pillows. Add two pillows per person that can sleep in the bed. If it is a twin bed add two pillows if a King add six. Pillows lend a touch of luxury feeling that buyers love.
- Too much furniture, yes you can have too much and it makes the rooms feel like there is none. Open your spaces up, move furniture out and/or re-purpose it to other areas.
- Not enough furniture, make the room have a purpose with personality. To add a chair and a vase with flowers in an empty room says what? If you do not have anything to put in the room leave it empty or better yet ask a professional stager to help you out to highlight the key areas in your house to their best ability.
- Your ‘stuff’ all over. If I am buying a house I want to see the house, not your papers, collectibles, kids toys, toothbrushes, etc. you get it. Start editing because you want to sell, and you do not want to have so much stuff to pack when the time comes. Clearing out the stuff makes the room appear spacious, neat and clean.
- Controversially don’t go overboard though to be sterile. Similar to the room with not enough furniture you need to still give the spaces some personality but it does not need to be unnecessary clutter.
- Buyers feel pets are a turn-off. Cute little Fido does not help your listing. Remove pet paraphernalia and evidence of your pets for the photos and when showing.
- Cell phone photo’s or photos posted at the wrong angle, that are blurry. As a seller, you are paying your agent big bucks to market your home. Are they representing it in the best possible light by posting pictures as mentioned?
yup, this was a photo on the MLS of a house in the position as you see it. I did not rotate the image
- Not enough photos. Is your house that big of a mess to list yet? Wait, take care of what needs to be done, then list. Seriously, remember you are in competition with every other house out there. What is the rush? Unless you are being transferred to another state in two weeks. To list a house that is not ready to be marketed is a turn off to buyers, it just creates a listing that becomes old on the market that needs to be marked down $10,000 after three months.
Prepare your house first, if you are unsure where to start, look for a professional home stager in to help you set your priorities. Remember to interview your agent too, to ensure you have one that will be marketing your property correctly.
