Great real estate photography and beautiful home staging can make a huge difference in the price you are offered and the timeframe you close in.
Investing that extra bit of effort by incorporating breathtaking photography and perfectly staging the space can provide tremendous returns. People often find that the cost to stage and take pictures is easily offset by the increased exposure, property visits, and offers that can come from having an eye-catching listing. If you’re looking for professional advice on how to make your property stand out, be sure to check out our latest posts featuring some helpful staging and photography tips!
Real Estate Photography and Staging to Sell Your Home in the Bay Area
Before The Photos Are Taken and The House Is Shown…
For optimal results in staging and photography, it’s recommended to hire professionals to handle each aspect. While a photographer can take stunning photos, they may not have the expertise in arranging furniture and decor. Similarly, a stager may not have the skills to capture the best angles and lighting for photos. By combining the talents of both professionals, your property will have the visual appeal it deserves to attract potential buyers. It’s worth the investment to ensure your home is presented in the best possible light.
As They Say, A Picture Says A Thousand Words…
High-quality photography is essential when it comes to attracting potential buyers to your home listing on MLS and other platforms. Often, homeowners attempt to take their own photographs, while others depend on their agent to do the job. Although some agents may have an eye for good photos, nothing can compare to the work of a professional photographer. Professional photographers have a wealth of knowledge and experience that enables them to capture the best possible shots of your home. They employ tricks such as tripods, wide-angle lenses, and natural lighting to get the best results.
It’s important to remember that a photographer’s job is to take photos of what “is” in the home, not to clean up or rearrange items. Therefore, it’s important to work with a professional photographer and a stager separately to maximize the benefits of staging and photography. Professional photographers and stagers have different skill sets and areas of expertise. A photographer may not have the knowledge to accessorize or arrange furniture properly, while a stager may not know how to utilize lighting and angles for the best photo.
Hiring a professional photographer may seem like an unnecessary expense, but it will pay for itself in the long run. The cost of hiring a professional is often outweighed by the benefits of attracting more potential buyers and achieving a higher selling price.
Get it “Magazine Pretty” With a Professional Stager
Professional staging may be viewed as a luxury service that is only used in larger cities, but it can have a significant impact on your ability to sell your home successfully. Buying a home is often an emotional decision, so creating a neutral environment that also allows the viewer to envision themselves in the space is critical. While some stagers may redecorate and furnish an entire home, they typically focus on a few main rooms.
Depending on what you already have, a stager can bring in new furniture and decor or repurpose and rearrange what you currently own to make the space more visually appealing. The primary objective of staging is to enhance the perceived value of the home, making it more appealing to potential buyers.
Investing in professional staging can pay off significantly in the long run by potentially helping you sell your home faster and for a higher price. Don’t underestimate the power of a well-staged home in today’s competitive real estate market.
Tip #1: Declutter
Before taking any photos or showing your house to potential buyers, make sure to declutter and remove any personal belongings or photos. This will allow buyers to envision themselves living in the space, rather than feeling like they are intruding on someone else’s home. A clutter-free home can help create a more welcoming atmosphere and make buyers feel more comfortable during showings.
Tip #2: Say Goodbye To All Personal Items
For a brief period, you should consider keeping personal items, such as pictures, awards, religious or political items, and bills out of sight. The idea is to make potential buyers feel relaxed and at ease while touring your home. To create an inviting environment, it is important to help them visualize themselves living in the space. It may be challenging for a buyer to picture themselves in your home when it is filled with your personal possessions. Furthermore, packing away unnecessary items and personal effects is helpful when it is time to move. This will make the process smoother and quicker.
Tip #3: Don’t Neglect the Outside Areas
For both photography and viewing purposes, you will want to spend some time fixing up the outside of your home. Don’t leave your cars in the driveway, instead park them down the street.
This will allow the focus to be on your home in the photos and will make people feel like they are pulling into their own driveway as opposed to someone else’s. You should also put away all personal items and kid stuff. They say people decide if buying is a possibility in only a matter of seconds.
This is why it pays to clean up the front yard, plant a few flowers and refresh the front porch. The backyard should also be clear of clutter, with a warm and inviting feel. People should want to spend their time there!
Tip # 4: Keep it Tidy… Like Really Tidy
You never really know how other people live. Keeping food out on the counter, the lid up on the toilet, or having cables running across your walls can be huge eyesores to certain people viewing your home. Think about how you would expect a hotel or Air B&B to look upon arrival… and strive for that.