How Can I Get Great Photos Of My Home?

Whether you're putting your house for rent on Airbnb, putting photos on Instagram or just getting ready for listing pictures there are several things that you can do to get the best possible photos.

Clutter is distracting so make this step number one. Remove most of the items that normally reside on those flat surfaces. Instead of several little things choose one bold statement piece. This includes removing items like the plants in the windowsills, the magnets on the refrigerator, small appliances and mail.

Open the blinds, wash the windows and open the curtains. Natural light creates depth and shadows in a room and it makes a room feel warmer and more welcoming.

Remember to check the bed. You can use a steamer to remove the wrinkles and make it look fresh and welcoming. This will create a luxury feel in the furnishings. If you match the stack of pillows to the edge of the bed, it will make the bed appear wider. The pillowcases should open outward. Add a throw pillow to the stack of the pillows and center this pillow to make it look like like a showroom.

Accents of color in any room are always welcome. Flowers, throw pillows or a vase of greens will work for the spot of color. A stager I know uses a throw that she has picked up in the middle to create a cascading effect and then lies it diagonally across a bench or couch. This creates some unexpected visual interest.

Lower your artwork. In a photo this will make the ceiling look higher and give the room a more spacious feel. You may also need to use artwork that is more horizontal rather than vertical.

If you're selling your home, you might want to consider the value of a pet. They do create a bit of fun but may also turn away potential buyers who have allergies or just don't like pets. If you do have pets, make certain that you hide the chew toys and feeding bowls, pet beds and cages.

You can boost curb appeal by raking leaves, moving trash and recycle containers and pruning trees. Clear vehicles from the front of your home and take the cover off the barbecue.

When you've completed these steps, invite a few folks in to see the changes. They can help to identified things that you're used to seeing.

Now take some photos and see how good your space can look.

Subdivide the land

In Ballard, the neighbors were all upset about a home being added to a "backyard" when the land use signs went up for a subdivision, making one space into two. It turns out, each lot has it's own tax parcel number and that is good enough for the City of Seattle. Each may be sold separately, or changed without further zoning changes or lot line adjustments. 

Thanksgiving-Selling my mommy's house part 5

Thanksgiving came to my family (siblings mostly) in the form of a thank you text message and happy buyers for my mommy's house. We couldn't be more pleased that this nice couple bought the home, and plan to live there with their multigenerational family. Here is a shot of the happy homeowners.

Selling my mommy's house part 4

So now we had to clear out the home, clean it, paint some rooms, repair a few items, have the gutters cleaned and the windows washed, and...then stage it. I think most people know what staging is now, where a designer comes in and places furniture, artwork and accessories in a home to show it's best features. I'll connect you HERE to the photos of the home after staging. Oh, by the way the investor told me he would pay $185,000 for the house. I don't recommend answering those letters and calls that come to the executor right after a person has passed. I recommend hiring a professional to give you advice.

Selling my mommy's house part three

 We now need to clear out all of the belongings in Mom's house to get it ready for sale.
















An investor called me to make an appointment to see the house.
Against my better judgement, I said yes.

Garages

Are garages really ever used for parking? I say, no.

Anastasia Faiella

This woman used to be a painter, now an interior designer. I see how that can work for a visual artist.

her website:  http://faiella-design.com

do you Really want to sell that house?

OK! This house has finally been renovated. (Poor souls) and now it seems to be...for sale? This sign is about 3 inches by 5 inches. It's a bit of cardboard on a stick. Written with a magic marker, is, "for sale". I walked past an caught the sign. Is the grass (new...just put down in strips) for sale, or the house? How do you buy it? No number or way to contact anyone. Good luck.

Real Estate Open Houses

Really, do open houses sell real estate? No. However, we can see them online easier now, due to a much deferred idea to share open houses online that aren't simply the open houses of individual companies. Read about it here:

Looking at Staged Real Estate

I looked at 7 condos downtown Seattle the other day. The first one I saw was incredibly beautiful. Why? Because the owner had really gorgeous funiture, and art, and when you walked in, it smelled nice, like some kind of exotic floral arrangement. There was no floral arrangement. Don't get me wrong. It did NOT smell like the artificial air fresheners that make me want to wash up, and blow my nose after viewing a house. Uck! You know what I mean, Glade would be one company that makes them. These are so gross. Uck. Another I looked at had something like a glade plug in freshener. It was a fine place, with no furniture, and a bad, bad, bad smell. Where would you rather live?