Detail photography can bring out the best in your average or not so average listing!
Even the most cookie cutter listings have unique features that set them apart from other homes.  To show off that something special, detail shots are the way to go!  

The agents that I work with are always eager to share things that they see or hear in the great big world of real estate about the benefits of using Annie M Design for professional listing photos.

Here are some interesting observations to ponder...

Professional listing photos keep buyer's interest!  There are some buyers, actually many buyers, that lose complete interest of a home online after the first 3 pictures.  That is all of the time that you have to grab a potential buyer's attention.  Buyers have mentioned that if the first few photos aren't professional quality they do not want to even see the home.  Feelings are if the list agent and/or seller doesn't feel that the home is worth quality marketing with professional photography, then why should they waste their energy and time looking at the home.  Makes sense, doesn't it?

Cross Marketing!  Another benefit for professional photography is for cross marketing!  Buyers are eager to share the tales of their home search on social media platforms.  This includes sharing links to real estate websites and virtual tours of homes that they are planning to purchase.  Who's name is on the virtual tour or real estate website?  The list agent!!!  Why not spend less than 3%* of your commission on marketing the home (and yourself) the best way possible!  You can WOW prospective clients you didn't even know you were marketing to!

More Motivated Sellers!  It has also been mentioned (and I have noticed this, too) that sellers tend to step up their game when you say that you have hired a professional photographer to photograph their home. Gone are the sellers who put their home out there just to see if there is a bite, knowing that the only energy that their agent is putting into their home is a few shots with their cell phone or point and shoot camera. More sellers are serious because they know you are paying for my services and that you mean business about getting their home sold!   

Phrase that will get you that listing!  I have also been told on quite a few occasions that my clients are winning out on competing listings based on one statement- "I hire Annie M Design Photography to take professional photos of your home".  When going up against colleagues, this was one of the main things that moved their name to the top of the list!  


Happy Selling!

Annie


*average commission in 2013 based on CPML Stats is $4400 x 3% = $132, my most popular package is only $110!

It happens at least once a week...  I go into a home for a shoot and/or staging appointment and the parents are feverishly running around picking up toys, cleaning up dishes, putting laundry away, etc. and apologizing to me along the way for the last minute insanity.  My well known come back is always- selling your home when you have children is not for the faint of heart.  I always explain that even though I do this for a living, I can't wrap my head around the idea of selling my own home.  There is no way to get around the fact that families need to move for a variety of reasons and the only thing you can do is try to make it as painless as possible!
 
When I go through these homes, I always take mental notes of the nifty ideas that other parents have come up with to make their home appear more organized without breaking the bank and going insane.  Sadly, sometimes I also see what not to do!
 
Best place to start are my tips for making your home photo (and market) ready!

Have your home professionally cleaned before it hits the market.  It will be much easier to maintain and when you get that call for a last minute showing; you should only have to do minimal spot cleaning.
 
Make the home organization and preparation for showings a family affair.  Post a picture of your future home on your refrigerator.  Keeping the goal in sight will motivate everyone on pitching in to bring you closer to your dream home.
 
Speaking of pitching in, no time like the present to start a chore list for the entire family!  You could look all over the Internet for ideas to create a formal and fun chore chart and Kid's Activity Blog has a great list of appropriate chores for kids of all ages!  If your children are resistant, don't be above using bribery!  Make a trade off- if the children can keep up with their chores then you can allow them to pick out their paint color or bedding in their new room.
  
Make smart use of your home's hiding spaces for all of your kiddos' necessary items.  Whether it's closets, garage, unfinished basement or even under beds- use as much as you need, but keep it organized!  Buyers will keep in mind that you are moving and will likely look past an abundance of items in these storage areas.  BUT, if your items are not organized, that could be distracting and a turn off.  On a side note- you are only allowed to store items under a bed if you have a floor length bed skirt...sorry, it's one of my rules!

Have items that your children do not play with or use everyday, but they are not ready to part with them forever?  Rent a storage unit! Children have an awful lot of stuff, usually much more than us parents do.  A rental storage unit could be an affordable lifesaver to help keep your home clutter free!

Curb appeal matters- at all times!  With most buyers driving by your home before they even contact an agent for a showing, your curb appeal is of utmost importance.  Landscaping and exterior maintenance are, without a doubt, the most important things to consider with curb appeal, but so is outdoor clutter.  Children's bikes, scooters, sports equipment, etc, should be put away directly after use.  Clutter on the front lawn can be just as undesirable as clutter in the home.
 
