PREPARING FOR A PHOTO SESSION

Prep, Prep, Prep!!  After your house is staged to your liking, PLEASE make sure you read and address this complete list of things to do before the photo session.  It is extremely important to have your home look as close to “open-house ready” as possible before the photo session.  Not only will your house look more photogenic, but it will look much larger, cleaner, neater and potential buyers will not be distracted and will be able to envision how they will make your house their own.

Please feel free to use the list below or download my HOME PREP GUIDE.  The prep guide is a great way to present your listing client with a clean and elegant checklist to get their home ready for photos and open houses.

GENERAL PREP

• Thoroughly clean whole house (vacuum carpet, mop hard floors, clean countertops, clean windows)
• Turn all overhead lights and lamps ON
• Replace all burned out light bulbs
• Use bulbs of the same temperature (ALL incandescent or ALL compact fluorescent)
• Turn all ceiling fans, TVs, and computer screens OFF
• Open blinds/window treatments to let in outside light
• Remove personal photographs (or replace with general landscape/object photographs)
• Make all beds
• Remove small floor rugs to reveal actual flooring
• Place all shoes/jackets in closets

EXTERIOR PREP

FRONT YARD

• Close garage doors
• Remove cars from driveway and front of home
• Clean up landscaping (mow, trim shrubs, clear leaves)
• Remove empty planters
• Use broom to remove cobwebs from eaves and door frames
• Remove visible water hoses
• Remove toys, sports balls, basketball goals, soccer goals, etc.

Examples:

BACK YARD

• Clean porch, tidy up outdoor tables/chairs/cushions
• Pillows/cushions should be fresh, not faded
• Clear out kid’s toys, balls, frisbees, etc.
• Clean pool
• Remove pool vacuum/cleaner hose
• Hide pool cleaning supplies
• Turn on pool fountains/water features
• Remove visible water hoses
• Remove trash cans

Examples:

KITCHEN PREP

• Clear countertops completely. No knife blocks, baking supplies, mail, etc.
• Leave out max of one small appliance (ex. coffee maker)
• Clear outside of refrigerator of magnets, papers, photos, etc.
• Hide garbage cans in pantry or closet
• Remove dishes from sink, place in dishwasher

Examples:

DINING ROOM PREP

• Clear table, dust and polish the table top
• Use decorative place setting if available
• Feature one center piece such as a bouquet of flowers
• Straighten all chairs and space them evenly
• Remove child seats/booster chairs

Examples:

LIVING / FAMILY ROOM PREP

• Remove stacks of magazines, papers, mail, etc.
• De-clutter fireplace mantel/hearth (no more than 5 items, including art)
• Clean interior of fireplace and re-paint if needed
• Fluff and arrange furniture pillows
• Remove kid’s toys

Examples:

BEDROOM PREP

MASTER BEDROOM

• Make bed, including decorative pillows/shams if available
• Press bed linens and bed skirts
• Clear nightstands of all personal items
• Store away phone/tablet charging cables
• Remove all clutter from top of dressers
• Remove family photos from walls
• Clean under bed, removing items that may show in the photos

Examples:

KID/GUEST BEDROOM

• Remove personalized names from walls
• Take down all wall stickers/posters
• Get rid of all diaper genies
• Clean under bed, removing items that may show in the photos

Examples:

BATHROOM PREP

• Clear countertops completely. No soap, toothbrushes, medications, deodorant, etc.
• Put toilet seats down
• Close closet doors
• Remove shampoo, soap, loofahs, etc. from showers and tubs
• No dirty towels – leave out only new, unused towels
• Don’t put down floor mats

Examples:

PETS

• Place food and water bowls in pantry or closet
• Place pet beds/toys in pantry or closet
• Use lint roller on furniture to remove pet hair
• Contain pets in hidden crate or outside
• Clear back yard of pet waste/toys