Selling Your Home … with Photos If you’re like most people, you may not plan on selling your current home, but you probably will. And you’ll probably use the services of a licensed real estate agent to do so. In turn, he’ll need some top-quality photos of your home for his listing book and to pass out to prospective buyers. Rather than let your Realtor do all the work and run the risk of ending up with a boring, mundane, possibly even out-of-focus shot, why not take your own pictures of your home? After all, you know its best features better than anyone does. Begin by selecting the time of day—just after the sun rises or before it sets is usually best. Start with a morning shot. Does the low angle of the sun illuminate the front of the house (the first thing a prospective buyer sees)? If not, try waiting until just before sunset and check again. Look for strong, directional lighting with just enough shadows to lend depth, or "modeling," to the home. Take several frames from different angles. Cross the street, if necessary, to capture the home in its setting. Or get up close to eliminate distracting clutter, like the neighbors’ junk cars parked a stone’s throw from your front doorstep. Then repeat the process with the sides and the back of your home. Don’t forget to catch special features such as decks, flower beds, pool, or patio. Have several sets of prints made in processing for your Realtor to hand out at the showings. In that way, the buyers will be sure to remember exactly which house was yours. |