How to Prepare the Home for Real Estate Photography

You don’t need to hire a stylist to make the house look attractive to potential buyers. Just read our tips and invest a little bit of time!

Blog | Home Sales

By Trine Bretteville

Are you selling a home and want some tips on what to prepare for the photography shoot?

Buyers often look at pictures and floor plans as the first step in their search. That’s why many sellers hire a professional real estate photographer to shoot beautiful pictures inside and outside their homes.

Before the photographer arrives, make sure to invest the time in preparing and styling the home. A few hours of cleaning, arranging, and decluttering can help you receive beautiful, appealing photographs for an attractive real estate listing and a faster sale!

Where to Start With Real Estate Photography?

While you do not have to show every part of the house in a real estate listing, most agents and photographers will prioritize these standard images:

Wide-angle shots of bedrooms, kitchen, and living room
One photo of the main bathroom
1-3 shots of the backyard and a couple of shots of the front yard and entry
Shots of features such as the laundry room, garage, and pantry

General tips when preparing the home for real estate photography:

Clean the whole house (vacuum carpet, mop hard floors, clean countertops,
clean windows)
Replace all burned-out light bulbs
Remove personal photographs (or replace them with general landscape/object
photographs)
Make all beds
Remove small floor rugs to reveal actual flooring and get a cleaner look
Put all clothes in closets
Consider removing some furniture to make the house appear more spacious

Are you selling your home?

Check out these top questions to ask a real estate agency

Checklist: Top tips on how to prepare for real estate photography – area by area

Exterior, front yard, and backyard

Close all garage doors
Remove cars so they are not visible in the pictures
Attend to landscaping (mow the lawn, trim bushes, and remove leaves)
Remove dead foliage and empty planters
Remove trash cans
Remove visible water hoses, ladders, and other tools
Remove toys and playground supplies
Remove any seasonal decor (for example, Christmas lights)
Tidy up outdoor tables, chairs, etc., and fluff cushions
Clean the pool
Consider adding a few details like candle holders, etc, to create a cozy atmosphere

Hallway and wardrobe

Put clothes in the closet. Leave only an item or two on a hanger or a hook
Remove shoes. If you decide to leave a pair, make sure they are clean and nice
Remove clutter (keys, wallets, papers, etc.)

Kitchen

Clear countertops – less is more
Leave a couple of stylish items on the counter (a coffee maker or a bowl of fruit)
Hide all dishes; place dirty dishes in the dishwasher
Hide garbage cans and recycling bins
Clear the front of the refrigerator of magnets, postcards, photos, etc.
Clean and/or polish countertops and cabinets to make sure there are no fingermarks
Clear dining table. Consider having a vase of fresh flowers on the table
Straighten all chairs and space them evenly
Remove children’s chairs or high seats

Living room

Remove magazines, papers, mail, and random clutter
Arrange books and art in bookshelves so it looks tidy
Remove toys
Remove clutter and clean the interior of the fireplace
If the fireplace has a glass front – clean it
Fluff and arrange furniture pillows
Hide and/or arrange cables from TV, stereo, and other electrical devices

Bedrooms

The bedding should be in matching colors, have no wrinkles, and no discoloring or fading
Press bed linens and bed skirts
Make the beds, including decorative pillows/shams if available
Edges of bedding and sheets, when visible, should either be tucked neatly or hung straight
Pillows should be wrinkle-free, fluffed, matching, and arranged neatly
Remove personal belongings like pictures, clothing, electronics, and clutter
Remove trash cans
Clean under the bed, remove items that may show in the photos

Kids & guest bedrooms

Remove personalized items like names and pictures from walls
Tidy the room: put books in bookshelves, toys in boxes, and put some key toys on shelves for display
Clean under the bed, removing items that may show in the photos

Home office

Clear desk
Hide and/or arrange all the cables
Hide papers
Arrange items neatly in a bookshelf
Remove personalized items

Bathrooms

Clear countertops. Consider leaving a decorative soap dispenser, etc.
Put toilet seats down
Remove shampoo, soap, etc., from showers and tubs
Remove dirty towels. Hang up clean towels in matching colors
Remove floor mats

When you have prepared the house, it’s a good idea to do a final walkabout to ensure all the details are in place. And then it's ready, and the photographer can start shooting.

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