Boosting Your Homes Screen Appeal

You may never have heard of “screen appeal,” and that’s understandable, as it is a term that has begun to replace “curb appeal” since 2020. While “curb appeal” refers to a house’s aesthetic appeal as seen from the street, “screen appeal” is about how a house appears online. Given that most home searches now start online, screen appeal plays a significant role in selling your home. That’s why, when I market a home, I focus extensively on the details that will make it truly stand out online. Continue reading on to discover my top tips for enhancing your home’s screen appeal.

Decluttering

Generally, a minimalist look is most effective for screen appeal. For this reason, decluttering is essential when preparing your home for sale. Remove excess knick-knacks, furniture, or other items that contribute to a cluttered appearance. Ensure that all counters and surfaces are clear. A good rule of thumb is that if an item is smaller than a grapefruit, it should probably be packed away. The more streamlined and open your rooms appear, the better.

A Fresh Coat of Neutral Paint

Paint colors can hugely impact your home’s online first impression. I tell my clients to think of selling their home like making a batch of chili for a large party. Even if you prefer spicy food, you wouldn’t make it overly spicy for guests. Instead, you would prepare it to appeal to most tastes. Apply this concept when painting your house. Choose light, neutral colors when selecting paint. This approach will appeal to most online viewers and will make your rooms look larger and brighter, which is always a plus in photos and videos.

Clean

This one should go without saying, but it’s worth mentioning nonetheless: having a clean home is essential when attempting to sell, and this includes its online appearance. You want your home to appear pristine in photos and videos, particularly the kitchens and bathrooms, which are likely to attract the most online attention. It’s crucial that all tiles, floors, countertops, and appliances shine in your online images.

If you have the means, consider hiring a professional cleaning service. There are services out there that just specialize in cleaning homes for listings. The cost of these specialized cleaning services will tend to be a little more than a typical cleaning service, but in my experience, the results are well worth it.

Lots of Light

Another way to ensure your rooms look their best online is to make sure they’re well-lit. Open the curtains and turn on all the lights before taking photos or videos; you want buyers to be able to see everything clearly. And if you have any dark corners in your rooms, consider adding some additional lighting. Just a little extra light can really brighten up a space. You should also replace any burned-out light bulbs and make certain all lights in a room are the same color and hue.

Staging Your Home for Maximum Impact

Once you’ve painted, decluttered, cleaned, and added light, it’s time to stage your home for maximum impact. Staging can make a huge impact on how your home looks online and it’s even more critical if you have an empty house. If you have the time and money, hire a professional stager to come in and arrange furniture and decorate rooms in a way that will appeal to buyers. If you don’t have the budget for professional staging, try virtual staging instead. This involves using computer software to digitally stage rooms with furniture and decor. If it’s done well, it can really make your home stand out online.

Use a Professional Photographer

A professional photographer is a must! If your realtor uses a cell phone to take pictures, you need to fire them immediately. There is no excuse for not having professional photos. Professional photographers know how to capture a room from the perfect angle and create images that look polished and inviting. Professional photos will capture all the details and features of each room without drawing attention to distractions or imperfections.

However, you still want to give potential buyers an accurate representation of what they can expect when they come to tour your house in person. Some photographers can distort the size of a room or yard to make it look much bigger than it actually is. Ensure all horizontal lines in the photo remain horizontal. If they are slanted, then there is probably some distortion occurring. It can be very disappointing or even frustrating for a buyer when they show up at a house that is much smaller than they were led to believe by a photo.

Also, pay attention to the order of the photographs. Your absolute best photo should go up front and should follow a logical flow. I also recommend multiple photos of your “showcase” rooms and limiting photos of unfinished areas, garages, and storage areas.

One last tip: time your outdoor photos for a nice day, preferably during the spring or summer. If I have enough advanced notice about selling a home during the fall or winter, I’ll typically take the outdoor photos during the summer and then take the indoor photos closer to the listing time.

Conclusion

Enhancing your home’s screen appeal is crucial in today’s digital-first real estate market. By decluttering, applying a fresh coat of neutral paint, ensuring cleanliness, optimizing lighting, and employing effective staging, you significantly improve your property’s online presentation. Professional photography is the final, essential touch, capturing the essence of your home to entice potential buyers. These concerted efforts will not only make your home stand out online but also pave the way for a successful and profitable sale. Remember, in the era of online home shopping, the power of screen appeal cannot be underestimated.