Home Prep Checklist for Photo Day


Exterior - Front


  • Remove vehicles from driveway and front of house.

  • Remove trash cans, recycle bins from front of house. (These will still show if they are on the side of the house in front of a fence. Hide in garage or behind side gate where they will not show)

  • Sweep/blow off driveway, walkways, porches, patios and decks. (Leaves, bark, rocks etc. on concrete or pathways looks tacky)

  • Remove hoses, garden tools, kids/pets’ toys. (Hoses are often neon or bright and detract attention from the home)

  • Ideally shoot after gardeners come. (lawn mowed, weeds pulled etc.)

  • Clean porch, tidy up outdoor tables/chairs/cushions (cob webs, dirt etc.)

  • Do NOT wet driveway for photos. (wet concrete will show oil spots or any imperfections which can not be photoshopped out.)

BackYard

  • Clean pool, Remove pool vacuum/cleaner hose before photoshoot day. (removing hose from pool day of or at the time of the shoot will leave water spots on concrete which looks horrible...we do not have time to wait for them to dry)

  • Turn on pool fountains/water features/lights (replace all lights that are out with same color temperature)

  • Remove visible water hoses / trash cans

  • Pick up dog waste.

  • Remove traces of pets. Remove pet bedding, water dishes, pet toys etc.

  • Remove and store barbecue cover, clean barbecue exterior if needed. Remove all patio furniture coverings and TV covering as well.

  • Remove recreational items, soccer balls, ping-pong tables, pool floaties, boogie boards, soccer goals etc. Unless it is a built-in feature of the home, probably better to remove these items.

Interior

  • The home and property should be as clean as possible. Remove personal items from around the house, family photos, college degrees, posters etc. Remembering that you’re going to be moving soon anyhow you might as well pack it up now so that the house looks better in photos and during personal showings.

  • Declutter! Less is more.

  • Remove pet bedding, pet fencing, water dishes, pet toys.

  • Remove floor fans, air purifiers.

  • Open window coverings (curtains, drapes, sheers, blinds) to let in as much natural light as possible.

  • Turn off ceiling fans (moving fan blades just look like a blur in the photos.)

  • If time and budget permits, have windows professionally cleaned. Especially Ocean view homes. Clean windows let in more light than dirty windows. (Dirty windows can also show in photos. Especially when the light hits at a certain angle)

  • Replace any burnt out bulbs. Make sure all light fixtures have the proper type of bulbs—try not to mix fluorescent and in-candescent bulbs.

  • Eliminate as much clutter as possible, including children’s toys, clothing, piles of newspapers/magazines. Remove anything from the floor that doesn’t belong on the floor.

  • Remove toiletries and other personal items from bathroom counters (toothbrushes, perfumes, etc.) close toilet lids; re-move/replace old or dirty towels, washcloths, etc.

  • Make all beds neatly (avoid wrinkles, lumps) fluff pillows, clear dressers of personal items.

  • At your computer workstations, stow or unplug dangling cables/wires; clear papers. Turn off monitors.

  • Straighten up and/or remove items from bookcases.

  • In the kitchen, remove most, but not all, items from the counters. Items that can be leftout might include: decorative canisters, a colorful bowl or platter, no more than one countertop appliance. You want it to be uncluttered, but not sterile. Items to remove or hide from view include: dish towels, paper towels, sink plug, pet dishes, trash cans. Remove everything (magnets, pictures, calendars, etc.) from the outside of the refrigerator




 

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