How to Take Your Own Professional Looking Photos to Sell Your Home

What are your plans for Boxing Day? If you have a house to sell, it might be a good idea to forgo scoffing at the latest mince pies and downing the sherry, and instead turn your attention to your listing on the property portals.

Rightmove alone expects 51 million visits between Boxing Day and the return to work, so this is a real sales opportunity.

Contact your real estate agent and discuss whether the photos are correct. If not, why not get some for yourself?

Here's how you do it.

'Use a 13-14mm lens, with as wide an angle as possible,' says Duncan MacBrayne, one of the country's top property photographers who specializes in photographing multi-million pound properties for top estate agents, Savills and Knight . Frank.

'Turn on all the lights in each room and open the curtains to let in as much light as possible.'

When photographing interiors, you should always clean up. Hide toys, food bowls and half-empty wine bottles and put away the decorations.

The tree surrounded by prints may look cheerful for the holidays, but if the house is still on the market in six months, you can expect low offers as a result.

Remove large, heavy furniture, as this can make a room seem smaller.

Shoot your back against the wall from a kneeling position. And take some 'artsy' snapshots. A fireplace often looks interesting, as does a kitchen Aga, a chandelier, a tall bookcase or a claw-foot bath.

They attract the attention of the potential buyer who is looking around.

Some houses, especially older ones, have a more eccentric layout. For example, how do you photograph a small galley-style kitchen?

“Use your imagination,” says Duncan. 'Open all the doors and try to shoot through the window from outside.

Put it away: Christmas decorations should be removed from property photos as the listing will look dated once January arrives

If that's not possible, focus on a detail, such as an old-fashioned butler's sink or neat tiling, to convey a sense of the place.'

The exterior of the property will likely have even more visible distractions, so preparation is essential.

Move all vehicles, bicycles, construction containers, For Sale signs or wheelie bins. There is little you can do about your garden in winter. But you can neatly stack the garden furniture and make the lawn tidy.

This is frustrating if your garden is a major selling point.

“Find a photo you took in the summer when the plants were blooming and everything looked beautiful,” says Duncan. 'But explain what you have done, so that no one thinks that the property has been for sale since the summer.'

The main photo is the most important exterior shot. Try to capture the USP (unique selling point) of the property and camouflage its disadvantages.

For example, if it has a beautiful view of the estuary, photograph it from a distance to frame the water. If your neighbor's house is a bit shabby, shoot close to exclude the messy neighbors.

Sunlight is an important factor. Take into account the position of the sun in relation to the garden. Mid-afternoon is a good time to photograph, when the sunlight is at its best.

However, some professionals, like Duncan, take advantage of that blue hour just before sunset. “You can get a beautiful, glowing effect when you turn on the external lighting,” says Duncan.

It may also be a good idea to discuss the text of your ad with your real estate agent.

One acquaintance said he had a house for sale with a “paved driveway/parking lot for multiple vehicles.” In other words: a 'drive'.

Others have been known to describe a room with an exercise bike as a “gym” or a guest room with a large TV as a “home theater.” Take into account the Property Misdescriptions Act 1991 and choose a clear writing style.

If you still doubt the effectiveness of good photography, consider the experience of property developer Amara Property, who recently attempted to market their four family homes in Northwood, London, for £1.25 million using state-of-the-art computer-generated images.

The response was negligible, so they used traditional photography instead. The take-up was huge.

“Good photos sell real estate,” says Duncan.