If you’re planning to still sell your home during this shutdown period, we can easily say there’s never been a more crucial time to ensure you photos and home styling are on point.
Most property hunters start their property search online, and now, they could also be ending it there… It’s crucial that your listing photos spark their interest from the get-go.
An experienced real estate agent will help you determine the best aspects of your home to capture on camera, while an experienced real estate photographer (we always recommend using a professional) will have all the tools to ensure your photos are of the highest quality and show your home in its best light!
Below are our tips for a successful photoshoot.
Styling your kitchen and dining
The kitchen is one of the main hubs of a house, and it is a huge selling point for buyers. That’s why it’s important to really “sell” your kitchen through photographs.
Beyond a thorough clean of your kitchen, the styling should be well thought out. In photoshoots, we generally recommend keeping things simple and avoiding clichés like cheeseboards and two wine glasses perched on the bench. (That's for a Friday night in). Stick to a fresh bunch of flowers, or a bowl of fruit as a simple and effective way to add life to the space.
As for the dining table, we recommend staying away from dressing it as you would for Christmas day. Put your placemats and silverware back in the cupboard and if in doubt, go simple and classic again with a vase full of flowers in the centre .
Style your coffee table
Nothing on your coffee table? Style it! A neat stack of coffee table books, a candle or again, some nice flowers can make the room feel lived in and inviting.
Choose the right flowers
Consider the style and colour palette of your home, and base your flower choices around this. We recommend sticking to similar hues already present in the room, and avoid adding jarring colours, which may feel distracting in the photograph.
For example, if your kitchen has a white splashback, a coloured vase with some fresh white flowers is enough to brighten the space, without taking away from it.
Bathroom touches
Cost-effective and simple, new, fluffy towels are enough to brighten a bathroom and add a touch of luxury. We recommend purchasing a new set and only bringing them out for the photoshoot and home open inspections. White's a safe option but you may wish to add a bit of colour, it's up to your personal taste.
Keen to create an extra bit of elegance? Think, designer soaps, candles, or an white orchid on the vanity...
Tip * Two bathrooms to style? Don't purchase multiples of each luxe item, simply move them around depending on the bathroom being photographed.
Does your furniture fit the size of your room?
Big, clunky pieces of furniture tend to take up most of a photograph, making the space appear more cluttered than it actually is. We recommend culling large, unnecessary pieces such as big chests of drawers or dressers for the shoot and home opens if at all possible.
Cosy up the living room
Leather sofas can make a beautiful statement and they are certainly on trend at the moment, but if they are left undressed, they can come off as cold in photographs. We recommend styling with a textured throw blanket and cushions to make a space look like it’d be great to cosy up in.
Turn on lights, draw curtains
The lighting can make or break a photograph, so it is important to make sure every blind or window treatment is open at least partially, and that all lamps, pendants and down lights are switched on.
The property photographer should be aware of things like glare and such, so we recommend following their advice here.
Linen choices
Outdated linen choices in the bedroom can immediately downgrade the quality of a room. Your bedspread should stylish and most importantly, freshly washed (ironed if possible). Add some texture and style with a throw and cushions. You don’t have to go overboard with colours and patterns, neutral tones with a splash of colour works well for most spaces.
TIP * If your bedroom lacks natural light, opt for light-coloured linen (white is always a smart option), which will help to lift the entire space and make it feel fresh.
