Property Photography Check List

General | Front Exterior | Backyard | Kitchen | Bathroom | Living/Family Room | Master Bedroom | Kid Bedroom | Pet | Extra Pro Tips

Is your house completely ready for the photographer to arrive? Double check by following this property photography prep list. This will guide you through everything we need to be done before our arrival -- saving you time, money, and a potential reshoot.

Keep this page bookmarked for hosting open house events or offering to a professional cleaning service. If you follow this plan then we guarantee the best results possible.

PS we understand there are totally valid reasons why not everything here can get done. Sometimes there's simply no space or time. In those situations, consider our digital decluttering option.

General

Turn ON all overhead lights and lamps
Wipe down all countertops and tables
Mop/Vacuum floors (remove any stains)
Clean all windows inside and outside
Replace all burned out light bulbs
Turn all ceiling fans to slowest speed or off
Turn all TVs OFF
Turn all computer screens OFF
Halfway open all blinds/window treatments
Make all beds
Place all shoes/jackets in closets

Front Exterior

Close garage doors
Remove cars from driveway and front of home
Clean grease stains from driveway
Clean up landscaping (mow, trim shrubs, clear leaves)
Remove empty planters
Use broom to remove cobwebs from eaves and door frames
Remove visible water hoses
Remove toys, sports balls, basketball goals, soccer goals, etc.

Backyard

Clean porch
Tidy up outdoor tables/chairs/cushions
Clean Pillows/cushions (should be fresh, not faded, and free of mold/mildew)
Clear out kid’s toys, balls, frisbees, etc.
Remove any toy items in pool
Remove pool vacuum/cleaner hose
Hide pool cleaning supplies
Turn on pool fountains/water features
Remove visible water hoses
Remove trash cans

Kitchen

Clear countertops completely (No knife blocks, baking supplies, mail, etc.)
Leave out max of one small appliance (ex. coffee maker) per counter/table
Clear outside of refrigerator of magnets, papers, photos, etc.
Hide garbage cans in pantry or closet
Remove dishes from sink and breakfast area

Bathroom

Clear countertops completely (No soap, toothbrushes, medications, deodorant, etc.)
Put toilet seats down
Close closet doors
Remove shampoo, soap, loofahs, etc. from showers and tubs
Remove dirty towels – leave out only clean, unused towels
Remove floor mats

Dining Room

Clear and wipe table, dust and polish the table top if necessary
Straighten all chairs and space them evenly
Remove child seats/booster chairs

Living and family room home cleaning tips for a picture perfect MLS house

Living / Family Room

Remove stacks of magazines, mail, etc.
Fluff and arrange furniture pillows
Remove kid’s toys

Master Bedroom

Make bed, including decorative pillows/shams if available
Press bed linens and bed skirts
Clear nightstands of all personal items (chargers, remotes, etc.)
Plug in and turn nightstand lights ON
Remove all clutter from top of dressers
Clean under bed, removing items that may show in the photos

Kid Bedroom

Remove diaper genies, trash cans, etc.
Clean under bed, removing items that may show in the photos
Straighten up clutter/toys as much as possible

Pet cleaning tips for a picture perfect MLS house

Pets

Hide food and water bowls
Hide pet beds/toys
Contain pets in hidden crate or outside
Clear back yard of pet waste/toys

Extra pro home cleaning tips for a picture perfect MLS house

Extra Pro Tips

Make sure each room as a clear purpose (Dining room looks like dining room, Game room, etc.)
Broken items should be repaired (if a fireplace is boarded up, unboard it and clean it out)
Unused/Neglected areas should be addressed (if a pool is brown and has trash in it, drain/clean it out)
Oversized items should be stored/replaced for photos and possibly for duration of listing process (if your couch takes up the entire living room or desk the entire office, you may consider trading with a friend for a while or renting from a staging company)