How To Create The Ultimate Home Listing (Part 3 of 5)

Great Photos Make Great Listing

Including great, vibrant pictures in your iStopOver listing is not only a perfect way to show visitors exactly what they'll be getting if they book with you, but they also give you the best opportunity to show off just how great your space is. We've seen a dramatic difference in the number of bookings that a listing with great photos receives versus a listing with poor photos or none at all. There is really no comparison - great photos are essential to being successful on iStopOver. 

 
There are a few things to keep in mind when taking your photos to make sure they look as good as possible. This is by no means a complete list, but it should at least get you thinking about what you should be taking pictures of and how to compose them.

Prepare the Space!

It is important that the space you are taking a picture of is clean and tidy. Get out the vacuum and make the bed! No one wants to book a listing if your pictures show clothes all over the floor, dirty dishes next to the sink, or junk cluttering the room. Clean the space before you take pictures of it - you may also consider putting out flowers and other accents to make your space look even more appealing. 
 

Take Wide Shots

This means stand back and zoom out. As a general rule, the wider the shot is that you take, the bigger the space will look. Avoid taking close-up shots that only show a small part of a space - you want to eliminate uncertainty about what you are offering by giving a full picture. It can also be helpful to kneel down when you are taking your pictures to give a better perspective on the room. Depending on the picture and the subject, a picture taken at stomach level, as opposed to eye level, can make a huge difference. Take pictures from a variety of angles and pick the ones that look the best! 
 

Use Colors

Colorful pictures can really make your listing standout on iStopOver, and can go a long way in attracting visitors to your ad. Big bold colors tend to translate into vibrant, appealing photographs. Again, consider displaying flowers or other colorful accents to add some zing to rooms that are duller.  
 

Lighting

Try and avoid using a built-in flash. Built-in flashes tend to overexpose objects in the foreground and underexpose objects in the background - in other words they can give an unnatural look to pictures if you're not careful. Experiment by using as much natural light as possible and taking pictures without any flash at all - if you find that your pictures are blurry, try using a tripod or putting your camera down on a table so that it remains steady.  
 

Be Creative

Take a good variety of pictures to give a complete view of the space a person is renting. You can add up to 10 pictures to your iStopOver listing - use this space! Don't forget about shared spaces like the kitchen, living room, and bathrooms. It can also be very helpful to include a picture of the exterior of your home or building so that a guest knows what to look for when they arrive. Have fun with your pictures and take more than you'll need - this will allow you to pick the best ones to use after you've uploaded them to your computer. 
 
In short, pictures make a dramatic difference to the success of a listing. Guests want to know what it is they're paying for. Take advantage of the ability to add 10 pictures to each listing and show off as many areas in your home or apartment as possible. If you include 10 well-focused, non-blurry pictures to your listing that show off your space, you will see a huge difference in the number of bookings you receive.

Comments

[house for sale Philippines at 3:45 AM on Monday, December 14, 2009]

I can see that you are putting a lot of time and effort into your blog and detailed articles! I am deeply in love with every single piece of information you post here. Will be back often to read more updates!

Deirdre G

[houses for sale Philippines at 4:51 AM on Tuesday, April 20, 2010]

Thanks for the tips, It will help a lot. thanks for the post.

Mitch