Picture perfect - The importance of high-quality images when selling your home

When it comes to selling a home, especially in a tough market where a shrinking pool of buyers are spoilt for choice and almost 90% of buyers start their search online, quality photographs are critical in order for the property to stand out from the competition.

Furthermore, research has revealed that properties marketed with good quality photographs which clearly highlight their features can sell up to 32% faster and for a higher price per square metre.

With so many properties currently on the market and potential buyers trawling through dozens at a time on property portals, if your home is marketed with a collection of good photographs that display your home to its best advantage, you have a much better chance of selling quickly and for your asking price.

To achieve the best results, there are a number of basic dos and don’ts to which sellers should adhere:

Leave it to the professionals – Although it’s undeniable that many cell phones now have cameras that take excellent quality photos, the quality that these cameras can achieve is limited, especially with whole rooms to capture, and they’re no match for a professional camera. One also can’t underestimate the value of a professional photographer’s trained eye to enhance your home’s best features.

Declutter your home – This is a critical step and the best way to do this is with a thorough spring clean which will rid your home of things you no longer need whilst clearing out storage space for items you want to pack away but not throw away.

Don’t forget to also clean out the garage as buyers will want to see this space. Sort through all the toys and bikes with your children, putting aside things they no longer use to sell or donate to the local children’s home.

De-personalise your home – Although your home should not look too impersonal and as if no one lives there, it’s important for buyers to be able to imagine it as their own space so which will be easier if you pack away family photos, kid’s drawings and other knick-knacks which you can move into your newly cleared storage areas.

Style it up – Every home will benefit from a little styling, even if it’s just a bowl of fresh flowers in the entrance hall and the throws folded neatly on the couch rather than flung over the arms.

Kerb appeal – When it comes to selling property, first impressions definitely count. Make sure the garden is immaculate by mowing the lawn, trimming unruly bushes and ensuring the pavement outside your property is also neat and tidy.

If, however, there is no photographer available or your budget is limited and you will be taking the photos yourself, the following professional tips and tricks will help you to capture your home in its very best light:

Slow down and plan each shot rather than snapping away like a crazed person. Look at each area, decide what you want to emphasise. Which aspects are interesting or appealing?

1. Successful photography is when you can show the subject at least as good as it is and generally strive to make it better than it really is but are still showing an honest depiction of the property.

2. Natural or photographic lighting plays a huge role in the feel of a picture. Choosing different times of day can make a big difference. Shoot a “weaker” area of the home in low or soft light to enhance the visual aspect, whilst still keeping the look natural. The right light can make a property look bigger and more attractive and bright photos can also look crisper which emphasises quality. If necessary, leave the lights on even in broad daylight, especially if you have small rooms and dark nooks and crannies.

3. Photography is visual communication. What are you communicating? The space, the view, beautiful light, the opulence? Include what communicates those factors and exclude that which doesn’t.

4. Attention to detail is key - is the toilet lid down? Are there kid’s toys scattered across the room? Has the doggy business in the garden been picked up? Spend ten minutes extra and look at what you are actually seeing.

5. And do what you can to not blur the shot! A steady hand, or a tripod goes a long way to an end result that is appealing.

Sellers will want to highlight the main features and attractions of a home, but they shouldn’t assume that these will be their favourite spots in the house; rather take a good, objective look at your home and try to see it from a strangers’ perspective.

If your home’s biggest attraction is its lifestyle features, try to show it as an inviting space in which buyers could imagine themselves living.

For instance, if your open plan living area is lovely with loads of natural light, stage a dining room table with linen, glassware and crockery as if it’s for a dinner party, which shows the entertainment potential.

Not everyone is an ace photographer and photo-editing programs like Photoshop can be great for adjusting lighting balances or erasing unwanted shadows in listing photos, but resist the temptation to indulge in extreme retouching.

Over-editing can easily give an entirely incorrect impression of the property which could result in disappointment for many interested buyers and it could also lead them to think that there’s something to hide which will result in your property taking that much longer to sell.

Always bear in mind that the fundamental purpose of the photos is to showcase the potential of a property to possible buyers who must be able to imagine themselves and their families enjoying the space and making their own memories.