Photography – Our top tips on how to get your house ready for photographs

I’m about to put my house on the market. What should I do to make it look it best in the photographs?

Even if you don’t go for the more exotic options like video clips or virtual tours, buyers these days expect to see a whole array of photographs, illustrating just about every conceivable aspect of a property. But quantity isn’t everything. If the pictures are badly composed, ill-lit, or just plain uninspiring, a lot of buyers will simply switch off and move to the next property.

Orchards Estates have a fully qualified photographer and videographer who is an expert in real-estate imagery and will help you frame your property correctly for sale.  Obviously, anything you can do prior to his visit will save time and ensure the best results for all.  Here are our top tips for getting your house ready for photographs:

•             Outside, make sure the garden looks well-tended and clear of anything unsightly, including rubbish bins. If there is room for parking directly in front of the property, keep the space free of vehicles for the duration of the ‘shoot’.  If you have animals, rabbits etc. try and keep them out of sight, this will make your garden and outdoor space look bigger and allow your buyer to visualise their own stuff in place.

•             In reception rooms, make sure cushions are plumped up; dining tables either laid for a formal meal or completely clear; children’s toys or discarded magazines tidied away, etc. Where possible, remove surplus pieces of furniture, ornaments or over-exuberant houseplants, in order to help create a feeling of space.

•             As far as possible, try to ensure that your kitchen looks as pristine as it did the day it was installed – apart perhaps from an artfully-arranged bowl of fruit. Do the washing up and put everything away or load the dishwasher so all the dishes are out of sight and make sure you mop the floors to get rid of any marks, stains or dull spots.

•             Make sure all beds are properly made and no discarded shoes or other items of clothing are lying around, no-one wants to see your washing hanging on radiators or piled up on the bed!

•             Fold bathroom towels neatly on their rails and remove any unsightly collections of shampoo bottles, etc. And remember the number one rule - toilet seats should always be down!

•             And finally, check that all the lights work. They may be needed since it is often better to photograph a room with the curtains or blinds closed in order to give more even illumination and avoid too great a contrast with the bright daylight outside.

The key is tidiness. So, spending a few minutes prior to our visit is sure to help us get the best images for your property.  When Orchards Estates list your property our agents will point out any areas that need specific attention, please don’t be offended by this and remember that our goal is the same as yours – to sell your property as quickly as possible whilst ensuring the best price for you.

If you are unhappy with how your agent has made your property look, give us a call at Orchards Estates and speak to one of our experts, we are happy to help.