One essential part of the home selling process is how you advertise your property. Having quality photos can make or break the first perception potential homebuyers have of your property, so avoiding a few rookie mistakes can help you maintain the quality of your listing photos.
Not taking enough photos
In the age of digital photography, you can never take too many pictures. Try to experiment with different lighting, angles and setups, and don’t shy away from taking as many photos as necessary to get the perfect shots, showcasing your beautiful property.
Avoid close-ups
Your home should be spotlessly clean and tidy when taking photos; however, you don’t have to get a shot of every small nook and cranny. Instead, consider taking wide shots, which can help your home appear spacious and more welcoming.
Be mindful of mirror reflections & other distractions
Even the best shot in the world can be ruined when unplanned objects or reflections of shadows appear of the photographer. These things can distract your audience from the focus of the photo, your home. Plan your angles so you don’t get any flashes, glare or reflections in your photographs.
It’s best to take your pets out of the room or area before you start shooting photos. Remember, potential home buyers may not love your cat or dog in the same way you do.
Not using time of day to your advantage
The different (or lack) of lighting your home receives throughout the day can make or break your photos. Consider taking photos of your home at midday, when there are the least number of shadows present.
Then, take some photos at golden hour (just before the sun sets) to capture warmer tones. Finally, right after dusk, turn the lights on inside your home and take some shots from outside to give the illusion of a warm, cozy place where the light are always on.
By being dynamic, creative and open to different perspectives, your listing photos can pop wonderfully and showcase your home with style.
About the Author
Kyung Kim
Hi, I'm Kyung Kim. I immigrated from South Korea to the United States in 1968 when I was 7 years old. I have seen my mom struggle with the English language and work hard to raise her four kids by herself. Still to this day, I don't know how she pulled it off, but she bought her first home in 1979 for $70,000 and because of that decision, she was able to live without worrying about her financial future. I want that for everyone, to feel the pride of home ownership and to build their financial wealth using real estate as part of their financial portfolio. I feel so blessed to play a small role in helping others reach this goal.
I live in Beaverton with my husband, Richard. My mom, who lived with us for several years, passed away in our home in February 2022. Her first home purchase in 1979 made it possible for her to live to the very end, without worrying about her finances. As of August 2022 with a little downpayment assistance, our four children own their own homes. Being in real estate, I quickly realized that if they didn't buy now, they may be priced out of the market in the future. Whether that would have been the case, we will never know, but what we do know is that they are all realizing some good, healthy appreciation in their home values.
As passionate as I am about people owning their homes, I'm also passionate about giving back to our community. I support Compassion First, a non-profit organization that provides aftercare for sex trafficked girls in Indonesia. My husband and I also feel called to financially support social injustice organizations.
I'd love to assist you. Whether you're in the research phase at the beginning of your real estate search or you know exactly what you're looking for, you'll benefit from having a real estate professional by your side. I'd be honored to put my real estate experience to work for you.
