Prepping Your Home For the Photographer

  • Online: First Impressions

    Many home buyers begin their search for a new home on the internet, and you only have once chance to make a good first impression, so make it count! Here are some helpful tips to prepare your home for the best real estate photos possible.

  • General

    • Make sure you thoroughly clean the whole house (vacuum carpets, mop hard floors, clean counter tops, clean windows)
    • Turn all overhead lights and lamps ON
    • Replace all burned out light bulbs
    • Use bulbs of the same temperature (ALL incandescent or ALL compact fluorescent)
    • Turn all ceiling fans OFF
    • Turn all TVs OFF
    • Turn all computer screens OFF
    • Open blinds/window treatments to let in outside light
    • Remove personal photographs (or replace with general landscape/object photographs)
    • Make all beds
    • Remove small floor rugs to reveal actual flooring
    • Place all shoes/jackets in closets

  • Exterior Tips: Good curb appeal—the front of your house is what buyers will see.

    • Close the garage doors
    • Remove cars from driveway and front of home
    • Clean up landscaping (mow, trim shrubs, clear leaves)
    • Remove empty planters
    • Use broom to remove cobwebs from eaves and door frames
    • Remove visible water hoses
    • Remove toys, sports balls, basketball nets, soccer goals, etc.

  • The Backyard

    • Clean porch, tidy up outdoor tables/chairs/cushions
    • Pillows/cushions should be fresh, not faded
    • Clear out kids’ toys, balls, Frisbees, etc.
    • Clean pool
    • Remove pool vacuum/cleaner hose
    • Hide pool cleaning supplies
    • Turn on pool fountains/water features
    • Remove visible water hoses
    • Remove trash cans

  • Kitchen: Sometimes this is the focal point—the kitchen deserves attention to detail.

    • Clear counter-tops completely—no knife blocks, baking supplies, mail, etc.
    • Leave out max of one small appliance (ex. coffee maker)
    • Clear outside of refrigerator of magnets, papers, photos, etc.
    • Hide garbage cans in pantry or closet
    • Remove dishes from sink, place in dishwasher

  • Dining Room/Table: Allow your buyers to imagine a nice family meal together.

    • Clear table, dust and polish the table top
    • Use decorative place setting if available
    • Feature one centerpiece such as a bouquet of flowers
    • Straighten all chairs and space them evenly
    • Remove child seats/booster chairs

  • Living Room/Family Room: The place to spend quality time together with the family.

    • Remove stacks of magazines, papers, mail, etc.
    • De-clutter fireplace mantel/hearth (no more than 5 items, including art)
    • Clean interior of fireplace and re-paint if needed
    • Fluff and arrange furniture pillows
    • Remove kids’ toys

  • Master Bedroom: Where a good night’s rest recharges the mind and body.

    • Make bed, including decorative pillows/shams if available
    • Press bed linens and bed skirts
    • Clear nightstands of all personal items
    • Store away phone/tablet charging cables
    • Remove all clutter from top of dressers
    • Remove family photos from walls
    • Clean under bed, removing items that may show in the photos

  • Children‘s/Guest Bedroom: Don’t miss these important rooms.

    • Remove personalized names from walls
    • Remove wall stickers/posters
    • Remove diaper genies
    • Clean under bed, removing items that may show in the photos

  • Bathrooms: The bathroom must be clear of all personal items.

    • Clear counter-tops completely—no soap, toothbrushes, medications, deodorant, etc.
    • Put toilet seats down
    • Close closet doors
    • Remove shampoo, soap, loofahs, etc. from showers and tubs
    • Remove dirty towels—leave out only new, unused towels
    • Remove floor mats

  • Pets: We know you love them, but their presence should be limited.

