A camera-ready home photographs better in a fraction of the time. Here's the room-by-room checklist to send sellers before shoot day.
The single biggest factor in how good listing photos turn out isn't the camera — it's how ready the home is when the photographer arrives. A prepped home shoots faster, photographs cleaner, and needs less editing to look its best. Send this checklist to sellers 24-48 hours before the shoot.
Clear countertops and surfaces of clutter, mail, and personal items. Turn on all lights, even during the day — it fills in shadows and reads warmer in photos. Open all blinds and curtains for natural light. Remove trash cans, pet bowls, and litter boxes from any room being photographed. Hide cords, remotes, and chargers.
Clear the counters down to a few intentional items (a bowl of fruit, a cutting board) — not appliances, sponges, or dish soap. Close cabinet doors. Remove magnets, lists, and papers from the fridge, or plan to shoot with the fridge out of frame.
Put away toiletries, towels on the floor, and trash cans. Close the toilet lid. Hang one or two matching towels for a finished look. Wipe down mirrors and fixtures — reflections and water spots show up more than expected in wide shots.
Make every bed. Clear nightstands except a lamp or a single decorative item. Close closet doors unless showing storage space intentionally. Remove laundry baskets and out-of-season clothing piles.
Move cars out of the driveway and off the street in front of the house. Put away trash and recycling bins. Coil up hoses, and clear toys, tools, or lawn equipment from the yard. Mow the lawn and clear leaves if the season calls for it — this makes the single biggest difference in curb-appeal shots.
An empty room photographs fine, but buyers connect more with a space that shows scale and use. If a listing will sit vacant for the shoot, ask about virtual staging — it can furnish key rooms digitally after the shoot, without moving furniture in and out.
Have the home ready 15 minutes before the scheduled arrival — a photographer working around last-minute tidying eats into the shoot. All 37 Visuals shoots are booked online and delivered same-day or next-day, so a smooth shoot day means faster photos back.