Photograph things which stay with the home
Silicon Valley home buyers shop for their new house online first, and the most important element in their shopping (once price, size and location are considered) is the property condition. That translates to this: photographs are extremely important! After price, I would say that photos are the most important element of marketing a home for sale today.
In the past, I have ranted a little about agents who take or use poor quality photos, ones which are dark, blurry, involve clutter (such as cars in the driveway) etc. Some listing agents are very sloppy, and their clients do not seem to notice, incredibly. Even if the condominium is “distressed”, that doesn’t mean that the photos need to be!
Even when the images are clear and well illuminated, though, there’s a tendency of agents or home owners (who sometimes provide the photography) to include scenes which are pretty, but not relevant.
I’m talking about your piano, your bed against the wall, or that inviting leather chair and ottoman with a reading lamp in the corner. None of these appealing pieces of furniture will stay with the house, and home buyers know it. A wall is a wall…. And that means it’s not a helpful shot in terms of marketing your home.
Home buyers want to see the kitchen, the bathrooms, windows and doors. Closeups of tile work, leaded glass windows or an amazing front door work well, because these items all stay. They would like to get a sense of every major room and area in the house – but not your decor! If the focus of the photo is on your sleigh bed or giant hutch against a long wall in the dining room, the mark is missed.
Most professional photographers will show how a room is used, so a dining room shot will include the furniture. But the image will usually show more than furniture and walls – it will normally also display the light fixture, the flooring, doors or windows – all of which stay.