    • Place food and water bowls in pantry or closet
    • Place pet beds/toys in pantry or closet
    • Use lint roller on furniture to remove pet hair
    • Contain pets in hidden crate or outside
    • Clear backyard of pet waste/toys
  • Online: First Impressions

    Many home buyers begin their search for a new home on the internet, and you only have once chance to make a good first impression, so make it count! Here are some helpful tips to prepare your home for the best real estate photos possible.

  • General
    • Make sure you thoroughly clean the whole house (vacuum carpets, mop hard floors, clean counter tops, clean windows)
    • Turn all overhead lights and lamps ON
    • Replace all burned out light bulbs
    • Use bulbs of the same temperature (ALL incandescent or ALL compact fluorescent)
    • Turn all ceiling fans OFF
    • Turn all TVs OFF
    • Turn all computer screens OFF
    • Open blinds/window treatments to let in outside light
    • Remove personal photographs (or replace with general landscape/object photographs)
    • Make all beds
    • Remove small floor rugs to reveal actual flooring
    • Place all shoes/jackets in closets
  • Exterior Tips: Good curb appeal—the front of your house is what buyers will see.
    • Close the garage doors
    • Remove cars from driveway and front of home
    • Clean up landscaping (mow, trim shrubs, clear leaves)
    • Remove empty planters
    • Use broom to remove cobwebs from eaves and door frames
    • Remove visible water hoses
    • Remove toys, sports balls, basketball nets, soccer goals, etc.
  • The Backyard
    • Clean porch, tidy up outdoor tables/chairs/cushions
    • Pillows/cushions should be fresh, not faded
    • Clear out kids’ toys, balls, Frisbees, etc.
    • Clean pool
    • Remove pool vacuum/cleaner hose
    • Hide pool cleaning supplies
    • Turn on pool fountains/water features
    • Remove visible water hoses
    • Remove trash cans
  • Kitchen: Sometimes this is the focal point—the kitchen deserves attention to detail.
    • Clear counter-tops completely—no knife blocks, baking supplies, mail, etc.
    • Leave out max of one small appliance (ex. coffee maker)
    • Clear outside of refrigerator of magnets, papers, photos, etc.
    • Hide garbage cans in pantry or closet
    • Remove dishes from sink, place in dishwasher
  • Dining Room/Table: Allow your buyers to imagine a nice family meal together.
    • Clear table, dust and polish the table top
    • Use decorative place setting if available
    • Feature one centerpiece such as a bouquet of flowers
    • Straighten all chairs and space them evenly
    • Remove child seats/booster chairs
  • Living Room/Family Room: The place to spend quality time together with the family.
    • Remove stacks of magazines, papers, mail, etc.
    • De-clutter fireplace mantel/hearth (no more than 5 items, including art)
    • Clean interior of fireplace and re-paint if needed
    • Fluff and arrange furniture pillows
    • Remove kids’ toys
  • Master Bedroom: Where a good night’s rest recharges the mind and body.
    • Make bed, including decorative pillows/shams if available
    • Press bed linens and bed skirts
    • Clear nightstands of all personal items
    • Store away phone/tablet charging cables
    • Remove all clutter from top of dressers
    • Remove family photos from walls
    • Clean under bed, removing items that may show in the photos
  • Children‘s/Guest Bedroom: Don’t miss these important rooms.
    • Remove personalized names from walls
    • Remove wall stickers/posters
    • Remove diaper genies
    • Clean under bed, removing items that may show in the photos
  • Bathrooms: The bathroom must be clear of all personal items.
    • Clear counter-tops completely—no soap, toothbrushes, medications, deodorant, etc.
    • Put toilet seats down
    • Close closet doors
    • Remove shampoo, soap, loofahs, etc. from showers and tubs
    • Remove dirty towels—leave out only new, unused towels
    • Remove floor mats
  • Pets: We know you love them, but their presence should be limited.
    • Place food and water bowls in pantry or closet
    • Place pet beds/toys in pantry or closet
    • Use lint roller on furniture to remove pet hair
    • Contain pets in hidden crate or outside
    • Clear backyard of pet waste/toys