With more buyers shopping for homes on the Web, photos and
virtual tours are a must. There are many things you can do make your home shine
on camera.
3105 Alsup Dr. |
1.
Understand the camera’s perspective. The camera’s eye is very different from the human eye. It
magnifies clutter and poor furniture arrangement. To make a home shine in a
virtual tour or video presentation, cater to the lens.
2. Make the
home “Q-tip clean.”
Because the camera magnifies grime, each room must be spotless. Don’t forget
floor coverings and walls; a discolored spot on the rug might be overlooked by
prospects during a regular home showing, but that stain becomes a focal point
for online viewers.
3. Pack up
the clutter. But
leave three items of varying heights on each surface. For example, on an end
table you can place a lamp (high), a small plant (medium), and a book (low).
4. Snap
pictures. This
will give you an idea of what the home will look like on camera. Closely
examine the photos and list changes that would improve each room’s appearance:
opening blinds to let in natural light, removing magnets from the refrigerator,
or taking down distracting art.
5. Pare down
furniture.
Identify one or two pieces of furniture that can be removed from each room to
make the space appear larger.
6.
Rearrange.
Spotlight the flow of a space by creating a focal point on the furthest wall
from the doorway and arranging the other pieces of furniture to make a triangle
shape. The focal point may be a bed in a bedroom or a china cabinet in a dining
room.
7.
Reaccessorize.
Include a healthy plant in every room; the camera loves green. Energize bland
decor by placing a bright vase on a mantle or draping an afghan over a couch.
8. Keep the
home in shape. You
want buyers who liked what they saw online to encounter the same home in
person.