The quality of your property’s online photography and video content can often be the difference between a flood of viewings or complete lack of attention from prospective buyers.

Whether you chose to stage and prepare the property yourself or engage the services of a professional staging company (now a very popular option!), the most important part of your property’s online sales listing are the images.

Making an extra effort to prepare and stage your property will pay dividends when your listing goes live. Here are some of our top tips to ensure your property is ready for professional images and videos.

Remove clutter… but not everything!

While a reduction in clutter gives the impression a house is ready to move into, it’s equally important that the house doesn’t look empty or feel cold and uninviting.

This is where staging or dressing the property adds the finishing touches. For example, once your dining or coffee table is clear and clean, an arranged vase of flowers, plant or bowl of fresh fruit can add a homely yet impersonal focal point for photos.

Lighting

Equally important for quality photography is the amount of light, which should be natural wherever possible.

• Ensure all curtains and blinds are fully open and tied back.
• Lights and lamps should be left switched off, except for rooms with no windows, or if your photos are being taken in the evening.
• Ensure all TV screens are switched off and that pets are kept out of shot!

Presenting the dream kitchen

For many buyers, one of the most important rooms in any property is the kitchen, so presenting it will ahead of the photo shoot is key.

• Remove small appliances and kitchen objects that have found their permanent home on work surfaces and counters.
• Personal items such as fridge magnets and children’s drawings, photos and cleaning products should be stored out of sight – as should waste bins.
• Arrange dining chairs neatly and symmetrically.
• The kitchen is a great area to add a fresh bowl of fruit; a recipe book displayed on a book stand, some candles or house plants on a window sill can also add soft focal points and add to the inviting look and feel of what’s considered the ‘heart of the home’.

Living room

Another hugely important room in the eyes of the buyer is your living room, which can also be staged to look inviting, cosy and comfortable.

• Hide all stray wires and remove items like magazines, remote controls and toys.
• Plump up cushions and arrange throws neatly over your sofa.
• Candles, flowers and plants also act as ideal finishing touches.

Bedrooms

The rooms where buyers are often disappointed with when searching for properties online are small bedrooms. Whatever the size of your bedrooms, there are steps you can take to help them feel spacious and open in photographs.

• Remove all unnecessary items to create more floor space – the more floor space buyers can see, the bigger the room will appear in the photos.
• Store away any items of clothing and remove personal items from surfaces.
• As the bed will always be the focal point of the room, dress it to look comfortable and inviting.
• Arrange pillows neatly and add some cushions and a throw, ensuring anything stored under the bed is out of sight of the camera.

Bathrooms

Cleanliness is key in your bathroom for photography – in fact, for the entire property!

• Polish taps and mirrors so they gleam against the flash of the camera.
• Remove items like toilet brushes, bins and toilet rolls prior to shooting.
• Shower doors and screens should also be shining.
• Ensure bottles of shower gel, shampoos and children’s toys are all removed and out of sight.

Increase digital curb appeal

You have more than likely heard of ‘curb appeal’ (the attractiveness of a property and its surroundings when viewed from the street).  Well, there is also such a thing as ‘digital curb appeal’, that is, you equally want to wow buyers when they are viewing your property online as much as when they arrive outside for a viewing.

• Remove unnecessary clutter to maximise the sense of space.
• Ensure lawns are freshly mowed and plants and flower beds are well maintained.
• Patios and decks should be cleaned and swept. Decks revarnished or painted if needed.
• Garden tools, toys and equipment should all be stored away out of sight.
• Finally, remove your car from the driveway.