The Staging Diva’s Photography Tips for Real Estate Agents
The Staging Diva’s Photography Tips for Real Estate Agents
First impressions are especially important in a slow real estate market when there are so many homes competing for buyers’ attention, so real estate agents are more concerned than ever before that their listings’ photos stand out and attract showings. It's not only how well the shots are lit and whether they're straight and in focus, the content of the shots is critical too.
When you’re photographing a listing for MLS and your website, consider the following tips to ensure your photos make a good enough impression to have a prospective home buyer click your ‘contact’ link:
Foyer, kitchen and dining room shots: Make sure the entry way looks clear and that all shoes and coats are out of sight. Clear papers and other clutter from table tops and counters, ensure dishes are put away and remove rags and towels from faucets and ovens. Do a quick sweep of the front of the fridge. All those magnets and photos can be a real distraction in a kitchen photo. Any collections on top of the cabinets should be removed at least for the photo and preferably for the entire time the house is on the market. Last but not least, if your coat is hanging on the back of a chair, move it before taking your picture.
Living room shots: Turn off the television or this will end up being the focal point of your photograph! Ensure that art and lampshades are hanging straight and pick up any piles of books and magazines from the floor or coffee table. Remove family photos, clear clutter from the tops of mantles and pianos, pick up any toys and look at the room through your camera’s viewfinder before taking the photo. If you see anything overly distracting in the shot, remove it before you take the picture.
Bedroom shots: Make sure the beds are neatly made and there are no piles of laundry sitting around. Where there’s a dust ruffle on the bed, make sure the bottom edge of it meets, and is parallel with, the floor.
Bathroom shots: Don’t take a photo of a toilet with its lid open. Remove toothbrushes and other personal things from the counter. Make sure towels are hung neatly and don’t keep the shower curtain wide open. Also take care to not photograph your reflection in the bathroom mirror.
Other tips for better digital photos: Be careful that your finger isn’t covering the lens or flash and be sure to hold the camera straight. Try not to move after you’ve focused and don’t move when you’re shooting. Don’t shoot towards a window, or everything in the picture will be too dark. Instead of just pointing and shooting randomly, experiment by taking pictures at different resolutions, with and without flash and with lights on and off.
Adopting these tips should make a big difference in the quality of your photos. If you are reluctant to rearrange your client's possessions to get the best shots, consider having them present while you're shooting the rooms to be able to direct them to make the necessary changes for you.
To make an even bigger impact on buyers by increasing the emotional appeal of your listings, consider the services of a professional home stager. They will attend to all these details, arrange flowers for photography, and can even be present during your shoot to ensure everything is in perfect shape. Visit http://stagingdivadirectoryofhomestagers.com to find a home stager near you.
The Staging Divas Photography Tips for Real Estate Agents - To learn more about this author, visit Staging Diva's Website.
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According to a 2008 real estate trends report, more than 80% of all home buyers start their property search on the Internet. After narrowing down the tens of thousands of possibilities based on price range, location and number of rooms, the next thing prospective buyers look at are the photos.
First impressions are especially important in a slow real estate market when there are so many homes competing for buyers’ attention, so real estate agents are more concerned than ever before that their listings’ photos stand out and attract showings. It's not only how well the shots are lit and whether they're straight and in focus, the content of the shots is critical too.
When you’re photographing a listing for MLS and your website, consider the following tips to ensure your photos make a good enough impression to have a prospective home buyer click your ‘contact’ link:
Foyer, kitchen and dining room shots: Make sure the entry way looks clear and that all shoes and coats are out of sight. Clear papers and other clutter from table tops and counters, ensure dishes are put away and remove rags and towels from faucets and ovens. Do a quick sweep of the front of the fridge. All those magnets and photos can be a real distraction in a kitchen photo. Any collections on top of the cabinets should be removed at least for the photo and preferably for the entire time the house is on the market. Last but not least, if your coat is hanging on the back of a chair, move it before taking your picture.
Living room shots: Turn off the television or this will end up being the focal point of your photograph! Ensure that art and lampshades are hanging straight and pick up any piles of books and magazines from the floor or coffee table. Remove family photos, clear clutter from the tops of mantles and pianos, pick up any toys and look at the room through your camera’s viewfinder before taking the photo. If you see anything overly distracting in the shot, remove it before you take the picture.
Bedroom shots: Make sure the beds are neatly made and there are no piles of laundry sitting around. Where there’s a dust ruffle on the bed, make sure the bottom edge of it meets, and is parallel with, the floor.
