A Complete Guide: Preparing for Photos

by Bethany Stephens

Photographs can be one of the single most important components to help a home sell quickly and at top dollar.

I'm proud to partner with Watson Media House, who I consider to be the very best in the business at real estate photography... which is a very specific craft. Hiring an excellent team who meets my high standards and knows how to position your home optimally is part of my job... and your job as my client is to have it looking its best!

Watson provides a great guide to photo shoot prep, but I wanted to build on it with some of my own recommendations.

It is very easy to be biased about our decor and the choices in our home - after all, we make those choices because we each have distinct style preferences and strong opinions about how we want our home to look and feel!

However, it is absolutely critical to trust me as your real estate advisor on preparing for photos. It's my job to know exactly what will help your home sell and look appealing to prospective buyers, and I want to help you get offers at your preferred asking price!

Here are a few tips:

Prepare

Remove (or stash out of sight) personal items, decor, tchotchkes and family photos.
Clear the fridge of art, magnets, mail and clutter.
Clear counters and surfaces
Clean appliances (i.e. microwave, fridge, faucets), mirrors and glass windows/doors.
Remove highly personal/preferential items (i.e. specific college, sports team or religious items, posters etc.)
Wipe down fans, baseboards and anywhere visible dust or dirt has accumulated.
Remove everything (products, sponges, soap, makeup, medications etc.) from bathroom counters and showers.
Stash loose items (remotes, books, candles, coasters and personal items).
Remove or secure valuables (jewelry, guns, money etc.)
Put away dishes, pots, pans and clean sinks and kitchen counters.
Vacuum, mop and clean floors - look for dust bunnies, cobwebs, dead bugs on window sills etc.
Remove or stow small rugs (door mats, bath mats, entryway rugs) for a cleaner look.
Stash outdoor clutter such as garbage cans, hoses, toys, recycling bins and decor.
Remove yard signs (for sale, school teams, security, lawn service).
Sweep or blow off outdoor paths, sidewalks and patios. Clear accumulated leaves, cobwebs etc.
If present, open outdoor patio furniture umbrellas and clean/uncover pool/hot tub, stash toys etc.

Repair

Replace missing or burned out bulbs.
Touch up nicks and marks on baseboards, floors, walls and doors.
Use a magic eraser to clean spots and stains on baseboards and walls.
Make repairs (damaged window and door screens, loose cabinet pulls etc.)

Last but not least: please try to have a thick skin if I make recommendations to change or hide decor or even make bigger repairs or changes. I am not judging your choices: I'm doing my best to help you successfully sell your home.

Remember: buyers want to see themselves, their family photos and their decor choices in a home. Let's get absolutely as much as possible put away, placed in storage or stashed out of sight.

Timing

Please complete all cleaning and preparation a few days - or worst case a minimum of 15 - 30 minutes - before photographs. The photographers and I cannot assist with this process.

Photos are usually ready in 2 - 4 days after the shoot, and then we'll load them in the MLS with our listing and prepare to go live!

A great rule of thumb: once you clean up for photos, keep it that way. Then you're staged and show-ready for all the showing requests that are sure to roll in thanks to your hard work and beautifully photographed home! Plus, it's way easier to keep it clean versus having to frantically hurry to clean up for each individual showing.

Perfect Prep

Below are examples of a perfectly staged home. Even in the dead of winter, the home looked warm, inviting and appealing. Most impressive: these sellers took down holiday decor and prepared for photos between Christmas and New Year's Eve.

These clients were a dream: they asked for feedback, executed every request and truly partnered with me on every step from pricing to photos to showings.

Their hard work paid off, and they had multiple full price offers within 72 hours of going on the market. Let's make that happen for your home!