How Great Photography Can Help You Maximise Your Selling Price

It might be a cliché, but first impressions really do count when you’re trying to sell a property. In most cases the first time a potential buyer sees your home will be in the photographs that appear online and in your property brochure.

It goes without saying that if you’re looking to pique buyers’ interest and get the best possible price for your property, it’s vital that you make sure your photographs are of the highest quality which is why Warners uses professional photographers to showcase our clients’ properties.

We sat down with one of those photographers, Neil Macmillan, director with TourMyHome, to find out more about how he helps sellers to maximise their property’s appeal.

How long have you been working as a professional property photographer?

Longer than I might like to admit! I’ve been a professional photographer for almost 25 years now and I’ve spent the last eight years specialising in property photography.

Why property?

When I was selling my flat the estate agent I was using took the photographs himself. I wasn’t too happy with the results so I took my own shots and that led to me getting more work from that estate agent. Things have grown from there and now TourMyHome shoot thousands of properties each year.

Why do you think the quality of the photography is important in selling a property?

When the market is more buoyant for sellers, some people make the mistake of thinking that how they market their property doesn’t matter as much because they’ll “find a buyer anyway”.

The trick isn’t simply to find a buyer. It’s to get the best price for your home. For most buyers, their property will be one of the most significant financial decisions that they make. As with any major purchase, the right marketing and photography play a vital role. Buyers want their new home to look spacious, bright and well-presented. If the photographs don’t present a property in its best light it can have a hugely detrimental effect on the selling price.

What’s the main thing people get wrong when they’re getting their property ready for a shoot?

People are often way too reluctant to declutter their home, either because they’re attached to certain items or because they simply find the process daunting. I always advise clients to do what they can to minimise clutter and maximise floor space. Even little things like taking away rugs and footstools can make a massive difference in showing a room to its true potential.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I have a real interest in design and architecture, so my job is my hobby! I love meeting people too and it’s incredibly rewarding to hear positive feedback from clients.

And what do you tend to find most challenging?

Photographing tenanted properties can be a real challenge. Often the tenant will have done very little to get the property ready for the shoot and, to be fair, it’s hard to blame them. If the landlord is selling, it often means that the tenant will have to find a new flat! A lot of experienced landlords will speak to the tenant in advance and offer them a wee rebate on their rent if they agree to make sure the property is clean and tidy for photography and viewings.

Any amusing anecdotes from your years photographing properties?

I remember one place we went to shoot where the elderly couple had been sent away for the weekend by their children so that they could have a good clean and declutter. When I arrived, we finished off the cleaning and rearranged the furniture a to open up the property a bit before photographing it. A couple of days later I got a phone call from one of the family asking for a copy of the photographs. He then said his parents were so happy with the new layout that when they saw what we’d done, they decided not to sell after all!

Neil Macmillan is a Director with TourMyHome, one of Scotland’s leading property photography companies.

If you’re thinking of selling your home and would like to know more about how Warners can help you to get the best possible price for your property, call us today on 0131 667 0232 and one of our team will be delighted to help.