Showing your house is a lot like finding your right mate. If they like the first impression they may ask to see you. If they like what’s on the inside they may want to keep you. This little ditty popped into my head today while cooking for my darlin’ and I couldn’t wait to write it down.

I’ve been looking at a lot of MLS listings and by now I’ve compiled a stash of do’s and dont’s when it comes to giving first and lasting impressions. Now that we are going to be listing our home, I’m trying to put these things to use.

A few things I’ve learned

• Do not expect the Realtor to get the best pictures. You know your home better than any one else. Learn the right time of day to get the best shots.

• Do take hundreds of pictures. I’m up to almost 300 pictures on the outside alone. I’ll be out again tomorrow by 10:00 if it’s not raining.

• Do not forget that timing is everything. I want an autumn shot and don’t have a lot of time remaining so take pictures daily.

• Do take pictures from many different angles to locate the right spot

• Do not underestimate yourself just because you’re not a professional.

• Do pay close attention to everything by adjusting things for a photo

Below is a picture in the running as of today. There are many things I like about this. Before I go on about this pic, let’s get nit-picky.

This picture (below) is okay but not the one. It’s a bit drab even though the sun is shining. The problem is this. It’s the late afternoon sun which does not provide the right spark for this angle. The trees up front are just there not offering much. If you look up to the one I like, the trees make a canopy providing a nice frame for the home.

Cars in the drive hit a nerve when looking at MLS listings. And all the branches don’t do anything for me either. Notice the mailboxes out front. If possible, try to give a better view, it may be your only shot at getting the right buyer to see your home.

Cars are moved and we’ve moved past the branches and mailboxes. This shot was taken late afternoon. The sun is setting a little lower on the west side of the house supplying just the right punch.

Back to the front of the home. We’re getting closer to perfection. This was taken around 9:30 this morning, good morning sunshine! I wanted to get out first thing to show her with a smile. She’s beginning to shine but the sun still has about an hour to go for the effect I’m aiming for.

So around 10:30 this is what happened – Same as the first photo, just didn’t want to make you scroll up. Again, notice the frame the branches make for the house. Had I not taken hundreds of pictures I wouldn’t have caught this small detail.

And then by 11:00 we have yet another look.

I still like the one taken at 10:30, it looks warm and cozy and the one taken at 11:00 looks crisp and cold. Which one do you prefer and how would you describe them?

I took the rear shot at 5 this evening, it proved to be the best lighting for this angle.

I’m hoping for more sunshine tomorrow morning as I would love to snap a hundred more shots in hopes to make contact with the right first impression.

Would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section.