Recent studies show that buyers are paying close attention to photos and virtual tours when looking for a house online. Here are seven tips to help you capture the attention of potential buyers using photography and videography, and ultimately, convince them to schedule a viewing of the house.

Set the Stage
“Staging is everything, as it gives you the opportunity to control what people see,” says Kristin Kostrzewski, a design team lead at Quicken Loans. She suggests starting with the closets.

“Serious buyers are going to open everything to investigate functionality, so be sure to organize all closets and cabinets,” she says. She also suggests you “limit the amount of personal accents and provocative artwork, as they may send the wrong message.”

Think Like a Buyer
Do a walk-through of the home and see where you naturally go—then mimic that with your image tour. What catches your attention? What would you want to take a closer look at? Be sure to take wide shots as well as close-ups, and when you post your photos or videos, order them in a way that feels natural.

Let the Light In
Lighting can do wonders for an indoor space. It’s best to open curtains and doors to draw in as much natural light as possible. If the house doesn’t have a lot of bright lights, you may want to bring in your own. Even a cheap floor lamp can help better light your shots.

Stock Up on Shots
Having a small inventory of photos and videos limits your options when sharing. Take a lot of photos and videos so you have a wide variety of options, which allows you to showcase the home’s best assets.

“When shooting, be sure to capture images horizontally or in ‘landscape’ orientation,” says Cody Ross, photographer and videographer for Quicken Loans. “This provides for a more valuable shot because if you shoot vertically, you’re going to capture way more of the ceiling and floor than what you need to see.”

Use Social Platforms
To quickly show off a house on social media, shoot a 360-degree photo using Facebook 360. “You can take a panorama photo or use a 360-degree camera to capture what an environment would look like at all angles from a certain point in space—in front of it, behind it, below it, above it and side to side,” says social marketer Jessica Bryant. “This results in a rich, immersive experience that lets the viewer observe the surroundings as if they were actually at that location, like a frozen snapshot in time.”

Bryant says there are many benefits to using Facebook 360, especially in the real estate space. “360 creates an opportunity to really show off a home in a much more engaging and detailed way than a typical static photo,” she says.

“You can bring a virtual tour right into potential clients’ Facebook feeds and stir up further interest to visit the actual listing or schedule a full viewing,” she adds.

One tip she offers for using Facebook 360 is to use a timer. “360 means 360,” she says. “Be sure to give yourself time to fully get out of frame so that you’re not included in the snapshot. It may take you a couple tries to get it right.”

Think Outside the House
“The outside is just as important as the inside. Make sure the windows, siding and driveway are clean—flowers are a bonus—and that there are no glaring repairs needed regarding the porch and garage,” says Kostrzewski.

A short video or a picture of the area outside the house can be just as intriguing as an inside shot. Does the house back up to a beautiful park or is there a nature trail nearby? Be sure to capture it. If time allows, scope out the area and pay attention to the time of day you snap your shots and video—a sunset can help produce spectacular results.

Hire a Freelance Photographer
Save time and hire a professional, suggests Ross. “If you’re going to spend money to help stage the house, you might want to pay a professional to photograph it, too. It can help you step up your listing game even further.”

If you have any questions or would like more information on how the Quicken Loans Agent Relations team can help you grow your business, call (888) 980-4601 or email AgentRelations@QuickenLoans.com. You can also visit RealEstate.QuickenLoans.com.

Experts from Quicken Loans provided insight for this article.

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