Tips For Photo And Video When Marketing Your Rental
The strategies you do when marketing your rental is usually highly correlated to the quality of the applicants you will find yourself screening to fill vacancies.
Since most prospects will view your website and other social media platforms first, you need to seduce them with attractive photos. To find the best renters, you want as many applicants as you can get, so you don’t feel pressured to accept just anyone.
Featuring your property with high-quality photos and videos when marketing your rental will not only entice more potential prospects, but it will provide a larger pool of qualified applicants.
Whether you’re taking the photos yourself on a good camera phone or hiring a professional, there are crucial elements to consider, so the property shows at its best. Let’s take a look at some of the essentials.
1) Make sure that the space is well lit. Professional photographers know that proper lighting is one of the most important aspects of any photo. No matter how beautiful your space is, lighting can make the difference between vibrant, captivating images and dull, unenticing photos.
Natural lighting is ideal, but proper professional stage lighting can help to enhance your photos when marketing your rental. When taking pictures, turn on indoor lights and keep the blinds open to invite as much natural light as possible.
2) Stage the scene. Try to include as much furniture as you can to provide potential applicants an idea of how their belongings will fit. Borrow or rent a few key pieces if you must.
Arrange the furniture in a way that accentuates the space, not necessarily the way you would place it. Taking shots from different angles will provide perspective and give potential tenants a better sense of the space.
3) Don’t forget the outdoors. Folks are surely most interested in shots of the indoor living space but don’t neglect to spotlight any outdoor features and amenities, such as the entrance, yard, patio, shed, or garage.
Use the sun to your advantage for the most dramatic outdoor pictures. The best times are when the sun is low, a couple hours after sunrise and a couple of hours before dusk. This will help eliminate issues with too much brightness or hot spots.
4) Take wide-angle photos. Wide-angles lenses can capture more of the space in a single shot, providing a better overview of the area. If you’re taking the photos using a camera phone, taking horizontal shots will help to achieve a similar effect. Avoid using the fish-eye lens as it distorts the space and makes it look dizzy.
5) Take extra care when shooting the kitchen and bathrooms. These spaces tend to get cluttered with appliances and personal items, so make sure the space is clean and neat.
Kitchen
- Clear clutter from countertops
- Remove notes, refrigerator magnets, family pics, shopping lists, etc. from the fridge
- Remove soaps, steel wools, sponges from the sink
- Place a bowl of fresh fruit or flowers on the island or kitchen table to add color.
Bathroom
- Clear the vanity, removing toiletries, lotions, toothbrushes, etc.
- Make sure to use fresh, clean towels
- Replace the toilet paper with a new roll and close the lid on the toilet
- Remove any items from the shower and make sure there’s no mold or mildew on the shower door
- Before snapping the shot, double-check to see what’s reflected in the mirror.
6) Edit! Once you’ve chosen only the best photos to market your rental, edit them to be enticing. Be careful here, as too much editing or “photoshopping” will make your pictures look unrealistic.
By overcompensating, your potential prospects may feel that you’re covering up some of the property’s flaws. Playing with the rotation, cropping, color, brightness, and contrast using an app or program should be enough, it will give your photos the “pop” they need to stand out.
7) Provide a virtual tour. People love videos as much or more than pictures, so including a 3-D virtual tour can only enhance your property’s presentation. If your outdoor space is worthy, you may also want to include drone footage for a 360º view of your property.
Using videos on your website or social media platforms is an easy and inexpensive way to expose your property to a broader audience.
Having high-quality visuals can take your marketing strategy to the next level and help you snag the better quality tenants. Proper photographs and videos can sway potential prospects into at least viewing your property in person.
Your advertising budget will ultimately determine how much you can spend on marketing your rental property. But you can use these tips whether you’re using a good camera phone, handheld camera or you’ve decided to hire a professional service. Remember the old adage, a picture is worth a thousand words.