Staging Your Home for Professional Pictures
https://petersonbuilders.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1-5421-E-Indian-Paint-Brush-Dr-1-1024x683.jpg 1024 683 pbimin pbimin https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/dc0ae875daf558ad82d069275ab15242?s=96&d=mm&r=gStaging Your Home for Professional Pictures
You’ve finished building your gorgeous home! Now it’s time for pictures. In today’s digital age, most people begin their search online. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the essentials of staging your home for professional photos, helping you showcase your property in its best light
Declutter and Depersonalize
The first and most crucial step in staging your home is decluttering. Clutter can distract buyers from the beauty of your home and make spaces feel smaller and less inviting. Start by removing excess items from countertops, tables, and other visible surfaces. This includes personal items like family photos, collectibles, and knick-knacks. The goal is to create a clean, streamlined look.
Remove personal items. Family photos, children’s artwork, and personal collections should be stored away. Buyers should be able to imagine their own lives in your home, which is harder to do when personal items are prominently displayed. Kitchen counters, bathroom vanities, and coffee tables should be mostly clear, save for a few strategically placed items. For example, a vase of fresh flowers or a bowl of fruit can add a touch of color and life without being overwhelming.
Cleaning
A clean home is essential for great photos. Dust, dirt, and grime are easily visible in high-resolution images, and they can make your home look neglected. Before your professional photographer arrives, deep clean every room. This includes:
Floors and Carpets: Vacuum carpets, sweep and mop hard floors, and consider steam-cleaning any high-traffic areas to remove stains and odors.
Windows and Mirrors: Clean all windows and mirrors to ensure they sparkle in photos. Natural light is your best friend in real estate photography, and clean windows will let in more light.
Kitchens and Bathrooms: These are two of the most critical rooms for buyers, so they need to be spotless. Clean all appliances, fixtures, countertops, and tiles.
Dusting: Dust all surfaces, including furniture, shelves, ceiling fans, and light fixtures. Even a small amount of dust can be glaring in a professional photo.
Maximize Natural Light
Natural light makes a space feel bright, airy, and welcoming. It also helps showcase the beauty landscapes here. Have your blinds and curtains open before the photographer comes, or they will do it. “Using natural light makes your photos feel genuine and relatable. Whether it’s the warm hug of a sunset or the soft glow on a cloudy day, these are feelings that artificial light struggles to copy. Natural light grabs the real feeling of the moment, making photos that people connect with.” (AAFT)
Focus on Key Rooms
While every room in your home should be staged for photos, certain rooms are more important than others in capturing buyers’ interest. Focus on staging these key areas: Living Room: Arrange furniture to create a conversational area and remove any oversized or unnecessary pieces that could make the space feel cramped. Kitchen: The kitchen is a significant for most home showcases, so make sure it looks its best. Clear off countertops, organize cabinets, and add a few decorative touches, like a bowl of fresh fruit or a vase of flowers. Master Bedroom: This room should feel like a relaxing retreat. Use neutral bedding, tidy nightstands, and minimize furniture to enhance the feeling of spaciousness. Bathrooms: Cleanliness is crucial in bathrooms. Clear off counters, hang fresh towels, and consider adding a few spa-like touches, such as a small plant or a neatly folded stack of white towels.
Don’t Forget Curb Appeal
The exterior of your home is just as important as the interior. The first photo people see online is often the front of the house, so it should look welcoming and well-maintained. Mow the Lawn and Trim Shrubs: A tidy yard makes elevates a home. Ensure the lawn is freshly mowed, shrubs are trimmed, and any fallen leaves or debris are cleared away.
Clean the Driveway and Walkways: This will just add a clean touch to your curb pictures.