Real Estate Photo/Video Ready Checklist

When selling your home, it is important to make a great first impression on potential buyers.

Prepping your house for photography is an important step in this process. Having a good presentation of a clean house will help make those great first impressions. Here are some steps to take when prepping your home for photography.

The Interior

- Thoroughly clean the whole house

- Vacuum the carpets, sweep & mop hard floors, clean off countertops & clean glass surfaces

- Turn all overhead lights and lamps ON for better lighting - Replace all burned out light bulbs

- Use bulbs of the same type and color for consistent lighting.

- Turn all television sets & computer monitors to OFF

- Open blinds window treatments to let in the natural light

- Remove all personal photographs Or replace generic photos

- Make all beds

- Remove small floor rugs to reveal actual flooring beneath - Place all shoes/jackets in closets

- Clean bathroom spaces

The Kitchen

- Clear countertops completely. No knife blocks, baking supplies, loose papers, mail, etc.

- At most leave out one small appliance. i.e. coffee maker, blender, etc.

- Clear outside and side facades of refrigerator of magnets, papers, photos, etc.

- Hide garbage cans in a pantry or closet

- Remove dishes from the sink, place in dishwasher or pantry

The Dining Room/ Table

- Clear off the table & dust/polish the table top - Use decorative place settings if available

- Feature one center piece such as a bouquet of flowers or a bowl of fruit

- Straighten all chairs and space them evenly around the table

- Remove child seats or boosters

The Living/ Family Room

- Remove stacks of magazines, papers, mail, etc. - De-clutter the fireplace mantel/hearth

* No more than 5 items, including art

- Clean interior of fireplace and re-paint if needed - Arrange and fluff up the pillows for furniture

- Remove kid’s toys

The Master Bedroom

- Make the bed, including decorative pillows/shams if available - Press bed linens and bed skirts

- Clear off nightstands of all personal items

- Store away phone/tablet charging cables out of sight

- Remove all clutter from top of dressers

- Remove family photos from walls and shelves

- Clean under the bed, removing items that may potentially show in photos

The Kid's/Guest Room

- Remove personalized names from walls

- Remove all wall stickers and posters - Remove diaper genies

- Clean under the bed, removing items that may show in the photos

- Put away clothes and toys

The Bathroom

- Clear countertops completely. NO soap, toothbrushes, medications, deodorant, etc.

- Clean the toilet and put toilet seats down - Close closet and pantry doors

- Remove shampoo, soap, loofahs, etc. from showers and tubs

- Remove dirty towels and replace them with new/ unused towels. White towels show best.

- Remove all floor mats

- Remove maintenance tools such as plungers, toilet scrubbers, etc.

Pets

- Place food and water bowls in pantry or closet

- Place pet beds/toys in pantry or closet

- Use lint roller on furniture to remove pet hair

- Contain pets in hidden crate or outside

- Clear backyard of pet waste/toys

The Exterior

- Make sure all garage doors are closed

- Remove vehicles from the driveway and front of house

- Clean up the landscaping * Mow the lawn, trim shrubs, clear the yard of leaves

- Remove any empty planters

- Use broom to remove cobwebs from eaves and door frames

- Remove visible water hoses from the house

- Remove toys, sports balls, basketball goals, etc.