Floor plans - your best shot at a sale

ONE of the most effective property marketing tools, which are much sought after by buyers, is a floor plan of your home. But not all floor plans are equal.

A professionally drawn floor plan helps buyers understand a property's flow. Picture: Supplied

ONE of the most effective property marketing tools, which are much sought after by buyers, is a floor plan of your home. But not all floor plans are equal.

Pre-inspection, a professionally drawn floor plan helps buyers understand a property's flow, and visualise how its spaces will work for them. Post-inspection, a plan is a great reminder of layout, allowing serious buyers to imagine living in the home by mapping out their own furniture placements.

Plans are also great for out-of-town buyers or those who miss the inspection, helping to bring an unseen property to life while maintaining their interest. Likewise, including a plan on a signboard can generate interest locally, driving inspection numbers and in turn competition.

How are floor plans created?

Most property photographers will also offer floor plans, taking accurate laser-measurements of a home before creating a clear plan featuring room dimensions and total property size. They can also include extra detail at you or your agent's request such as an agency logo or other info.

Which plan to choose?

With so many different types of floor plans available, it's important to choose the one that will best highlight your home's unique features.

The most basic plans are simply drawn in black and white. For something more eye-catching try a coloured plan, while a textured plan is great for showing off a home's internal and external finishes, such as tiles or decking.

Furniture can also be added to any plan to give buyers an idea of potential furniture placements.

For larger properties, site plans feature a home's floor plan relative to its gardens or grounds, including prominent external features and outbuildings. These plans are perfect for showcasing large blocks, sub-division potential or multiple dwellings.

The most sophisticated plans, 3D artist impressions, are generated from detailed building plans by special 3D software, and used for bringing yet-to-be-built properties to life in a highly realistic fashion.

An effective way to combine your photographs and floor plans is through an online interactive floor plan. Symbols on the plan indicate the angle a photo was taken from, allowing buyers to easily navigate through a home by clicking on each photo, giving them a great feel for its flow and layout.

Floor plans can bring an unseen property to life

Don't forget that if you already have a building or council plan, these are often too detailed and hard for buyers to follow. In this case ask if your floor plan supplier can redraw this plan to be more user-friendly.

Whichever floor plan you opt for, it goes without saying that a professionally drafted, accurately measured plan will give you the best shot at securing the right buyer for your home.

Read more buying and selling tips at realestate.com.au

Helen Clarke

Helen is the general manager of Top Snap, a national professional property photography company. She has previously worked in marketing, public relations and management in the UK and Australia, across a range of sectors including private, not-for-profit, government and education.