Preparing Your Home for Listing Photos

A professional Realtor should ALWAYS provide professional photographs for your listing as part of their service. In most cases this is the very first impression to make on a buyer or the buyers agent. Below is a checklist to maximize the effectiveness of the photos and increase traffic to your home.

Preparing Your Home For Listing Photos

EXTERIOR:

• Close Garage Doors
• Remove Cars From Driveway & Front of Home
• Clean Up Landscaping (mow, trim shrubs, clear leaves)
• Remove Empty Planters
• Use a Broom to Remove Cobwebs From Eaves and Door Frames
• Remove Visible Water Hoses
• Remove Toys, Sports Balls, Basketball Hoops, Soccer Goals etc.
• Clean Porch, Tidy Up Outdoor Tables/Chairs/Cushions
• Pillows/Cushions Should Be Fresh & Not Faded
• Clean Pool
• Remove Trash Cans

INTERIOR:

• Thoroughly Clean Whole House (Vacuum Carpet, Mop Hard Floors, Clean Countertops & Windows)
• Turn All Overhead Lights and Lamps On
• Replace Burned Out Bulbs
• Use Bulbs of the Same Temperature (ALL Warm or ALL Bright White)
• Turn All Ceiling Fans Off
• Turn Off All TV’s
• Turn Off All Computer Monitors
• Open Blinds/Window Treatments to Allow Outside Light In
• Remove Personal Photographs (or Replace with General Landscape/Object Photos)
• Make All Beds
• Remove Small Floor Rugs to Reveal Actual Flooring
• Place All Shoes/Jackets in Closet
• Clear Countertops of Unnecessary Items (Mail, Spices, etc)
• Clear Outside Refrigerator of Magnets, Papers, Photos, etc)
• Hide Garbage Cans in Pantry or Closet
• Remove Dishes from Sink, Place in Dishwasher
• Clear Bathroom Countertops (Soap, Toothbrushes, Medications, Deodorant etc)
• Put Toilet Seats Down
• Close Closet Doors
• Clear Showers & Tubs of Shampoo, Soap, Loofahs Etc)
• Remove Dirty Towels, Leave out Only New Unused Towels
• Remove Floor Mats