Capturing a home’s story

By Jennifer Underwood, Realtor, ABR, CRS, SRES

Will Rogers’ quote that you never get a second chance to make a good first impression applies to real estate as much as it does when forging personal relationships.

Nearly everyone looking for a home nowadays starts by perusing online listings. Studies show if they don’t like the first one or two photos, they don’t go any further. That’s why capturing a home’s story with beautiful photography is integral to getting a home to sell faster and for the most money.

I do my own photography of a home’s interior and exterior, using the best equipment. Drone photography is also a key perspective, and for that I hire a professional.

Since a home’s exterior photo is the first one that pops up online, it’s best to make sure it’s a home run. Little things mean a lot, so I only photograph homes on gorgeous days with blue skies and sunshine. If someone is planning on putting their home on the market during winter, I recommend they get the outside shot before it snows.

Above all, whether indoors or out, the shots must be pristine. A person needs to imagine themselves living there, not looking at the homeowner’s clutter on counters. As a licensed stager, I’m picky when it comes to clean lines.

People often don’t consider things like their mailboxes or paint on their front door to be important, but they are. If a potential buyer is already questioning how well the house is being maintained before they walk through the door, that will jade their opinion of a home’s value.

Jennifer Herron-Underwood works at the Howard Hanna Real Estate Services offices at 2055 Crocker Road, Suite 101, in Westlake. She sells homes in Lorain, western Cuyahoga and Medina counties. Call her cell at 440-371-2862 or visit JenniferHerron.com for more information.