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Preparing Your Home For Photos

​General Guidelines

Professional staging is ideal, but does not necessarily fit with everyone's budget or circumstances.​  Thankfully, there is plenty you can do on your own to prepare your home for the best possible photos.  The more you can do beforehand, the better your home will be represented both in the listing and in person.  Clean, clutter-free spaces are going to help you put your best foot forward when potential buyers view your home.  You will want the buyer(s) to imagine him or her self in your home, so it is a good idea to depersonalize the space by removing or replacing any prominent family photos, tacky travel souvenirs, fridge magnets, nic-nacs, child-proofing equipment (i.e. gates & cabinet guards), potentially offensive or distracting artwork, religious items, etc.  Less is more.  A good first impression is crucial.

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The following are suggestions to help you make every area of your home as appealing as possible:

Interior

Kitchen

  • Put away dish rags, cleaning supplies, soap bottles, drying racks, hand towels, etc.

  • Remove any clutter from counter tops such as cheap/small appliances, utensils, phone chargers, mail, etc.  Small decorations can be OK, such as flowers, fruit bowls, center pieces, potpourri, etc.

  • The odd counter top item or appliance can sometimes be OK if it fits the decor, such as a mixer, blender, knife block, etc.

  • Remove magnets and anything else attached to the fridge such as notes or children's artwork

  • Clean your stainless steel appliances - smudges, swirl marks, and fingerprints

  • Clean the kitchen sink and backsplash

  • Empty any trash cans, especially if not already hidden in a cupboard

  • Vacuum, sweep or mop the floors

Living Areas

  • Arrange furniture such that the room looks open, inviting, and comfortable

  • Fluff & arrange any decorative pillows, fold (or put away) any blankets or quilts if they are not part of the decor

  • Get rid of general clutter such as magazines, TV remotes, children's toys, video game accessories, etc.

  • Deal with any exposed cables from electronics (power cables, HDMI cables, etc.)  If you can't hide them, arrange them neatly.

  • If you have bookcases or movie collections, hide any potentially offensive titles

  • Think about adding an area rug if you have lots of bare, hard flooring

  • Dust everywhere, especially on dark colored shelving or other similar areas

  • A single item on the coffee table often looks nice, such as a large hardcover book

Bedrooms

  • Make the beds.  Arrange pillows neatly at the head of the bed, and smooth out any creases in the bedding.

  • Don't hide anything under the bed unless the bed skirting goes all the way to the floor

  • Children and young adults often have unique or polarizing decorations in their bedrooms - do what you can to make these spaces look more generic as these are often some of the most difficult areas for a potential buyer to imagine as their own

  • Clear off your night stands - put away the phone chargers, TV remotes, Kleenex boxes, water bottles, books, magazines, moisturizer bottles, etc.

  • Put away any clothes or toys that may be lying around, and empty dirty laundry hampers

Bathrooms

  • Get rid of clutter such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, contact lens accessories, razors, makeup, shampoo bottles, hair dryers, personal grooming supplies, baby toys, etc.

  • Give everything a deep clean - a dirty bathroom area can be especially off-putting.  Scrub your toilets, sinks, and showers.

  • Get rid of bathroom scales, toilet cleaning brushes, extra toilet paper, and empty the trash can

  • Close the toilet lid and put a full roll of toilet paper on the dispenser

  • Now is the time to get out your "good towels" - a neatly folded, matching set

  • If you have a laundry area, put away your detergents, dryer sheets, and other related items.  Don't leave any clothes lying around, close the washer/dryer doors, and empty dirty laundry hampers.

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Exterior

Curb Appeal

  • Mow and edge the lawn

  • Clean up any leaves

  • Trim bushes, trees, and remove any weeds

  • Clean up after any pets

  • Clear snow from driveway and sidewalk in the winter

  • Put away any toys, garden tools, hoses, etc.

  • Hide trash cans, compost, and recycle bins

  • Remove any vehicles from the driveway or front street

  • Power wash the driveway, sidewalks, siding, etc. if needed

Back Yard

  • Mow the lawn, pull weeds, and remove leaves

  • Put away any toys, garden tools, hoses, etc.

  • Clean and arrange any patio furniture as you would indoors

  • Sweep or power wash the deck or any other hard surfaces

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Other

Pets

  • Clean up after your pet(s)

  • Take them off the property if possible while photos are being done

  • Hide any food/water dishes, toys, etc.

  • Take down any gates or pet-proofing supplies

Before the Photographer Arrives

  • Turn ON all the lights in the home, including under cabinets, lamps, and stove hoods

  • Turn OFF any ceiling fans

  • Fireplaces without open flames can be left ON

  • Open curtains, blinds, and drapes to let in as much light as possible

  • Remove vehicles from the driveway or in front of the property

  • Temporarily remove or secure any pets

  • Hide any unsightly garbage, recycling, or compost bins

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