In the eleven years I have been advertising online vacation rentals I have discovered a simple but often forgotten formula that separates successful private owner advertising from mediocre online ads; and it’s free. Stage your home for digital photos. Your homes greatest potential lies in its appeal to shoppers. Take the time to stage your home. Print this list and bring it with you. Many times I have told folks not to forget how important the items below are to their advertising, but with so many other important things to do as well that I have regretted not having the list below with me when I photographed my own vacation rental.
Take your photos in the late afternoon, or very early evening before the sun sets.
Turn on all the lights, this is an easy one to forget, but remains one of the most important aspects of advertising online photos. All those recessed lights, bedside lamps, candle lights; every single light in your home can help create an inviting, warm ambience when digitally photographed.
Turn on the amenities. Turn on the TV and find appropriate channels, Disney is good. Take the lid off of the spa, and turn it on, lights, jets even staging with some people is fine, but not necessary, as most shoppers like to picture themselves in the photo! Light the fireplace and set the table, candlelight is a nice touch.
Example:
Big Sky Vacation Rental
4. Keep your lights on and after the inside photos have been taken; take exterior photos with all the lights still on before it gets too dark.
You don’t need to be a professional photographer, just pretend you are doing a photo shoot for a magazine and your assignment is to show your home to its full potential. Your home will always look better in person then in photos, so do your best to make it shine!
---Taylor Lewis Vacation Rentals
http://lodging4vacations.com
Summer is finally here...And as soon as that sentence leaves my lips, the leaves will start turning and I'll be planning for next summer's greatest vacation that I missed taking this year. Hurry, quickly make one escape, the rest can be planned. I've got the greatest hidden gem of a house in Glenwood Springs, you've never heard of it? A very good reason to visit. Located in Colorado, Glenwood Springs is situated between the Roaring Fork River and the Colorado River. Lucky folks already know about the medicinal hot sulfur springs. Stillings Landing vacation rental home in Glenwood Springs, is a 4 bedroom home nested above the Roaring Fork River with views from the home and deck. While you are relaxing taking in the views don't forget to plan your bike ride, the Glenwood Canyon Trail is one of the most incredible bike rides in all of Colorado! Many folks return year after year, to enjoy an afternoon of scenic biking. Kayaking and fishing are accessible from this great vacation rental also. About 45 minutes from Aspen, Glenwood Springs is rich with natural history and offers breathtaking landscape. The city is home to one of the Colorado Mountain College campuses and chosen by Rand McNally as one of the top 10 Best Small Towns in America.