Final and, in my opinion, the most important tip- Price your home competitively!  Over pricing your home could cause an extended time on the market and create unnecessary stress on you and your
family.  While it's always desired to get top dollar for your home, can you deal with keeping your home show ready for 6 months (or longer)?  Work closely with a highly qualified real estate agent to make sure your home is priced right!


Happy Selling!

Annie

Has a ring to it, doesn't it?  Not a pleasant one though!  

Imagine a buyer finding a home online, it's everything that they wanted and more- right location, perfect price and the size and layout that they have been longing for.  They call the agent, set up a showing right away and can't focus on anything as they imagine their new life in their dream home!  The buyers pull up to the home, curb appeal is on point, they can barely hide their excitement as they open the front door...and then BAM- it hits them...SMELLY HOUSE!!!  Even though the home is the one for them, they can't get past the smell and they leave the house disappointed and keep looking.

It's a reality that no one wants to face and, sadly, it happens too frequently.  It doesn't matter if getting rid of the odor is a quick fix, or more intensive, buyers these days just do not want to deal with it.  From pet, smoking, cooking and mold/mildew smells, it can turn a dream home to the one that sits on the market and finally sells for a discounted price, if it sells at all.  Even though it can be costly to remove certain smells from homes, it can take your home from the least desired to the most desired overnight.    

I once worked with a property owner on a rental- the former tenant was excellent, but in the last 6 months of his lease he smoked in the home with all windows and doors closed, even though it was against the rules.  To get the cigarette smoke smell out of the home required new carpet, paint and a full cleaning of all of the heating and air ducts.  Quite pricey, but it did the job and there was a new home scent that everyone appreciated! 

Some smells can be removed with a good cleaning and airing out, some more difficult smells could need much more, like the situation above or worse!  (Some smells could even be a sign of a larger problem, like a moisture issue in the home that could cause harmful mold!)  The key is to locate the source of the offending smell and then prepare a plan on fully removing the smell to bring your home back to a neutral scent.  Don't be afraid to bring in professionals to help for the tougher odors- disaster restoration companies are a great source of information and could be the most affordable route to go!

The use of plug ins and candles can help a home smell comforting, but they should never be used to mask a smell.  It is always necessary to remove the offensive odor first!  Once the smell is removed, adding a desirable scent can help a buyer imagine your house as their next home can be quite welcoming!

We live in our homes everyday, we get used to the smells to the point that we do not even notice them anymore.  If you have a pet, assume that you have pet smells.  If you smoke in your home, assume your home smells like cigarettes.  If you are not sure, ask a trusted friend or neighbor to come to you home for a sniff and ask them for their honest opinion.  Take their comments to heart,  because if they are noticeable to them, a buyer will not overlook it either.  The nose knows!

Happy Selling!

Annie

Name calling isn't always nice, but this one I kind of love!  

Recently a very pleased seller reported to their agent that I must be a "Ninja Dracula Magician" when
I recently photographed their home.

Ninja- The way I was in and out of their home quickly and without anything out of place.  Well, not without anything- they said that their home appeared cleaner and even looked better after I was finished with the shoot (that's why you hire a pro photographer that is also a certified home stager, match made in real
estate heaven!)



Dracula- My reflection, nor my camera and tripod's reflection, do not show up in surfaces- mirrors, glass,
appliances, etc.  The seller said that I must hang upside down from the ceiling or have no reflection at all to make that happen.  Nope, it's just being careful and taking the extra time to make sure that the images I
deliver show just the home and not me or my equipment.



Magician- The way I was able to capture their home in my images was completely different from the way they saw it and even joked that they fell in love with it all over again just by looking at the photos, but a move was still in order.  They insisted that I must perform magic!  The angles, lighting and staging that I am able to accomplish during a property photo shoot is not magic, there are no spells or wands, just a love that I have for what I do and it shows!



Happy Selling!

 Annie 

Spring is here! We finally have a breath taking spring Saturday in Central PA. No doubt the nurseries and home stores will be buzzing!

With so many buyers entering the market this season, the vast majority of them will first see your home online. The next move for many is to take a drive by past the homes that they are most interested in, even before they contact their agent for a showing. This is often a time that sellers lose perspective buyers because the exterior of their home is not up to par. Just because you don't have a showing that day doesn't mean that you can slack on what is going on at the front of your home. Curb appeal is extremely important the whole time you're home is actively on the market.

