Good listing photos are made before the camera comes out. A home that has been cleared, lit and tidied photographs larger, brighter and more expensive than the same home with the counters full. This checklist is what I ask every seller to do before I arrive. Most of it takes an hour. Print it, hand it to the seller, and the shoot goes faster.
EverywhereThe ten things that matter most
- Turn on every light, including lamps, under-cabinet lights and closet lights.Replace burnt-out bulbs. Mixed bulb colors show in photos, so match them where you can.
- Open every blind and curtain all the way.
- Turn off ceiling fans and TVs.
- Clear every flat surface down to two or three objects.Counters, dressers, nightstands, the top of the fridge, the bathroom vanity.
- Hide cords, remotes, chargers, trash cans and cleaning supplies.
- Put pets, their beds, bowls, crates and toys out of sight.
- Make every bed tight, with the bedding smoothed and pillows matched.
- Close toilet lids, closet doors and cabinet doors.
- Move cars out of the driveway and off the street in front of the house.
- Vacuum and sweep last, after everything else is done.
OutsideCurb appeal
- Mow, edge and sweep. Coil hoses and put away tools, toys and bins.
- Clear the porch of shoes, packages and dead plants. One or two live planters are good.
- Wipe down patio furniture, straighten cushions, open the umbrella.
- Clean the front door and the house numbers.
- For a twilight shoot, every exterior and interior light on, including the garage and the path lights.
KitchenThe room buyers look at longest
- Counters clear except a bowl of fruit, a plant or a coffee maker.
- Magnets, notes and photos off the fridge. Dish soap, sponges and the drying rack out of sight.
- Nothing on the stove. Range hood and stainless steel wiped.
- Bar stools evenly spaced and pushed in. Chairs straight at the table.
- Sink empty and dry.
Living and diningSpace and light
- Fewer, larger pieces of furniture read bigger than many small ones. Store the extra chair.
- Pillows fluffed, throws folded, rugs straight.
- Coffee table down to a book or a tray. Magazines and mail away.
- Family photos are fine, but a few rather than a wall of them.
- Fireplace swept. If it is gas, we can light it for the photo.
BedroomsCalm and matched
- Bed made with the duvet pulled tight and pillows matched. A folded throw at the foot helps.
- Nightstands down to a lamp and one object.
- Nothing under the bed that shows. Laundry baskets out.
- Closet doors closed, or the closet tidy if it is a walk-in that will be photographed.
- Kids’ rooms: toys in bins, bins out of frame.
BathroomsHotel clean
- Vanity clear except soap. Toothbrushes, razors and bottles in a drawer.
- Fresh, folded towels. Bath mats up off the floor.
- Toilet lid down. Plunger and brush out of sight.
- Shower doors and mirrors cleaned. Shampoo bottles out of the shower.
Day of the shootWhat to expect
- Finish prep before the photographer arrives, not during. I photograph each room once it is ready.
- Plan to be out of the rooms being photographed, or out of the house. Fewer people, faster shoot.
- If the home has a view or an outdoor space, tell me the best time of day for it when you book.
- Photos arrive by noon the next business day, numbered in listing order.
Want a copy of this list to send to a seller? Use the form below and the printable version opens right away.
