How to prepare your home for real estate photos
Great photos and media can dramatically change how many buyers schedule showings and how fast your home sells. Read through this guide and have the home fully ready before your appointment time.
Scheduling & access
Keep the appointment clear
To avoid people, noise and interruptions in photos and video, don't schedule these during the shoot:
- Landscapers or pool cleaners
- House cleaners
- Home inspectors or appraisers
- Contractors, handymen or painters
Anyone on-site should be ready to step outside or stay in one room.
Access & parking
Make sure your realtor has these to pass along to us:
- Gate codes
- Door or lockbox codes
- Any alarm instructions
Leave a clear parking spot close to the home. In a gated community, call the gate ahead of time or share the code and instructions.
The whole home
Have every room photo-ready before we arrive. All cleaning, decluttering and staging should be done. We're there to capture, not to rearrange or clean.
Lights & window treatments
- Turn on every interior light, including lamps
- Replace any burnt-out bulbs
- Open blinds and curtains evenly for natural light, unless the view is unappealing
- Align blinds at the same height in each room
Bathrooms
- Close all toilet seats and lids
- Remove plungers, toilet brushes and trash cans
- Clear extra clutter from counters
Once we start shooting
Keep everything consistent so photos and video match across the listing. Please don't:
- Turn lights on or off
- Open or close blinds or curtains
- Move wall art, decor or items on counters
People in the home
Our lenses capture a very wide view, so even quick movement in the background can end up in a shot. Stay in one area or step outside, and avoid doorways, hallways and windows that may be in frame. Leaving the property is best.
Pets
- Secure pets in a garage, crate or off-site
- Put away beds, bowls, toys, scratching posts and litter boxes
- Clean up pet hair and stains
- Clear any pet waste from the yard
Screens, fans & noise
- Turn off TVs and computer screens
- Turn off ceiling fans, which blur in photos
- Silence alarms, timers and loud devices
Cleaning & decluttering
Think model home: minimal, clean and tidy.
Clean
- Vacuum and mop floors
- Dust furniture, shelves, light fixtures and fan blades
- Clean windows and mirrors where possible
Hide
- Visible cords and cables
- Trash cans
- Mail, receipts, paperwork and medications
- Laundry baskets and drying racks
- Family photos, kids' names and very personal items
Exterior
Front of the home
- Move cars out of the driveway and away from the front of the home. If neighbors are parked out front, we'll work around it.
- Close garage doors
- Hide trash, recycling and yard waste bins, hoses and yard tools
- Sweep walkways, the driveway and front steps
- Remove cobwebs from entryways and eaves
- Arrange outdoor furniture neatly
Backyard & pool
- Clean and arrange patio furniture
- Put away toys, balls and bikes
- Clear garden clutter, tools and hoses
- Mow the lawn and tidy landscaping
- Remove pool cleaners, vacuums, nets and visible chemicals
- Roll up pool covers if possible
3D tours, video & drone
These need a little extra care, since movement and changing light show up more.
3D tours
- Every room must be ready before we start; we scan in one continuous flow
- People and pets stay out of view while each level is scanned
- Avoid hallways and stairs during the scan
Video
- Don't open or close doors or blinds once we begin
- Keep all TVs and fans off
- If you're on the property, follow the photographer's directions on where to wait
Drone
- Clear vehicles, contractors and large items from the yard and driveway
- Keep pets inside or secured
During the appointment
- Have the home fully prepared before the start time
- Plan to run errands, walk the dog, or relax in one area of the home
- Don't schedule showings or other appointments during the shoot
If the home isn't ready when we arrive, we may need to photograph it as-is or reschedule, which may mean a fee and a delayed listing.
Quick day-of checklist
Right before the photographer arrives, walk through the home and check off each item.
You don't need perfection. We do this every day.
Once your home is generally photo-ready, the best thing you can do is relax and let us work. We know lighting, angles and composition, and how to make each space look its best. A smooth, quiet environment lets us move efficiently and capture images that elevate your listing.
During the shoot, please stay in one area or step outside, let the photographer move through rooms without interruption, and leave lights, blinds and decor as they are. It's not about being strict. It keeps the final photos consistent.
You're in great hands. Take a breath, trust the process, and we'll handle the rest.
Questions before your shoot?
Call or text 619-851-9289. Agents, you can book your next listing online.