Are you a short term rental owner, landlord or property manager looking to get the best results from your rental photos? Preparing your rental for photos doesn’t have to be a daunting task. In this quick guide, we’ll provide some tips and tricks that will help you bring out the best in your rental space – so you can attract more interested tenants and maximize your profits!
Even Your Lighting
This one is first, because it’s one of the most important things you can do to make you property attractive in photos, and it’s one of the simplest and least expensive changes that will make a world of difference in your property’s presentation!
Have you noticed that some lightbulbs, whether they’re standard bulbs, LED or fluorescent; are different “shades” of white or even yellow? These colors make a huge difference in the presentation and photography of your rental property! Light bulbs are usually labelled as soft white, cool white or daylight and have a color temperature rating, typically 2700k – 5000k or even 8000k. The lower the number, the “warmer” or more yellow the bulb and its light will appear.
This color temperature will greatly affect how your house looks in pictures. For photos taken in daylight as most photos are, your house will look much better in a cooler temperature light, and the best range is 5000-6000k or higher. This is because it more closely resembles the daylight coming through your windows. Yellow lighting will likely also end up giving nearby surfaces a more yellowed tint. It will also make daylight from windows appear more blue.
And the single most important tip for your lighting is to keep it the same. Don’t put warm and cool bulbs in the same room. It will tend to cast colors on other surfaces, that are hard to balance out, even by a professional photographer.
Clear Clutter and Personal Items
When preparing your rental property for listing photos, it is important to clear away all clutter and personal items. This includes any decorative items, personal photographs, stacks of mail, etc. that might detract from the professional look of the photos. Additionally, turning on all lights and opening all garage doors will maximize the light and give your property a bright and inviting feel.
If there are kitchen counters or other areas that are cluttered with items, it is best to remove them in order to make the kitchen look bigger in the photos. You may choose to leave out some decorative items if you like but generally it is best to keep things as bare as possible for a more professional look.
By taking the time to clear away clutter and personal items before taking listing photos you will help ensure that your rental property looks its best online and will attract interested guests!
Declutter Your Furniture
Decluttering your furniture can be a great way to improve the look and feel of any rental property. Decluttering will help make the space look more inviting and luxurious, while also freeing up room for potential tenants to move around.
Start by taking an inventory of all of your furniture pieces. Determine which items are necessary and which pieces can be removed or replaced with smaller, less bulky options. Think about how you want the room to look when it’s finished and decide accordingly what should stay and what should go.
Next, determine how much space is available in each room, taking into account any additional storage needs that may come up during showings or tenant visits. If you have large furniture pieces that take up too much space or make it difficult for potential tenants to move around, consider removing them or replacing them with smaller pieces.
Finally, organize the remaining furniture in each room so that it looks clean and tidy. Place chairs around tables rather than directly against walls, arrange couches away from windows to maximize light exposure, and use rugs and art to add color and texture throughout the space. By decluttering your furniture in this way you can create a more attractive living space for potential tenants that will help attract business for your rental property.
Dry Clean Carpets and Upholstered Furniture
(For photos of short term rentals, this may not be necessary, we’ve included it for longer-term rentals and property sellers)
Carpet cleaning is a chore that nobody loves, but it’s essential to keep your carpets looking their best. Upholstery furniture can be tricky to clean, and requires specific tools and techniques. Fortunately, with the right tips and tricks, you can easily dry clean both your carpets and upholstered furniture.
The first step in preparing for a professional carpet cleaning is to use a dry brush on all of your upholstered furniture. This will help loosen dirt, debris, pet hair, and other particles that are imbedded deep within the fabric. If you don’t have access to a dry brush, you can also rent an upholstery cleaner from a local hardware store or home improvement center.
Once your furniture is prepped with the brush or cleaner, it’s time to move onto the carpets themselves. Before bringing in the professionals for steam cleaning or hot water extraction methods, make sure you vacuum thoroughly using an appropriate attachment for each specific type of carpeting such as shag rugs or berber carpets. Vacuuming will help remove any excess dirt and debris before the deep cleaning process begins.
Finally, once both your carpets and upholstered furniture are ready for professional treatment do not forget to declutter! Remove any items that may get in the way of proper drying after carpet cleaning has been completed such as lamps or books from coffee tables so that air can circulate freely around them during their drying process. Following these simple steps will help ensure perfect results when dry-cleaning your carpets and upholstered furniture!
Clean Windows and Mirrors
Windows and mirrors are often the first thing that prospective tenants notice when they view a rental. To make sure your rental looks its best, it is important to clean the windows and mirrors in your rental before taking photos or showing the unit. Cleaning windows and mirrors is not difficult but it does require time and attention to detail. Here are some tips on how to clean windows and mirrors in your rental:
- Start by choosing the right cleaning products for your job – avoid using abrasive cleaners as these can damage glass surfaces. A mild detergent or water-based window cleaner is usually best for regular cleaning of windows and mirrors.
