Completely clear all of the countertops. Coffee makers, mixers and decorations only distract buyers and often make the kitchen feel cluttered. Clean all surfaces, including appliances. Remove all magnets, calendars, and personal information from the refrigerator.
Take all items off of the bathroom counter and out of the shower. This will help your bathroom look bigger. Clean, neatly folded towels on towel racks are acceptable.
Replace all burned out bulbs, including lamps and exterior lights. Make sure you use bulbs with the same color temperature! Turn all overhead lights and lamps on.
Open all of the window treatments throughout the entire house to let in as much light as possible. Don't forget to clean the windows!
This is one of the most important items on the list. Removing and storing excess or large bulky furniture can be challenging, but it opens up the floor space and makes the home look much bigger. Less is more!
Floor mats and runners are great at protecting your floors, but they can make the overall floor space look smaller, making the room look smaller. We recommend getting rid of as many floor mats as possible.
Most real estate photographers use HDR photography, which takes multiple light exposures for each photo and combines them into one final shot. Any moving items like ceiling fans or active TV/Computer screens look very strange in HDR. For this reason, we recommend turning off anything that moves or causes motion blur.
It's hard for buyers to visualize themselves in your house if your personal items are everywhere. Since you want your buyers to focus on the house and not on you, you'll need to remove all private photos and articles from the entire home.
When buyers see shoes and jackets on coat racks and entryway floors, they subconsciously assume that the home lacks storage space. This perception is easily fixed by storing these items away.
Be sure to make and decorate all the beds with matching sheets, blankets, and pillows. Use bedding that covers the entire bed and fits the mattress properly.
Nightstands tend to accumulate items. Remove everything but a lamp and one decorative thing, such as a small floral arrangement or decorative book, to make the space look clean and presentable. Think of a freshly cleaned hotel room.
Not everyone has pets. It's essential to make sure that your house shows no signs of pets, especially pet smells. Consider that you could be "nose blind" to the smell. Pet smells are one of the most significant factors in price reductions and negative feedback from home buyers. Ask a neutral party for their honest opinion before listing.
First impressions are crucial, so make sure that the front yard is cleaned up. All of the landscaping needs to be trimmed back and tidy. The first picture that people will see of your home will be the outside front yard shot. This photo needs to be presented in its very best condition to grab the buyer's attention immediately.
Creating an inviting entrance conveys pride-of-ownership to homebuyers. Large garbage cans and unsightly lawn equipment can be very distracting in real estate photos. Put all of the trash cans in the garage, along with garden hoses, lawnmowers, and other yard maintenance tools. Keep the lawn free and clear of any small toys and pet items as well. Always remove all cars, trucks, RVs, and trailers from the driveway.
If it's not too windy during your photoshoot, be sure to open up any patio umbrellas to stage the area. Dust off outdoor furniture. Fresh outdoor pillows and flowers will create an inviting space for your photographer to highlight while they're in your backyard.