Picture perfect: the images buyers must include in a listing

It may seem obvious but selling a property is about drawing attention to your home, and with most buying research and shortlisting conducted online, a vendor may have as little as three seconds in which to impress a potential purchaser.

We often ‘buy with our eyes’ – scrolling past a property if the aesthetics aren’t appealing – and that’s why new research on what buyers most want to see in photographs was of interest to Aspire.

Property visual specialists, Giraffe360, questioned 1,000 recent homebuyers to discover what is eye catching when browsing online listings. It will come as no surprise that a good exterior shot is most important to purchasers when asked about the front exterior of a property.

The second most important exterior photo for buyers is a street shot that shows the wider area in which the property sits. The research also found that an image showing a driveway, the front garden or a garage carries more value than a shot of the front door or flowers, for example.

When it comes to the outside space at the rear, purchasers want to see the style and size of the garden over how the back of the property looks, with it deemed important to photograph the level of privacy afforded and if the garden is south facing.

When it comes to the most important interior photographs, buyers voted the kitchen as the vital first floor image, followed by the reception room and any unique features. Photographs of the master bedroom were a priority on upper levels, followed by additional bedrooms and the bathroom last. 

Preparing the areas identified above so they look their very best before photographs are taken will help buyers engage with your property online. Here are Aspire’s top 8 pre-photo presentation tips:-

1. Bins: wheelie and recycling bins are unsightly, so ensure they are hidden from view
2. Driveways: remove any vehicles, rubbish, skips or trailers from the front
3. Windows & doors: ensure any glass is sparkling clean and paintwork fresh
4. Gardens: front and rear gardens should be tidy – grass mowed, fallen leaves removed and toys tidied away
5. Kitchen worktops: ensure they are clean, tidy and with only the minimum left out
6. Clutter: messy hotspots really show up in photos so consider removing fridge magnets and noticeboards
7. Laundry: remove any airers, wet washing draped over radiators and ironing piles
8. Beds: all beds should be fully made, ideally with fresh, ironed linen

Please contact Aspire if you would like further property presentation advice.