General tips when preparing your home for real estate photography:

  1. Clean the whole house (vacuum carpet, mop hard floors, clean countertops,
    clean windows)
  2. Replace all burned-out light bulbs
  3. Remove personal photographs (or replace with general landscape/object
    photographs)
  4. Make all beds
  5. Remove small floor rugs to reveal actual flooring and get a cleaner look
  6. Put all clothes in closets
  7. Consider removing some furniture to make the house appear more spacious

Checklist: Top tips on how to prepare for real estate photography – area by area

Exterior, front yard and backyard

  • Close all garage doors
  • Remove cars, so they are not visible in the pictures
  • Attend to landscaping (mow the lawn, trim bushes and remove leaves)
  • Remove dead foliage and empty planters
  • Remove/hide trash cans wheelie bins where possible
  • Remove visible water hoses, ladders, and other tools
  • Remove toys and playground supplies
  • Remove any seasonal decor (for example, Christmas lights)
  • Tidy up outdoor tables, chairs etc. and fluff cushions
  • Clean the pool
  • Consider adding a few details like candle holders etc to create a cozy atmosphere
    front door real estate photography

Hallway and wardrobe

  • Put clothes in the closet. Leave only an item or two on a hanger or a hook
  • Remove shoes. If you decide to leave a pair, make sure they are clean and nice
  • Remove clutter (keys, wallets, papers, etc.)

Kitchen

  • Clear countertops – less is more
  • Leave a couple of stylish items on the counter (a coffee maker or a bowl of fruit)
  • Hide all dishes; place dirty dishes in the dishwasher
  • Hide garbage cans and recycling bins
  • Clear the front of the refrigerator of magnets, postcards, photos, etc.
  • Clean and/or polish countertops and cabinets to make sure there are no fingermarks
  • Clear dining table. Consider having a vase of fresh flowers on the table
  • Straighten all chairs and space them evenly
  • Remove children’s chairs or high seats

Living room

  • Remove magazines, papers, mail, and random clutter
  • Arrange books and art in bookshelves, so it looks tidy
  • Remove toys
  • Remove clutter and clean interior of the fireplace
  • If the fireplace has a glass front – clean it
  • Fluff and arrange furniture pillows
  • Hide and/or arrange cables from TV, stereo and other electrical devices
  • living room real estate photography

Bedrooms

  • Bedding should be in matching colors, have no wrinkles and no discoloring or fading
  • Press bed linens and bed skirts
  • Make the beds, including decorative pillows/shams if available
  • Edges of bedding and sheets when visible should either be tucked neatly or hung straight
  • Pillows should be wrinkle-free, fluffed, matching and arranged neatly
  • Remove personal belongings like pictures, clothing, electronics, and clutter
  • Remove trash cans
  • Clean under the bed, remove items that may show in the photos

Kids/guest bedrooms

  • Remove personalized items like names and pictures from walls
  • Tidy the room: put books in bookshelves, toys in boxes, and put some key toys on shelves for display
  • Clean under the bed, removing items that may show in the photos

Office / Study

  • Clear desk
  • Hide and/or arrange all the cables
  • Hide papers
  • Arrange items neatly in a bookshelf
  • Remove personalized items

Bathrooms

  • Clear countertops. Consider leaving a decorative soap dispenser, etc.
  • Put toilet seats down
  • Remove shampoo, soap, etc. from showers and tubs
  • Remove dirty towels. Hang up clean towels in matching colors
  • Remove floor mats

Now you are done, your media content is going to look great so we can most effectively market your property !