With the deeds office open again, the real estate industry can forge ahead, however, as agents are still required to work remotely, there will have to be closer cooperation between clients and agents regarding factors such as home staging and taking photographs for marketing.

“According to global research, around 85% of all home buyers now begin their search for a new home online,” says Jill Lloyd, Veteran Agent and Area Specialist in Claremont and Clarepark for Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty, adding that studies further revealed that properties with high quality photographs sell up to 32% faster and for a higher price per square metre.

“And now, with lockdown in place, and the only house-viewing option being online, the staging and photographing of a home are even more critical. In order for a home to stand out from the competition and capture buyers’ attention, sellers will have to pay close attention to detail.”

Lloyd says there are a number of basic staging and image do’s and don’ts for the best chance of a quick sale at the best possible price.

“The first step is to declutter your home and the best way to do this is with a thorough spring clean, starting from the attic down, which will rid your home of things you no longer need whilst clearing out storage space for items you want to pack away but not throw away.

“Don’t forget to also clean out the garage and sort through all the toys and bikes with your children, putting aside things they no longer use to sell or donate to the local children’s home.

“Next, de-personalise your home as far as possible, packing photos, kid’s drawings trophies and other knick-knacks into your newly cleared storage spaces. Whilst your home should not look unlived in nor too impersonal, it’s important for buyers to be able to imagine the space as their own.

“Outside, make sure the garden is immaculate and preferably remove the pool cleaner from of the pool before it is photographed.”

Obviously, sellers will want to highlight the main features and attractions of their home, but they must take care not to simply assume that these are their favourite spots in the house; rather take a good, objective look at your home and try to see it from a strangers’ perspective.

“If the biggest attraction of your home is its lifestyle features, show the home as an inviting space in which buyers could imagine themselves living.

“For instance, stage a dining room table with linen, glassware and crockery as if for dinner party, which shows the entertainment potential, and make outdoor living spaces pop with bright lounger cushions, complimented by colourful cocktails on side tables,”

And don’t forget what a big role lighting plays. If possible, only take photographs on a clear, bright day and at a time when natural light is at its best.

“The right light can make a property look bigger and more attractive and bright photos can also look crisper which emphasises quality. If necessary, leave the lights on, even in broad daylight, especially if you have small rooms and dark nooks and crannies.

“To take the best possible outdoor pictures of your home, the best time of day will depend on which direction your home faces as you’ll want the sun behind you when you take your the photos to minimize shadows.”

Lloyd adds that photo-editing programmes like Photoshop can be great for adjusting lighting balances or erasing unwanted shadows in listing photos, but cautions against extreme retouching.

“Over-editing can easily give an entirely incorrect impression of the property which could result in disappointment for many interested buyers and it could also lead them to think that there’s something to hide. Which ultimately means that your property will take much longer to sell.”

She concludes: “Always bear in mind that the fundamental purpose of the photos to showcase the potential of a property to possible buyers who must be able to imagine themselves and their families enjoying the space and making their own memories.”

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