How to take great photos of your incredible listing!

How to take great photos that make your listing pop!

 

According to top hosts on Airbnb, VRBO, and other short-term rental sites - not to mention every property manager we've seen - the quality of your photos can make or break the success of your listing. That said, we're not all professional photographers with great lighting and DSLRs, so how do you take the best possible photos with what you have available?

 

1. Make sure that every inch of your rental space is spotless 

This is a no-brainer, but the most basic things are often the most important! Arrange your furniture and fluff any cushions, ensure all dishes are packed away, and make sure all your floors are swept and mopped! Whenever possible, pack away clutter to make your space look as large as possible - even though ornaments and decorations are lovely, having too many can create a "closed-in" feeling on camera.

If you're short on time, just remember to move clutter out of the camera's "eye", leave toilet seats down in the bathroom, and ensure that nothing looks obviously "out of place" - the human eye is drawn naturally to anything that doesn't seem to belong, so try to keep towels straight, kitchen counters tidy, and pillows upright!

2. Stage each room as you go

 

Often, what makes the difference for a renter is their ability to imagine themselves in the space. Make it inviting by suggesting uses for the space - a stack of towels in the bathroom suggests luxury, a nice pot on the stove in the kitchen gives a lived-in feel. Try to imagine how you would exist in that space, and stage it accordingly! A pop of green makes a space feel inviting, and strong reds can draw the eye to features you may wish to highlight.

3. Shoot your photos into a corner

 

Okay, so this one seems easy, but it makes a huge difference! Taking your photos with the corner of the room in the center of your frame adds dimension to the image, and allows for a better perspective on room depth, and gives a more inviting look!

4. Light it up!

 

Even in the daytime, light can hit a room in different ways, and create shadows which can obscure your potential tenant's ability to see the space in all its glory! Avoid this by turning on all the lights and ensuring that there are no big “areas of darkness” or shadows blocking your camera's view.

5. Use the neighbourhood


Do you have a property in a super central neighbourhood? Are you located near schools, grocery stores, and services? Highlight these upsides in a couple of photos - it doesn't need to be the focus of your listing, but continuing to “build the lifestyle” for your tenants is an awesome way to differentiate your property!

 

If all of this sounds like a lot of work, or if you really want your listing to stand out from the crowd, consider using Matterport to film a 3D tour of your space! You can do this for free through the Matterport mobile app, or upgrade your basic plan to include more features as needed!

These are the most crucial months for showing potential medical tenants what's out there! If you're hesitating to list your property, or need any guidance at all, please reach out to us at !