One of the features of our Secrets of a Stager Home Staging Kit is our Do This Not That Guide. We show  you photos of what NOT to do when you are selling or staging your home for sale.

We’ve all heard that picture are worth a thousand words, but when you’re selling your home they are the most important aspect of selling your home successfully. Over 90% of buyers shop online and you have that one chance to make a great first impression.

Here’s an example of a home currently listed for sale for $344,000 that was randomly chosen on realtor.com.

Two first impressions:

1. Photos are not professionally taken and do not represent the home well. If you are taking photos with only natural light and you shoot towards a window you will get a dark photo with bursts of glare. It’s really important to have additional lighting or at least turn on all available lights to counteract the glare coming in from the windows.

Photos taken from odd angles do not help online buyers see the room. A wide angle lens on your camera is invaluable at capturing a wider angle and making your rooms look larger.

The room with the small antique table and contemporary desk needs to be staged. I would remove the small table and re-take the photo to make the room look larger.Even with lights on this room seems dark.

Another tip is take photos on an overcast day to minimize glare from windows.

2. The window treatments in the dining room are very taste specific and distracting. I would remove the “hankerchief” valances while the home is for sale.

I’m sure this is a very nice home, but the photos do not entice because they are dark and somewhat blurry.

You’ll find a lot more DO this NOT that tips in our SOS Home Staging Kit.