Preparing your Home for Photography

 

INTERIORS

  • Turn ON all lights in every room or closet including overhead lights and any lamps.

  • Be sure all ceiling fans, computer and TV screens are OFF.

  • Open all blinds or window coverings to see clearly outside. Blinds do not need to be pulled up but just opened to see straight through.

  • Tuck away all pet beds and bowls out of sight. If possible please do not have pets around or tuck them in a room during the entire shoot.

  • Remove dish racks, detergents, dish soaps, etc. in kitchen. Keep counters clean and minimal.

  • Remove all personal items including toothbrushes, hair products, etc from baths and showers.

  • Remove all magnets & papers from the refrigerator door to make for a cleaner look.

  • Hide wires or cables as much as possible.

  • Remove clutter in all rooms.

EXTERIORS

  • Remove hanging agent sign from yard post. Do NOT remove post. Agent signs cannot appear in MLS photos.

  • Have all vehicles parked away from home or parked in garage. If we’re shooting the garage, park vehicle(s) away from the home.

  • Remove BBQ and firepit covers or anything outside that may be deemed as “unsightly”.

  • Place all trash bins inside the garage, and NOT on the side of the home (front or back). This will save the photographer a lot of time by not having to move them around during the shoot to keep them out of photos.

  • Remove hoses, brooms, mops, etc.

  • If you have a pool, be sure it is free of leaves.

  • Sweep courtyards & entertaining areas.

  • If sunset shoot, ensure that outdoor and pool lights are working and on.

Marketing is one of the most important pieces whether selling your home or managing a vacation rental. Professional photos are a big piece to that marketing puzzle and is proven to positively impact your home's sale price. Professional real estate photos can significantly help real estate agents sell listings faster and provide buyers and renters with a positive first impression that can drive higher offers, or drive more bookings if managing a short-term or long-term rental property.

A study conducted by FlipKey found, "Travelers are 83% more likely to inquire if your vacation rental property listings contain 20 or more photos.” Professional photography can make your properties stand out from the competition, visually support your property descriptions, and can help increase rankings in online booking platforms such as Expedia, Booking.com and more.

By following this pre-shoot checklist it will help make for a successful photoshoot, and will ensure time will be best spent taking quality photos while minimizing distractions or delays of having to clean up anything outside, move things from room to room, or needing to tidy up rooms before the shoot begins which can really add up time. Preferably, the agent or homeowner does NOT need to be present to for the same reasons just mentioned, but I understand if that is not always possible due to unforeseen circumstances. I'm often on a tight schedule, and to get the most out of my services please have the property entirely ready before I arrive if possible.