Staging your property for photographing (Interiors)

Staging your home for photographing is every bit as important as staging it for viewings. The photographs of your property are often the first thing any prospective purchaser will see, whether searching on-line, real estate agent leaflets, advertisements etc. Photographs will often be the deciding factor as whether people choose to view your property or not, so it is essential to get it right. Time taken in preparing your property for the photographs will assist the photographer in achieving a better result, which in turn will help generate more interest.

We have already covered staging the exterior of your property in an earlier blog, so this time we are taking a brief look at interiors. Some of these tips may seem obvious, but trust me they are often overlooked.

Cleaning.

Make sure the property has been properly cleaned throughout, including windows.
Removing all rubbish, waste bins and other unsightly objects
Hang up all clothing inside wardrobes or put away in drawers so they are out of sight.
Kitchens/Bathrooms/toilets need to be sparkling clean.

Clutter

This is often the most difficult thing for many property owners to come to terms with, as with any home, you will normally have years of memories on display in the form of photographs, gifts, ornaments and family memorabilia. But unfortunately they do not lend themselves for Real Estate Photography or for that matter viewings.

You need to be brave and have a thorough packing session, remember 'Least is Best' So pack up all non essential items that would be considered clutter and store them in a wardrobe/garage etc out of sight.

General

Ensure all lamps and lights are working and are on.
Turn off all computer screens and televisions.
Open all blinds, fly screens, persianas, curtains to allow natural light into the room. The photographer may adjust these depending on local conditions, such as direct sunlight.
Turn off all ceiling fans.

Kitchens

A key room for many purchasers, so extra attention needs to be paid here.

Please ensure all food stuffs, cleaning items, crockery, waste bins are removed from view. The sink is clear and any washing up put away.
You do not want the kitchen look empty, so a couple of items such as toaster, kettle or blender/food processor providing they look good are perfectly acceptable (with their electric cables tidied or hidden).
Fresh flowers or a bowl of fresh fruit will often add a nice colour contrast.
Remove items that have been stored above kitchen units as these often look unsightly in a photograph.

Lounge/Living Rooms

Another key room for purchasers. It is important that the room is not over crowded with furniture and looking cramped, as you will want to give the impression of space, allowing easy movement. If in doubt please ask us and we will be happy to help.

Dining Rooms

Ensure the dining table is clean and polished
Laying the table with an attractive place setting (if available) is often a nice touch or use a large centre piece such as flowers.
All the chairs should be evenly spaced and remove anything hanging on the backs of them.

Bedrooms

Quite often these rooms are forgotten about and no effort is made to make them look interesting and appealing. It is therefore difficult for purchasers to envisage living in that space. Investing some time and often a little money will pay dividends.

All beds should be properly made up, using quilts, decorative pillows and throws to make them look attractive. If possible quilt covers, sheets and pillow cases should be pressed
Remove any items stored under the bed and put them away out of sight.
Bedside lamps can look attractive
Remove all personal items and toiletries from bedside cabinets and dressers.
Remove any clothes hung on the backs of doors and store.
Linen and waste baskets should be removed.
A Large colourful painting above a bed often gives a nice contrast to plain bedding

Bathroom and Toilets

It is essential that these rooms are immaculately clean and sparkling. It is something that can easily put of prospective purchasers if these rooms look less than clean.