Preparing Your Home to Maximize Photo Potential

March 21st, 2016 by Heather Neill

Maximize Your Home's Photo Potential
- Making the First Impression Count -

ONLINE
- It's where buyers begin their home search -

Almost 90% of all new home buyers start their search online, and photos sell houses! Most buyers won't even look at listings with few or no photographs, and many real estate sites rank their listings by the number of photos a listing has. So it is important to make the first impression count! Follow these crucial tips to prepare your home for the best real estate photos possible.

GENERAL
- Tips for all areas in the home -

Thoroughly clean whole house (vacuum carpet, mop hard floors, clean countertops, clean windows)
Turn all overhead lights and lamps ON
Replace all burned out light bulbs
Use bulbs of the same temperature (ALL incandescent or ALL compact fluorescent)
Turn all ceiling fans OFF
Turn all TVs OFF
Turn all computer screens OFF
Open blinds/window treatments to let in outside light
Remove personal photographs (or replace with general landscape/object photographs)
Make all beds
Remove small floor rugs to reveal actual flooring
Place all shoes/jackets in closets

FRONT EXTERIOR
- Online "curb appeal" - the front exterior is usually the first photo buyers see -

Close garage doors
Remove cars from driveway and front of home
Clean up landscaping (mow, trim shrubs, clear leaves)
Remove empty planters
Use broom to remove cobwebs from eaves and door frames
Remove visible water hoses
Remove toys, sports balls, basketball goals, soccer goals, etc.
Mulch/weed flower beds

BACK YARD
- The back yard should be an oasis to relax -

Clean porch, tidy up outdoor tables/chairs/cushions
Pillows/cushions should be fresh, not faded
Clear out kid's toys, balls, bikes, etc.
Clean pool
Remove pool vacuum/cleaner hose
Hide pool cleaning supplies
Turn on pool fountains/water features
Remove visible water hoses
Remove trash cans

KITCHEN
- Often the focal point, the kitchen deserves attention to detail -

Home for Sale - Kitchen Photo

Clear countertops completely. No knife blocks, baking supplies, mail, etc.
Leave out max of one small appliance (ex. coffee maker)
Clear outside of refrigerator of magnets, papers, photos, etc.
Hide garbage cans in pantry or closet
Remove dishes from sink, place in dishwasher

DINING ROOM / TABLE
- Allow buyers to imagine a nice family meal -

Clear table, dust and polish the table top
Use decorative place setting if available
Feature one center piece such as a bouquet of flowers
Straighten all chairs and space them evenly
Remove child seats/booster/high chairs
Dust chandelier

LIVING / FAMILY ROOM
- The space to enjoy conversation and spend quality time with family -

Remove stacks of magazines, papers, mail, etc.
De-clutter fireplace mantel/hearth (no more than 5 items, including art)
Clean interior of fireplace and re-paint if needed
Fluff and arrange furniture pillows
Remove kid's toys

MASTER BEDROOM
- A good night's rest recharges the body and mind -

Make bed, including decorative pillows/shams if
available
Press bed linens and bed skirts
Clear nightstands of all personal items
Store away phone/tablet charging cables
Remove all clutter from top of dressers
Remove family photos from walls
Clean under bed, removing items that may show in the photos

KID/GUEST BEDROOMS

-Don't forget about guest bedrooms -

Home for Sale - Child's Room

Remove personalized names from walls
Remove wall stickers/posters
Remove diaper genies
Clean under bed, removing items that may show in the photos

BATHROOMS
- To be spa-like, the bathroom must be clear of all personal items -

Clear countertops completely. No soap, toothbrushes, medications, deodorant, mouthwash etc.
Put toilet seats down
Close closet doors
Remove shampoo, soap, loofahs, etc. from showers and tubs
Remove dirty towels - leave out only new, neatly hung, unused towels
Remove floor mats
Clean all surfaces, including shower/tub and toilet

PETS
- We love our pets, but their presence should be minimized -

Dog High Five

Place food and water bowls out of sight in pantry or closet
Place pet beds/toys in pantry or closet
Use lint roller on furniture to remove pet hair
Contain pets in hidden crate or outside
Clear yard of pet waste/toys

NEED HELP?
- Staging helps provide top dollar and a quick sale -

Selling your home is like selling a product - it must be marketed correctly to reach a specific buyer. Although your furnishings and decor are great for your lifestyle, it's important to optimize your home for the future buyer.

All of the tips suggested in the previous sections were approved by professional home stagers from the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA).

Although I would love to help you style/design your home, I unfortunately do not have the skill set required to do so. A professional home stager can provide you with a consultation to help you prepare your home for sale and make sure your home shows at its best online through the photographs.

To find a RESA professional stager in your area, visit their website:Real Estate Staging Association (RESA).

WHAT TO EXPECT
- Expectation During the Photo Shoot -

Hi I'm Heather Neill, Broker and owner of Heritage Real Estate Co., and I look forward to photographing and listing your home!

The house should be shoot-ready when I arrive.

I want the photos of your home to be the best they can be. This requires teamwork and cooperation that will result in an outstanding online presence when your home goes LIVE on the market.

When I arrive to take photos of your property, I ask that all staging and cleaning be done prior to my arrival. To efficiently maintain my schedule and deliver the level of service my clients expect, I cannot spend unnecessary time at the home waiting for it to be cleaned, dusted, de-cluttered, etc.

Please review the previous sections for tips on preparing your home for real estate photography, and note that I am not responsible for any of following duties while photographing your home:

I Do Not:

Cleaning Lady

Move or re-arrange furniture
Make beds, clean, dust or de-clutter
Pick up toys or yard items
"Photoshop" vehicles, walls, damaged walls, power lines, wall pictures, cords, etc.
Touch personal bathroom supplies (shampoo, toothbrushes, deodorant, towels)

ONE FINAL TIP
- Getting your home ready to show -

The same steps which make for a successful photo shoot will also ensure your home is ready for showing. For the fastest sale and the highest sales price, make your house "picture perfect" every time it's shown!

Categories: The Savvy Realtor

Tags: real estate