You’ve done the work to stage your property for sale so it appeals to potential buyers who visit. But they will probably view your listing online first. So it’s critical that your online curb appeal, presented primarily through photographs, draws the potential buyers in. Here are three real estate photography tips to help.
 
Real Estate Photography Trick #1: Open the front door – it symbolizes “welcome home”. It also helps to direct the eye to other areas of the space, creating interest.
 

Beautiful details in the door and flooring.

Real Estate Photography Trick #2: Use angles – try to take a photo of the full seating area, not just the back of chairs. It adds dimension, openness and a feeling of spaciousness.

After: This unique breakfast room is a great place to relax or play with the kids on the indoor swing, yes a swing.

Real Estate Photography Trick #3: Get plenty of floor and ceiling in the shot – it makes the room feel more spacious. Work with the direction of the flooring (in this case hardwood planks) to draw the eye upward.

After: The views will take your breath away.

The reality is that potential buyers will probably view your listing online first. So draw them in. Quality real estate photography combined with a professionally staged home will maximize the online curb appeal. When buyers feel positive about their first impression of your home, they’ll want to get inside for a viewing. That gets you one step closer to “sold”.   Learn more. Follow Set Your Stage on Twitter to see what other home staging tips we have to share!

As the temperature starts to cool and winter makes its way here (in Calgary we already have snow), people have a tendency to choose comfort. When you’re selling your house or condo, it’s important to keep this desire in mind. Appeal to potential buyers during colder months by staging to create a cozy home.
 

Before: Master bedroom before home staging. Think of a thick, soft, natural wool sweater that provides a layer of comfort and warmth. A professional home stager can use inexpensive items and focus on placement to create a cozy home. In the before and after photos of a property I staged in Cranston, you can see the impact that small changes can make.

After: This large, yet stylish bedroom with clean white bedding and a pop of romantic purple is the perfect retreat for any homeowner. The master bedroom started out feeling dark and cold. After staging, it felt welcoming and comforting. Using dark accessories, soft mood lighting, and textured fabrics helped to create the cozy feel. The bed draws you in to read a book or watch TV. Perfect winter activities!

Before: Calgary sunroom before home staging. The same principles apply in the after picture of the Willow Park home’s sunroom we staged. Naturally, a sun room is considered more of a summer space. But a potential buyer can picture using it year round when it’s staged appropriately during cooler weather.

After: This cozy sunroom is the perfect for entertaining or relaxing. Dark lounging chairs, a nubbly rug, dark red pillows, and an oh so comfy looking throw all work together to create a cozy home feel. Staging in the same way wouldn’t make as much sense in the summer. It’s all about creating the feeling that a potential buyer is seeking at a given time. Seasons have an impact.

Set Your Stage has many more before and after rooms posted on Facebook for you to view. So grab a cup of something hot, put on your wool sweater, get cozy and log on to your Facebook account to browse around our page. Enjoy.

I wanted to take a moment to thank all of the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for us.
 
Did you know The Military Museum is holding a service today? More information is available on their website: www.themilitarymuseums.ca