Preparing Your Home for Listing Photos

Great listing photos help buyers form their first impression of your home before they ever step through the door. A little preparation can make rooms feel brighter, larger, cleaner, and easier for buyers to imagine themselves living in.

By the time photography is scheduled, most of the major staging work should already be complete. These final details are about removing distractions and helping the home photograph at its best.

A Few Days Before

• Deep clean and pay extra attention to floors, mirrors, glass, counters, and visible dust.
• Make beds neatly, fluff pillows, and straighten linens and towels.
• Clear kitchen and bathroom counters as much as possible.
• Remove magnets, notes, photos, and paperwork from the refrigerator.
• Replace burned-out bulbs and make sure lighting is consistent throughout the home.
• Remove seasonal décor or highly personal items that may date the photos.
• Tidy closets or storage spaces if they may be photographed or shown to buyers.

Don’t Forget the Exterior

Exterior photos are often some of the first images buyers see, so the front of the property deserves just as much attention as the inside.

• Mow, edge, and tidy landscaping.
• Put away hoses, trash cans, tools, toys, and unnecessary outdoor equipment.
• Clean patios, porches, walkways, and the front entry.
• Remove pool-cleaning equipment and straighten outdoor furniture.
• Consider a simple plant or flowers near the entry if the space needs a little color.

Right Before the Photographer Arrives

The final goal is to make the home feel open, bright, and distraction-free.

• Turn on interior lights and open blinds or curtains where appropriate.
• Put toilet lids down and remove trash cans, bath mats, pet bowls, litter boxes, and pet beds.
• Move cars out of the driveway and away from the front of the home when possible.
• Clear loose items from floors and walkways.
• Make sure pets and people are out of the photographer’s way during the shoot.