Photo Prep Guide & Home Prep Tips

Real Estate Photo Prep Ideas 

Here is a photo prep guide to get your home ready for photos. Your home's photos will all over the internet and you need them to look their absolute best. Taking the time get your home ready for it's photo shoot can be difference in selling for top dollar or having to continually reduce the price to attract buyer's attention. View this guide and give us a call to learn more about listing your home for sale and getting top dollar!

Here are a few tips along with a complete checklist to help guide your way.

1. Pressure Wash - Pressure Wash - Pressure Wash

The exterior of the home is the first thing potential buyers will see and freshly cleaned and pressure washed exterior can speak volumes. A clean exterior shows the home is well cared for and gets buyers excited about what's inside.

2. Soft Clean Your Roof

If your roof isn't brand new, but still has plenty of years of useful life on it get it soft washed to improve its looks. Over time your roof will accumulate slight mildew and staining that can make it look older than it actually is. Get it soft washed to ease potential concerns from buyers.

3. Clear the driveway

One of the first things you need to identify before beginning photography should be asking yourself, are the all cars removed from the driveway? Is the pod storage unit sitting in the yard blocking the front of the house? Have you completed all your contractor work? This all ensures we can present the newly updated home properly.

4. Use a garage for storage

Use your garage as a storage unit. We typically don’t photograph garages as they are not viewed as a desirable space by most buyers. As such, it’s the best place for storage. Use it to hide garbage cans, trash, or large items, and of course you can pull your car in it as well.

5. Clear outside clutter

Remove all outside clutter and put away simple things like rakes, and roll up your lawn hoses. If you have outdoor furniture, set it up nicely and prepare it to serve dinner. The curbside appeal really matters.

6. Refresh landscaping

Mow your lawn and refresh your landscaping. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and different buyers might have different preferences, but refreshed landscaping ahead of a photographer’s arrival will yield better photos and results.

7. Clear surfaces of personal items

Inside the home, clear all surfaces. If your countertops are where you charge your phones, store messages and notes, that should all be organized and out of the way before the photographer arrives. The same is true with the refrigerator; make sure magnets are removed. This saves time and allows the photographer to focus on showcasing your house, rather than pulling down magnets, or doing a ton of Photoshopping.

8. Keep Colors White or Neutral

Consider switching out your colored curtains, towels and bedding to a more neutral and solid color...white is best! Paint any strong colored walls white, gray or other soft color. Remove colored kitchen and bathroom rugs. Replace shower curtains with white curtains.

9. Tidy the bathroom

Make sure toilet seat covers in the bathroom are positioned down. This can be an unsightly area, and again, we want to be cautious of privacy issues and stowing personal items like medication, as well as toothbrushes and loofahs. Organizing these areas prevents the photographer from having to clear up people’s personal bathroom items, which is not a fun process.

10. Prepare windows and lights

Our window images are really beautiful when we have all the windows sparkling clean, and the window shades and blinds opened. The same goes for lighting. It’s easy to have bulbs looked at or replaced before we are there, as we take all our photos with the lights on, which makes for beautiful ambient lighting.

11. Make a plan for pets

We’ve had birds land on our shoulders, we’ve seen all sorts of rodents, and we always remind clients to be cautious of pets and their belongings. Make a plan for your pets on the day of photography. Don’t just lock them in a room and expect the photographer to work around a dog.

12. Clean the whole house

Complete a normal home refresh before photography such as making your bed, clearing the countertop as discussed, and taking the time to make that final pass before the photographer arrives. This gives your home an opportunity to really be ready for photos.”

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