Seven tips to enhance your listing photos

Eighty percent of homebuyers used the Internet last year to search for a home, and nearly 25 percent reported that the Internet is where they first found the property they purchased, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR).

Nearly all homebuyers who go online to look for a home say pictures are some of the most useful features Realtors® can have on their websites.

Photos are powerful. Good ones can lure buyers; poor ones can do the opposite.

Here are some quick tips you might be able to use as a Realtor® in order to improve the quality of your photos in your online listings.

1. Don’t shoot in the sun. When photographing a home’s exterior, avoid taking the photo in the direct, midday sun. Instead, a better time to capture the exterior is in the morning or early evening, capturing the best natural light backdrop for the home.
2. More is better. Homebuyers want to see more than just the front of the house. Buyers also want to get a look at the living room, kitchen, dining room, family room, master bedroom/bathroom and the backyard. Most Multiple Listing Services allow several photos in their online listings.
3. Get a clear shot. Remove clutter from an area before photographing it. Clear counter space and remove fridge magnets, children’s toys, dirty dishes and other distractions. For outside shots, put away garbage cans and remove the car from the driveway. Try not to include telephone poles, wires and other homes in the shot.
4. Stay out of the frame: When taking a photo near mirrors or windows, watch the reflection so you don’t end up in the shot.
5. Give it your best shot. Quality counts when taking photos. A camera with a wide-angle lens is ideal, but “point and shoot” digital cameras also can do the job. For a clear photo, place digital cameras on a tripod so the camera is steady when the shutter goes off.
6. Edit. Improve a shot using basic photo-editing software. Crop out ceilings or unnecessary background, and adjust the brightness or contrast.
7. Keep your listings updated. A listing should not have snow in the yard when it’s summertime.