It's time to sell your home and your real estate agent has suggested a professional real estate photographer take pictures. Fantastic decision. However, you have no idea about how you should prepare your home. Over the years I have been asked questions such as "Should I repaint my home?", "Do I need to get rid of my furniture?", "What should I do about my kitchen?". In this post I am going to share with you the advice I give all home owners and real estate agents when they decided to hire a professional real estate photographer.
I have compiled a room to room check list. However, at the bare minimum you must do the following.
Clean your house as if your mother is coming to visit. Do your best to remove stains from carpets, mop the floors and don't forget to clean the windows.
The day of the photo shoot
Preparing your home on the day the real estate photographer arrives saves time for all parties involved. Here are several ways to get your home ready.
Turn on all overhead lights
Replace any burnt out light bulbs
Turn off all ceiling fans, televisions, and computer screens
Open up all blinds
Place all shoes and jackets in the closet
Remove cars from the driveway
Place any pet items, IE food dish, toys...out of sight
Remove any small floor rugs to reveal flooring underneath
Store away all charging devices/cables
Remove all personal affects
Kitchen
Clean counter tops of all items expect for one. This can be either a coffee pot, a mixer a juicer or a tea kettle
Hide away garbage cans
Keep the fridge door clean of pictures and magnets
Bathrooms
Remove all soaps from the shower and bathtub
This one is for the males of the home...put down all toilet seats
Remove any dirty towels and replace with one clean towel
Clear the counter tops completely
Remove any dirty floor mats
Dinning/Living room
Straighten all chairs around the dining table
Remove any high chairs or booster seats
Hide magazines, letter mail, papers...
Fluff and arrange sofa pillows
De-clutter the room
Bedrooms
Hid laundry
Clear away any personal items including pictures and jewelry
Make beds
Put away children's toys
Close closet doors if you do not want to showcase your closets interior
Exterior
Close garage doors
Remove any empty planters
Rake leaves, shovel snow, or mow the grass
Clean up any outdoor toys
Remove visible water hose
Clean out the pool
Prepare the hot tub
Tidy up patio furniture
I understand that this list seems daunting. We want your home to be presented in the best possible way and this requires corporation and team work. If you take it one room at a time you should be ready to present your home to the Queen of England come photo shoot day. If you have any questions regarding the preparation of your home please contact us.
* All photos you see in this post are actual photos take by Five Star Images