Make it stand out
Pre - Photoshoot Checklist
Preparing your home is important!
Great Photos Help Sell Your Home!
The goal of real estate photos & media is to make your home look its best so buyers are excited to see it in person! Today, more than 90% of buyers search for homes online, and they spend about 60% of that time looking at pictures. Thats why it's so important to show your home in the best way possible. Which starts with cleaning and intentional staging.
Since most buyers start online, a great first impression matters!
Read through the steps below. If you’re not sure where to start, your realtor and Vivid Spaces are here to help! If you have any questions, feel free to ask - lets make potential buyers stop scrolling!
General Prep
Be photoshoot ready: Make sure your home is clean and staged before the photographer arrives. I’ll help with small adjustments to make it look its best, but it should be ready for photos when the shoot begins.
Secure or remove pets: Vivid Spaces is pet-friendly, but pets should be out of sight during the photoshoot. MLS rules don’t allow people or pets in the photos. Please hide pet food, bowls and toys.
Plan not to be seen: People can cause shadows, show up in reflections, or walk through the photos because we use wide-angle lenses. Please plan to be away from the property, or we can tell you where to go while photographing certain areas.
Use the garage as storage: Garages are usually not photographed unless they’re a key feature of the home. If possible, please use the garage to store items.
Exterior Prep
Clear the cars: Please make sure there are no cars in the driveway or in front of the property (if possible). This includes vehicles, boats, trailers, and recreational vehicles.
Hide trash cans: Put trash cans in the garage or on the side of the property.
Hide the hoses: Please hide garden hoses the day before the photoshoot. Hoses can drip water when moving them and leave puddles in your photos.
Mow and trim the yard: Mow and trim the yard 24 hours before your appointment. Bonus tip: If there are grass clippings on the driveway or sidewalk, blow or sweep them back into the yard.
Turn off the sprinklers: Don’t water the day of the photoshoot to avoid puddles on pavement.
Prep pool and spa: If you have a pool and/or spa, please make sure they are clean and the cover is removed.
Clean patio furniture: Dust off and remove cobwebs from all outdoor furniture. Do not hose it down the day of the photoshoot (because of puddles)
Interior Prep
Turn on all lights: Before the photographer arrives, please make sure all interior lights are on. If any bulbs are burned out, replace them before the photoshoot.
Turn off ceiling fans: Spinning blades on ceiling fans don’t look good in photos. Please make sure all fans are turned off before the photoshoot.
Remove personal photos and items: Remove all family & friend photos.
Declutter kitchen: A few items on the kitchen counter are okay, but dishes, sponges, and rags should be put away. It’s also best to remove magnets, pictures, and any items form the refrigerator, along with throw rugs from the floor.
Declutter bathrooms: Toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, and other personal items should be hidden. Decorative soaps, candles, flowers, and similar items are preferred. It’s also a good idea to remove all throw rugs from the floor.
Prep bedrooms: All bedrooms should have made beds, clothes put away in the closet or dressers, and dirty laundry hidden out of sight.
Hide trash cans: Trash cans may be distracting, so it’s best to hide them in the closet or garage.
Hide portable fans: Ceiling fans are a selling point, but portable fans can give the wrong impression. It’s best to hide all portable fans in a closet or the garage.
Hide cords and remotes: Sometimes electrical cords can’t be hidden, but your picture will look more appealing if you can hide TV remotes, game consoles, and visible cords.
Clear entryways: Please remove all shoes, umbrellas, and similar items from the entry.
Open blinds with views: Since your indoor photos will show the outside, please open all blinds, especially if there’s a great view.
Thank you for taking the time to go through this checklist! It will help your home look more desirable to potential buyers, attract better offers, and make your photographer’s job much easier.
Again, thank you!
When in doubt,
less is more!
If you’re on the fence about whether to remove or keep an item on display, I recommend removing it. Less is often more!
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