Many homebuyers nowadays start their house hunt online. They go through several listings and are most likely to narrow down their choices to magazine-worthy houses. But most of these buyers will not make an offer until after they arrive at the doorstep and make their inspection of the actual property. At this point, they will see right through the professional fish-eye photos.
We see a lot of suggestions and recommendations about the basic to-dos when marketing your house. In this article, we will let you know about the things you should not do when trying to quickly sell your home in Fort Collins.
Don’t distort your photos with the wrong lenses
Wrong camera lenses and bad angles distort the images of a home’s interior. One good example is the use of a fish-eye lens. Over ten years ago, people started using fish-eye photos to create panoramic tours of properties. But these lenses create massive distortion on the walls with reality-warping illusion. They are often very misleading to potential buyers. These bulbous illusions may in fact work against the seller or realtor once the buyer realizes that they’ve just been deceived.
A good property photo should instead produce sharp images and show all spaces evenly with minimal distortions. A wide-angle lens, for instance, can make a space feel ample and welcoming without going too wide like that of fish-eye lenses.
Don’t forget to mention any obvious issues of the house
It happens all the time: The buyer checks the photos, reads through the listing, likes what he sees, and visits the property. When they arrive, obvious signs of disrepair are immediately noticed, and it seems that the seller has deliberately “forgot” to mention these in the listing.
This can be a very frustrating scenario for the potential buyer. While your listing description should not be a laundry list of every defect, it should also be transparent enough to address any obvious issues in the house. Buyers always have the right to know about these flaws. It would be unethical for a seller or realtor to withhold information from them knowingly.
Don’t forget to disclose all virtual staging
In the context that many customers start their house-buying process online, virtual staging has become a key part of selling properties. According to the National Association of Realtors, at least 58% of realtors say that buyers offer more for staged homes.
Virtual staging uses computer technology to furnish a photo of an empty property. The technology used has come a long way and actually looks a lot more realistic than they used to. The main goal for this process is for buyers to visualize what a house might look like when filled with furniture.
However, it is important for sellers and realtors to disclose that the images have been virtually staged as to avoid giving customers false expectations. Aside from disappointment at a viewing, non-disclosures can also lead to a real estate misrepresentation lawsuit.
One way to avoid legal issues is to provide potential buyers with a sense of the space by showing the current and altered pictures side by side. Clearly label the photos to give the buyer a real view of the property. Help them see just how the space can be used if they live there.
There are many ways to sell your house quickly. Hiring a professional photographer, creating a well-crafted listing, and setting up a virtual staging are some of the well-rounded strategies to reach a wide range of potential buyers. Just make sure not to do the things mentioned above to avoid disappointed buyers and possible lawsuits.