How to Prepare a Home for Real Estate Photos: A Room-by-Room Checklist for San Diego Sellers
To prepare a home for real estate photos, clear every surface, remove personal items, clean the floors and windows, turn on every light, and open the blinds. Do the big jobs the week before and the small ones the morning of the shoot. The photographer photographs the home as it is, so anything left out will be in the pictures.
October 3, 20267 min read
By Tom Van Vechten · Updated
Why does preparation matter so much?
A camera sees more than a visitor does. A person walking through your home looks past the mail on the counter and the shoes by the door. In a photo, those things are frozen in place, and buyers scrolling on a phone notice them before they notice the room.
Your photographer's job is light, angles, and editing. Tidying is not part of the shoot, and time spent moving things is time not spent on photos. A prepared home also photographs faster, which means less disruption to your day.
Agents: this page is written for your sellers. Send them the link, or use the Print button at the top to hand them a paper copy.
Match the bulbs in each room so they are the same color of light
Have the windows washed inside and out
Deep clean, or book a cleaner for the day before the shoot
Mow, edge, and trim. Pull weeds and add fresh mulch where beds look bare
Pressure wash the driveway, the walkway, and the patio if they need it
Box up about a third of what is in each closet and on each shelf
Decide where boxes will go. A garage is fine. Tell your agent if the garage should not be photographed
If a pool or spa is part of the home, have it cleaned and the water level topped up
What should I do in every room?
Clear flat surfaces. Leave one or two items at most
Remove family photos, names, diplomas, and anything with an address on it
Hide cords, chargers, remotes, and routers
Take up small rugs and floor mats that break up the floor
Remove pet beds, bowls, toys, and litter boxes
Empty every trash can and put the cans out of sight
Straighten pictures, lampshades, and furniture
Turn ceiling fans off and televisions off
A living room ready for photos: clear surfaces, open blinds, nothing on the floor.
What does each room need?
Kitchen
Clear the counters. Put away the toaster, the knife block, the dish rack, and the soap
Take everything off the front and top of the refrigerator
Empty the sink and wipe it dry
Hang one clean towel, or none
A bowl of fruit or a plant is enough decoration
Living and dining rooms
Fluff and straighten cushions. Fold or remove throws
Clear the coffee table down to one item
Push dining chairs in evenly and clear the table
Hide toys, game consoles, and exercise gear
Bedrooms
Make every bed with smooth, plain bedding
Clear the nightstands except for a lamp
Put away clothes, shoes, and laundry baskets
Nothing should be visible under the bed
Bathrooms
Remove everything from the counters, the shower, and the tub edge
Close the toilet lid
Hang fresh, matching towels
Remove the bath mat, the scale, and the plunger
Wipe mirrors and glass so there are no streaks
Home office and extra rooms
Clear the desk and hide paperwork
Turn computer screens off
Give the room one clear purpose. An office with a bed and a treadmill reads as storage
How do I prepare the outside?
Move all cars off the driveway and away from the front of the home
Put trash and recycling bins out of sight
Coil and hide hoses. Put away tools, toys, and pet waste
Sweep the porch, the patio, and the walkways
Open patio umbrellas and straighten outdoor furniture. Put cushions out
Remove pool covers, cleaners, and floating toys
Turn water features and the spa on
Close the garage door
If your shoot includes drone photos, the roof, the side yards, and anything stored behind the house will be visible from above. If it includes a twilight photo, check that every exterior and landscape light works.
A backyard ready for photos: cushions out, furniture straight, nothing stored in view.
What should I do the morning of the shoot?
Turn on every light in the house, including lamps, under-cabinet lights, and closet lights
Open all blinds and curtains
Do a last pass on counters and floors
Put away anything you used that morning: dishes, towels, toothbrushes
Set the temperature so the heating or air conditioning is not running loudly
Take pets out of the house, or keep them in one place and tell the photographer
Unlock gates, side doors, and any room that should be photographed
Plan to be out of the rooms being photographed. Most shoots take one to two hours
What if I can’t get everything ready?
Tell your agent before the shoot, not after. There are honest ways to handle it. The photographer can skip a room. Some items can be removed from a photo digitally, which is called virtual decluttering. In California, an edited photo like that has to be labeled, and the original has to be available to buyers, so your agent will decide when it is worth using.
Don't ask for repairs to be edited out. Photos have to show the home as a buyer will find it. If something is broken, fix it or leave it in the picture.
If you live in the home and clearing every room feels impossible, focus on the rooms that matter most to buyers: the front of the home, the living room, the kitchen, and the primary bedroom and bathroom. There is a shorter version of this list on our pre-shoot checklist page.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a real estate photo shoot take?
Most homes take one to two hours. Larger homes, or shoots that include a 3D tour or drone, take longer. Your agent will give you a time window.
Do I need to be home during the shoot?
No. Many sellers leave. If you stay, plan to keep out of the rooms being photographed.
Will the photographer move things for me?
Small adjustments, yes. Clearing counters or moving furniture is not part of the shoot, and it takes time away from the photos.
Should I leave the lights on or off?
On. Turn on every light in the home, including lamps, and replace any bulbs that are out before the shoot.
What should I do with my pets?
Take them out of the home if you can. Put away beds, bowls, toys, and litter boxes so they are not in the photos.
Can clutter be removed from the photos afterward?
Sometimes. Virtual decluttering can remove items from a photo, but in California the edited photo must be labeled and the original made available to buyers. Preparing the room is the better option.
Ready when your listing is
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