Before The Photos Are Taken and The House Is Shown…

Call a professional. For the maximum benefits of staging and photography, you will want to hire professionals. This will most likely be two different people. A photographer might not be great at accessorizing or furniture placement. Whereas a professional stager might not know how to utilize the light or take photos to maximize a room’s space in a photo. It is the combination of these two professionals that will bring your property the visual draw your house deserves.

As They Say, A Picture Says A Thousand Words…

Great photography is paramount when listing your house on the MLS and other platforms. We have all seen the photos. Those listings where you say, I can’t BELIEVE they used that shot! Some people take photos themselves, while others rely on their agent.

Some agents have a good eye, however, nothing can compete with hiring a professional photographer. They will have all kinds of tricks, allowing them to get the absolute BEST photos of your house. Tripods, wide angle lenses and natural lighting are just a few must-haves.

Hiring a professional will easily pay for itself. Keep in mind, a photographer is NOT a stager. They are not there to clean up or position items throughout your home. They are there to capture the best photos of what “is”.

Get it “Magazine Pretty” With a Professional Stager

Professional staging is still largely seen as a “boutique” service, or something only used by people in big cities. But the fact is, staging has a HUGE impact on your ability to successfully sell your home.

People largely buy based on emotion. You will want to create a neutral environment, yet still, allow the viewer to feel as if they are in their own home. Some stagers will refurnish and decorate a whole house, however, it is much more common to focus on a couple main rooms.

Depending on what you already have, a stager can bring in many pieces or simply replace and repurpose items you already have to be more aesthetically pleasing. The ultimate goal of staging is to maximize the perceived value of the home.

Tip #1: Declutter

Don’t take any photos or show your house to any buyer until all of the clutter has been removed. Buyers do not want to see your personal possessions or photos while touring your house. It can make people feel intrusive and subconsciously make them want to leave. This isn’t how you want them to feel!

Tip #2: Say Goodbye To All Personal Items

Well for a little while anyway. Putting away things like photos, awards, bills as well as religious and political items will make people feel more comfortable. Your goal is to make people feel as if they could live there. They need to be able to easily imagine themselves in the space, and that can prove difficult when looking at a wall of your family photos. In addition, packing up unnecessary items and personal effects will help when the moving day arrives.

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.