It can be a nerve wracking thought letting a professional photographer in to your home for those all important photos. However, there really isn't that much to worry about.
Firstly Don't Worry! I've pretty much seen it all in the 1000's of houses I've shot over the years. There isn't a house where we haven't had to move something, hide something. purposely not photograph something. If you have loads of extra stuff and have a garage, pile it all in there. I may need to measure it for your floorplan design but it usually won't be photographed.
Declutter. Hide as much clutter as you can. Clear off that big pile of post, the kids stuff that just lives there. The 27 half empty shampoo bottles can be hidden in the airing cupboard. The big pile of washing can live in the car for half an hour. There are lots of ways to hide stuff that will make you home look tidier, larger and more appealing.
Hide Those Cables! There are 2 reasons for this. Firstly it looks tidier and secondly it can give the impression that your house is seriously lacking in sockets. Something that can be really off-putting to a potential buyer.
Hide The Clutter Under The Bed. We all use that dead space to store stuff we don't regularly need. A simple trick is to use a sheet to hide the boxes. Or push it to one side away from the camera. Again the car or the garage could be handy here.
Lose The Lush! Bathrooms can be very tight spaces, often afterthoughts in older houses. Keeping the clutter to a minimum here will make a big difference to the photos. Make sure it's as clean as possible, keep the towels to a minimum, hide the kids toys, put the seat down!
But It's Raining. It's not an issue! Let me tell you a little secret, we can make the pics lie!! All the pics get edited to make them lighter, brighter and just more appealing. Only little tweaks just to make sure walls are straight, kids photos are blurred, the colours are right. Obviously we cant tell whopping great porkies but they do get changed. It's actually better for the internal photos if it is a little over cast as the light is nicer and better to show off your home.
Remember It's A Home. If you strip to much away it will look cold and uninviting. You will put people off. Remember why you fell for it in the first place. Once it was your dream home and soon it will be someone else's.
So How Will It All Work? When I get there I'll confirm with you what we need to do, what your agent has asked for. I'll then ask you to show me any bits you're worried about or don't want photographing. It's quite normal for that smallest bedroom that is a dumping ground not be photographed. I'll do the floor plan design first. Whilst I'm walking round doing this it is giving me a good time to get a feel for the house, how it needs to be photographed and anything extra we may need to tweak. Then I'll start the photos. Going from room to room, moving anything like bins or washing baskets out the way of the pics. I will need to open and close doors but you are welcome to follow me round as we go, or you can just leave me to it. It's totally your call! Once I'm done the photos and floor designs will be with your agent usually no longer than 24/48 hours after our appointment.
Room By Room What To Do.
- Driveways - Move the cars and bins off, Clear up the weeds and cut the lawn if you can.
- Hallway - Thin out the coats and shoes as best as you can. Hide the place you put your keys.
- Living spaces such as the lounge - Hide the remotes, make sure the curtains are open evenly, check the pictures are all straight, (I'll blur the family ones), hide the cables, move that old candle etc. Wipe the T.V. screen, clean any mirrors etc
- Kitchen - Clear the worktops of anything but essentials. Clear off the top of the fridge, Hide the oven gloves and tea towels.
- Bathroom - Hide the products, clean the mirrors/shower screens. Hide the cleaning kit, put a new loo roll in place.
- Bedrooms - Hide the chargers, cables, extension leads. Move the dressing gowns off the backs of doors, arrange the cushions on the bed. Look in the mirrors and see if you can see things reflecting.
- Gardens - Mow the lawns, hide the bins, tidy the kids toys,
- General - Polish any reflective surface. It will try it's hardest to show every smear and mark. Hoover round, hide the dog stuff & dog. Get the kids babysat if you can for the hour. They often get quite stressed by the thought of moving so it's a good way to keep them calm.
The best advice I can give you is to give the house the sort of clean you would if that stuck up woman from No30, or that playground mum you hate, the one who thinks she's better/posher/richer than everyone else, was coming round. If you ready it to that standard it really will look amazing in the photographs!
Most of all don't worry about it. I'll happily help you move that exercise bike out, shift that laundry basket. Also the best plans go wrong. I've lost count of the number of times I've got to the house and the owners are in a blind panic because something like a dropped drink has literally just happened. It's ok we can work around it. Remember you will miss things, it's natural so don't be offended if I spot something. It's like this page. I've written it and read it, and read it, and checked it and read it. I bet you will spot a mistake I haven't. we really do go blind to things the more we look.
But really if you have got any questions after reading this, ask your agent or contact me direct on 07534167660. There really is no such thing as a stupid question and I'll do my very best to help. Oh and Tea, very white and 2 sugars please.
Credits:
All photos and text ©Steve Elliott Imaging