Here are some of my most important tips on making sure your home is on it's best behavior.

-Your lawn should be freshly mowed once to twice a week. Sharp mower blades are key for nice, clean cuts and promotes healthy growth. Don't forget edging!!!

-Planting colorful annuals, as well as making sure your perennials are looking their best, always makes an excellent first impression! Make sure you start after the last frost to ensure they last as long as possible. Fresh flowers in pots on your porch, deck and patio are very welcoming and pleasing to the eye!

-Fresh mulch is a must! Mulch will add a clean and manicured look to your lawn without emptying your wallet. Extra bonus, mulch is known to slow the growth of weeds, making yard maintenance less time consuming.

-The past winter was a bear for all of us, including the exterior of your home. Putting extra effort into having your home power washed and the outside of all of your windows cleaned will make your home shine!

-Keep lawn ornaments and kid's toys in check. Buyers want to admire your landscaping and home facade; toys and decorations can be distracting. Don't forget to make sure your hose is properly rolled up and trash cans are out of sight.

Happy selling!

Annie

Annie M Design of South Central PA Receives Best Of Houzz 2014 Award!


Annual Survey and Analysis of 16 Million Monthly Users Reveals Top-Rated Building,
Remodeling and Design Professionals

 
Elizabethtown, Pa, February 4, 2014 – Annie M Design of South Central Pennsylvania has been awarded "Best Of Houzz" by Houzz, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The Real Estate Photography, Staging and Marketing Firm was chosen by the more than 16 million monthly users that comprise the Houzz community.

The Best Of Houzz award is given in two categories: Customer Satisfaction and Design. Customer Satisfaction honors are determined by a variety of factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2013. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 16 million monthly users on Houzz, known as "Houzzers," who saved more than 230 million professional images of home interiors and exteriors to their personal ideabooks via the Houzz site, iPad/iPhone app and Android app. Winners will receive a "Best Of Houzz 2014" badge on their profiles, showing the Houzz community their commitment to excellence. These badges help homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals in every metro area on Houzz. 

"I am so excited to be recognized with this award and look forward to continue offering top notch customer service to all of my clients", stated Annie Weiler, Owner of Annie M Design.  "I constantly strive to ensure that every client that I work and every product I deliver exceeds expectations, from real estate photography, staging and marketing, and am eager to continue this trend though 2014 and beyond.  I feel privileged to work with some of the best real estate professionals in South Central PA!" 

"Houzz provides homeowners with the most comprehensive view of home building, remodeling and design professionals, empowering them to find and hire the right professional to execute their vision," said Liza Hausman, vice president of community for Houzz. "We’re delighted to recognize Annie M Design among our "Best Of" professionals for customer satisfaction as judged by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts who are actively remodeling and decorating their homes."

With Houzz, homeowners can identify not only the top-rated professionals like Annie M Design, but also those whose work matches their own aspirations for their home. Homeowners can also evaluate professionals by contacting them directly on the Houzz platform, asking questions about their work and reviewing their responses to questions from others in the Houzz community.

Follow Annie M Design on Houzz- http://www.houzz.com/pro/anniemdesign
 
About Annie M Design Real Estate Photography, Marketing and Staging

I am a professional photographer who specializes in capturing beautiful images
of homes & communities, inside & out. Being a licensed real estate
professional for over 10 years, I understand the nature of the real estate
business & have successfully worked with different agents on a variety of
different types of real estate.

About Houzz

Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with
everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish - online or
from a mobile device. From decorating a room to building a custom home, Houzz
connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement
professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest
residential design database in the world and a vibrant community powered by
social tools, Houzz is the easiest way for people to get the design inspiration,
project advice, product information and professional reviews they need to help
turn ideas into reality. For more information, visit
www.houzz.com

Ready for some shock, awe and maybe a few laughs?  Here are some of my favorite sites!

-Terrible Real Estate Agent Photos
-Bad MLS Photos
-Terrible Listing Photos on AOL
-Bad Real Estate Photos on Tumblr
-SoCal Photo Hall of Shame
-Bad MLS Photos and The Lesson They Teach on AOL Real Estate

PS- If your listing photos look like they might end up on one of these sites, call me TODAY!!!

Happy Selling!

Annie