My Real Estate Blog

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. In real estate, that picture's worth translates to dollars and then, if it's an excellent picture, you can add a few more zeros to that number. That's why getting the right photos of your home is critical.

Before having your home photographed or videotaped, you'll want to make sure that it's in the best possible shape.

Getting your home ready for a photo shoot is not quite the same as getting it ready to have dinner guests. Yes, there's the same cleaning rituals like dusting and picking up items lying around. But making a home picture perfect is about creating an atmosphere that's welcoming, interesting, and then capturing that with the lens.

Professional home photographers use the right equipment to get the job done. A wide angle lens (which, personally, I don't like) to make the home look larger and show off adjacent rooms in a single photo are one good method. Early morning and late afternoon photo shoots make use of the best lighting times in the day.

Let's start with empty rooms. Showing an empty house isn't ideal for in-person visits or pictures. You can't get a feel for how to use the space and when you see an empty room in a picture and it's hard to grasp its size. The Wall Street Journal suggests bringing in props such as furniture (even just a chair and small table) that will help give the viewer a sense of scale.

If at all possible, rent, borrow, or beg your friends for furniture to have at least a few objects in the room. You don't need as many pieces of furniture as you would have if you're living in the home, just some nice tables, lamps, and chairs to create a homey mood.

Kitchen comfort. Here's where you get to have some fun. Think of yourself as a set designer. Your job is to look closely at your kitchen and tuck away all the unnecessary objects. If you leave out an appliance (maybe a good-looking stainless steel one) hide the cord. The appliance isn't there for use–it's just a prop.

Now, add some other props–a basket of colorful fruit in a clear glass bowl (nothing too distracting). A plate of cheese and bread with a wine bottle nearby helps set a scene to make the viewer feel welcome.

Before you snap that exterior photo, put away those unsightly garbage cans, the seasonal decorations, and those "no soliciting" signs. Remember, you're making your home not only picture-perfect but model-home perfect too... and that could just be priceless.