Some virtual tours tips that will help sell your home
July 16, 2008
Virtual tour technology with sometimes-cumbersome 360 degree views is competing with slide shows and floor plans with room views that don’t distort the rooms and are easier for many computer and Smartphone users to view.
Bad For Sale ’snaps’ - June 2008 - Lighting is critical.
June 10, 2008
When you take a photgraph of your family, a beloved pet, or friends, you try to make sure there is a good light source. What’s the point in taking a photo in the dark?
Isn’t it just as important for buyers to clearly see the subject of your real estate marketing photographs? Property photos (we call them Staged Marketing Photos) of a property are the basis for much of the marketing campaign surrounding a property.
Here are some of this months examples - taken from a public website populated by real estate agents in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Bathroom photographs should only be used if it is a selling feature of the property. The lighting in this ’snap’ says it best ‘dreary’. If you have to include a bathroom photo, turn on all the lights; be sure to use high wattage light bulbs.
A large room, one of the main selling features of the home. How would a buyer know? Light sells. This ’snap’ says ‘another ho-hum’ room.
This one could be considered artistic. An attempt to add light and drama? The room has lost it’s impact with the eye catching light. Maybe the light comes with the house? Maybe the lamp is hte feature, and happens to come with an extra room?
The picture says it all…. Nothing to add to this one. Next house please!
Hard to know what we are looking at here. Open the windows, or try a different angle. A widescreen lens would work best here. “Maybe this house needs some repairs?” OR “Seems a little run down” could be some of the buyer’s thoughts on this one - “What are the sellers hiding?”.
Ahhh… setting the mood with lighting. Buyers want to see the updated bathroom, but the photographer went a little too far ‘mood setting’. Is that someone in the mirror? If you have an updated bathroom - show it off.
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Property photographs are often a buyer’s first impression of a home. If the buyers cannot clearly see what is being sold, the seller is off to a bad start.Over 87% of home buyers search for properties online, not to mention the Realtors that search the MLS. Once they’ve entered their search criteria, price, location, etc., marketing photographs are how they decide which of those to visit.
As a result, how your property looks online is critical for attracting buyers and their agents—the more visits, the better chance of an offer. Your property needs to beat the competition.
Give us, the Open Door Staging team 15 minutes, and we will tell you how to make your listing look better than the compedition online to sell your property faster. 
(c) 2008 - Open Door Staging Inc.
South Florida’s Premier Home Staging Professional Services Company.
http://www.opendoorstaging.com
Have us present at your brokerage or organization.
Exercise equipment snaps do not sell homes.
May 13, 2008
Keeping yourself physically fit and in shape is important and to be encouraged, but when selling your home, sellers should put the exercise equipment away.
We need visiting buyers to be able to see how they could live in the home, not how you live in your home.
Have a look at the following ‘for sale’ snaps as posted by real estate agents on a public listing site in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Would you choose to visit these properties based upon how these rooms look? Can you tell the price range of these homes? Answer below.
Moving the clutter out of the way is the first part of this owner’s get-fit routine. Buyers want large bedrooms, put the gym equipment away.
Just what buyers want; a home office and free gym membership. Most buyers want a roomy home office - remove the gym equipment.
Ahhh, for the outdoors type. This is Florida, buyers want to have an outdoor seating area for relaxing/entertaining, put the gym equipment away.
Finally, the fully equipped gym. Not a square inch wasted. No room for anything else. I think you get the picture, buyers prefer an extra bedroom. Put the gym equipment away.
These ’snaps’ are not ‘Marketing photographs’.
ANSWER: All these homes were listed for sale between $550k and $650k. Surprised?
Over 85% of buyers search for properties onlineand photographs of your property are how they decide which homes to visit. Buyers typically short-list properties that meet their price, location, etc. search criteria online, and further refine their short-list of homes to actually visit based on how the home looks in the online photographs.
As a result, how your property for sale looks online is critical in getting buyers to visit - the more visits, the better chance of an offer. Your property needs to look better than the compedition.
Give us, the Open Door Staging team 15 minutes, and we will tell you how to make your listing look better than the compedition online to sell your property faster.
Some Of Our past Stagings.
Lived in/Occupied Property
Town Home Staging
Beach Front Condo
Single Family Villa
The Palace - Weston, Over 55
Vacant 3/2 Pembroke Pines
