Real Estate Photography should not be taken lightly. It’s not something like leaving your home as is after the cleaners job is done. It entails a lot of preparation for the seller or the agent. Especially in Alaska where the competition is steep and sometimes, the weather could bring in some unexpected hitches. The final photos posted online or the one in the flyers are just the chosen few among heaps of trial and error, and rearrangement.
The charm of photos that we see on listing websites does not depend on the magic of post production and the ever-reliable eyes of the photographer to come up with the best composition. Part of the final result of a real estate campaign also depends on how the entire space is arranged and carefully chosen images. In fact, some real estate professionals hire staging specialists to design for a specific lifestyle before the shoot.
It also depends on the locality, whether it be in Anchorage, Wasilla, Palmer, or Eagler River. The environment and the trend also affects people’s lifestyles in different areas.
Why does such preparation matter? Well, homes that look better sell faster compared to those that were just given the minimum treatment. Also, a photographer’s, or the company he or she represents, reputation is at stake. Great quality will have to be reflected in every photo that goes out, which then sets a standard for their current and future clients leading to a constant patronization of their brand.
Arranging Furniture
Whether it be virtual or traditional/physical staging, the arrangement of furniture in a home should be a top priority. It can be said that traditional staging has always been preferred since it is “in touch” with the natural flow of space and its proportion, but virtual staging has its own perks. It is good to consider getting an interior designer who can help you come up with a theme that is eye-catching and would be buyer-magnet attractive that will surely motivate for different compositions.
Yes, we’re already there, professional photography can make a home look very stunning but a common theme or lifestyle will make the property look cohesive in the photos that will come out. It’s like a concept that will bind the picture together as if telling a story, or inviting buyers to imagine their own future stories in the home while looking at them.
The key here is to enable your buyers to visualize themselves in the home. Admit the fact that a home is not for everyone, therefore, it would be wise to have a target in mind when selling a property. So, while they’re looking at the photos, capture their interest with the first photo and let their imagination cruise through the next ones. If you’re going for a modern feel, make sure that the facade, the foyer, the living room and the bedrooms, all invoke the same theme and not one of them looks like a museum piece.
The Walkthrough
As an agent or the owner, you already know the best features of the home that you are selling. This will be the selling point of the home and must be shown and explained to the real estate photographer during the shoot. But aside from this, a good real estate photographer would need to go through the whole property. They should know the ins and outs of the house so they can plan their shots, and more importantly, decide which part they would spend more time in. So, before the shoot, meet the photographer, or have a good conversation with them about the parts of the house and introduce the home to them, to prepare him for the walkthrough.
The Backyard is as Important as the Facade
A spacious backyard is always a good selling point for buyers who have families. An empty one would be a potential canvas for the photographer to add in things that would inspire adults to go for the property, say a playground or a barbecue, if you’re going for virtual staging. However you want to play it, the backyard will have to be spruced up equally as in the front and the interiors.
Speaking of Interiors
When it comes to the bedrooms, make sure to remove all kinds of clutter and make sure that the space invokes peace as they are one of the sacred parts of the house; the space where people are more intimate with the space, relax in, and lounge. Designing the bedrooms will add to the draw-in factor for buyers when they see the potential of the space.
Kitchens are one of the spaces that people are very particular about. Food is a very important part of living while it is also the part where most appliances are. This is the part of the house that would inspire a particular target market as potential buyers are very passionate about. Real estate photographers study the kitchen before taking shots, making sure that the natural lighting is perfect as the natural look is always an advantage when it comes to highlighting the space.
Homes are not perfect for a shoot onset. Some may even need repairs, especially the second-hand ones. Touch-ups will have to be done by a real estate professional who is keen on features that need more attention. The space will have to be prepared before the shoot to make sure not to overload the post-production with retouching. Do not be stingy when it comes to preparing a home; sometimes repainting might be necessary, trimming the yard, or some patch-ups here and there. Do not hesitate to go for them if it means selling the home faster and for a better offer.
Call Only the One You Can Trust
All your preparation will of course go to waste if the photos don’t come out as perfect. So hire a real estate photographer that you already trust, or if you’re new to real estate, get one that’s preferred by many. DMD Real Estate Marketing has been Alaska’s best real estate partner for more than a decade. Get a photographer with an impressive portfolio who has an eye for the best compositions and is known for coming up with the most successful real estate campaigns.