Thank you for taking the time to prepare your home. Great photos and media can dramatically impact how many buyers schedule showings and how quickly your home sells. Please read this entire guide and have your home fully ready before the scheduled appointment time.

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1. Scheduling and Access

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Please do not schedule any other services during your photography/media appointment time. To avoid people, noise, and interruptions in the photos and videos:

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• Do not schedule the following services during the same time as your appointment:

  • Landscapers

  • Pool cleaners

  • House cleaners

  • Home inspectors or appraisers

  • Contractors, handymen, painters, etc.

• Anyone on-site should be prepared to step outside or remain in one room while we are photographing.

 

Access & parking

• Ensure your realtor has:

  • Gate codes

  • Door codes / lockbox codes

  • Any alarm instructions

  • (Your realtor will pass these off to us)

• Make sure there is a clear, available parking space close to the home.

• If you live in a gated community, please:

  • Call the gate in advance, or

  • Provide a gate code and instructions.

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2. General Guidelines for the Entire Home

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Please complete these items before the photographer arrives:

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• Have every room “photo ready.”

  • All cleaning, decluttering, and staging should be done beforehand.

  • We are there to capture, not to rearrange or clean.

  • You should not be moving items or rearranging furniture when we arrive.

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• Lights & window treatments

  • Turn on all interior lights (including lamps).

  • Replace any burnt-out bulbs.

  • Open all blinds and curtains evenly to let in natural light, unless they reveal an unappealing view.

  • Make sure blinds are aligned at the same height in each room.

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• Toilet seats & bathrooms

  • Close all toilet seats and lids.

  • Remove plungers, toilet brushes, trash cans, and extra clutter.

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• Household movement during the shoot

  • Once we start photographing, do not:

    • Turn lights on/off

    • Open/close blinds or curtains

    • Move wall art or decor

    • Rearrange items on counters or tables

  • This consistency is crucial so the photos and videos match throughout the listing.

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• People in the home

  • Anyone at home should:

    • Avoid walking through or near rooms while they’re being photographed. Our equipment captures a very wide field of view, and even quick movement in the background can cause you to appear in the images or disrupt the shot. Remaining in one area or stepping outside ensures your home is captured cleanly and efficiently.

    • Avoid standing in doorways, hallways, or by windows that might be in frame.

  • It’s best if homeowners can leave the property or stay in one designated area until we are finished.

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• Pets

  • Please secure pets in a garage, crate, or off-site.

  • Remove pet beds, bowls, toys, scratching posts, litter boxes, etc.

  • Clean up any pet hair or stains as much as possible.

  • For exterior shots, make sure the yard is free of pet waste.

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• Sound & distractions

  • Turn off TVs and computer screens.

  • Turn off ceiling fans, as they can blur in photos.

  • Silence any alarms, timers, or loud devices during the shoot.

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3. Cleaning & Decluttering Checklist

 

Think: “model home” – minimal, clean, and tidy.

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Whole House:

• 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

  • Personal items (mail, receipts, paperwork, medications)

  • Laundry baskets and drying racks

• Remove family photos, children’s names, and highly personal items for privacy and staging purposes.

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5. Exterior Checklist

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Front Exterior

• Move vehicles out of the driveway and away from the front of the home. It is ideal to have no cars parked in front of the home to capture the best angles, but if your neighbors have parked in front of your home, we can work around this.

• Close garage doors.

• Hide:

  • Trash cans, recycling bins, and yard waste bins

  • Hoses and yard tools

• Sweep walkways, driveway, and front steps.

• Remove cobwebs from entryways and eaves if possible.

• Arrange outdoor furniture neatly

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Backyard Exterior

• Clean and arrange patio furniture.

• Remove:

  • Toys, balls, bikes

  • Garden clutter, tools, and hoses

• If you have a pool:

  • Remove pool cleaners, vacuums, nets, and visible chemicals.

  • Roll up pool covers if possible.

• Make sure lawn is mowed and landscaping is as tidy as possible.

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6. Special Notes for 3D Tours, Drone Work and Videography

• 3D Tours / Walkthroughs

  • Rooms must be completely ready before we start; we capture the home in one continuous flow.

  • You, your family, and pets will need to stay out of the camera’s view the entire time we are scanning each level.

  • Avoid moving through hallways or staircases; even quick movement can disrupt the scan.

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• Video

  • Movement and changing light are more noticeable in video, so:

    • Do not open/close doors or blinds once we begin.

    • Keep all TVs and fans off.

  • If you are on the property, please follow the photographer’s instructions on where to stand or wait.

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• Drone Photography/Video

  • Ensure there are no temporary obstructions like vehicles, contractors, or large items in the yard/driveway.

  • Check that pets are inside or secured.

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7. During the Appointment: What to Expect

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• Typical photo-only sessions take approximately 30-60 minutes depending on the size of the home.

• Sessions with video or 3D tours may take longer.

• To get the best result:

  • Have the home fully prepared before the start time.

  • Plan to run errands, walk the dog, or relax in one area of the home while we work.

  • Please do not schedule showings or other appointments during the shoot.

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If the home is not ready when we arrive, we may need to photograph it “as is,” or reschedule, which may result in a fee and delay your listing.

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8. Quick Day-Of Checklist:

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Right before the photographer arrives, walk through your home and confirm:

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• All lights on (overheads and lamps)

• All blinds/curtains open and aligned

• All toilet lids closed

• Counters cleared (kitchen and bathrooms)

• Personal items, medications, and documents put away

• TVs and ceiling fans off

• Pets secured and pet items hidden

• Cars moved out of driveway and away from front of house

• Trash cans and yard clutter hidden

• No contractors, cleaners, or inspectors scheduled at the same time

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A Note to Make You Feel at Ease!

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Preparing your home for photos can feel overwhelming, but please know this: we do this all day, every day. You are not expected to create perfection or worry about every detail. Once your home is generally photo-ready, the best thing you can do is simply relax and let the photographer do what they do best.

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We understand lighting, angles, composition, and how to make each space look its absolute best. The smoother and quieter the environment, the better we can focus, move efficiently, and capture images that truly elevate your listing.

 

During the shoot, we kindly ask that you:

• Stay in one area of the home or step outside if possible

• Allow the photographer to move through rooms without interruption

• Avoid adjusting lights, blinds, or décor once we begin

 

This isn’t to be strict—it’s to ensure consistency in the final photos and to help us deliver the highest-quality result for you.

 

You’re in great hands. Take a breath, trust the process, and we’ll handle the rest.

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