Photos! Photos! Photos! Are crucial to attracting buyers to your home and getting them in the door. Since all of our listings are syndicated to numerous websites it is essential that your first showing (your online photos) are done right the first time. Here are some tips for sellers to prepare your home for an excellent photography appointment.
~ Stay out of the shots, and Fido too ~
Family photos on the fridge, stairwell and mantlepiece are necessary to making your house feel like home - YOUR home. However, potential buyers need to be able to picture themselves in the space, so consider removing some or all of these personal items. And while photos are being enjoy a nice relaxing walk with the dog (or cat) so the photographer can do their work uninterrupted.
~ Arrange furniture for guests ~
We mean a couple of different things here but the main idea is that simplicity is the heart of elegance. Remove excess furniture and decoration so that rooms feel more open, just like you would for a party. Set out your patio furniture, create separate sitting areas that feel inviting and intimate (but not cramped). Here is a nice example of the warmth that a patio set can bring. 47 Asack Drive in South Dennis has a beautiful deck that is even more appealing because your imagination inserts corn on the cob and iced tea.
~ Declutter ~
And don't take this the wrong way, we all live busy lives and have that pile of unread magazines on the coffee table. But it doesn't look any nicer if you just straighten up the edges, why not get rid of it completely? Reduction is the most important point here; counter tops, coat racks, end tables, and refrigerators should all be clean and empty. For a nice touch consider a modest centerpiece as an accent though. Here is a great example of decluttering at a water view listing, 13 Beachwood Road in Yarmouth. The shelves are clean and filled with only one accent piece, coat rack is empty and the beds are made without a pile of stuffed animals.
Check out some of our other blogs on selling your home here and, as always, give the Chatelains a call for all of your buying and selling needs.