If you're thinking of selling your house or renting your house, hiring a home photographer can make a big difference between making money and just breaking even. Think about when you look at photos of homes online: If the lighting is terrible, the quality is poor, and the listing provides very few photos, don't you subconsciously associate these bad qualities with the home owner or renter? A home photographer helps with those challenges.

What is a home photographer? A home photographer is trained to make your home look its best. If you are a design professional - architect, interior designer, or contractor - consider hiring a photographer to capture your work to enhance your portfolio, and to attract and engage new clients. They understand what buyers and renters are looking for, and they have the equipment and editing skills to fulfill those expectations.

Professional home photographers vary quite widely in the services that they offer. Some photographers will include home staging in their rate, some will include editing, and some will want to come prior to the shoot date to set up shots. Others will not offer these services unless asked, or with an additional rate. Make sure you ask the photographer beforehand what they're willing to do and what they're not willing to do without an additional cost.

Before you call, make sure your list of potential photographers has good references. Friends who've sold or rented homes before are great resources, as are local real estate agents. Look through each photographer's online portfolio to make sure they're offering what you're looking for. Once you've done that, it's a good idea to walk around your home and write down exactly how many and what types of shots you'll need. Include any specifications you might have, such as angles, the time of day you think will be best, and aspects of your home you want to highlight.

Questions to ask when you meet a Home Photographer:

• Is photo editing included in the rate?
• How long will it take for you to edit photos?
• Do you do home staging?
• What happens if I don't like the first round of photos?
• Do you offer consultations prior to the shoot?

Find a Home Photographer on Houzz. Narrow your search in the Professionals section of the website to Photographer, then choose the metro area in which you'd like to find a Designer. You may also look through photos by style, like Traditional, Asian, Contemporary, Modern, Eclectic, Mediterranean or Tropical, to first find a room you like then contact the professional who photographed it.