* if you think a floorplan is #1 – think again!

Not that we don’t all love a floorplan, and, believe me, not all floorplans are created equal (that’s another story), but when it comes to helping potential buyers visualise the house of their dreams, there are five tricks of the trade that trump the titivating lines of a floorplan.

Gone are the days of goggling through an estate agent’s window as dusk gathers on the high street (who in their right mind would linger on a dusky high street these days?). Goggling has long since been replaced by Googling, with buyers endlessly scrolling listings on the train, on the tram and even on the football terraces.  We are a nation of scrollers, fed by bright colours, shiny graphics and precision selected powerhouse marketing phrases. And with endless portals and properties to trawl through, our up-swiping thumbs won’t pause their rotation for anything that doesn’t feel 100% like home.

Today’s buyers expect more from a listing than just a price and a postcode, they want the Waitrose deli-counter “try before you buy” bite of the real experience before they even book a viewing. Here are some practical tips on how to turn your home into the visual big cheese that satisfies before they ever step through the front door.

1. Scroll-stopping Photography 

Professional photography is one of the most powerful tools in any selling toolkit. Crisp, bright images taken with the right lenses do more than just show a room, they provide a tantalising portal that makes a buyer want to step right inside.

If possible, time your photoshoot for the best natural light. A sunny morning or a soft golden evening glow can transform a two-dimensional photograph into something tangible and evocative.

Think beyond four walls. Great photography tells a story: sunlight spilling across the porcelain floor of a south-facing garden room with lilac fronds of wisteria curling at the edge of the window, a cosy reading chair tucked in the corner of the kitchen, breakfast laid out on the table. These small touches spark emotion and help buyers picture themselves living there.

Top tip: when choosing an estate agent, ask to see examples of their property photography. Look for a mix of wide shots that clearly show the layout and close-up “lifestyle” details that highlight the behind-the-scenes warmth of the home – it’s this combination that gets buyers clicking through to book a viewing.

2. Styled Spaces

Like a dog groomer to a Crufts rosette winner, a coach to a Wimbledon champ, and a best man to a wedding speech, so is a home stylist to a winning property photoshoot.

A beautifully styled home photographs better, feels more welcoming at viewings and puts the final polish for buyers keen to picture their own lives there. Start with the simple wins: clear surfaces, plump the cushions, add a throw to the sofa and bring in some greenery or fresh flowers for life and colour.

This isn’t about giving your home a new personality; there’s real psychology at play here. Tidy, neutral spaces feel bigger and less “owned,” which makes it easier for buyers to imagine them as their own. Clutter, on the other hand, can distract attention from your home’s best features and make rooms feel smaller than they are.

Top tip: before your home is photographed, do a “viewing rehearsal”. Walk through as if you were a buyer seeing it for the first time and remove anything that draws attention away from the space itself. A good estate agent will often offer a quick styling check before photos are taken – it’s worth asking.

3. Presenter-led Video Walk-throughs

If you’re still looking for the floorplan, you’ve come to the wrong blog. Still images do have their place, but today’s buyers need to feel the flow of a home before they commit to a viewing. A presenter-led video walk-through can bring your home to life, guiding viewers from room to room, revealing every corner of the layout in technicolour, while pointing out the details that matter most.

The best ones are short, smooth and professionally edited. A skilled estate agent knows how to strike the right tone, just enough personality to keep viewers engaged, with the focus firmly on the home. Clean audio, well-paced cuts and a subtle soundtrack can elevate the whole experience, creating a video that is both polished and memorable.

These videos aren’t just for property portals, they work brilliantly on social media too, turning casual scrollers into curious viewers who may never have considered booking a viewing until they watched.

Top tip: when choosing an agent, watch their previous walk-throughs and pay attention to the sound and editing. A clear voiceover, good audio balance and tasteful music alongside a knowledgeable estate agent who’s comfortable on camera will keep viewers watching right to the end – and that can be the difference between a casual view and a booked viewing.

4. Get Reel

Keeping up with the latest trends can give your home the edge over others on the market and right now, short, stylish highlight reels – easy to share on social media are leading the way.

A well-edited video can showcase your home’s best moments in just 30–60 seconds; transitioning from the sweep of a staircase to the glow of a fireplace, bringing still images to life and helping buyers experience the flow of the space.

These mini-videos work brilliantly alongside photography, giving buyers a sense of movement while keeping the focus on the features that make your home unique. They’re also perfect for sharing on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, or even WhatsApp — helping your home reach buyers wherever they’re scrolling.

Top tip: trawl your potential agents’ social media feeds and check out their view counts. If their videos are getting strong engagement, you know your home will get seen by the right audience too.

5. Words That Paint a Picture

Photos and videos may catch a buyer’s eye, but it’s the words that help them connect emotionally with a home. Good copywriting ties everything together, describing not just what a room is but how it feels.

Instead of saying “south-facing kitchen,” imagine reading: “sip your first coffee of the day at the breakfast bar, where the warmth from the morning sun spills in through floor-to ceiling windows”. While the photos create the picture, the words dig deeper into the home’s story, helping them imagine their own routines taking place there.

Top tip: read through your property description and ask yourself if it tells a story. The best estate agents work with skilled copywriters who know how to balance the facts with evocative language that sells the lifestyle, not just the bricks and mortar.

Ready to Make Buyers Fall in Love?

Selling a home is really about helping someone imagine a future there. The right mix of photography, video, virtual tours, and words can make that connection happen before a buyer even books a viewing. Think about which of these tools could show your home at its very best – and how to work with your agent to bring them together.

Which one will you try first?