Homat, Furniture rental is an affordable and flexible furnishing solution for your home.
Before a property is listed for sale or rent, the listing photos need to make people want to book a viewing. In some cases, temporarily furnishing the property before the photo shoot can help buyers understand the volumes, uses and potential of the home. But it is not always necessary. The real question is whether the furniture will improve the way the property is perceived in photos.
Cases where temporary furnishing really improves the photos
This is often the case for a new-build, renovated or unoccupied property. Without furniture, buyers and tenants lack the reference points that help them assess the usable volume of a room or understand its function. A few elements are enough to guide the reading of the space: a sofa to show the living area, a bed to give scale to a bedroom, or a table to clarify a dining area. The furniture then helps demonstrate a concrete use from the listing stage.
Situations where furniture is not essential
Temporary furniture is not necessary if the property already has the essential elements: beds, tables and chairs, and lighting. An occupied, tidy, bright and soberly decorated apartment can be photographed as it is, or almost. In this situation, the work before the shoot is more about removing what gets in the way: personal objects, furniture that is too bulky, intrusive accessories or visible cables. A few adjustments can also be useful, such as changing a bedspread, adding a lamp, clearing a coffee table or opening the curtains. The aim is not to furnish at all costs, but to obtain convincing and credible photos.
Which furniture should you rent for a real estate photo shoot?
For a real estate photo shoot, there is no need to overdo it: the essentials are enough, completed by a few decorative touches. In the living room, a sofa, coffee table and rug clearly organise the space. In a bedroom, a double bed, light-coloured bedding and two small bedside tables put the surface into perspective. In an open-plan living area, a dining table and two or four chairs make the space feel more lived-in. For a secondary room, a small desk can show home-working potential. On a balcony or terrace, two chairs, a small table and a few plants help visitors picture themselves there.
Furnishing for photos without misleading visitors
Furniture should enhance the property without creating a gap with the real visit. Avoid furniture that is too small and artificially enlarges a room, or overly decorative staging that distracts from the volumes. The shoot should show a better-presented home, but not a different one. The chosen furniture should be proportionate, in line with the property’s standard and useful for understanding the spaces. If visitors later discover an empty property, the photos should help them project themselves without creating disproportionate expectations.
Preparing the property before the furniture arrives
Furniture rental does not replace property preparation. Before installation, the home should be cleaned, floors cleared and a few checks carried out: light bulbs, shutters, curtains and small defects that are easy to correct. A well-chosen piece of furniture will not have the expected effect if the room is dark, dirty or cluttered. Ideally, the camera angles should be anticipated. Ask yourself the right questions: where should the sofa go, which wall should remain clear, which window should be highlighted, which circulation route should be preserved? The better prepared the property is, the more effective the shoot will be.
Furniture rental or virtual home staging: which should you choose?
Virtual home staging can be useful for improving an online listing, especially when the property is empty and needs to be put on the market quickly. It helps buyers imagine a possible layout, but the home remains empty during the visit. Temporary furniture rental is better suited when viewings are planned quickly, when the property is high-end or when projection is difficult. It makes it possible to have livelier photos and a consistent experience between the listing and the viewing.
What timing should you plan before the shoot?
The furniture should be planned before the photographer arrives. Start by selecting the rooms to furnish: living room, main bedroom, dining area, office or outdoor space depending on the needs. Then schedule delivery and installation before the shoot, allowing a little time to adjust the staging. Once the photos have been taken, it may be worth keeping the furniture for the first viewings. This avoids a gap between the listing and the reality of the property. Collection can then be organised according to the marketing period.
Good or bad idea: the verdict depending on the situation
Temporarily furnishing before a photo shoot is a good idea if the property is empty or if the current photos are not generating enough enquiries. However, if the home is already well furnished, bright and easy to understand, the approach can be counterproductive, especially if the chosen furniture is too bulky or poorly proportioned.
If the furniture improves the understanding of the property, the quality of the photos and the consistency of the viewings, it brings real value. Otherwise, adding it is unnecessary.