How To Prepare Your Home For Sale…Take a GOOD Look At It (Part2)

By
Home Stager

How To Prepare Your Home For Sale…Take a GOOD Look At It (Part2)

 

Have you ever walked by a mirror and caught a quick look at yourself? Yikes…Do I look like that??!!

 

Our rooms are just like that. We see them every day as we head out the door. But our minds are focused on the chip in the tile that is on your “To Do” list or the carpet in the bedroom that needs to be cleaned. 

 

home staging tip take a photo

 

However, now that you’ve decided it’s time to sell, you’ll need to take a good look at your house. You need to see what your buyers will see!!!

 

GRAB A CAMERA

Turn on all of your lights and open the shades!

Next…start taking pictures of your home. 

~Begin with the front of your home because this is what the buyer sees as they drive up. 

~Take photos of your entry before and after you open the door

~Stand at the door of each room and take a picture

~Stand in every corner and take a picture

~Take pictures of the garage,  backyard, and patio area.

 

Upload your photos to the internet. This is what your buyers and agents will see.

 

ENLIST A FRIEND OR RELATIVE FOR THEIR OPINION.

This one is a tough one. Ask them to look at your house as if they were a buyer.   Ask them to be brutally honest with you. 

Bribe them with homemade cookies if you must.

Tell them this is their one chance to tell you how much they’ve never liked your wallpaper.

 

 

 

The camera doesn’t lie! Are you happy with what you see???

Posted by

Kathy Streib
Retired Home Stager
and Interior Redesign

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for Houston & Harris Counties
and
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for all states


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Comments (14)

Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Good morning, Kathy... wonderful advice. I've never suggested to my clients that they take pictures and upload them. Then again, normally, my clients just listen to me when I give them a "to do" list.

Sep 20, 2023 05:30 AM
Kathy Streib

that's because they trust you Nina Hollander, Broker 

Sep 20, 2023 12:00 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker

Kathy Streib 😺

Sep 20, 2023 12:02 PM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

Haha, pretty much every time I walk by a mirror, I do just that.  It's frustrating to walk into a home that is for sale but hasn't been prepared for sale.

Sep 20, 2023 05:47 AM
Kathy Streib

Hi Brian England it's human nature to tune out things that we see day to day. I remember going all day without a peek in the mirror, then when I looked, I couldn't believe what I saw. 

Sep 20, 2023 12:02 PM
Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty
Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL
Florida Space Coast Homes

Not to change the subject, but I was around when we only had 10 total photos that could be put on our listings (in the MLS). Now we can show all the angles of a room, and even have a 3D walk through. It really helps buyers.

Sep 20, 2023 05:52 AM
Kathy Streib

Hi Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty I do remember when agents in different states were ecstatic when they could add more photos!!!

Sep 20, 2023 12:05 PM
Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400
The Top Team @ Charles Rutenberg Realty 255 Executive Dr, Plainview NY 11803 - Plainview, NY
Long Island Condo and Home Specialists

Kathy, It's so true. When it comes to selling your home, the importance of good photography cannot be overstated. The photo you included, "What room would your buyers choose," is a perfect example of how the right angles and composition can make all the difference in showcasing your home in its best light.

Sep 20, 2023 06:27 AM
Kathy Streib

Hi Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400 That's why hiring a professional photographer is important. 

Sep 20, 2023 12:10 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is good advice to share.

Have a great day and an outstanding week.

Sep 20, 2023 07:22 AM
Kathy Streib

Thank you Roy Kelley Hope that you and Chef Dolores are doing well. 

Sep 20, 2023 12:11 PM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Kathy Streib  Great idea about asking a good friend's opinion offer to take them to lunch 

Sep 20, 2023 07:32 AM
Kathy Streib

Hannah Williams It's important that they don't hold back and that the seller is willing to hear what they say. 

Sep 20, 2023 12:14 PM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi, Kathy Streib - To me, having someone a seller can trust to tell them the bottom line is essential.  I just recently had to do this for my sister-in-law.  She listened to all my suggestions, including the pricing.  She got $40K more than her agent wanted to sell the house.  

Sep 20, 2023 10:24 AM
Kathy Streib

Sheri Sperry - MCNE® good for your SIL for listening to you!!!  If anyone should know what the camera and buyers will see, it's you!!!

Sep 20, 2023 12:16 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Kathy, this is a good test for each of us when it is time to sell.  Before we have the professional photos done.

Sep 20, 2023 10:47 AM
Kathy Streib

Joan Cox thank you. I've found when I take photos at a consultation, I still see things I'd do after I take a longer look at the photos. 

Sep 20, 2023 12:17 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Kathy those are great suggestion that are very effective, and cost nothing to very little.

Sep 20, 2023 01:09 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Kathy:

Using a camera to see how buyers will see the home is a great way to gain a very different perspective. I talk with sellers about doing this often, and sometimes take photos for them. It IS really hard to be objective and see things as a buyer will when you are living in the midst of it all. Some people are better at visualizing than others.

Jeff

Sep 20, 2023 05:55 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Really good advice, Kathy.  As they say, "The eye buys."  First impressions are so important.

Sep 20, 2023 07:13 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

CONGRATULATIONS Kathy, on having this blog FEATURED in the Old Farts Club group!  

Sep 20, 2023 07:13 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Kathy Streib  when I get photos that are well let's be polite questionable.... I go to my trusted web platform if they do not want to stage it.... then I do virtual staging with the note to buyers that it is a virtual staging.... Endre

Sep 20, 2023 09:33 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Great advice. I used to tell my clients to take pics of each room when they thought they were done preparing it for photos. Funny how taking those pics prompted them to make more changes.

People don't realize just how much those little details the eyes miss will be captured in photos.

Sep 21, 2023 08:42 AM