So you got a new listing for your Real Estate business. The clients are telling you how important it is for you to sell it for the highest amount, and as quickly as possible; they have plans for their new home after all!
Homes with professional photos, sell up to 32% faster according to a variety of Real Estate professionals. Homes properly staged for photos, will create a better customer experience for your clients; upping your “expert” status in their eyes.
Below - we will go over some common things you can coach your clients on, to help them properly prepare for their Real Estate Photography session.
To begin, lets talk about the C word. Clutter!
Often clients believe their home is fairly clutter free. They think of clutter as loose dishes on the counters, paperwork on the table, laundry laying out, or items that don’t belong (in their opinion) in a space. Nobody wants to believe their family heirlooms, decor items they love, or even family portraits, could possibly be clutter!
Helping clients understand what does and does not need to stay out in view of the photographer or potential buyers, can be half the battle. Below, we will discuss a list to help clients de-clutter space, room by room, surface by surface. Helping the clients do this type of leg work not only cuts down on the time you need to pay a photographer, but increases the chances of their photos turning out incredible, enticing those buyers who LOVE to look online at homes into visiting your space for sale.
One of the easiest things I can recommend, is to follow the rules of “if it has a purpose, it can stay” and “if its not ‘like new’ it should be removed”. I will Hilight both of these space - by - space.
THE BATHROOM
Decluttering the bathroom, is one of the easiest spaces to create a clean, organized space to showcase in the home. Often, when I arrive to a listing, there are items that are easily removed, that are either unnecessary, or “ugly” up the space.
Counter Tops - decluttering counter tops is an easy way to showcase the space well. Remove any and all items (yes, even that cute fake plant decor piece), including hand soap, unless it is in a clean non-plastic container.
Toilet area - remove any toilet brushes, plungers, and/or decor from the top of the toilet. Clean the toilet and shut the lid. Toilet paper should be a fresh roll in each bathroom. Also remove any stickers (like the one above) as they distract and lower the value of the space.
Towels should all match. If possible they should match floor mats, though clean and empty floors do look better.
BEDROOMS
Bedrooms can seem daunting for clients to de-clutter and organize. I myself, in the listings of my own personal homes, have often needed to do a re-do with my Realtor, after thinking I was prepared and ready for photos (it happens to the best of us!). When preparing a bedroom, here are some ideas to discuss with your clients
Bedding should all match. The sheets should match the pillow cases, and the over all color scheme on the bed should match or compliment itself.
Hide laundry hampers and shoe racks.
If you have a walk in closet, be sure to organize it and keep the floor clear.
Put cords away. This includes items like phone charging mats, and alarm clocks.
Keep the floor clear. The less on the floor, the larger the room will look!
KITCHEN
The kitchen is the epicenter of the home, its where we meet to eat, to converse, to do homework, to celebrate. It can also be the scariest place for clients to declutter. Decluttering the kitchen doesn’t have to be scary though, with these recommendations -
The Pantry - no fancy containers are needed. Make sure items are organized, straightened, and no open containers are apparent.
The Counters - Remove even useful items. Toasters and toaster ovens, coffee makers (unless there is a separate coffee “area”, dish soap and cute “chochkies” need to be removed, the more empty the counter the larger the space will look.
Dining Areas - make sure chairs match, are cleaned, and remove any baby chairs or items. A clean surface with a center point (fresh flowers or a decor item) will help future home owners envision themselves in the space. Its better to remove counter stools that don’t match, are mis-sized, or do not match the over all look of the property, than to have them.
Floors - remove rugs that are stained, tattered, or worn. Clean corners with a wet towel to remove any build up.
The Fridge - remove any paperwork, kids art, and remove magnets. Clean the surface well.
OTHER AREAS/IDEAS
- NO FLEECE BLANKETS - not on beds, not on the sofa, nowhere! Fleece photographs in a harsh and cheap way, its better to have no throw than to have a fleece one (in my opinion!)
- Family Portraits - Even when they are part of the decor, family photos need to be removed. Potential buyers will “see themselves” in the space easier, when they aren’t seeing it as “your” home.
- Memorabilia - I’m going to get hate not this, I just know it, but you need to remove your large displays of sports, products, and band memorabilia from the home. It sounds crazy, but future buyers can actually be turned off by seeing a rival sports teams merchandise in the home. Also, the potential buyer may not even be into sports, and will feel like the space is not somewhere they would like to be.
- Lastly, remove all dog beds, cat trees, and as much children’s toys and items from the home at least for photos and for showings. I know this can be difficult, especially with high chairs, pack and plays, etc; but keeping the space as a family area without the “family” items helps the rooms seem larger, the space seem cleaner, and will help potential buyers “see” themselves in the home.
Soon, I will post more Listing Photo Preparation ideas for you and your clients. We haven’t even touched the outdoor areas, and others areas of the home outside of the kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms!
If you are a Realtor looking to offer a higher level of service to your clients, or ready to list your home or advertise it on a Home Share Website - look no further. I would be honored to capture images that help get Buyers and Renters in the door! -Allana