I recently attended a home staging info session and gained valuable insight on the topic from a local professional. We all know how important it is to wow a buyer when they come to view a property, but staging can be much more in depth and multifaceted.
Personally as a REALTOR® I am very picky about the photos I take at a listing. In fact it can take hours for me to arrange and stage rooms for listing photos, depending on the size of the house and if there are outbuildings or stables. I have even returned for additional pictures when the sun was facing a different direction for better photos!
Here are a few of my pet peeve/cardinal sins when taking photos for a listing.
1) Leaving the toilet seats up - this is a point of contention in most relationships, let's not bring that into a listing!
2) Taking pictures of beds rather than bedrooms - I use appropriate lenses for photos so as to show features rather than furniture!
3) Declutter - kitchens especially - I go as far as removing all magnets and notes from the fridge and tucking away countertop appliances.
Now these are very easy things to do to make your home more appealing at first glance, let's delve deeper!
A fresh coat of neutral paint is something that can make a world of difference... Don't believe me? Listen to the buyers on those real estate shows comment on houses they view. Smoothing over wear and tear and freshening up spaces with paint offers outstanding value and appeal.
Get rid of extra stuff. And I mean it! Weekly agent caravans take me to multiple properties in quick succession and this makes critical evaluation of a property and it's marketability a snap. I can't stress this factor enough. Clear out knick-knacks and leave your closets almost empty so potential buyers are imagining themselves there, instead of being distracted by personal belongings.
I understand that we can't always spend thousands of dollars renovating a kitchen or bathrooms, but there are so many seriously effective things that we can do to make your property stand out in a sea of listings.
It's one thing to take great pictures, but when a potential buyer steps into your home, there is an opportunity to wow them and that opportunity is waiting to be seized by careful planning and creative home staging.
With stunning before and after pictures to drive this fact home, market statistics and personal stories of sales, I am here for you when it's time to sell your home. I have thousands of dollars worth of professional camera equipment, GoPro video capabilities for posting on my YouTube marketing channel and digital equipment for making tech savvy listings that are available to low tech and high tech buyers worldwide at the touch of a button. Call today and let's discuss how to personalize your marketing campaign to make the most of your property.
Megan White
Exit Realty Town & Country
902-680-2736
