A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS!

They say, "A picture is worth a thousand words," so what are the photos of your home saying to prospective buyers.

Here are a few tips that may make the difference in your listing and your bottom line at closing.

1. Make a good impression - You have two options when it comes to shooting photos of your home. The first option is you take the pictures and the other is to hire a professional photographer who has experience in photographing homes for sale. 

2. Stage your home - Remember you want to show of the space and not what is in it, so do not leave out distracting items like toys, refrigerator magnets or towels hanging over the shower curtain.  Leave just enough furniture in the room to allow the potential buyer to see themselves and their possession in your home.

3. It is all about lighting - Natural light reigns when it comes to brightening a setting.  Open curtains and turn on all the lights to make the room bright and open.  Avoid rainy days and taking pictures at night as they cast a gloomy feeling throughout your home.  When taking photos of the exterior, overcast days are better so as to avoid casting dark shadows on your home.

4. Choose the best angles and composition - Take the buyer through your home just as though they were walking through your front door.  This is where a tripod comes in handy as it will provide the best angle for framing your pictures.  

5. Don't make your home look like something it is not - Make sure your pictures give the buyer the best perspective of your house.  Don't use photos that distort the actual size of a room.  You know the ones that make the room bigger than it actually is.

6. Take plenty of photos - You can never have too many pictures of your home, the object here is to use the "best of the best" to tell the story of your home.  

Finally, remember the listing presentation will only be as good as your photos.  Include an accurate description that paints an appealing portrait of your home.