There are obviously many things a seller needs to do to prepare for a photo/ video shoot. These are outlined in our free “shooting day checklist” available here.
But there are two specific things that a seller can do that will make a HUGE difference. Not only a huge difference in the quality of your photos and videos, but a huge difference in the feeling a buyer gets when they set foot inside the home on a showing.
1) Lights.
Ideally, replacing all of the lights with new, identical, LED (warm) lightbulbs will brighten the home beyond what you can imagine. Many homes have bulbs that are 8 years old and a bit dimmer or yellower than others, and they are mixed with newer, brighter bulbs. Incandescent bulbs are mixed with CFL bulbs, which are mixed with LED bulbs… sometimes in the same fixture! Many light fixtures have burned out bulbs, or even missing bulbs. And of course, sometimes we find entire rooms lit only by desk light containing a yellow, CFL bulb, which gives off the effect of being in a warehouse. It’s UGLY. Real ugly.
CFL bulbs put off the worst color available. They also have ultraviolet radiation leakage, which is why most companies stopped manufacturing them. You should replace ALL of them in your home, except maybe in a garage or storage area where the quality of light doesn’t matter.
LED bulbs have come way down in price (especially in bulk at BJs, Walmart or Costco). It’s hard to imagine the difference, but once you change them out…WOW! You will be blown away!
When purchasing LED bulbs, it’s best to get LED Warm bulbs. The older LED lights are pure white and have a very clinical look to it and are NOT attractive in a home. The warm LED lights look more similar to the older incandescents which are no longer made.
All light emits a color…. it may be orange, yellow or blue. Daylight is also blue, and the more colors you mix in one room, the bigger the problem is in regards to recreating the true colors of your walls.
2) Professionally clean your windows
Don’t think they are dirty? Think again! You don’t realize the difference UNTIL you have it done. Seriously, we can set one foot in a home and absolutely know the windows were professionally washed… it’s seriously THAT big of a deal.
Updates that make the home look clean and bright generally pay off well in increased buyer interest and a quicker sale.
A bright home with plenty of natural light is important to many buyers. The amount of light that comes in is limited by the number and size of your windows, so you want to maximize the amount of light that comes through.
Cleaning windows is more than just wiping them with bottled window cleaner. Professionals use the necessary equipment to remove water stains and pollution from exterior windows that are stuck to the glass, which allows for maximum light to shine through. Both sides of the glass are washed and cleaned to remove etching and other imperfections that partially block sunlight.
Windows are among the dirtiest and dustiest places in your home because of all the ledges and grooves around the glass and frame. Window washers clean all around the windows, not just the glass. This ensures there are no cobwebs, leaf debris, insect bodies, or grime on the frames or stuck in the tracks.
If you want to put your best foot forward, these two things will completely change the look of your home and put it in a more positive light. Guaranteed!
