Images play a crucial role in selling property, and the exterior shots of your home in particular will have a huge impact on your for sale ad. Typically, a real estate agent will hire a professional photographer to take these shots. However, if you are selling on your own or are on a tight budget, here are some tips for taking your own photos.

1. A good time to take exterior shots is spring

Even if you plan to stay indoors until autumn, you should take the opportunity to take some high-quality photos of your property in spring. At this time of year, fresh leaves on trees and shrubs, flowers blooming in the beds and green grass have a much greater appeal than dreary winter weather or parched landscapes. It is worth noting, however, that if you are planning on making renovations such as a new roof, facade work or garden redesign, you should consider whether it is worth waiting until the work is completed to take the photos.

2. Stage your property for the best photo

When staging your home, your front yard is just as important as your living room - maybe even more important! Careful preparation for the exterior shot could make the difference between a sales-boosting photo and a more off-putting one.

• Put away toys, work tools and other distracting items. Don't forget to keep the trash cans hidden!
• Park cars away from the house if they can't be stored in the garage.
• Close the garage door and all other exterior windows and doors.
• Sweep the sidewalk and driveway. Remove any oil stains from the driveway and parking lot.
• Make sure the lawn and garden are in the best possible condition.

3. Choose the best time for outdoor shots

The orientation of the building, shadows cast by trees or gutters, and the color of the facade all make it difficult to determine the ideal time to shoot. Instead of guessing, try different times. Take test photos shortly after sunrise, in the morning, in the afternoon, and at dusk. This will help you find the most suitable time for your property. This process only requires a little time with a digital camera. Additionally, it is worth experimenting on both cloudy and sunny days. A light cloud cover can soften glare and highlight the details of your home - especially if you have a covered porch or trees cast shadows on the property.

Please note the following recommendations:

• Always keep the sun behind you. Photographing against the light usually only creates shadows in the image.
• Avoid light reflections in windows and other shiny surfaces. Adjust the angle of the shot if glare occurs.
• If you are shooting early in the morning or at dusk, turn on all interior and exterior lights. If you are shooting in bright daylight, leave the lights off to create dark contrasts on the windows of the building.

4. Choose the right frame

A frontal shot is probably not the most advantageous perspective. Porches and balconies lose their sense of space, driveways appear too wide, and viewers don't get a sense of the spatial width of the interior of the house. Instead, experiment by photographing the house from different corners of the front yard and points in between. You may find that a side perspective creates a better overall effect, as more of the lawn and landscaping is visible, rather than primarily the garage and driveway.

Other recommendations:

• Choose a viewing angle with as few obstructions as possible. Potential buyers are less interested in the plants in your front yard than in the entryway behind it.
• Use a tripod and make sure the camera is level. This will avoid blurry or angled shots and will make it easier to make small adjustments to the camera height or angle.
• Consider improving the composition of the image by shooting from a ladder or from close to the ground.
• Avoid tilting the camera in any way as this can create distortion.
• If there are unsightly areas on the property or in the surrounding area, try to avoid them when choosing your viewing angle.
• Remember that you can crop photos later using photo editing software, but you cannot expand the field of view of the shot after the fact. Therefore, keep a safe distance or use a wide-angle lens if the entire house cannot be captured at once.
• Incorporate particularly attractive features into your photos when possible. For example, an elaborately paved driveway, wraparound porch or newly exposed roof could be compelling selling points that should be highlighted.
• You may find that your photo shoot results in two different but equally desirable perspectives. For example, your house might be on a corner lot, have a bay window and plenty of space to the next neighbor. However, shots from the opposite side clearly show that the wraparound porch offers plenty of space for outdoor activities. However, the perspective makes the neighbor's house appear closer than it actually is. It is your responsibility to weigh the pros and cons of each shot. You may also choose to feature both perspectives in your ad. Ultimately, however, only one photo will be the main image of the for sale ad that will shape the first impression with potential buyers.

In addition: While you are taking exterior photos of your home, you are already taking close-up photos of interior spaces and special details outside. A covered patio, sundeck, gazebo, grill area, pool, sunroom or other special features can help set your property apart from the competition.