Preparing your home for photos in the digital device age

As a company working in the property industry for some time, NRLA partner, Viewber knows how a good set of photographs can sell a property or entice tenants to make an enquiry. Not only are static images a home mover’s first touchpoint when forming an opinion, technological advances mean people expect ‘the next best thing’ to a viewing too – a 360° tour.

Some of us at Viewber are old enough to remember when property particulars were sent in the post. Hand typed details were accompanied by a single exterior image stuck to the front of the document with Pritt Stick, or a grainy, black and white image was photocopied multiple times, rendering it useless. 

Now, home movers are viewing images and 360° tours in glorious technicolour, using state-of-the-art devices with high resolution displays and the ability to zoom in on the minutest of details. This means available homes are under scrutiny in a way they have never been before. Smears, smudges or stains? There’s no hiding place and people judge! 

If you are getting ready to go on the market, you must prepare for a new standard of digital capture and viewing technology. The same property presentation rules that have always existed still apply but there needs to be increased attention to detail. 

 Here are Viewber’s golden rules for preparing your home for photos or a 360° tour in the digital device age: 

Exterior: front-of-house

• Sweep away fallen leaves and any litter that might have blown into corners 

• Remove weeds, paying attention to driveways and paths 

• Organise for any skips, broken down vehicles or rubbish to be removed 

• Refresh pots and hanging baskets by taking out anything that’s dead and replacing it with plants in bloom 

• Hide away recycling bins and boxes 

• Ensure your driveway is free of vehicles for photos 

Exterior: garden/balcony

• Bring in laundry that’s drying outside 

• Tidy away garden toys 

• Set up garden furniture 

• Mow the lawn 

• Sweep away fallen leaves 

Interior: general

• Dust, declutter and vacuum from top to bottom 

• Tidy away phone chargers and any tech cables 

• File your paperwork so tables, desks and worktops are free of documents 

• Clean windows so they are streak free 

• Remove anything that’s personal or valuable, such as family photos and antiques 

• Ensure all blinds and curtains are open 

• Take down washing that’s drying on radiators and airers 

• Clean reflective surfaces, especially stainless steel and mirrors 

• Remove pet bedding and toys 

Hallways

• Store away coats 

• Remove piles of shoes 

• Ensure the space isn’t filled with gym bags and sports equipment 

• Removes scooters and bikes  

Kitchens

• Hide away tea towels and oven gloves 

• Remove bins, fridge magnets and kids’ artwork 

• Ensure the sink and draining board are free of washing up 

• Remove pet bowls and high chairs 

• Keep worktops clutter free 

• Remove laundry that can be seen in the drum of a washing machine 

• Shut all drawers and cupboard doors 

Living room/snugs

• Plump and straighten cushions  

• Use a throw or rug to cover visible wear or stains 

• Be ruthless when it comes to knick-knacks – less is more 

• Dining tables should be free of clutter and, ideally, laid with placemats 

Bedrooms

• Dress beds with crease-free, clean linen and ensure all beds are made 

• Don’t store bulky items under beds or on top of wardrobes 

• Ensure clothes are not bursting out of drawers and wardrobes 

• Remove clutter from floors and store personal items away  

• Don’t leave clean clothes in piles or draped on furniture 

• Remove dressing gowns from the back of doors 

• Shut all drawers and wardrobe doors 

Bathrooms

• Ensure toilet lids are down 

• Store away kids’ bath toys 

• Remove toiletries and cleaning products from view 

• Neatly fold towels 

• Remove limescale build up on shower screens and taps 

Finishing touches

• An artfully arranged stack of books or magazines on a coffee table is better than a messy pile 

• A bowl of fresh fruit in the kitchen will draw the eye  

• Add vases of fresh cut flowers where a pop of colour is needed 

• The odd decorative candle or reed diffuser can help set the scene 

Why is property imagery so important?

With almost every property search taking place online, it’s never been easier to analyse the stats to determine what listings get the most clicks and interaction. Good quality photos, floorplans and virtual tours all boosts a property’s visibility and engagement rate. 

 92% of homebuyers find photos extremely helpful in making buying decisions 

• Listings with great photos can attract up to 93% more leads, sell 24 days quicker on average and achieve a 2% higher asking price 

• 75% of buyers and tenants are frustrated by unflattering and poor quality images, while 82% want to see more than 10 photos of a property when deciding whether or not to arrange a viewing 

• Listings with a virtual tour get 87% more views than those without 

• 80% of Millennials would like to view virtual tours and digital floorplans when shopping for a home 

Ready to raise your presentation game?

Anyone can book an experienced representative at Viewber to create a Marketing Listing Pack for any property anywhere in the UK. The pack consists of photographs, a floorplan and a 360° tour. A full suite of assets will be delivered to your inbox, ready for Rightmove, other portals, brochures, websites and social media. 

Photographs, floorplans and 360° tours are also available to order as stand-alone services, with a number of photography and editing packages for customisation.