Preparing Your Property for Professional Photography: A Seller’s Guide

At Hudsons Property, we know from experience that when it comes to selling a property in London, first impressions count for almost everything. The first glimpses that potential buyers should have of your property should be its most important selling points, and as most of us are drawn to eye-catching visuals more so than words, high-quality photographs are a must-have.

Whether buyers are actively scouring the market for available properties to buy in Central London, or they just happen upon a listing passively, professional photographs can dramatically improve your chances of landing a sale quickly and for the ideal asking price. Whether you invest in professional estate agent photography services or take quality images on your own smartphone, there are some essential tips to remember when uploading them to your property listing.

Here is how to ensure your London property is as picture-perfect as possible when the time comes to capture all its unique features and attract interest from prospects.

Declutter to Enhance the Sensation of Space

It’s been said a million times, but the golden rule of property photography is that less is indeed more. 

Cluttered spaces appear much smaller, even if they contain a modest amount of room on a floor plan. As a result, it’s more challenging for buyers to envision themselves living there if they can’t see as much of the room as possible.

While decluttering your property is recommended from time to time, you don’t necessarily have to clear the entire place to take photos. Instead, consider some small adjustments to increase your property’s aesthetic appeal:

• Minimise personal items: Family photos, children’s artwork, and personal collections should be tucked away. While there is an argument that they make your house a home, they can distract buyers from seeing the property’s potential.
• Clear worktops and surfaces: In kitchens and bathrooms, store away appliances, toiletries, and items used every day. A few strategically placed items (a stylish coffee machine or a luxury hand soap) can add character without creating visual noise.
• Consider furniture placement: Too much furniture can make rooms appear smaller. Remove unnecessary pieces and ensure there’s a clear path through each room, allowing the space to be captured effectively.

Think Carefully About Lighting and Illumination

In photography, lighting can utterly transform a photograph. Likewise, with property, lighting can turn an ordinary and otherwise uniform space into something extraordinary, encapsulating a room’s character, architectural features, and best qualities. In turn, well-lit rooms look more inviting to people before they’ve even set foot inside the property.

• Maximise natural light: Clean windows thoroughly and open all blinds and curtains completely. Remove any furniture or clunky objects that block the windows.
• Check all light fixtures: Replace any blown bulbs and ensure all lamps and ceiling lights are working. Opt for warm white bulbs rather than cool blue tones to create a welcoming ambience.
• Consider the time of day: If possible, schedule photography when your home’s rooms receive the best amount of natural light. For west-facing living areas, afternoon may be better, while east-facing rooms might benefit from morning photos to make use of the natural light. While the weather is hard to predict, consider taking photos of your home on sunnier and brighter days.

‘Stage’ Your Property

One hurdle that homeowners can sometimes face – often without realising it – is that their property’s photos fail to make an emotional connection with buyers. The aim is to make the home feel like one, but encourage prospects to imagine their life there.

This requires a careful balancing act of ‘staging’ the property where it feels equal parts depersonalised and inviting.

• Clean lines: Create small, carefully arranged areas (like a coffee table with art books and a vase of flowers). Think of the ‘rule of thirds’ and how to ensure each photo looks clean and consistent.
• Fresh touches: Strategically placed fresh flowers or potted plants bring life to rooms and add a splash of colour to photographs.
• Dress your dining table: A simple, well-decorated table setting suggests that it’s used regularly for entertaining and adds visual depth to the area.
• Refresh bedrooms: Crisp, high-quality bedding with plumped pillows and perhaps a throw can make bedrooms appear hotel-quality luxurious.

Hudsons have staged properties before, from gentle enhancement to full furniture packs, and each time it has greatly improved the saleability and where a full pack has been used show home style, the buyers paid extra to take the lifestyle furniture as it is. For more information on this service get in touch.

Don’t Overlook the Exterior

The first feature that many prospective buyers will see is the property’s exterior. As first impressions matter a lot, it pays off to ensure this area is as neat and tidy as can possibly be.

• Tidy the front: If you have a front entrance to spruce up, consider adding potted plants by the entrance for a welcoming touch.
• Clean pathways and entrances: Sweep and pressure wash any pathways you might have and ensure the front door is clean, charming and colourful.
  
• Hide bins and clutter: If you have any bins or items cluttering the entrance, store these out of sight as much as possible.

Property Photography Checklist

On the day:

• Turn on all lights and ensure curtains are fully open
• Remove vehicles from driveways and streets outside the home if possible
• Hide everyday items like remote controls, phone chargers, toys, pet accessories and drinking glasses
• Clean all mirrors and glass surfaces to eliminate streaks
• Put toilet lids down and remove all toiletries from bathroom surfaces or shelves
• Ensure that beds are freshly washed and made
• Turn off ceiling fans and televisions
• Hide all cables and wires where possible

Thinking of Selling Your Home?

By following these guidelines, you’ll showcase your London property in its best possible light, attracting serious buyers and demand. With our experienced estate agency services, Hudsons Property will help you achieve the best possible price within your desired time frame. We’re committed to exceeding expectations at every door, starting with making your property look its absolute best through professional and striking visuals.

For a free, no-obligation home valuation, get in touch with Hudsons Property today and let’s start getting your home looking as picturesque as it can be.