How to Prepare Your Home for a Professional Photographer

Those that have read our blog know professional real estate photography can mean the difference of $1,000 or more in the final purchase price. The better you present your home online, the more buyers will want to see your home in person and the better chances you’ll have of getting a good offer.

Though a professional photographer knows which angles are better than others, knows how to properly light the space and has the appropriate camera to capture as much as possible, they can’t hide dirty clothes, the pile of mail on the kitchen counter or the dishes in the sink. In order to get the most of the professional photography, here are some tips to help you prepare your home for the photographer.

A Month Before the Photographer is Scheduled

Pack everything you don’t use daily and put it in your garage or storage space. Keep as little out as possible to make your home look open and spacious. It is ok to use closets and garages to store stuff. Photographers don’t usually photograph these spaces and potential buyers understand you need to put your stuff somewhere.

If you have grass or plants, get some plant food (we recommend Eleanor’s Plant Food, sold online through Home Depot) and use liberally. Also, water regularly. This will spruce up your lawn and plants and make your home look more inviting.

A Week Before the Photographer is Scheduled

Clean everything and make it sparkle. This includes carpets, windows, ceiling fans, blinds, walls, baseboards, kitchen appliances, etc.

Once you think you have everything put away and clean, walk into each room and ask yourself, “Is everything I see something I want a buyer to see?” If the answer is no, keep removing things until the answer is yes.

Turn on every single light in your home. Check for burnt out light bulbs. If there are certain rooms that aren’t bright, install a higher wattage light bulb.

1 Hour Before the Photographer is Scheduled

• Turn on every light in your home.
• Put the blinds or shutters all the way down and adjust them to let some light in.
• Turn off ceiling fans.
• Make sure everything that doesn’t belong on the floor is put away.
• Hide mail, keys, magazines, books, remotes.

Kitchen

• Hide the sponges and dish towels
• Remove all appliances and kitchen utensils from the counter top
• Hide the trash can
• Take down everything from the outside of the refrigerator – this includes magnets, pictures and other decorations
• Hide kitchen rugs

Bedrooms

• Remove everything from tables and nightstands including alarm clocks, books, reading glasses. You can leave the lamps.
• Make the beds and arrange the pillows nicely
• Hide any trash cans, diaper genies and toys

Living and Dining Areas

• Put away the remote controls, books and magazines
• Remove everything from the tables and any open shelving – exceptions include lamps and decorative items
• Make sure pillows are arranged nicely

Bathrooms

• Remove everything from the bathroom counters – exceptions include decorative items
• Make sure towels are hung straight
• Remove towels from shower stalls or pegs
• Remove trash cans
• Put the toilet seats down
• Remove all shampoos, soaps, razors from the shower

Pet Items

• It is best to remove or crate any pets before the photographer arrives to prevent having them in every photo
• Remove all visible litter boxes, crates, pet bowls and any evidence of pets

Outside Your Home

• Remove cars from the driveway and, if possible, from the curb
• Hide all trash cans, recycling containers and any debris
• Mow the lawn, then remove all lawn equipment from sight
• Open umbrellas

We Hire a Professional Photographer for Every Home We Sell

Professional photography is so important that we use it for every single home we sell, not just the ultra luxury properties like most agents in town. When your bottom line can change $1,000 or more, we are willing to invest the money in the photographer to help you get that extra few dollars. For more about what else we do that makes our listing program the best in Austin, check out our Austin Home Sellers section. Then call us at (512) 827-8323 to schedule a no obligation consultation.

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