Hey everyone Glen Williams here with Homes By Glen. A listing with photos gets more attention than one without, and a listing with several photos usually does even better. But those photos have to be top quality because first impressions are hugely important, and you never get a second chance to make a first impression. You have to get the best photos you can, and that means using the right equipment, getting the right lighting and angles, and taking the right shots. And all of that applies even more with it comes to online listings where today the majority of buyers begin their home search. So check out these tips for getting the best photos of your Gainesville & St. Augustine home.
Get the Right Equipment
Poor photo quality is one of the most common mistakes in listing photos, and it is often the result of poor equipment. Now, you don’t have to have top-of-the-line, professional-quality equipment for getting the best photos of your Gainesville & St. Augustine home, but you do need a decent camera – not your cell phone.
Itis recommended that you use at least 5-megapixel camera in order to get clear, crisp photos. These are relatively low-cost cameras and can be purchased at almost any retailer that has an electronics section/department. You can, of course, spend more for even better quality. But if you’re buying the camera specifically for this one use, then there’s no sense going overboard on price. A 5-megapixel camera will give you good results. Also, keep in mind that if you don’t have a very steady hand, it might be a good idea to spend a few dollars more for a tripod.
Understand the Real Purpose
You know that getting the best photos of your Gainesville & St. Augustine home is important, but do you really know what these photos are intended to do? Sure, they should show off your home and showcase its best features. More fundamentally, though, they should allow prospective buyers to envision your property as their home. That means the photos shouldn’t show too much of your stuff in the home so that buyers can imagine it filled with their furnishings and belongings. So before you start snapping away, declutter and de-personalize.
Get Good Natural Lighting
The right lighting is always important for taking good pictures, and forgetting the best photos of your Gainesville & St. Augustine home, natural lighting works best. So pull back drapes and pull up shades and let as much sunlight in as possible before taking your listing photos. That also means that if the day is overcast and gloomy, you should probably wait till you get a bright sunny day. Nothing turns off buyers as much as dull, gloomy photos of your home.
Get the Right Angles and Shots
Getting the best photos of your Gainesville & St. Augustine home also means getting the right angles and the right shots. For example, when taking a photo of a room, your best bet is to get a shot of the room looking in from the doorway. And when it comes to shots of the exterior, it’s better to take them at an angle instead of directly from the front. Also, for those exterior shots, avoid including cluttering obstructions like telephone poles and wires. Avoid anything that draws attention from the home itself.
Take Plenty of Photos
Listings-performance studies show that online listings with several (or even many) photos perform better than those with only a few photos. So while getting the best photos of your Gainesville & St. Augustine home is important, getting lots of photos is almost as important. That way, you’ll have plenty to choose from and you use the absolute best for the listing. Keep in mind, too, that your real estate agent will have a ton of experience with listing photos, so don’t hesitate to get help from your agent. Our experienced agents would be glad to help you get the best photos of your Gainesville & St. Augustine home.