What You Can Learn From the Images in Redfin’s “Top Viral Homes”

Looking through real estate listings online can be overwhelming -- especially if you’re trying to sell. How do you make your house stand out? What can you do to get buyers to stop scrolling and learn more about your property? 

For the answers, let’s look to the homes that have done something right. Earlier this year, Redfin released a list of some of the top viral homes of 2019. 

These homes are absolutely stunning. The attractive pictures on the listing brought plenty of attention, competition, and high bidders. 

But you don’t have to have a home that is worth more than a million dollars to go viral. Take the best elements of these viral homes and bring them into your listing for more views, clicks, and bids. 

Show off the space. 

The photos of “The Modern Bungalow” and the “Urban Oasis” make the houses look like they go on for miles. Open-concept floor plans are in, and everyone wants to feel like they are buying a property with lots of space. Remove any obstructions and take photos from a position that makes your home look open and free-flowing. 

Stage appropriately. 

It’s quick and easy to take photos of your home as-is, but this doesn’t always translate into more interest. No buyer wants to feel like they are peeping into someone else’s home -- they want to feel like they are looking at their future home!

Stage the home and remove any personal photos, scattered toys, or evidence of pets. 

Follow the (natural) light. 

What do“The Queen’s View” in Seattle and the “Contemporary Townhouse” in Chicago have in common? Floor-to-ceiling windows let in natural light and give the homes a more modern feel. Windows can also increase airflow, reduce energy bills, and add much more value to your listing. If you’ve got them, flaunt them! Get a photo that encompasses how much your buyers will be able to see when they open the curtains. 

Windows will also help you as you take photos. Plan to shoot when your rooms are filled with natural light. 

Zoom out. 

In order to truly get a sense of the “Rooftop Party Pad” in San Diego, you need to show off the rooftop. How do you show off a big, external space? Zoom out.

Drones are one of the best ways to do this. Use drone photography to capture the entire space that is going on the market. 

Use a professional photographer. 

Drones? Professional lighting? Staging? These equipment and practices can cost money, but significantly increase the value of your home. 

Don’t worry about learning how to operate a drone or take a professional photo yourself. Save time by recruiting a professional photographer who can show off your space appropriately. 

A cell phone camera or blurry photo may fail to capture the beauty, flow, and unique qualities of your property. Professional photos will share all of this and more. 

Make buyers stop and stare at your listing. Reach out to DMD Real Estate Photography today. 

How to Get a Home Ready for a Photoshoot

As a real estate professional, you know buyers are more likely to make an offer when they’re excited about the property and can picture themselves living there. Since so much real estate marketing happens online (especially these days!), pictures, videos, and virtual tours of the home are the first impression most buyers and their agents get of the property. It is your chance to show the property at its absolute best and entice prospective buyers and real estate professionals to seek out more information. 

This means that getting ready for the property’s photoshoot is of paramount importance. But what exactly do you need to do? How do you prepare a home to make sure your photographer can show it in the best possible light?

Make the Home Appealing to a Diverse Range of Prospective Buyers

One of the key elements is for prospective buyers to be able to picture themselves living in the home. To make the space as appealing as possible to a general audience and maximize its overall aesthetics, take the following steps: 

• Depersonalize the space by removing things such as family portraits, personal collections, or knicknacks.

• Clean all visible surfaces, including flooring.

• De-clutter the space by removing unnecessary or excessive decorations, countertop appliances, bathroom toiletries, wires, laundry, and toys.

• Neutralize colorful walls, particularly those in kids’ rooms.

• Optimize lighting by replacing bulbs that don’t match or are out. You can also add strategic lighting using portable floor lamps. 

Optimize Exteriors

Exterior spaces should emphasize the home’s curb appeal and make buyers feel as though they’d enjoy the experience of coming home and pulling up in the driveway. 

To optimize the aesthetics of exteriors, take the following steps: 

• Put away trash cans, toys, bicycles, and other garden items.

