The importance of good property photography and video

Due to the lockdown, On-Show days have been put on hold and as a result, sellers cannot show off the best features of their home and potential buyers cannot see the true beauty of what could possibly be their dream home. Cue photography and video walk-throughs! Mike Greeff, CEO of Greeff Christie's International Real Estate says that ''these two work hand-in-hand and despite not being able to see the home in person, having excellent photos of the property and an extensive walk-through is almost as good as the real thing''.

Professional property listing photographs have always been important - the stark reality is that listing photos create a first impression and have the power to make or break a sale - even more so during these COVID-19 times.

The importance of property photography:

• Listing photos create the client's first impression of the property
  • The adage does say, "You will never get a second chance to make a good first impression." Professionally framed and composed listing photographs epitomises the character of your property and allows you to put your best foot forward when attempting to give the property exposure. The best shots never just happen by accident.
• Listing photos set the tone for the type of inquiries you get
  • While investing in a home is a serious financial commitment that buyers are often very logical about it is also very true that emotions play a huge role in the buyer's decision.
  • A good listing photo should create an emotional connection in the buyer's mind and set the expectation of what is to come. The prospective buyer should be able to imagine themselves at the property and the listing photo helps them create the vision of their future.

Video walk-throughs have been all the rage since lockdown started and it's not difficult to understand why. Watching a video walk-through will give potential buyers an extensive view of the property and this is the seller's opportunity to showcase the very best features of the home.

Not all of us are born photographers or videographers and it may be a daunting task to capture the essence of your home - especially if a sale is dependent on it. But, if you follow the tips and tricks given in the below photo and video guide, it is guaranteed to be a walk in the park.

Your 101 guide to taking inspiring photographs of your property:

• Make sure all personal items like family photos, keys, bags etc. are stored away so they will not be in the photo you are about to take.
• Dog and cat beds and/or toys need to be removed from the area when you take a picture.
• Put the lights on and open all curtains and blinds.
• Bathrooms need to be clean and have no clutter or items on display like towels, personal items and cleaning products.
• In the kitchen, make sure all work surfaces are clean and tidy. If available, place fruit in a lovely bowl and flowers in a vase to add colour to the surroundings.
• In the bedroom, ensure that the beds are made, and the pillows puffed. If possible, try to use matching bedding to create a neat and uniformed look.
• External pictures: It is ideal to photograph a property between 9-11am and 2-5pm whilst the sun is out. Having a cloudy sky is okay, as long as it is not raining or too dark. This goes for the internal photos too as you will be relying on natural light when taking your photographs.

General tips when taking pictures of your home:

• Make sure your phone or camera has sufficient memory.
• Make sure that the battery is fully charged.
• JPEG format is the format the photos need to be taken in. Your phone is automatically set to this format, however double check that your camera settings are correct.
• All photos should be taken in horizontal format.
• Keep your hand steady and level. Chest height is ideal.
• Make sure the flash is selected.
• Three photos per room or area is ideal. Make sure they are in focus and are not over or under exposed.
• Remember your reflection in windows, mirrors, and glass surfaces. Check this before and after taking photos.
• Try to take photos of the surrounding view i.e. mountains, sea, garden, pool from your balcony. It helps to give a buyer a sense of the space your home offers.
• No people or pets should be in the photographs.

Your guide on how to capture the very best of your property through the art of video:

Before you click record, take a walk through the property, and keep your eye out for anything that draws attention to itself. Your goal is to hide distractions that might not look great on camera.

This might include:

• Decluttering counters and tabletops
• Hiding pets
• Shutting closet doors
• Smoothing wrinkles on bedspreads
• Taking down pictures of homeowners
• Closing toilet seats
• Adjusting couch pillows

General tips when taking a walk-through video of your home:

• Make sure the camera lens is clean (especially if you are using a cell phone).
• Use a minimum of 1080p video quality setting.
• Choose either landscape or portrait orientation and stick to that throughout the filming process
• If the home can't be filmed in a single take, rather take two or three clips of the home instead of rushing through.
• Try keep the phone as stable as possible when filming. A constantly bobbing video can lead to a feeling of motion sickness.
• No music/sound in the background
• The video should be at least 1½ to 2½ minutes long

Make no mistake, the saying that a picture paints a thousand words is very true with regard to presenting your property to the market and is one of the most critical aspects when marketing your property. The photographs and video walk-throughs offer the seller the opportunity to show why the property is amazing and it gives prospective buyers an opportunity to let their imaginations do the rest.