1. Clean Kitchen Counters & Sink

Clear off kitchen counters to make the kitchen space appear more prominent. Kitchen counters with coffee makers, mixers, and decorations can be a distraction for buyers and make the kitchen feel cluttered. Remove everything except a few decorative items from the countertops and clean all surface area, including appliance, kitchen sink, and backsplash.

2. Clean Bathroom

Take all items off of the bathroom counter and place all of the shampoo bottles, soaps, shaving razors, and other items into a bin that can be stored underneath the bathroom sink. You want your bathroom to look bigger and vacant. Clean the countertops, sinks, toilet, and shower. Neatly fold any decorative towels on the towel rack and place a few for show items on the countertop.

3. Turn On All Lights Throughout the Entire House

Lighting is one of the most important aspects of photography. Be sure to check all the ceiling lights, lamps, and exterior lights to make sure they all work. Turn on all the lights in the house before the photographer arrives.

4. Open All Window Treatments

Natural light from windows brings life and emotion into real estate photos. We recommend opening all the window treatments throughout the entire house to let in as much light as possible. If it’s too bright outside, your photographer will alter your shades and curtains to balance the shot. Don’t forget to clean the windows!

5. Remove Unnecessary Furniture & Decorations

Removing and storing excess or large furniture can be challenging, but it opens the floor space and makes the home look much more presentable. Consult a professional stager to determine which items should stay or go. Floor mats and runners can make the overall floor space look smaller. Make sure to roll up and remove all the floor mats in the bathrooms, kitchen, and laundry areas.

6. Make All of the Beds

This is the most obvious step, but it gets overlooked often, especially in the secondary bedrooms. Decorate all the beds with matching sheets, blankets, and pillows to brighten up the bed.

7. Clear All Nightstands and Dressers

Nightstands tend to accumulate items naturally. Half-read books, prescription bottles, tissues, and electronic devices will quickly clutter these areas. Remove everything but a lamp and one decorative thing, such as a small floral arrangement or decorative book, to make the space look clean and presentable. Think of a freshly cleaned hotel room.

8. Remove All Personal Photos and Items

You want the buyer to visualize themselves in your house, but it will be hard if your items are everywhere. Since you want your buyers to fall in love with the house, you will need to remove all private photos and items from the entire home, including the patio, porch, and garage.

9. Put All Shoes & Jackets in Closets

Remove all jackets and shoes from anywhere they can be seen throughout the house and store away any loose items to remove all distractions. Buyers do not want to see shoes and jackets on coat racks and entryway floors because they will assume that the home lacks storage space.

10. Remove All Pet Item

Not everyone has pets. Some people are severely allergic to animals, while others simply do not like having a pet in their home. Make sure your home shows no signs of pets, especially pet smells. Spend time cleaning your home to get rid of the pet odor and remove all pet items from the house.

11. Tidy Up the Yard & Landscape

First impressions are crucial when selling your home. Make sure your front yard is cleaned up, and all of the landscape should be trimmed back and tidy. The first picture that people will see of your home will be the outside front yard. Your front yard needs to be in very good condition to grab the buyer’s attention.

12. Sweep up the Porch/Patio/Deck

Ensure that the entire front and back porches are swept clean and remove any items you can live without. If possible, stage these areas with flowers and decorative items to create a relaxing space that invites homebuyers in. Creating an inviting entrance conveys pride-of-ownership to homebuyers.

13. All Cars from Road & Driveway

It’s never good to have cars in the driveway during real estate photos. Always remove all cars, trucks, RVs, and trailers from the house’s driveway and front. Pro tip: Ask your neighbors to move their cars from the road to make the street look quiet and inviting in your photos. This is especially important for drone shots.

14. Hide All Garbage Cans & Lawn Equipment

Large garbage cans and unsightly lawn equipment can be very distracting in real estate photos. Put all the trash cans in the garage, along with garden hoses, lawnmowers, and other yard maintenance tools. Keep the lawn free and clear of any small toys and pet items as well. You don’t want the photographer to have to do this step. It will distract them.

15. Remove Outdoor Cooker Covers

It’s time to show off that fantastic bar-b-que grill, not hide it! Smoker and grill covers should be removed so that cookers are exposed and ready for use. If it’s an old grill that needs to be covered because it’s rusty and unsightly, it’s better to remove or throw it out completely.

16. Open Patio Umbrellas

If it’s not too windy during your photoshoot, be sure to open any patio umbrellas to stage the area. Dust off chairs and set up the site as though you will enjoy it with friends later. Fresh outdoor pillows and flowers will create an inviting space for your photographer to highlight while they’re in your backyard.

.  17.  Clean Your Pool

If you have a pool, make sure it’s clean. There should be no debris and the water should be crystal clear. Make sure skimming nets, vacuums, and brushes aren’t photo-bombing your precious beauty shots! Not only are hoses and other equipment an eyesore, but you don’t exactly want the first thing on buyers minds to be …”oh yeah, pool maintenance. What a drag…”