When people are in the market for a new home, they probably won’t know that a home is a “Cape Cod” or a “Craftsman.” But they do know when the style really appeals to them… or doesn’t.
When marketing a home for sale, you want to highlight its best features. Understanding the style of the home is one way to do just that. Here are some of the most popular home styles in the U.S. and how highlighting the style itself can benefit your sale.
Cottage
A cottage style home holds a lot of curb appeal. Usually made from brick or stone, these homes have steep, triangular roofs with a chimney often at the front. Interiors are full of low, arched doors to help give it a cozy feel.
A cottage has a few advantages you want to highlight and a few disadvantages you want to help buyers overlook. The advantages include a comfortable, cozy-feeling home that is often small — but also easy to maintain. Plus, heating and cooling bills are often more reasonable in smaller homes. If you are selling a house with a porch or patio, that should be highlighted as extra outdoor living space.
What should you downplay? It’s important to minimize how small some of the spaces in the home may actually be by decluttering and arranging furniture to help it feel more open. Cottages aren’t necessarily set up as great spaces for social gatherings, so it’s important to help them feel cozy but also conducive to the buyer’s lifestyle. Real estate photographers can help by choosing angles and using lighting designed to make the space seem bigger.
Ranch
Oh, the traditional ranch. You may have grown up in one or been surrounded by them in your childhood – they’re a very popular style of house in the U.S. for a lot of reasons.
A ranch is a minimalistic home that usually has large windows and a low-pitched roof. One great thing about a lot of ranch homes is their easy access to outdoor spaces (they normally have patios or porches to enjoy!).
Ranches appeal to many buyers because they are typically a single story, which makes them accessible. Their airy, large layout is great for families, too. But you can run into problems because they simply may not feel as large as two-story homes.
It’s important to highlight the positive things about a ranch by making them feel open and light. Decluttering and staging before you have photos taken can make a big difference, as can using someone who understands how to use lighting to your benefit.
Bungalow
People tend to love bungalows because they’re built for efficiency. The style has connecting rooms without long hallways. They’re normally one and a half stories, so there’s some separation between the living areas and the bedrooms, which many people like.
These low-to-the-ground homes also melt into the surrounding landscape easier than other home styles. That helps these homes to feel more private than other styles.
But there can be challenges with a lack of natural lighting due to the low profile and small spaces for families to enjoy.
Wide-angle shots that capture the entirety of the open floor plan can make the space feel bigger. Additionally, you want to make sure you highlight the landscape and the almost “hidden” nature of the home with images designed to maximize this effect.
Every home style is a little bit different. If you want to emphasize the positive and minimize the negatives inherent in a home’s design, DMD Real Estate Marketing can help. Reach out to us to find out more!