3…2…1…. Gone
The Importance of Pictures

It’s now a commonly known fact that 90% of home buyers start their search on the internet. The lesser known fact is that when someone is looking at homes on the internet, you’ve got about 3 seconds to catch their attention before they move on to the next home.

This is why the first picture shown on the internet is one that tells a story. If you have a front on shot of your home that makes it look like 100 other homes then you’ve lost a potential buyer in the first three seconds.

Look at the picture at the top of this post. You see a nice waterfront home with fabulous views on good boatable water. It tells a story and sets itself apart from other homes.

Now that you’ve got them past the first picture, lets move to the inside because these have to tell stories as well.

Wow! Look at this view from the living room. It looks out over a pool and onto the waterway. Can you see yourself relaxing there? That’s the idea. Subsequent pictures need to tell similar stories but so many realtors fail on some basic points.

Get rid of Clutter
When photographing kitchens or bathrooms get things off the counters. People want to see space, not your toaster oven, blender or other things. Clean, open space is always better.

Turn on Lights and Open Drapery
People want bright and light not dark and dreary. I use an overlay technique when taking these shots so that the rooms look light and you can still the exterior views. This is especially helpful if you have water or pool views from the rooms you are photographing. It looks much better then a bright room with a washed out view through the windows.

Don’t photograph personal items
I have seen pictures of walls with personal pictures on them. Not only should they not be photographed they should be taken down completely. People need to visualize their own pictures on the wall. Your pictures are only a distraction and need to go.

No photos of family the pets
Get Junior and Fido out of the picture before it’s taken. This may sound silly, but the pictures are out there and it’s just another distraction

Consider Professional Photography
I take pretty decent photos with my $250 Nikon but they still can’t compare with a professional who has 4 or 5 times that invested in their equipment. You should be able to find a good photographer who will come and do your home for under $350. It’s money well spent.

We all know the old cliche a picture is worth a thousand words. In this case good photography can be the difference between selling and not selling your home.