Take better real estate photos

With so many potential clients browsing the web for their new homes, you know the importance of good real estate photos.

According to Point2.com, a listing with between 10 and 15 photos has the best chance of generating leads. But you need good photographers to attract the attention of potential buyers. Point2.com offers a few tips to making your photography stand out- and sell houses.

1. Plan Your Shots
Before the camera starts clicking away, create a shot list to organize your shoot, gain efficiency and make sure you don’t miss important photos. No one likes scheduling a reshoot because they forgot to take a picture of the laundry room.

Start your list by writing down every room of the house, as well as including exterior shots of the front and back of the property. Then round out your list by including features you plan on emphasizing in the listing description. Be sure to print your list and bring it with you the day of, so you can check things off as you go.

2. Don’t Be Scared to Move the Furniture
Often, you’ll want to take a step back so you can get a better angle and show more of the room. But there’s a couch in the way. So what should you do? Move the couch. Agents and photographers often forget that furniture can be moved. You may not want to inconvenience the owner by moving their stuff, but we guarantee they won’t mind if it means getting a quicker or higher offer. Just be sure to put whatever you move back before you leave.

3. Check the Details
Stop. Don’t push that shutter-release button until you have given the room a thorough once over. Here are some commonly overlooked things to check for:

• Is the toilet lid up?
• Are the cabinets and drawers closed all the way?
• Are the TV and computer monitor off?
• Are pillows and blankets straightened?
• Can you remove any additional clutter from counters or table tops?
• Can you put away any seasonal items that might cause your photos to appear dated?

4. Avoid Shooting Blank Walls
Don’t laugh… this happens all the time. How many photos have you seen on the MLS of a blank wall, corner or floor? No matter what you are trying to show potential buyers, we guarantee you can find a more visually interesting way to do it.

5. Watch Out for Reflections
Vampires don’t have reflections. But Realtors® do. While we’re happy not to have anything in common with those blood-sucking creatures of the night, having a reflection can be tricky when shooting listing photos. Be careful to keep yourself from showing up in mirrors, windows or shiny appliances.