Preparing Your Home for Real Estate Photos and Viewing | Harveys Papakura Homeowner Real Estate Photoshoot Guide
Harveys Papakura Real Estate Photography
Looking to maximize your Auckland real estate listing value?
Your house will probably be one of the most expensive items you'll ever sell, so it makes sense to put in a bit of hard work to make sure you get as high a price as you can out of it.
With several years and hundreds of houses photographed, listed, and sold, we’ve got some tips for the the private homeowner (you!) to make your home look professionally staged with just some simple changes at home.
Before you start your professional real estate photography shoot, here's a couple of things to look out for when preparing your home for photography and viewing so that you can maximize your property's full potential.
Real Estate Kitchens - How to Make Yours Real Estate Picture-Perfect
Washed dishes and drying racks should be put away so that it makes the kitchen look clean and ready for the next meal.
Small appliances should be put away where possible such as toasters, coffee maker, rice cooker, etc. Having one or two is fine but more than that can make the kitchen look cluttered.
A small plate/bowl of fruit at the end of the kitchen bench could help spruce the look up.
Remove all fridge magnets.
Sprucing Up Your Bathroom & Toilet
Put away any shampoos, conditioners, body wash and pretty much any soap or bottles that might be in the shower.
Remove anything from the basin/vanity (such as toothbrushes, face creams, etc.) save for a bottle of handwash soap.
If the flooring is nice and look quite well maintained, remove any mats to show it off.
Remove everything from the toilet such as spare toilet rolls, toilet brush, etc.
A small plant on the windowsill can help bring a bit of colour and life.
Interior Lighting
Make sure they're all working beforehand and have them turned on. Including any wall or lamp lights
Personal Photos & Wall Decorations
As the photos will be displaced online and print, it would be best to remove any photographs on display. While we're able to blur out faces, this won't look as good as a a clean wall would.
What to do about my cloths & towels?
Store all cloths and towels in closets/drawers and avoid hanging any on doors or furniture, including large coats next to front doors is possible.
Store all shoes in closets.
Pets
Remove all pet items such as food/water bowls or toys and stands when possible.
Guide to the Perfect Real Estate Listing Bedroom
Make the beds. Here's a quick 2 minute video to help with that.
Clearing out the small things such as bits and pieces that might be on the nightstand or the drawers. Leaving only items that have a decorative purpose. This will help the room appear tidier welcoming.
How to Position Your Extra Furniture & Other Clutter
Having the right furniture will help bring out the best of a room but having too many will appear as clutter. It would also make the room appear smaller as it takes up floorspace. These could be stored in a garage if available. But of course this is just a guideline and each property is different, if you're scratching your head and at a lost, feel free to get in touch with an interior designer or ask us for a recommendation.
Things to consider storing depending on how large the room is:
Additional couches.
Lazy boy.
Chairs that are just by themselves.
Foldable Trestle Tables.
Things we recommend storing:
Heaters, air purifier, etc.
Bean Bags.
Just leaving 1 bed per room or 2 singles if the room is large enough and not in any other rooms.
Any lone mattresses.
Floormats & Runners unless they're there for a reason (stains/rips/etc.) as this will make the room appear larger and more open. Rugs are fine if they fit the décor but our photographer may move them if need.
Smaller loose items such as remote controllers, gaming consoles (tucked away nicely in the cabinet), toys, bottled water, food, boxes and bags, etc.
Cleaning up Your Garden for Real Estate Photos
Super important as this is the first impression your property will make to the potential buyer and sets the tone for the rest of the viewing.
Having the lawn mowed and leaf racked will go a long way to making sure the garden looks tidy.
Clear out any large debris.
Each garden will be different and will therefore require different advice, if you do struggle and are second guessing yourself, the best thing to do is to get in touch with an expert landscaper. If you don't know one, let us know and we'll put you in touch with someone we trust.
If your decks or outdoor furniture have seen better days, a new coat of paint or even just a good stain goes a long way to making everything look fresh.
Take off barbecue/outdoor cooker covers as to give a more inviting summer feel.
Open up any outdoor patio umbrellas.
Showing off the Best of Your Home Driveway
Park all cars on the road as having a clear shot of the pavement and driveway will help make the property appear larger.
Waterblasting or washing any stains such as oil stains before the shoot will give the photos and the property a cleaner look.