We are excited to provide you with the high-quality images that your house needs to sell soon and for the best price possible. A little preparation on your part will maximize that opportunity. The majority of home buyers start their search online, so it is important to make the first impression count! Follow these tips to prepare your home for the best real estate photos possible. Remember, this is about making potential buyers feel like they can live in your home. This is one of the reasons that removing personal pictures and items is important. Your privacy regarding family portraits is another thing to think about.
GENERAL TIPS FOR WHOLE HOUSE
- Thoroughly clean whole house (vacuum carpet, mop hard floors, clean countertops, clean windows)
- Turn all lights and lamps ON
- Replace all burned-out light bulbs
- Use bulbs of the same temperature (ALL soft white or ALL daylight)
- Turn all ceiling fans OFF for photos, ON when shooting video.
- Turn all TVs OFF
- Turn all computer screens OFF
- Open blinds/curtains to let in outside light
- Remove personal photographs (or replace with general landscape/object photographs)
- Make all beds
- Remove small floor rugs to reveal actual flooring
- Place all shoes/jackets in closets
EXTERIOR TIPS FOR FRONT AND BACK
exterior
- Close garage doors
- Remove cars from driveway and front of home
- Clean up landscaping (mow, trim shrubs, clear leaves)
- Remove empty planters
- Use a broom to remove cobwebs from eaves and door frames
- Remove visible water hoses
- Remove toys, sports balls, basketball goals, soccer goals, etc.
- Clean porch, tidy up outdoor tables/chairs/cushions
- Pillows/cushions should be fresh, not faded
- Clear out kid's toys, balls, frisbees, etc.
- Clean pool
- Remove pool vacuum/cleaner hose
- Hide pool cleaning supplies
- Turn on pool fountains/water features
- Remove trash cans
KITCHEN & DINING ROOM
kitchen
- Clear countertops completely. No, baking supplies, mail, etc.
- Leave out one or two small appliances (ex. coffee maker)
- Clear outside of refrigerator of magnets, papers, photos, etc.
- Hide garbage cans in pantry or closet
- Remove dishes from the sink, place in dishwasher
- Clear table, dust, and polish the tabletop
- Use decorative place setting if available
- Feature one centerpiece such as a bouquet of flowers
- Straighten all chairs and space them evenly
- Remove child seats/booster chairs
LIVING/FAMILY ROOM
living-room
- Remove stacks of magazines, papers, mail, etc.
- De-clutter fireplace mantel/hearth (no more than 5 items, including art)
- Clean interior of fireplace and re-paint if needed
- Fluff and arrange furniture pillows
- Remove kid's toys
BEDROOMS
bedroom
- Make bed, including decorative pillows/shams if available
- Press bed linens and bed skirts
- Clear nightstands of all personal items
- Store away phone/tablet charging cables
- Remove all clutter from top of dressers
- Remove family photos from walls
- Clean under bed, removing items that may show in the photos
- Remove personalized names from walls
- Remove wall stickers/posters
- Remove diaper genies
BATHROOMS
- Clear countertops co
bathroom
mpletely. No soap, toothbrushes, medications, deodorant, etc.
- Put toilet seats down
- Close closet doors
- Remove shampoo, soap, loofahs, etc. from showers and tubs
- Remove dirty towels - leave out only new, unused towels
- Remove floor mats
PETS
- Place food and water bowls in pantry or closet
- Place pet beds/toys in pantry or closet
- Use a lint roller on furniture to remove pet hair
- Contain pets in a hidden crate or outside pen. Pets cannot be left loose
- Clear back yard of pet waste/toys
WHAT TO EXPECT & NOT EXPECT FROM JAY'S PHOTOGRAPHY
SZ6A6475
My name is Jay Malone, owner of Jay's Photography. We have been in business for over 15 years and will treat your house and property with the utmost respect. We will either schedule our visit with you directly or through your listing agent. If there is a particular selling point of your home, we want to hear about it. We will be moving throughout your home photographing every room possible. We will also be moving around your property outside.
Although I would love to help you style/design your home, I, unfortunately, do not have the skill set required to do so. When I arrive to take photos of your property, I ask that all staging and cleaning be done prior to my arrival. To efficiently maintain my busy schedule and deliver the level of service my clients expect, I can not spend unnecessary time at the home waiting for it to be cleaned, dusted, de-cluttered, etc.
Here are some things that I DON'T DO:
- Move or re-arrange furniture
- Make beds, clean, dust or de-clutter
- Pick up toys or yard items
- "Photoshop" vehicles, walls, damaged walls, power lines, wall pictures, cords, etc.
- Touch personal bathroom supplies (shampoo, toothbrushes, deodorant, towels)
I do look forward to providing you with the photography needed to sell your home!