Six Must-Have Online Real Estate Photos

For a faster, more profitable home sale

Online real estate photos are the first thing home buyers want to see when they're searching for a new house-- over 90% to be precise! 

In a recent survey, 86% of buyers stated that the online real estate pictures were the MOST IMPORTANT and useful feature of their home search, and that they always looked at the pictures first before checking out the specs.

Additionally, most buyers said they skipped right past listings that didn't include any real estate pictures.

If you want to make a fast home sale, you MUST include visual elements of it online.

Avoid disappointing buyers by leaving out the six most important areas of your home that should be included in your online real estate photo gallery. 

Six must-have online real estate photos

1. Home exterior pictures

A picture of the front of the home exterior should be first in your online picture gallery.

When I see real estate photos that are missing an exterior shot of the house, my immediate thought is, “What don't they want us to see! Is there a gravel pit next door?" 

A collection of listing photos should always include a good mix of interior and exterior shots. 

Home exterior shooting tips:

• Remove cars from the driveway, toys from the yard, garbage cans, and anything with your name on it before taking outside pictures.

• Don’t shoot the home exterior dead on. Take pictures at an angle, like a corner of the yard of street. Doing so will also emphasize the depth of your home. 

• If you have an attached garage, avoid the mistake of shooting from the garage side of the property. This makes the garage look enormous in comparison to the rest of the house.

• Take seasonal landscape pictures, as well. If it’s summer, who wants to see a property buried in snow? Think holidays too. Prospective buyers searching for homes during the holidays are usually serious buyers. Tasteful holiday decorations can be emotionally appealing for many buyers. 

• Take exterior house pictures from a ladder or elevated part of the yard, especially if using a wide-angle lens. 
  

• Avoid shooting pictures in the full glare of the sun, as the house windows may reflect back the sun’s glare and cast shadows on your home.  

• Frame landscape pictures by shooting from behind a hedge, shrub, or other decorative feature... This will add perspective to your photo. 
  

• Shooting from one corner of the yard to the other just makes a yard look more appealing.

• Highlight attractive landscaping-- a beautifully landscaped yard will add tremendous appeal (and value!) to your listing. Buyers will judge your home by the condition of the yard. 

• Showcase mature shade trees or a well-tended garden in your photos. 

• If your house is in a rural setting, be sure to include photo details of a fenced-in garden,  outbuilding, greenhouse, and even a chicken coop. That chicken coop may be the deciding factor for many buyers, as chicken keeping is all the rage right now!

2. Outdoor living spaces

If you have it, flaunt it! Present a fun lifestyle to buyers by including pictures of a sparkling swimming pool, a hot tub, patio or deck with a built-in barbecue, even a porch swing. Make a quick home sale by showcasing the good life.

Home buyers with children will be interested in a property with play equipment in the backyard, while others may be looking for the privacy of a backyard wilderness.

Be sure to highlight any attractive outdoor features your property has to offer. 

3. Kitchen photos

Most buyers regard the kitchen as the yardstick by which they measure the rest of the house. If the kitchen design doesn’t meet their expectations, it may be the deal breaker, no matter how great the rest of the house is. You MUST include the kitchen in your gallery pictures lineup.

If you have any outstanding features in your kitchen, by all means, showcase them. Take a close-up shot of a high-end detail like; a farm-style kitchen sink, chef’s range, granite countertops, glass-faced cabinets, beautiful tiled backsplash and stainless steel appliances.

Know what the current target audience wants. If you have it, be sure to include it in your pictures.

4. Master bedroom photos

Today's buyers are looking for a master bedroom as a place of retreat from the stresses of the world.

When photographing your staged home, make it more attractive to potential buyers by presenting the master bedroom as a haven of luxury and rest.

Emphasize intimacy and comfort in your photographs by staging your bed with luxurious-looking bedding.

If you have an extra large master bedroom, set up a cozy sitting area with an upholstered chair and small table. Create a tempting vignette by staging with a lamp, books, tea set or other comforting items.

A walk-in closet is always at the top of a buyer's want list. If your master bedroom has a walk-in closet, be sure to feature it in your online real estate photos.

If it has a built-in closet organizing system, post pictures of that as well. Showcase your walk-in closet by organizing and staging it attractively. 

5. Master bath photos

Like the kitchen, a bathroom renovation can bring you a big return on your investment when you go to sell your home.

Today's home buyers have a strong preference for the en suite bathroom. Everyone wants that spacious, relaxing, spa-like bathroom next to the master bedroom. 

Be sure to showcase the master bath’s best features by featuring them in your real estate photos.

Include luxury details like a jacuzzi or soaking tub, beautiful tiled walk-in shower or double sink vanity in your gallery pictures.

It’s often tricky shooting pictures in a bathroom without getting a "mirror selfie." You may even have to stand outside the door to keep your image out of the photographs. 

6. Living room photos

The living room is one space where proper home staging will pay off. This may be the most important room of all, because of all the family activities and time spent here.

Your goal is to present an inviting lifestyle, by showing buyers a living room they can relax and/or entertain in. 

Highlight the most attractive features in your real estate photography. Shoot pictures of focal points like; a fireplace, French doors, crown molding, a great view, wood beams, arches or a high ceiling.

Float furniture (away from the walls) and arrange into cozy conversational seating. This will make your living room appear larger and more inviting.

For added warmth, color and style, lay down a large area rug and build your furniture arrangement around it. For a large, rectangular room, use two area rugs to create separate zones, one on each end.

If you have a great view, stand in the far corner of the room opposite the window view to shoot your photo; try to encompass the outdoors into your living room shot.

Capturing the outdoors into your living room shot will create a feeling of spaciousness and depth, as in the photo above.

The best tips for posting house photos online

Post pictures in an order that makes sense, as if you were walking through the house. Start with the exterior front, entry, dining room, etc, ending with the backyard.

Too few photos is frustrating for buyers. It makes them wonder what you're omitting. 

Too many photos can be overwhelming and buyers may move on.

Be sure to include at least two photos of each room from different angles. This includes the front and back yards, as well.

Don't post blurry photographs. It's frustrating for viewers and it's not helpful.

Post about 20 to 30 photos and be sure to label each picture so viewers know which room they're looking at.

Don't post photos upside-down or sideways. Yes, unbelievably this occurs a lot. Even by real estate agent professionals.

Post at least two wide-angle shots of larger rooms by standing in a corner or the doorway.

The best tip for taking great photos? TAKE A LOT of pictures so you have a good selection to choose from. 

For helpful photography tips on setting up your shots, head to real estate tips for photographing your staged home.

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This page last updated 11-12-2023