Prepare Your Home for Photography

Preparation Instructions - Download as PDF

Making a wonderful first impression is key to selling your home in the quickest way possible and for the highest obtainable value. Marketing and presenting your property in its most beautiful condition will attract buyers interest, increase the number of showings, and ultimately lead to a faster closing. As a seller in today's market, you play an integral role in accomplishing your ultimate objective. Properly preparing your home for a photo session helps our Pixel Dawg team capture gorgeous visuals that grab attention. Follow these simple steps to get your property ready for a photo session.

General

• Remove all the usual clutter

• Replace all burned out light bulbs

• Turn all overhead lights and lamps ON

• Use bulbs of the same color temperature

• Turn all ceiling fans OFF

• Turn all TVs and screens OFF

• Open blinds to let in outside light

• Make all beds in bedrooms

• Place all shoes and jackets in closets

• Remove all clothes from door hangers

• Remove seasonal or holiday decorations

Exterior

• Remove usual clutter, toys, sports balls, basketball goals, soccer goals, etc.

• Remove cars from driveway and front of home

• Clean up landscaping (mow, trim shrubs, clear leaves)

• Remove empty planters, trash cans, water hoses

• Tidy up outdoor tables/chairs/cushions

• Remove pool vacuum/cleaner hose

• Hide pool cleaning supplies

• Turn on pool fountains/water features

• Remove grill cover

Kitchen

• Clear countertops (supplies, mail, large kitchen appliances)

• Clear refrigerator of magnets, papers, photos, etc.

• Remove dishes from sink

• Straighten all chairs in dining room and space them evenly

• Remove child seats/booster chairs

• Extra: Display bowl with fruit on counter

• Extra: Set the dinner table for dinner

• Extra: Add vase of flowers

Bathroom

• Clear countertops completely. No soap, toothbrushes, medications, deodorant, etc.

• Put toilet seats down

• Remove shampoo, soap, loofahs, etc. from showers and tubs

• Remove dirty towels - leave only few new, unused towels

• Remove toilet paper or add fresh roll

• Remove floor mats, toilet brush, trashcans

• Replace all blown out bulbs

• Clean mirrors

• Extra: Add little decorations like vase with flowers

Pets

• Remove or hide bowls, beds, toys, litter boxes

• Clear back yard of pet waste/toys

You can also:

• Replace all yellow bulbs with white ones

• Remove personal photographs (or replace with general landscape/object photographs)

• Remove small floor rugs to reveal actual flooring (kitchen, bathroom)

• Clean windows (especially important for houses where the views have to be emphasized)

Right before the shoot

• Open blinds

• Turn ON all the lights

• Turn OFF all the fans

• Move vehicles from driveway and the visible sight

• Put pets away from the living areas