Getting Your House Ready for a Photoshoot

The photos of your home are often the very first showing.

Before buyers ever step through the door, they’re forming impressions online — and beautiful, bright, clutter-free photos can make all the difference.

Preparing for a photoshoot isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating space. Space for light. Space for buyers to imagine themselves living there. Space for your home’s best features to shine.

The good news? A little thoughtful preparation goes a long way. Below is a simple, room-by-room guide to help you feel confident and ready on photoshoot day.

Let’s make your home feel as inviting in photos as it does in real life.

General

• Thoroughly clean the whole house (vacuum floors, clean hardwood floors,countertops, and windows)
• Turn on all ceiling lights and lamps
• Replace all burnt out light bulbs
• Turn off ceiling fans
• Turn off TVs and computer screens
• Open all blinds, letting all the light in
• Remove personal photographs
• Make all beds
• Remove small floor rugs to show the floor
• Place all shoes and jackets in the closet

General Exterior

• Close garage doors
• Remove cars from driveway and front of home
• Tidy up the landscaping
• Remove empty planters
• Remove cobwebs from eaves and door frame
• Remove visible hoses
• Remove toys (soccer goals, basketball hoops, kids toys, dog toys, etc)
• Clean porch and tidy up outdoor tables, chairs, and chair cushions
• Clean pool
• Remove pool cleaning equipment
• Remove trash cans
• Turn on any fountains
• Remove pet waste

Kitchen

• Clean off countertops completely. No knife blocks, baking supplies, mail, etc
• At a maximum, you may leave out small appliances (coffee maker, etc)
• Hide trash can in closet

Dining Room

• Clear, dust and polish table tops
• If available, you may use decorative table settings
  • Up to one centerpiece may be used
• Remove kid's chairs and booster seats
• Straighten all chairs

Family Room

• Remove all magazines, papers, and mail, etc
• Remove kid's toys
• De-clutter fireplace mantel
• Clean interior of fireplace
• Arrange pillows

Master Bedroom

• Make bed
• Clear nightstand of personal items
• Remove cell phone charging cords
• Remove clutter from dresser
• Remove family photos
• Remove items from under the bed that are visible
• Make bed(s)
• Remove personal items
• Remove any stickers and posters from walls
• Remove any visible items from under the bed(s)

Bathrooms

• Clear countertops completely
• Remove soap, toothbrushes, medication, make-up, deodorant, etc
• Close toilet lid
• Clean shower and remove shampoo, soap, razor, etc
• Set out clean towels
• Remove floor mats to show floor

Pets

• Remove food and water bowls
• Remove pet beds
• Remove toys
• Remove all waste and pet hair
• 0Contain pets in a hidden kennel or outdoors