Selling a home isn’t all that complicated. As long as you run through a basic checklist of things to do, most homes will basically sell themselves. That checklist does, however, include staging the home correctly with photography in mind. This might sound simple but it entails a lot more than just walking around the property and taking a few snapshots with your phone. Great photos are proven to sell a home about 32% faster than bad ones, so let’s go over a few ways that you can capitalize on this competitive advantage.
Prepare the Front Yard
Considering the front yard is the first thing people will see when pulling up to your house, it's important to make a good first impression. Mow the lawn, prune the trees, trim the shrubs, liven up the garden if there is one, mend the fences, and remove all the dead leaves. You can also improve appearances by planting new flowers and painting garden poles as well as the mailbox. Remove all clutter and vehicles as well before you take photos.
Prepare the Backyard
The backyard cleanup should be about the same as the front yard cleanup. If you have patio furniture, tidy it up and switch out old pillows for new ones. Remove all personal belongings and clean your pool if you have one. Remember to make your house appear as if nobody lives in it, so the buyer can imagine his or herself and their own belongings in your home. Turn on water features like fountains as well before taking photos.
Clean the inside
This will be the most time-consuming part of your photography staging efforts and will include de-cluttering, sweeping, vacuuming, and removing all personal items. Family photos, calendars, notes, small appliances, garbage cans, and more should all be removed from sight so that prospective buyers have the freedom to envision their own belongings there.
Dust your home, straighten out the duvet, clean concrete and brick, and leave out only a small handful of neutral artwork or decorations if you must. Make the beds in every room, close all closet doors, straighten up your dinner table and chairs, and tuck away all laundry.
