Preparing your home
First impressions matter. When a potential home buyer starts looking at your online listing, the pictures they see will have a huge impact on how they perceive your property. Clean and pristine photos will result in your audience thinking that your listing is high quality and important, while photos that are filled with dirty floors, messy rooms, or cluttered environments will likely turn away most, if not all your potential buyers.
If you want to show off your home at its absolute best ahead of your photoshoot, then please complete the following preparations before we arrive:
IMPORTANT: Additional charges will apply if your home is not completely ready for photography when we arrive. Please make every effort to make your property ready for your shoot ahead of time.
Please complete the following preparations in order to show your home at its best:
ADDITIONAL CHARGES WILL APPLY IF YOUR PROPERTY IS NOT PHOTOGRAPHY READY UPON ARRIVAL
ADDITIONAL CHARGES MAY APPLY IF APPOINTMENT IS CANCELED WITHTIN 24 HOURS OF SET APPOINTMENT MIN- $50
- Remove your vehicle(s) from your driveway(s) and try not to park directly in front of the house. Instead, aim to park further down the street or in a garage when possible.
- Open window coverings, such as blinds, curtains, or drapes (turn vertical and Venetian blinds to open position). This will let in natural light and show off your neighborhood views.
- Clean your windows so that they are all completely clean and transparent without any smudges or noticeable marks.
- Remove any items which may be taped or otherwise fastened to the refrigerator.
- Remove everything from your sinks – don’t forget to do the dishes!
- Remove all you can from countertops (bread, dishes, toothpaste, combs, soap, food, toiletries, hand towels, etc.) so that they are entirely clean and open.
- Tidy up all your bedrooms. Make your beds and hide all your clothes, either by hanging them nicely in your closets or by simply stuffing them under the bed (we won’t judge).
- Put away any and all children’s toys. Put them in storage containers, closets, cabinets, or any other location that is completely out of view.
- If you have a pet: remove any pet bowls, litter boxes, or toys in rooms that you plan to have photographed.
- Put away any newspapers and magazines you have around the house. Put them on bookshelves or store them in drawers to maximize your property’s visual appeal.
- Make sure that all light bulbs work and replace any broken lights. Clean light bulbs to remove dust.
- Roll up or hide garden hoses and hide all garden tools.
- Gather all trash and put it in trash bins outside. Then, conceal all trash containers by moving them out of view during the photoshoot.
- Get the lawn mowed and edged, the weeds pulled, and leaves picked up.
- Make sure the pool and pool area are sparkling clean. If you have temporary child fencing, take it down for the photoshoot. Turn on the pumps for waterfalls/spillways to maximize visual appeal.
- Help the photographer by keeping pets and people out of the way during the shoot.
- MOST IMPORTANTLY: Declutter your home. Sweep the floors, vacuum the carpets, clean your counters, and avoid leaving any miscellaneous objects or junk strewn around the house. Put your best foot forward with a completely pristine property.