PHOTOGRAPHING YOUR HOUSE TO SELL

Tips for Home Photos

The fact that homebuyers begin their home search by perusing listing photos online means that you have to grab their interest in your home right away. The purpose is to get buyers interested enough to view your home in person and make a solid offer.

It’s human nature – we want what we see. Here are six important steps to get your home sold quickly and for the highest price possible in your current market.

Decluttering

Clutter crowds a photograph because the lens captures everything in its range equally. If a kitchen is cluttered with too many appliances and knick-knacks on the countertops, the impressions the buyer takes away are that (A) There’s not enough storage and (B) Lax housekeeping could also mean lax home

maintenance. Homebuyers want a ready-tomove-in experience where everything works and nothing will go wrong.

The best way to look at decluttering is that it will save you tons of time, effort and money on moving day. You don’t want to pay movers to move or store items you don’t use, love or want, so resolve to cut down the amount of stuff you have.

Begin by clearing every surface in each room. Separate items you need now from seasonal items or items you seldom use. List items you want to sell online, or take them to a consignment store. Throw away broken items you’ll never repair and stained or wrong-size clothing you’ll never wear. You’ll be better organized and feel less stressed once you list your home for sale.

Upcoming Housing Markets in 2023

What makes a place to live desirable? Is it friends and family? Weather that’s ideal for your favorite outdoor activities? Good jobs that help you care for your family? Homes with just the right size, style and features? Educational opportunities and cultural attractions? Is it views of the shimmering lake or the hypnotic ocean, the grandeur of the mountains and canyons, primordial forests and whispering meadows? The warmth and low humidity of the desert? Or is housing affordability most important?

However you want to live, the lifestyle you and your family want exists somewhere in the vast United States. So how do you find it? There are plenty of Best Places to Live surveys but we’ve chosen a few that have more information for you besides Best Restaurants and Most Expensive Homes. To us, the ideal place to live has the right mix of amenities that only you can choose and that is still affordable for you and your family.

Painting Kitchen and Bath Cabinets

Painting kitchen and bath cabinets a fresh, new color can give your home the much-needed update it desires for only a few hundred dollars. Make the job simple by using these guidelines to produce a smoothto-the-touch finish without streaks, wavy lines or drips.

According to HomeDepot.com, the type of paint you buy will depend on what materials the cabinets are made of. Wood or compressed wood can be sanded, then repainted. Laminate cabinets should only be painted with products designed to stick to plastic surfaces. While acrylic and alkyd paints can do a great job, glossy or semi-gloss oil-based paint is best for durability and scratch-resistance. Use good quality synthetic bristle brushes for acrylic and natural bristle brushes for oil paints.

Clear all clutter from countertops, empty the cabinets, remove all hardware and cover backsplashes, appliances and floors with plastic sheeting secured with painter’s tape. Label all drawers and hardware so you know where to put them back. Open windows for ventilation and cover doors with sheeting to keep dust and fumes from the rest of the house.