How to Prepare Your Home for the Photoshoot

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UTLIMATE GUIDE:

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR THE DAY OF THE PHOTOSHOOT

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Before the photographer arrives, there are a few things that you should do to prepare your home. Below are a few general guidelines; paying attention to these guidelines will help to ensure that your photos turn out beautiful, increasing the likelihood that you will be able to sell your home or property more quickly.

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INTERIOR PREPARATION:

Open up the blinds and curtains, and turn on every light in your home. All lamps and surface lights should be on, including the lights that are part of furniture and appliances such as those on the stove or built into a bookshelf. If any light bulbs are burned out, make sure to replace them and use high-wattage bulbs to make the room brighter.

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  • Clear counters off: remove small appliances, hand & dish soap, dish racks, cutting boards, tea towels, paper towels, dishes – we want to see open counter space
  • Clear away floor mats and towels on the oven
  • Remove child-proof equipment thats visible on cabinets or cupboards, if applicable
  • Remove magnets, children’s artwork, etc. off the fridge
  • Remove all garbage & recycling cans
  • Remove chairs around the center island, if applicable

Kitchen

 
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  • Arrange furniture in a formal setting – we want to create a beautiful & comfortable space
  • Remove personal photos & magazines from coffee table
  • Clear out cluttered bookshelves – remove all or at least some of the books and arrange the rest in a nice pattern

 

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  • Wipe down the dining room table, remove any dishes or places mats
  • Arrange the chairs around the table – don’t crowd it
  • Sweep and mop the floor to remove any marks

kitchen

 

 
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  • Collect the TV remotes, video game systems, DVD’s or any other cluttered electronic items
  • Take note of electronic cords and hide them out of sight
  • Clear out any toys or games that may have been left by the kids

Family Room

 
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  • Put white bedspreads on beds –  Arrange fluffy pillows at the head of the bed
  • Remove phone chargers, tissue boxes, jewelry, or anything else that is on your nightside table
  • Avoid putting things under the bed – sometimes the camera can see it
  • Remove decorations from teenagers bedrooms – we want to make the room appear generic and neutral, so it will not be distracting to a potential buyer

Master Bedroom
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  • Move the garbage cans, bathmats, laundry baskets, extra toilet paper, toilet brush and scales out.
  • Clear off counters – soap, tissues, toothbrushes, makeup, razors
  • Remove shampoo, soaps, washcloths from the shower
  • Replace towel racks with white fluffy towels
  • Remember to close the lid on the toilet too

kitchen
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PAY ATTENTION TO WINDOWS:

Real estate photographers tend to take photos from the doorway area, and they will also make use of the windows and natural light in the room. So you want to consider the way the furniture is placed as it corresponds with the windows and doorways. It is good to capture the windows in the photos, because people like to see the natural light that comes in the room.
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LESS = MORE

Clear the clutter out of every room. Get rid of anything that is cluttering the room, and when you think you are done… continue working to get rid of a few more items in the room. We want to create a stylish, generic room in which the buyer can picture themselves living in. Remove personal items and get rid of anything that may be a distraction to a potential buyer.
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EXTERIOR PREPARATION:

Curb appeal matters, because buyers want their new home to look good on both the outside and inside. The exterior of the home is one of the first things that a person will look at when they are viewing the listing, so it is important that you cleanup around the house to make it look good.

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  • Trim trees and overgrown shrubs
  • Rake up the leaves
  • Mow the lawn and use the right edging tools near cement
  • Wrap up garden hoses and put them away in the garage or shed
  • Pick up any items that may be laying around the yard, such as garbage cans, toys, empty pots or pots with dead plants
  • Cover dirt with mulch to make it look more attractive
  • Move cars out of the driveway
  • Sweep the porch and sidewalks
  • If you have outdoor furniture, wipe it down and make sure that the cushions look clean and nice
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