Sometimes, I despair when I look at photos that Estate Agents use on their property listings. Photographs which are not taken by a professional photographer. They are taken as screenshots from 3D virtual tours or maybe even by an iPhone! Using outstanding photography in your property listing can make all the difference when making an impression on home hunters. This is an area that is overlooked by sellers and is an easy way for Estate Agents to cut costs.

At David Phillip Estate Agents in North Leeds, capturing the best image possible is key to us. As is
using the best images possible. You can only do this by using high-quality equipment and a
professional photographer – in our case, Henry. Henry carefully considers what homebuyers would
want to see and how to showcase the property in the very best way possible. The benefit of sunny
Spring Weather and beautiful gardens in Bramhope and the surrounding area also helps. We
use drone footage and site maps on Rightmove to portray properties in the best way we can.

Here are a few guiding principles to be used when marketing prospective homes:-

A quality Estate Agent should never scrimp on the cost of a Professional photographer. Some sales
negotiators do take their own photographs and feel it is part of their role to do so. It's true, Smart
phones are now advanced, but it is not just about a shoot-and-grab picture. An Agent’s time is much
better spent communicating with clients and leaving it to the experts, ie the professional
photographer.

It is best to use horizontal landscape views, which are more pleasing on the eye than vertical.
A different set of photographs may need to be taken for use on social media, which we ensure we also do.

Without furniture, then a space is just walls, floors, windows and ceilings. Furniture provides scale,
lights and adds character – a personality. People decorate their homes to their own tastes, but this
does not always appeal to the masses. Sometimes the decoration can take over the room. A lick
of neutral paint may do the trick before photos are taken – buyers need to be able to use their
imagination when viewing a home.

Time to declutter:-

A cluttered, messy photo can reflect lazy work from an agent. It could also suggest a property that may not be so well looked after, which a viewer will notice.

Things to be removed from the kitchen include the fridge magnets, pets’ food bowls and cluttered bins. All cupboard doors should be closed and kitchen tops should be cleaned and de-cluttered.

The kitchen should be curated with a nice set of dishes, bowls of fruit and flowers rather than tea
towels hanging from the cooker. The dining room table should always set for dinner.

The lounge needs to be cleared of scruffy throws, children’s toys and DVDs. Piles of magazines can
look unsightly, and the TV should always be turned off.

Old towels are a definite no in the bathroom. As are cluttered sinks, baths and shower-cubicles. The
toilet seat should always be left down – small details that are sometimes overlooked.

When taking photographs, it is important to emphasise each room’s selling point:-

It might be the natural light, the spaciousness or an unusual feature that will make the potential buyer curious to see more. A professional photographer will shadow and colour boost to improve the property.
In some properties, it is difficult to photograph an entire room at once, so moving furniture around
will capture the perfect angle. Photographing through doorways and keeping internal doors open
will make a difference.

Owners often overlook the outside of the property. The area that provides that first impression on
the property portals – cars and dustbins should be removed, the lawn should be mown and windows
should be cleaned – we call this good kerb appeal.

Working around the weather is key, and having taken a look at the long-range weather forecast, there are certainly some sunny days ahead for North Leeds and the UK. It is ideal for producing
the best photos possible, particularly when gardens are coming into full bloom. And, if the weather
isn’t perfect, then we have a photographic enhancement service that allows us to improve the look of photography.

Only the best photography should be used:-

Buyers don’t want to sift through an entire library of images. It is recommended that at least 15 pictures should be used to give searchers a flavour of every room.
Remember that it is the first two weeks when a new property will get the most viewings and
hopefully that all-important sale. At David Phillip Estate Agents, we also take more photographs so that we
can ‘rotate’ pictures on the portals – this means that buyers take a ‘second look’ as they scroll
through properties on Rightmove. Using featured and premium listings also means that there is
more than one photo on the first page of the Rightmove listings, and also your property will appear
at the top of the listings!

David Phillip commented “Some agents will cut corners when taking photos, but to me it is key that
we portray a client’s home in the best way possible – it isn’t just about static pictures but 3D tours
and videos too – all will provide a better chance of a sale”

So, if you are considering selling your home and would like to have the perfect Spring/Summer
photographs to enhance the look of the property, give us a call now, and we can undertake a free
market appraisal.

David Phillip Estate Agents, T: 0113 46767400 W: davidphillip.co.uk A: 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope,
Leeds, LS16 9AN.

David Phillip Estate Agents, selling houses in North Leeds and covering Bramhope, Adel, Cookridge,
Pool-in-Wharfedale, Otley and Alwoodley.