Preparing to Sell Your Home? Here is a Comprehensive Photo Day Checklist!

When preparing for real estate photography and measurements, it’s important to get a head start on the details and showcase your home at its best. I’ve created a checklist for you and your agent that covers general details, pets, exterior, living room, dining room, kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, office & what to expect on photo day.

General Details

• Clean mirrors
• Vacuum carpets
• Sweep/mop floors
• Test lights & replace burnt out bulbs
• Use identical colour temp for light fixture bulbs
• Turn OFF all ceiling fans
• Declutter as much as possible
• Touch up any wall damage & paint
• Open curtains and blinds
• Clean all windows, patio doors (both sides)
• Empty garbage & hide garbage cans
• Remove small floor mats to reveal flooring
• Hide shoes and jackets
• Remove personal photos & calendars
• Remove clothing from washer/dryer
• Add suitable art/photos for blank walls
• Straighten lampshades & picture frames
• Hide all evidence of pets
• Store away seasonal items & decor
• Store unnecessary items in garage or rented storage
• Identify & make any repairs that are required
• For winter, keep driveway & walkways clear of ice & snow

Exterior

• Mow lawn and manicure gardens
• Remove any yard clutter
• Remove automobiles from front of home, just prior to photography
• Hide garbage cans & garden hoses
• Tidy any patio furniture, open patio umbrella
• Clean pool, remove & hide cover
• Hide bicycles and toys
• Clean & sweep all driveway, walkway & patio areas
• Rake leaves

Living Room

• Turn OFF all TV and monitors
• Hide remote controls
• Declutter as much as possible
• Arrange furniture making room appear larger
• Hide garbage cans
• Hide cables/wires

Kitchen

• Empty sinks & put away all dishes
• Declutter as much as possible
• Clean windows
• Clear countertops, hide small appliances
• Clean the appliances
• Clean or replace range hood filters
• Remove tissue boxes, paper towels
• Hide towels & draining racks
• Remove all items from fridge door
• Straighten chairs/stools (set to even height)
• Hide garbage can & kitchen mats

Dining Room

• Clear table, dust & polish
• Declutter as much as possible
• Clean windows
• Use decorative place setting if available
• Straighten all chairs and place them evenly
• Remove child/booster seats
• Turn OFF ceiling fan

Bathrooms

• Clean windows & mirrors
• Clean exhaust fans
• Declutter as much as possible
• Swap out toilet paper for full roll
• Clean bathtubs/showers
• Hide shampoo bottles, shavers, soap, etc.
• Hide garbage cans
• Hide toilet brushes
• Lower toilet seats
• Hide tissue box
• Fold & hang hand towels neatly from racks
• Remove floor & bath mats

Bedrooms

• Make beds
• Declutter as much as possible
• Remove visible items from under bed
• Clear nightstands of personal items
• Hide Garbage cans
• Hide cables/wires
• Turn OFF ceiling fan

Office

• Hide garbage cans
• Declutter as much as possible
• Turn OFF all TV and monitors
• Remove chair underlay & small mats
• Hide cables/wires
• Turn OFF ceiling fan

Pets

• In general, hide all evidence of pets
• Hide water/food bowls
• Hide pet toys
• Clean up furniture with lint roller
• Clear back yard of pet waste/toys
• Pets will need to be contained and out of sight

What to Expect

• Home should be shoot-ready when the photographer arrives

The Photographer Will Not;

• Move or re-arrange furniture
• Wait for ‘stage as you go’
• Make beds, clean or declutter
• Hide cables/wires
• Pick up toys or yard items
• ‘Photoshop’ to remove vehicles, cords, wall damage, power lines, etc.

Double Check Before Photoshoot

• Open blinds and curtains
• Turn on main room lights
• Turn OFF ceiling fans
• Close all drawers & cupboards
• Lower toilet seats
• Remove plug-in air fresheners
• Remove any pest control items
• Wipe dry bath/shower area
• Straighten chairs
• General walk-around & tidy