Bathroom shots: Don’t take a photo of a toilet with its lid open. Remove toothbrushes and other personal things from the counter. Make sure towels are hung neatly and don’t keep the shower curtain wide open. Also take care to not photograph your reflection in the bathroom mirror.
Other tips for better digital photos: Be careful that your finger isn’t covering the lens or flash and be sure to hold the camera straight. Try not to move after you’ve focused and don’t move when you’re shooting. Don’t shoot towards a window, or everything in the picture will be too dark. Instead of just pointing and shooting randomly, experiment by taking pictures at different resolutions, with and without flash and with lights on and off.
Adopting these tips should make a big difference in the quality of your photos. If you are reluctant to rearrange your client's possessions to get the best shots, consider having them present while you're shooting the rooms to be able to direct them to make the necessary changes for you.
To make an even bigger impact on buyers by increasing the emotional appeal of your listings, consider the services of a professional home stager. They will attend to all these details, arrange flowers for photography, and can even be present during your shoot to ensure everything is in perfect shape. Visit http://stagingdivadirectoryofhomestagers.com to find a home stager near you.
The Staging Divas Photography Tips for Real Estate Agents - To learn more about this author, visit Staging Diva's Website.
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Staging DivaDebra Gould, aka The Staging Diva®, is President of Six Elements Inc., an internationally recognized home staging company. Inspired by many requests from aspiring home stagers wanting to start similar businesses, Gould created the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program. Gould has trained over 1000 Staging Diva Graduates worldwide to start staging businesses. Buying decorating and selling six of her own homes in four years lead to an interest in real estate staging which she turned into a career with the launch of sixelements.com in 2002. Since then she has staged hundreds of homes in addition to teaching home staging training. Gould is the author of several home staging resources including a series of popular ebooks made up of a Design Guide, Color Guide and Portfolio Guide. For more information about Debra Gould visit stagingdiva.com. - Visit Staging Diva's Website |
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David BarrDavid Barr is the President of Venture Opportunities, Inc. David has been a professional business broker/intermediary since 1980 focusing on General Business Brokerage and Mergers and Acquisitions representing client transaction value from $400,000 to $20,000,000. Mr. Barr has handled the sale of over four hundred and fifty companies. David earned a university degree from the State University of New York majoring in economics and business. David holds the Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary and the Certified Business Intermediary designations from the International Business Brokers Association. He is also a Senior Business Analyst and a Texas licensed Real Estate Agent. For more information about David and Venture Opportunities, visit www.bizdealmaker.com. - Visit David Barr's Website |
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Jay Kubassek(Jay's Full Bio: EvanCarmichael.com/jaykubassek) In five years, Canadian-born entrepreneur Jay Kubassek went from selling mufflers at a Midas franchise to revolutionizing Internet marketing with the 2004 launch of CarbonCopyPRO, a online marketing education company, now worth over $20 million with customers in over 160 countries.
As an independent film producer, his upstart film fund Aliquot Films is currently producing a films with Spike Lee and Abel Fererra (starring Ethan Hawke and Dennis Hopper.)
Jay's entrepreneurial spirit is irrepressible. He’s the owner of five companies, a professional speaker and trainer, international real estate developer/investor, extreme sport enthusiast and emerging philanthropist. Jay resides in NYC with his wife Jamie, son Milo and dog Cooper. Visit Jay's official website: www.JayKubassek.com - Visit Jay Kubassek's Website |
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George LudwigGeorge Ludwig is a recognized authority on sales strategy and peak performance psychology. An international speaker, trainer, and corporate consultant, he helps clients like Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Northwestern Mutual, CIGNA, and numerous others improve sales force effectiveness and performance. Though it's George's strategies and processes that help corporations increase productivity and performance, it's his tremendous energy and dynamism that spark the transformation. Again and again, clients remark on his amazing ability to unleash human capacity and inspire men and women to break out of their comfort zones. The result is a whole new type of salesperson. His customized presentations teach achievers to make stunning advances in their lives. From helping salespeople realize cherished dreams to helping corporations exponentially accelerate revenue streams, George Ludwig leaves audiences and individuals empowered, emboldened, and clamoring for more. George is the best-selling author of Power Selling: Seven Strategies for Cracking the Sales Code and Wise Moves: 60 Quick Tips to Improve Your Position in Life & Business. - Visit George Ludwig's Website |
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