• Clean windows, especially those that look out to an attractive view.

• Sweep and blow away leaves and debris from outdoor paved spaces such as patios, walkways, and driveways.

• Power-wash the siding to remove buildups of dirt, mold, or mildew.

• If the property has a pool, remove leaves and debris, and put away distracting objects such as nets, pool toys, and inflatables.

Final Touches: Day of the Shoot

On the day of the photo shoot, prep for your photographer with these final touches:

• Turn off ceiling fans.

• Turn on all lights, making sure that all bulbs match and are working (bring some extra bulbs with you just in case).

• Open the blinds to let in natural light.

• Move vehicles 1-2 homes away from the property so that they aren’t reflected in windows.

Remember, whether the viewer of your ad is a prospective buyer or another real estate professional, the pictures of the property are their first impression, and many decisions are made right then. 

A professional real estate photographer will know how to maximize a home’s appeal, but they can only do so much without your help. Working with them to get the house ready ensures that you are putting your best foot forward and increasing the chances of selling it faster and for a higher price.

For more information about Alaska real estate marketing, reach out to DMD today. 

Spring Is the Best Time to Sell a Home (Yes, Even in Alaska)

Warm(er) weather, trees returning to life, snow melting -- there are many things to love about spring in Alaska. One thing you may not know is that it’s also the best time to sell a home here.

In colder climates like ours, people tend to hide indoors for most of the winter season. Many may have been looking at new houses online and thinking about moving for months. Now that the weather is finally warming up, it presents the perfect opportunity to act.

If you have clients or potential clients who aren’t sure whether or not they should start the selling process in the spring, here are a few pieces of info you can remind them of to nudge them in the right direction.

April Showers Bring...

Do we even need to finish that thought?

If you want to really showcase the yard and the surrounding outdoor area with some great pictures, spring is the time to do it -- because everything is gorgeous and in bloom! Really highlight the vibrant greens as the trees and plants come to life. (If you’re really lucky, you might get to sell a property within eyeshot of a waterfall that’s just started flowing again.

These are the kinds of shots that money just can’t buy, and they can really showcase how amazing and close to nature the property is.

The Timing Is Perfect to Showcase the Views

Alaska is gorgeous year-round for different reasons. But let’s be honest, if someone is looking for views of the iconic Alaskan wilderness, spring is the perfect time to get them for all of the reasons listed above. 

Snow is melting, but still holding its own. Trees are green and lush. Waterways are icy and majestic, but flowing strongly.

How is this different from the above?

Because we’re talking about showcasing the views. From inside the house.

If you head out into nature and look around hard enough, you can probably find some great “springtime in Alaska” shots most times of the year. But if you’re trying to get that perfect shot through a bay window, the timing needs to be ideal. Which means spring.

You Can Get a Head Start

Unless you’re new to the business, you don’t need us to tell you that summer tends to be the busiest season for real estate agents. After all, you’ve lived it.

So, why should you be pushing sellers to start in the spring? Because when people say “summer,” what they really mean is that the highest returns for sellers (and you) come in May and June. This means that everyone thinking of selling their homes will be rushing to get them on the market around the same time.

By getting everything ready in early spring and working with you early, they will be getting a head start. This means the potential for more buyers (and more higher-paying buyers) to view their home before the market becomes overcrowded with listings. 

You’ll still need to wow them with great images, but when you do you won’t have to compete with a thousand other listings that also have high-quality, professional photos.

*A quick note on this. While it is true that May is the high season here for real estate sales, you might actually do better if you are able to sell in early spring depending on where you’re located in Alaska.

Why?

Well, in Anchorage and surrounding areas, for example, there tends to be an influx of people in late winter and early spring, largely due to the large federal government and military presence.  For whatever reason, that’s when they seem to make their moves. If you’ve got properties up and ready to sell around this time, you’re likely to find a surplus of buyers and very little competition.

Convinced? Want to know more about how the right images can make your job of selling a lot easier? Get in touch with DMD today!