Photo Day Checklist: How to Get Your Home Ready for Listing Photos

Hi! Thanks for booking your photo day. Before I arrive, take a few minutes to read this.

A bit of prep makes a bigger difference than any editing. Bright, clean, uncluttered rooms look larger online — and a few things, like crooked blinds or a spinning ceiling fan, can't be fixed after the photos are taken.

A day or two before

• Swap any burnt-out bulbs, and keep the bulbs in each room the same color
• Tidy the front yard and clean the windows
• Plan where pets, kids and cars will be during the shoot

Inside the house

• Clear surfaces: counters, tables and shelves look best almost empty
• Put personal things away: family photos, mail, chargers and remotes
• Kitchen: clear the counters and the fridge door, hide the trash can and dish soap
• Bathrooms: clear the counters and shower, hang fresh matching towels, close the toilet lid
• Bedrooms: make the beds neatly and keep the floor clear
• Blinds: open them all to the same height

Outside

• Move cars off the driveway and away from the front of the house
• Put away hoses, bins, toys and seasonal decorations
• Sweep the porch and patio, and set out the patio furniture

Right before I arrive

• Turn on every light — lamps, under-cabinet lights, all of them
• Turn off ceiling fans, TVs and screens
• Do a quick last sweep for shoes, bags and keys by the door

You don't need to leave while I shoot — just stay a room ahead of the camera. See you on photo day! Questions? Text me at (847) 736-3966.