HOME SELLING GUIDE: PREPARING FOR REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHY

Preparing your home for real estate photography is essential in attracting possible buyers. High-quality photos can enhance your listing, increase exposure, and potentially raise your sale price. Carefully attending to each room, from the exterior to the kitchen, ensures every part of your home is highlighted effectively.

By making your home clean, clutter-free, and well-organized, you create an appealing environment that allows buyers to envision themselves living there. Tailoring each room to be photo-ready will maximize its potential and appeal.

• 🛏️ Bedroom: Tidy up beds, clear surfaces, hide personal items and toys to create a neutral space.
• 🛁 Bathroom: Keep it clean and minimal, hiding toiletries and ensuring mirrors and towels are spotless.
• 🏡 Exterior: Enhance curb appeal by removing clutter, parking vehicles out of view, and tidying garden spaces.
• 🏠 General: Clean windows, ensure bulbs work, and clean reflective surfaces to create a bright, inviting space.
• 🍽️ Kitchen & Dining: Clear countertops, remove items from refrigerators, and stow away unnecessary appliances.
• 🛋️ Living Areas: Organize spaces, hide cables, declutter shelves, and remove excess furniture for spaciousness.
• 💼 Office/Den: Declutter desk surfaces, tidy bookshelves, and organize cables to maintain a professional space.

A serene and tidy bedroom can create a relaxing ambiance that appeals to buyers. Start by ensuring beds are neatly made, with all loose sheets tucked in. Items stored under the bed should be hidden from view. Clear dresser tops and bedside tables to give a sense of spaciousness and organization. Ensure that wall hangings like frames and posters are straight. Consider removing children's names from walls and limit visible toys to create a more neutral environment. Hide laundry baskets and remo...

Bathrooms are small but essential spaces that can greatly impact a home's first impression. Make sure towels are clean and neatly folded; remove any used shower towels. Hide all toiletries, including toothbrushes, from countertops. Clean mirrors thoroughly to remove spots and streaks. A small potted plant can add a welcoming touch. Keep all cleaning supplies, air fresheners, and other items out of sight, and ensure trash cans and any other disposal items are hidden.

By keeping the bathroom clean and minimalistic, you amplify its features and make it more inviting to prospective buyers.

The exterior of your home sets the stage for what buyers can expect inside. Be prepared to move cars, trailers, and garbage cans out of the driveway and view. Brighten the entrance with colorful flowers near the front door, patios, and walkways. Remove pet toys and outdoor clutter and ensure patio furniture and BBQ equipment is neatly arranged. Keep pathways and pool areas free from leaves and tidy up garden beds by trimming plants and removing dead leaves.

A welcoming exterior can enhance curb appeal and create a lasting first impression that draws buyers inside.

To maintain a clean and cohesive look throughout your home, ensure all windows and reflective surfaces are spotless. Replace any burned-out light bulbs to maintain bright, inviting spaces. Remove cobwebs from corners, fix and open shutters to emphasize natural light, and ensure all frames, cabinet doors, and dresser drawers are properly aligned and closed. Remove any small rugs that are not in great condition to keep the floors looking polished.

Attention to every detail means buyers will focus on your home's positive aspects without distraction.

In the kitchen and dining areas, less is more. Remove magnets, artwork, and photos from the refrigerator, and clear off any items from its top. Tuck away unnecessary appliances and keep countertops clean and clear of clutter like appliances or paper stacks. Clean the stovetop and ensure sinks are empty. Remove dish towels, trash cans, and small utilities like pet dishes from view. Put away dining table booster seats to maintain a streamlined look.

Simplicity in the kitchen and dining rooms enhances the perception of functional space and cleanliness.

Creating an inviting and spacious feel in the living areas encourages buyers to imagine life in your home. Hide pet toys and beds, TV remotes, and game controllers. Conceal unsightly cables and ensure books and DVDs on shelves are neatly arranged. If you have a fireplace, placing fresh logs can add a cozy touch. Remove any unnecessary furniture that makes the room feel cramped and organize pillows and blankets on sofas and chairs.

A well-ordered living space suggests comfort and care, enabling buyers to visualize themselves in that environment.

A functional and organized office space appeals to buyers who might work from home. Clear as much as you can from desktop surfaces, organize cables, and remove visible paperwork. Ensure bookshelves are neat, and move trash cans and shredders out of sight.

An orderly home office inspires productivity and helps buyers visualize their work life in the space.