Preparing Your Home Checklist

preparing your home for a professional photography

Humans are visual creatures. The first thing they look at is pictures. They have an easier time going through pictures than reading text. No matter how amazing the description for a property might be, if it does not contain professional pictures, it would go unnoticed. It is vital that you hire a professional photographer to capture your property in the best light for your listing. It will help boost the chances of getting your house sold. The following tips will help you prepare your house for professional photography.

Inside the Home

1. De-clutter as much as possible. Put away toys, clothing, dishes, towels, shoes etc. It’s a lot cheaper to put these things away before the photo shoot than to pay to have the photos “photoshopped”.
2. Depersonalized to a certain degree. Photos of young children and any potentially offensive art should be put away.
3. Remove any seasonal/holiday decorations that can quickly outdate your photos.
4. Dust and vacuum.
5. Make all the beds, fluff all the pillows, and check the bed skirts.
6. Clean the kitchen sink and put away all the dishes.
7. Clear all kitchen counter tops and put away toasters, can openers, etc.
8. Clear all bathroom counter tops and put away all personal items.
9. Remove all shampoos, conditioners, body-washes, etc. from the shower.
10. Put out the guest towels and hide all the others.
11. Hide all trash cans.
12. Remove all magnets and decorations from the refrigerator.
13. If there are pets, hide all food/water bowls, pet beds, and pet toys.
14. Put all toilet seats and lids down.
15. Replace all burned out light bulbs.
16. Consider decorating the tables with your prettiest place settings.
17. Consider putting out vases of fresh flowers.
18. Remove all firearms, drug paraphernalia, alcoholic beverage bottles from around the house.
19. Stay out of the room that is being photographed.

Outside the Home

1. Have the lawn trimmed, leaves raked, bushes and trees pruned.
2. Don’t water your lawn right before or during the photoshoot.
3. Clean up after your pets
4. Put away all garbage cans, hoses, garden tools, toys, bikes etc.
5. Hide any “cute” yard decorations.
6. Clear walkways, driveways, patios, decks when necessary from leaves.
7. If there is a pool, hot tub, or spa, take any security gate down, uncover, and clean.
8. Remove all pool toys, equipment, floaties from the pool.
9. Clean leaves and all vegetation, pet litter from and around the pool.
10. Remove spiderwebs from around the pool and corners.
11. If we are taking twilight photos, replace any broken lighting on the home, around the landscape, and in the pool.
12. Open the umbrellas on any patio sets.
13. When in season, uncover grills.
14. Remove any seasonal/holiday decorations from your yard, doors, and around the house.
15. Consider adding splashes of bright colored flowers to the landscape and in pots.

Right Before the Photographer Arrives

1. Turn on ALL interior lights – even lights in furniture cabinets.
2. Turn OFF all ceiling fans.
3. Light fireplaces and candles.
4. Open all blinds, shades, and curtains.
5. Clear all cars and vehicles from the driveway and the street in front of the home.
6. Please secure any potentially aggressive animals in a safe location, away from all rooms being photographed.

There is one more thing I want to bring to your attention.  Please have your homeowners place all valuables in a secure location.  There will potentially be many people walking through their home, and valuables should be out of site and secure. Safe deposit boxes and wall safes are great for this.

Once you have finished reading this post, you will be able to prepare your home for professional photography. Each tip will help both home sellers and realtors.