- Make sure you have enough cleaning cloths or paper towels on hand for the job – one of each per window/mirror should be sufficient.
- Spray the window cleaner directly onto a clean cloth, newspaper or t-shirt rather than spraying directly onto the glass surface as this will help reduce streaks from forming later on after drying.
- Use a circular motion when wiping down both sides of the glass with a damp cloth to remove any dirt, dust or smudges that may have accumulated on the glass surface over time.
- Use a dry cloth afterwards to buff out any remaining streaks until your windows and mirrors shine like new!
Finally, make sure you inspect all of your windows and mirrors once you’re done to ensure everything looks perfect before photos showe potential tenants around your rental property!
Wash Walls, Trim, Doors, and Baseboards
When preparing your rental for photos, it’s important to make sure the walls, trim, doors, and baseboards are clean and in good condition. Start by washing the walls and cleaning any dust off of the trim and baseboards with a vacuum brush attachment. Fill any gaps with flexible trim strips if necessary. When painting walls or applying wallpaper, make sure to cover nail holes and repair any wall damage. Use light colors to brighten up the space and add a baseboard along the bottom to give the room a more finished look. Lastly, clean out tight areas with a putty knife before finally wiping down all surfaces with a microfiber cloth or non-abrasive sponge. By following these steps you can ensure that your rental looks its best for photographs!
Stage the Front Door Area
Having an inviting and well-staged front door area is essential to attracting more renters. It’s one of the first things a potential renter will see, so it should reflect the beauty and charm of your rental. Here are some tips for staging the front door area:
- Clean up – Start by making sure that the front porch is free from any debris or clutter. Sweep away any cobwebs and leaves, clean dirt off of outdoor furniture and remove any outdoor rugs or mats.
- Add plants – Adding greenery to the entrance can make it look more inviting. Consider adding potted plants, hanging planters, or window boxes with flowers or herbs to give your rental a homey feel.
- Update furniture – Make sure that your outdoor furniture is in good condition and comfortable for potential renters to sit on while they wait for you to arrive. If you don’t have any furniture, consider adding some to create a cozy atmosphere outside your rental door.
- Lighting – Adding lighting elements such as lanterns, strings of fairy lights, or even solar-powered light fixtures can create an inviting atmosphere when approaching your rental’s entrance at night time.
- Welcome sign – Place a welcome mat outside the door of your rental and add a welcome sign with information about check-in procedures and other important details for renters arriving at your property for their stay
Add Color with Fresh Flowers
Fresh flowers are a great way to instantly add color and bring life to any space. Whether you’re decorating for an event, staging a home for sale or just looking to brighten up your living room, adding fresh flowers is an easy and affordable way to do so.
When it comes to adding color with fresh flowers, there are endless possibilities. From vibrant hues of red roses to more subtle pastel shades of baby’s breath, the options are endless. You can also mix and match different varieties within the same palette for a unique look. Plus, if you opt for faux flowers, you’ll get the exact look you want without worrying about their lifespan.
When arranging fresh (or faux) flowers in your home or event space, be mindful of where they will be placed in relation to other elements such as furniture and artwork. Be sure that the arrangements don’t overpower anything else in the room, but rather provide a soft accent that enhances what’s around it. Additionally, when using multiple bouquets throughout your space, make sure they have similar colors and styles so that everything is cohesive.
Adding color with fresh flowers can truly transform any room into something special! Whether you choose real or faux blooms – each arrangement can be made extra special with thoughtful touches like ribbons or vases filled with water beads or stones. With careful selection and placement of these colorful accents – your space will be sure to make a lasting impression!
Don’t Forget to Accessorize!
When it comes to giving your rental property a personal touch, don’t forget to accessorize! From adding a few pieces of decor to incorporating memorable photos, there are several ways you can make your rental stand out from the crowd. Adding accessories is an easy way to give your space character and create a unique atmosphere for potential guests.
Think about what kind of style you want for your rental, and how you want people to feel when they walk in. Consider using colorful decor items such as vases, rugs, artwork or throw pillows that will add some visual appeal. If you have any personal photographs or artwork that you’d like to showcase, don’t be afraid to put them on display – but make sure they fit the overall look and feel of the room first!
Lastly, consider getting professional photographs taken of your rental property. Professional photos will help potential guests visualize themselves in the space more effectively than if they were just looking at cellphone shots taken by yourself or family members. Good quality images can make a big difference in whether customers choose your property over others when booking their stay.
In Conclusion
It is worth investing in a professional photographer that can capture the best features of your rental property and make sure the photos look great. This will help you stand out from the competition and generate more interest in your rental property. Good photography can also positively impact how much rent you can charge, as people are willing to pay more for well-presented properties. Finally, great photography can help create a positive impression on potential tenants and give them peace of mind when renting from you.