Share
© Cavan Images - Cavan / Getty Images
Most home buyers shop for homes online and judge properties by the photographs before deciding whether to visit the properties in person. Yet, many home sellers don't make much effort to prepare for the photo shoot, according to a new study.
More than half of 310 professional real estate professional photographers recently surveyed say home sellers are unprepared for photos to be taken of their property when they arrive, according to a survey conducted by HomeJab, a photography and visual production service firm for real estate.
“Agents may be assuming their sellers know what they need to do to have their home ready for a photo shoot,” says Joe Jesuele, founder and CEO of HomeJab. “But photography occurs very early in the listing process, and sellers may not realize what professional photographers need to make the right impressions.”
What mistakes are homeowners making? They may forget to clean up and leave out personal items, such as cellphones, purses, and drinking glasses. “That can detract attention away from what is important,” says Jon Biddle, a professional real estate photographer in Philadelphia. “Agents could do more to make sure they’re ready.”
Find more tips to prepare your home sellers for a photo shoot:
Staging Tips: Styling for the Photo Shoot
Fix These Problems Before Taking Listing Photos
How to Prepare for the Photo Shoot: Handout for your customers
Top 10 Tips for Staging a Home for Photos
8 Camera Tips to Capture a Room’s Size