How to prepare your home for real estate photography
What you need to do to get your property photo-ready.
We know listing and selling a property can be stressful. That’s why we want to make our part in this process as easy and as simple as possible for you. To help with that, we’ve created a checklist for you to give your client or, if you’re the seller, for yourself! Some of the items on the checklist are optional, such as like adding decorative pieces or a bottle of wine and glasses. However, decluttering and a thorough cleaning are essential to making your property look its best - in the photos and for showings! We hope this helps take some of the guesswork out of preparing for your property for photos and that it actually helps with the moving process. See you soon!
Exterior: Front and Back
Remove cars from driveway
Put away trash and recycling bins
Close all windows
Sweep walkways
Mow the lawn
Pick up leaves, sticks, branches
Put toys, bicycles away
Store seasonal décor
Stow garden tools, supplies
Remove all hoses
Straighten and arrange deck furniture
Clean pool area, if applicable
Interior: Main Areas
Remove personal items/photos (We think your family is adorable, but you want to create an environment in which buyers can see themselves living in, without any distractions. So, during this process, substitute the family portraits for generic images or art)
Remove all visible clutter
Open shades/blinds
Replace burned out light bulbs
Tidy up or put away all children’s toys (We recommend giving each child one basket/bin for their toys and putting the rest in off-site storage while the house is on the market. That way, if there’s a last-minute showing, each child can easily tidy up their toys in minutes)
Empty waste baskets
Hide pet dishes/toys/beds (You may consider taking pets from the property during the shoot)
Vacuum carpets
Sweep hard floors
Remove newspapers, mail
Display attractive books
Turn off televisions
Interior: Kitchen
Remove all items from refrigerator door
Polish any stainless steel
Store food in cabinets or pantry
De-clutter counters, stove
Stow small appliances
Hide soaps, cleaning items
Hide dish towels, sponges
Clear sink of dishes
Put away draining rack
Organize items on open shelves
Place bowl of fruit on counter or island (All one color fruit works best. I.e. green apples or lemons - plus, they’ll last longer and you can keep them for showings!)
Add a bottle of wine or San Pellegrino with 2 glasses in a corner
Interior: Dining Room
Straighten/push in dining chairs
Add centerpiece such as a vase of flowers or a decorative item
Remove any clutter from sideboards or buffets
Push in and straighten all chairs
Interior: Bedrooms
Make the beds (Comforters with simple colors and patterns photograph best)
Arrange decorative pillows
Put away clothing, shoes
Clean under the bed
Clear surfaces of clutter
Interior: Bathrooms
Make the bathrooms sparkle!
Hang fresh towels - we recommend 1-2 plush white bath towels overlaid with decorative hand towels (we say 1-2 depending on how big the bathroom or towel bar is. One little towel in a large bathroom would look funny!)
Clear counters of toiletries - you can leave a candle or pretty bottle of soap on the counter
Clean mirrors
Remove all items from tub and shower
That’s it! We hope this checklist gave you clarity on what you need to do before putting your house on the market and making it look its absolute best for when we come to photograph it. Cheers to all your hard work!
Save this checklist for easy reference!
Click the “Download Checklist” button and save the pdf so you can print for yourself or send to your client.