"Picture This: Six Property Photo Tips To Attract Buyers"
   By Linde Hyder

A picture tells a thousand words. It can also help entice a thousand buyers!

Way back when selling a home used to be all about "curb appeal," or the first impression a property gives potential buyers when they pull up in front. If the front’s not appealing, chances are they won’t even set foot since, thereby decreasing the chances of a sale.

Now that 84 percent of buyers are starting their search online, the attractiveness of the picture is equally important to creating that same curb appeal. Nearly 25 percent of home buyers who used the Internet last year to search for a home reported that the Internet is where they first found the property they purchased, according to a National Association of Realtors survey.

A listing posted without a photo is likely to be ignored, as are properties with poor pictures. Follow these six tips to make sure your property pics ‘pop’.

1. Lighten up. When photographing the exterior, shoot mid-day when the sun is shining and the sky is blue. Interior shots require good lighting so turn on all the lights and use a flash to fill in any shadows and make the room look brighter.

2. The more the merrier. To make sure you pique a buyer’s interest include more photos. What really makes this home stand out? Is it the back yard, home theater, family room? Is it the spectacular view of the beach, lake or golf course? Illustrate a property’s best features online with more photos.

3. Clean up your act. Cluttered counter tops, dirty dishes, messy rooms, and a myriad of refrigerator magnets are distractions and won’t get your property a second look from buyers. Outside, put away garbage cans and remove vehicles from the driveway. Avoid telephone poles, wires and the neighbors’ property when shooting. Think about adding some colorful potted flowers for added color in the front.

4. Use a pro. Special homes deserve special treatment. If you’re marketing a luxury home hire a professional to capture its ‘star’ qualities. If the property is expansive, or if too many trees hinder a clear shot, consider an aerial photographer. A few hundred dollars on quality, professional photography are well worth the investment when it brings about a sale.

5. Only the best will do. Using your cell phone as a camera doesn’t count when it comes to quality photographs. The best way to is using a camera with a wide-angle lens, however a typical point and shoot digital camera will also suffice. To ensure sharpness consider placing the digital camera on a tripod or some other type of steady ground.

Set the camera on its highest resolution. You may have other uses besides the web such as brochures, postcards and other printed materials. If you decide to just use the photos online, you can always decrease the resolution. Never use fewer than 72 dots per inch for online photos.

6. Edit makes perfect. You can make a shot more attractive by using basic photo-editing software. Crop out ceilings, foreground-such as the street if shooting from across the way-or unnecessary background, and adjust the brightness or contrast. You can find a number of free Web sites that make photo editing easier.


Linde Hyder is an independent Creative Consultant with over 26 years experience,
with some of the nations largest real estate companies. Linde is owner of POP Creative,
a Marketing and PR firm.

"...selling a home used to be about curb appeal..."

"...84 percent of (home) buyers are starting their search online..."

"A listing posted without a photo is likely to be ignored, as are properties with poor pictures."

"To make sure you pique a buyer’s interest include more photos."