Preparing Your Home for Listing photographs
Pictures are often the first impression that buyers have of your home, so it’s really important to get it right! A tidy and organized home can absolutely affect your bottom line - so let’s take a look at the simple things you can do to get your home ready for the spotlight!
Curb Appeal
Before a buyer even steps foot in your home, they’re forming an opinion of the house as they walk up to the front door. Mow the lawn, tidy up any garden areas, sweep the porch and make sure any burnt out lights are replaced. Small things can make a big impact - some flowers at the doorway, replacing a worn out doormat and sweeping away any cobwebs allow the buyer to focus on the great aspects of your home and not focus on the little things. Paying attention to these small details has a positive impact on a buyer. Subconsciously people may draw a connection that if minor items are overlooked, that must mean that bigger items are also ignored. So nip that negativity in the bud and create some good curb appeal!
Let There Be light
On the day of the photography/ videography, make sure to open up those blinds and curtains! Ensure that all the lights are on, including any furniture and appliance lighting, such as above the stove or built in cabinetry lights. Let the photographer worry about adjusting any of the lighting - just ensure everything is on.
Less is More
When deciding how to decorate your home, a good rule of thumb is to imagine your home as a tastefully decorated hotel. You want it to be inviting and stylish so that it visually appeals to a wide variety of tastes. When in doubt, remember that less is more and you can take this opportunity to get a head start on packing away some additional items that make your home uniquely yours.
Clutter
Probably the biggest impact on photography is getting rid of all the clutter! Paperwork on the dining table, magazines strewn across the coffee table, appliances on the kitchen counter and your well-stocked collection of lotions and creams in the bathroom all create visual chaos. Tuck appliances into cupboards, store all the random bills and paperwork into a drawer and place any random counter items in the closets or cupboards. Even having a junk basket on top of your fridge is a great way to hide the day to day clutter that we somehow seem to be surrounded by. Just make sure the basket isn’t overflowing! If you’re really on top of things, you’ll be so organized that a junk basket won’t even be necessary!
Laundry Room and Large Closets
It might not seem like these areas of your home matter much when it comes to selling your home, but they are important. Create a quick and easy organized look with baskets to hold all of the different laundry items such as dryer balls, fabric softeners and detergents. This simple fix can have a massive impact. When it comes to closets, unless you have a massive room-sized closet (lucky you!), you’ll want to create the appearance of ample storage in these spaces. Pack away off-season items and take a few minutes to organize the remaining pieces so everything looks neat and tidy.
As you go through your house to tidy up and organize, stand in the doorway of each room and take notice of anything that seems out of place. Make sure there isn’t anything sticking out from under the furniture, especially beds! If you can, tuck away any pet items such as litter boxes, beds and cat scratchers, even if they are removed for the photo and then put right back (your agent can help with this!).
It might seem like a ton of work to do just for some pictures, but studies have found that well organized homes sell quicker and for more money, so a little hard work now will pay off in the long run!
Melanie McConnell is a professional organizer and the owner of Mello Spaces. She helps busy professionals and parents, in the Lower Mainland, get organized. Check out her website www.mellospaces.com and follow her on Instagram: @mellospaces
Leah Chandler is a real estate agent with RE/MAX Colonial Pacific Realty in South Surrey. She helps both buyers and sellers with their residential and commercial real estate needs in the Southern Fraser Valley (and beyond!). Check out her website www.leahchandler.ca and follow her on Instagram: @leahchandler.realestate