HOW TO
With the majority of buyers shopping for homes online, high-resolution slide shows and video tours are a must. Here’s how to make your home shine on camera.
Understand
the camera’s perspective.
The
camera’s eye is different from the human eye. It magnifies clutter and poor
furniture arrangement so that even a home that feels comfortable in person can
look jumbled online.
Make
it spotless.
Cameras also tend to magnify grime. Don’t forget floor coverings and walls; a
spot on a rug might be overlooked during a regular home showing, but it could
become a focal point online.
Know
what to leave.
You want to avoid clutter, but try to have three items of varying heights on
each surface. On an end table you can place a tall lamp (high), a small plant
(medium), and a book (low).
Snap
practice pictures with your own camera.
This will give you an idea of what the home will look like on camera before the
photographer shows up. Examine the photos and make changes to improve each
room’s appearance, such as opening blinds to let in natural light, removing
magnets from the refrigerator, or taking down distracting art.
Pare
down.
Removing one or two pieces of furniture from each room, even if just for the
shoot, can make your space appear larger on screen.
Rearrange.
Spotlight the flow of your space by creating a focal point on the furthest wall
from the doorway and arranging the other pieces of furniture to make a triangle
shape. The focal point may be a bed in a bedroom or a china cabinet in a dining
room.
Accessorize.
Include a healthy plant in every room; the camera loves greenery. Energize bland decor by placing a bright vase on a mantle or draping an afghan over a couch.
Keep the home in shape.
Buyers who liked what they saw online expect to encounter the same home in person.