How to Prepare Your Home For Photos

Get Ready to Show It Off!

Getting your home ready for professional photography is vital!

Remember that your photos and interactive virtual tour will be on the web and available for viewers 24/7, so a little time spent preparing now will pay off greatly in the end.

It is important that your home be in the condition that you want it photographed, before the photographer arrives.

Make sure that your house is 100% show ready prior to the photographer’s arrival.

CANCEL AND RESCHEDULING POLICY

We understand that plans can change. However, appointments canceled or rescheduled within 24 hours of the scheduled time will incur a cancellation fee to compensate the photographer for the lost time on their work calendar. If a photographer arrives at a property that isn’t ready, please remember they likely have another appointment scheduled afterward—your consideration helps keep everything on track.

Photographers Will Not

Move furniture or clear clutter/trash
Clean or dust any part of the property
Wait on-site for cleaning or staging to be completed
Collect payment in person

To ensure the best possible results, please have the property photo-ready before your scheduled appointment.

OUTDOOR PREPARATION

Remove any real estate signage from the yard or windows (by law they cannot appear in photos and videos posted to the MLS)
Clean up entryways, gardens and mow lawns
Trim shrubbery if necessary
Yard and patio should be neat
Outdoor furniture should be in good shape
Declutter deck spaces and outdoor tables
OPEN outdoor umbrellas – if they do not work or are faded, remove them
Clean awnings*
Sweep, use a bloaer and pressure wash* the driveway and any walkways if needed
Remove vehicles from driveway and park at least 1-2 houses away

*Please note that all “wet” cleaning should be completed with sufficient time for surfaces to be dry. We recommend any pressure washing or “hosing down” exterior aras be completed at least 5-6 hours before our arrival.

DECLUTTERING IS CRITICAL!

The biggest issue you can address ahead of time is clutter.

Look at your rooms as if you were looking at them through a camera. What catches your eye will catch the eye of your viewer.

You want potential buyers looking at your home, not the stuff. Take a few moments to declutter each room and ensure things are in order.

WINDOWS

Yes, our cameras will capture the view from the inside out from windows. Therefore, we recommend the following:

Clean all windows – inside and outside
Curtains and shears should be open wide
Blinds should be adjusted at right angles to the glass

LIGHTS

Double check all light bulbs are working
Ensure bulbs in light fixtures are all the same color
TURN ON ALL lights, lamps, range hoods, accent lights, under cabinet lights, exterior lights, etc. before the photographer arrives
TURN OFF ALL ceiling fans –motion does not look good in photos.
TURN OFF ALL TVs and computer screens

LIVING AND COMMON AREAS

Remove clutter and tidy up shelves
Straighten couch pillows and lamp shades
Turn off TVs
Hide remote controls
Hide power cords

KITCHEN/DINING AREAS

Clean off counters
Remove clutter
Wrap power cords behind appliances
Put away all dishes
Remove the garbage containers (put in garage or a closet)
Remove items posted on the fridge
Empty and clean sink
Remove dish towels from doors and appliances
Remove paper towel holders
Remove bottle soaps, etc. from counters
Organize pantry

BATHROOMS

Put away essential items used daily in a small box and put it inside a cabinet – out of view – toothpaste, toothbrushes, soaps, skincare, etc.
Close toilet lids
Remove garbage bins – put them in the garage or smaller closets
Clean mirrors other surfaces and glass shower doors
Fold and hang towels neatly from the towel bar – but not too many please
Remove all products from showers and tubs

CLOSETS AND GARAGES

Generally, these are great places to put things away that should not be in photos or videos. If we are doing a floor plan, we may open these areas, but it is only to get measurement data.

Walk-in closets should be neat and clean – we want to show potential buyers where they will hang their clothes!
Secondary closets and linen closets are typically not photographed, therefore these are great places to put things away.
Garages are only photographed if they have a finished floor (polished for example) or have standout features like built-in cabinets.