As Realtors® Scott and Caroline Doan, we know that selling your home is a significant milestone, and making a powerful first impression is key to attracting the right buyers. In today's market, that first impression almost always happens online through your property photos. These aren't just snapshots; they're your home's grand debut to hundreds, if not thousands, of potential buyers.

Think of your photoshoot as your home's "open house" on the internet. You only get one shot to make it shine! To help you prepare, we've put together a comprehensive guide based on best practices to ensure your home looks its absolute best. The best part? Doing these tasks in advance will save you time, stress, and potentially even money!

Why Preparation Matters: The Benefits of a Picture-Perfect Home

A well-prepared home tells a story of care, attention to detail, and move-in readiness. It allows buyers to envision themselves living there, free from distractions.

Outside: Maximizing Curb Appeal

The exterior of your home is the first thing buyers see. Let's make it count!

• Remove trash and recycle cans from the front and backyard (and put them in the garage or a shed).

  • Benefit: Eliminates unsightly distractions that detract from your home's beauty and suggests a clean, well-maintained property.

• Replace or remove flags & banners.

  • Benefit: Prevents blurry photos caused by movement and ensures clear, professional shots that highlight your home's architectural features, not temporary decor.

• Remove children's balls, toys, bikes, scooters, plastic play sets, etc.

  • Benefit: Showcases the full extent of your yard space, making it appear larger and more universally appealing to buyers, regardless of their family situation.

• Remove animal toys, chains, food, beds, water bowls, etc.

  • Benefit: Creates a neutral, tidy outdoor environment, eliminating potential visual clutter and broadening the home's appeal.

• Set up patio umbrellas and straighten all patio furniture/cushions.

  • Benefit: Creates an inviting and aspirational outdoor living space, allowing buyers to imagine enjoying the area themselves.

• Remove pool and spa covers, and turn on the water in spas.

  • Benefit: Highlights these valuable amenities, making them appear ready for immediate enjoyment and showcasing their pristine condition.

• Remove all vehicles from the driveway (and move any cars parked directly in front of the house).

  • Benefit: Provides an unobstructed view of your home's facade, emphasizing its curb appeal and making the driveway appear spacious and clear.

• Empty flower pots or boxes should be removed.

  • Benefit: Prevents an unkempt or neglected appearance. If you want flowers, consider adding fresh, vibrant ones!

• Shut the front door and garage door, as well as all windows; remove people/dogs/cats from windows!

  • Benefit: Ensures a clean, focused shot of your home's exterior without distractions, maintaining privacy and a professional aesthetic.

• Remove any Holiday Decorations.

  • Benefit: Ensures your photos are timeless and appealing year-round, preventing them from looking dated if your home stays on the market longer than anticipated.

• Wash windows and screens.

• Benefit: Allows maximum natural light to flood your home, making rooms appear brighter, more inviting, and spacious in photos. It also ensures any outdoor views are crystal clear, contributing to both the interior ambiance and the overall perception of a meticulously cared-for home. From the exterior, sparkling clean windows significantly boost curb appeal, signaling a well-maintained property.

Inside: Creating an Inviting Atmosphere

Once buyers are captivated by the outside, the inside needs to confirm their positive impression.

• All lights on, including lamps.

  • Benefit: Brightens every room, making spaces feel larger, more inviting, and ensures all details are well-lit and visible in photos.

• Turn off all ceiling fans.

  • Benefit: Prevents motion blur in photos, ensuring clear, crisp images of your interior spaces and fixtures.

• Open all window blinds so we can see outside in all rooms.

  • Benefit: Maximizes natural light, creating an airy feel and showcasing any desirable views, connecting the indoors with the outdoors.

• Take up small area rugs that are hiding nice floors.

  • Benefit: Highlights beautiful flooring, which is a key selling point, and makes rooms appear larger and less cluttered.

• De-clutter.

  • Benefit: This is paramount! It makes every room appear more spacious, organized, and allows buyers to envision their own belongings in the space.

• Declutter closets and pantries.

  • Benefit: Reveals the full storage capacity of your home, making spaces appear larger and more functional. Buyers often peek into closets and pantries, and seeing them organized and spacious allows them to envision their own belongings fitting comfortably, highlighting a key selling point without needing to physically show the inside of every closet. 1/3 empty space is ideal.

• Take down restraining gates if possible.

  • Benefit: Creates an open, continuous flow throughout your home, avoiding distractions and suggesting an unobstructed living space.

• Nothing that can put a date on your picture (holiday decorations, etc.).

  • Benefit: Like exterior decorations, this ensures your photos remain relevant and appealing throughout any season, maximizing your marketing efforts.

