Our 6 top tips to help your photos stand out

If you want property photos that increase your viewing numbers, then read on… 

Good property photographs sell houses; it’s that simple.  A good set of photos will lead to increased interest in your property, more viewings and a higher chance of a sale at the right price.

Obviously, we understand that it’s ultimately the job of your property photographer to ensure your house looks fabulous, but there are most definitely some things you can do yourself to ensure that they get the best shots possible.

Your main house photograph, in particular, is the one that will grab the attention of your potential buyers.  Think about it… they are scanning possibly hundreds of online adverts, looking for something special that will make them click the ‘more details’ button.  If your front picture doesn’t have the ‘wow’ factor, they will pass you by.

We have compiled a list of what we consider to be the most important things you can do to ensure your photographs attract those buyers: –

1. Ensure exterior photographs are taken on a nice day. As we all know, it’s impossible to predict our wonderful British weather, and you may be unlucky and find that your photographer is booked on what turns out to be the dullest and greyest day of the year.  Don’t despair – any good estate agent will happily arrange for the photographer to pop round on a sunny day and re-take the exterior shots.  The most important time for marketing your property is the first 3 weeks when your house will generate around 70% of its interest, so it’s vital that your main photo is nothing short of fabulous.

2. Prepare your kitchen. The kitchen shots are probably the next most significant photo of your home, as most people rank the kitchen as the most important room of the house.

Here is a short list of how you can help the photographer: Pack away clutter, make sure appliances are sparkling clean (this will show on photos), clear the sink and drainer, take all kids’ drawings down, remove your collection of fridge magnets, polish chrome electricals, try to stick to a colour scheme and pack away anything that doesn’t match, and finally, put a bunch of fresh flowers on the table or windowsill.  Fresh flowers always look amazing in house photography.

If you have under-cupboard lights, make sure they are switched on, even in the daytime.  Lighting will add warmth and depth to the images – it will also show up your polished sparkling surfaces.

If you have pets, hide the evidence such as pet bowls, beds and the pets themselves as no one wants to see this in photos.

3. Make your bathroom sparkle! Before the photographer arrives, polish any chrome taps or shower heads, clean any glass shower screens and polish any mirrors. Pack away any shampoo bottles, conditioners, razors, creams, extra toilet rolls, magazines and anything personal that might be cluttering up the room.  Minimalism is the key when preparing your bathroom for photographs so the less that is visible, the better.  Think along the lines of a hotel bathroom and you won’t go far wrong.  Put out some fresh new towels and again, a bunch of fresh flowers or a leafy green plant to finish the look.

4. Airy fresh bedrooms. Washed and freshly ironed bedding will look neat and crisp on a photo.  It’s probably best to avoid really brightly coloured or heavily patterned bedding unless the rest of the room is minimal and plain.  Again, tidy anything personal away – the only things that should be visible on your bedside table are a light and a clock.  Hide away any personal photographs, books, clothes, clutter on surfaces, perfumes, and shoes.  Think ‘hotel room’ –  minimal, clean and fresh, and don’t forget that bunch of flowers on the windowsill!

5. Charming and comfortable living room. Your living room should ideally have an ambiance of relaxation, style and comfort.  If necessary, re-position the furniture to maximise the visual impact, for example, arrange sofas and chairs around an attractive fireplace rather than a huge TV.  Look at the room from different angles and check it will look great on a photo.  Polish your coffee table and place a couple of ‘style’ magazines and, you guessed it, a bunch of flowers on it to finish the look.  If your living room is full of family photos, pack them away; your buyer needs to be able to picture themselves relaxing and feeling at home here.

6. A fabulous entrance hall. Your entrance hall, however big or small, can be made to look like a welcoming and useful area. If you have too many coats hanging up, hide a few of them somewhere out of sight; you don’t want to portray a lack of storage space in your photos.  Tidy away shoes, umbrellas and anything else that makes your hallway seem disordered.  If you have a lamp, turn it on to add warmth to the photos.

Putting in a bit of effort to prepare your rooms for photographs will pay dividends.  Remember…

Fab photos  =  more clicks  =  more viewings  =  quicker sale! 

We would love to hear your thoughts on this article, or indeed any of our other articles.  If you would like any further advice or help with preparing for the photographer’s visit, please give us a call on 01326 218427 or send us an email at  hello@digs-property.co.uk.  Alternatively, drop into our office at any time for a chat – we’d love to hear from you.