Simple Photography Advice for Investment Property Listings

Traditional marketing and open houses are still great ways to get house hunters excited about a property, but having beautiful online listings is just as important. That’s because homebuyers almost always start researching online. Properties showcased with stunning imagery will stand apart from the rest of the competition and capture the attention of more homebuyers.

So you finally fixed up the house you want to flip, and you are preparing to list it yourself. You want good exposure and a quick turnaround time to sell your house quickly to maximize profit . If hiring a professional photographer isn’t part of the plan, see below tips on photographing the home yourself.

Tools and Resolution

A top-of-the-line camera and cutting-edge equipment aren't necessary to take good pictures of a property, but you will want to use something other than your smartphone. A digital camera with at least 12-megapixels is worth the spend, even for small budgets. A tripod is essential for eliminating the unsteady hand and reducing blur. If you don't want to buy a new camera, consider hiring a photographer intern who wants to build up his/her portfolio.

Get Focused

For real estate pictures, the general goal should be to enhance what’s already great and make what’s ugly more appealing. Are you trying to emphasize ambiance or architectural design? Do you want to appeal to families or working professionals? Try to understand the needs and desires of your target audience and compose photographs accordingly.

Get Inspired

Research and look at other listings in your area. What do you like about them and what do you dislike? What look and feel are you going for? Also, pay attention to what doesn’t work. Look at the unappealing listings and try not to copy those.

Staging Factors

Most of the time, there is no way to photograph a whole room in one picture, so choose the most exciting features to focus on. Try to rearrange furniture and give the area a deep clean. It’s ok to list a property without furniture but keep in mind buyers are interested in a home, not a building. For a bare kitchen, you might want to place flowers on the countertop for a cozy feel.

Lighting and Color Matters

Natural light and space are two qualities homebuyers are almost always looking for. Big windows, high ceilings, and bright walls naturally help. For indoor shots that don't have those, make sure to turn on all of the lights in the house and open curtains. Plan to take pictures when it’s sunny to get the best natural lighting.

Neutral colors are the best for open houses because they appeal to a broad mix of buyers. With photography, however, you can be more creative with the occasional bright color or two to make your listing pop when viewing online.

Good luck with listing and sale of your investment property!