• Replace dead light bulbs.

  • Benefit: Ensures consistent lighting throughout your home, prevents dark spots in photos, and shows meticulous care and maintenance.

• Make beds and put away all clothes in closets.

  • Benefit: Creates tidy, organized bedrooms that convey a sense of calm and order, making the spaces feel more luxurious and move-in ready.

• If there are a lot of kids' toys that have to be put away: Put them all in one room (a room off to the side somewhere not visible from other rooms), and we can shoot that room last.

  • Benefit: Manages inevitable clutter efficiently, ensuring most of your home remains pristine for the photoshoot without the stress of removing everything at once.

Kitchen: The Heart of the Home

• Minimize the amount of small appliances on the countertops.

  • Benefit: Maximizes visible counter space, making your kitchen appear larger, more functional, and highlights beautiful finishes.

• No dish drying rack on the countertop.

  • Benefit: Ensures clean, uncluttered countertops, promoting a sense of order and cleanliness.

• No dish towels hanging on handles.

  • Benefit: Creates clean lines, showcasing your appliances and cabinetry without visual distractions.

• Hide garbage cans.

  • Benefit: Essential for a clean and professional look, avoiding unsightly or unsanitary elements in photos.

• No dish soaps or sponges on the sink.

  • Benefit: Ensures a pristine, hygienic-looking sink area, contributing to the overall clean aesthetic.

• De-clutter the top of the refrigerator; no clutter on the refrigerator (magnets, pictures, etc.).

  • Benefit: Streamlines the kitchen, making it feel larger, more organized, and highlights the architectural aspects of the room.

• Hide pet dishes.

  • Benefit: Creates a neutral and clean kitchen environment, broadening appeal.

Bathrooms: Spa-Like Serenity

• Toilet seats down.

  • Benefit: A simple but crucial detail for a professional, clean, and respectful presentation of your bathroom.

• Shampoo bottles put away (we can see them through the glass doors).

  • Benefit: Creates a clean, spa-like feel, highlights beautiful tile work or glass enclosures, and maximizes shelf space.

• No robes hanging on hooks.

  • Benefit: Contributes to an uncluttered, minimalist look, emphasizing the bathroom's design and fixtures.

• De-clutter countertops (no toothbrushes, razors, etc.).

  • Benefit: Maximizes counter space, making the bathroom feel larger, cleaner, and more luxurious, like a hotel or spa.

• No bath mats on the floor.

  • Benefit: Showcases your beautiful flooring and ensures a clean, unobstructed view of the bathroom's footprint.

Pets: Planning for a Smooth Shoot

We love our furry friends, but for a photoshoot, they need to be out of the picture.

• Pets – please put all pets away. MLS does not allow pets in photos.

  • Benefit: Ensures professional, distraction-free photos focused solely on your home, adhering to listing regulations and appealing to all buyers.

• Please put Dogs in Garage or in Dog Runs or take them for a walk when the photographer is shooting.

  • Benefit: Guarantees a smooth and efficient photoshoot, preventing unexpected "photo bombs" and ensuring the photographer can work without interruption.

• Please have any dogs not put away yet on a leash prior to letting the photographer inside.

  • Benefit: Ensures the safety of both your pet and the photographer, making for a calm entry into your home.

• Cats please put cats in a crate or room where they will not be in photos.

  • Benefit: Keeps your pets safe and comfortable while ensuring they don't accidentally appear in photos.

Important Reminders for a Seamless Experience

• Please have all of these items done ahead of time so the home is ready to shoot as soon as the photographer arrives.

  • Benefit: This is the ultimate time-saver! It ensures the photoshoot is efficient, results in the highest quality photos, and avoids potential additional fees for preparation time.

• Please do not schedule any other affiliates during the shoot(termite control, property inspections, plumbers, house cleaners, gardeners, or window cleaners, etc.).

• Benefit: Guarantees a focused and uninterrupted photography session, leading to better results and avoiding extra costs.

• Please do not hose down your driveway or Patio. Wet driveways and patios take time to shoot properly, and time needs to be scheduled ahead of time so we focus on it properly. A

  • Benefit: Ensures optimal photo quality for outdoor spaces, avoids delays, and prevents unexpected fees.

By taking these steps in advance, you're not just cleaning; you're staging your home for success. These thoughtful preparations will create stunning listing photos that capture buyers' attention, encourage showings, and ultimately help your home sell faster and for the best possible price.

We're here to help you every step of the way!

Warmly,

Scott and Caroline Doan Realtors®

(951) 541-3498

Realty Executives

[email protected]

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