Preparing your home for Real Estate Photos

Professional Photography of your home is the best way to get more people interested in seeing it. Getting it ready for the photos is the first step in that process. Please refer to this guide when preparing your home for the photography session. I’ve made this as straight forward and simple as I can so that you can get the most money for your home. My goal is to have the people looking at your home online, already see themselves living there. To do that there are a few things you can do before I arrive to photograph the space. These are offered only as suggestions, if you are unable to or do not want to remove everything on this list please don’t feel pressure to do so. These points are made with the understanding that people are looking at your house to see as their own. With your things in the house, the idea that the home is already someone else’s, conflicts with them being able to see it as their own.

Lawns mowed

Weeds pulled 

Landscaping trimmed Garbages hidden

Garage doors closed 

Exterior lights on 

Walkways and Driveways swept  

All toys, yard games, etc, put out of sight  

Lawn furniture should be clean and in good shape  

Windows closed  

Cars moved from driveway  

Bare dirt covered with mulch

PREPARING OUTDOOR AREAS

Indoor Spaces

All light fixtures work properly and have the same color bulbs, All lights turned on including appliance lights, Curtains and Blinds opened the same amount, All areas cleaned, Windows washed, Clutter removed, Dead plants removed, Floors swept and moped, All Pets and their things removed.

Personal photographs, Political materials, Sports memorabilia, and Large displayed collections removed if you can

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Kitchen Areas

Preparing the Kitchen Area

All surfaces cleared

Counter top appliances removed (can leave statement pieces up, ie. Kitchen Aide Mixer)

Sinks cleared and polished

Magnets cleared from refrigerator

Cupboards tidy and doors wiped

Garbages removed

Cleaning supplies, Hand towels, Dish soap, Dish racks, Sponges etc. Out of Sight

Top and sides of refrigerator cleared

Dining Area

Table cleaned and clutter removed

Table set nicely as though a meal was about to be served (if you don’t have matching dishes don’t do this)

Chairs slightly pulled out from table

Nice centerpiece (fresh flowers work wonderfully)

Beds nicely made

dressers and nightstands cleared

all laundry, shoes, and accessories out of site

nothing hanging on hooks

remove clutter

shut closet doors.

Bedrooms

Bathrooms

Garbages, Toilet brush, Towels, Cleaning supplies, Personal care items removed

Rugs taken up

Toilet closed

Fresh towels placed on racks

Vanity cleared.

If you are unsure whether to remove an item go ahead and remove it. Less is more when it comes to photographing a space. First impressions matter! You want your best foot forward in regard to the photographs as they are the first introduction to your house. These photographs will get more people excited to come see the home and place a bid, I know it is a lot of work to get the house ready but in the end it is the best use of your time when selling your home.