Getting your home ready for professional photography is important.
Remember that your photos and interactive virtual tour will be on the web and available for viewers 24/7, so a little time spent preparing now will pay off greatly in the end.
Our average on-site time for a photo shoot is approximately 1.5 to 3 hours depending on the package that was ordered. We will be photographing both the inside and outside of your home.
The photographer that will be coming will likely have several shoots booked for that day so time at each location is limited. It is important that your home be in the condition that you want it photographed, before the photographer arrives.
Make sure that your house is 100% show ready prior to the photographer’s arrival. Please have all lights on, doors open, toilet lids closed, and make sure that everything is off counters and put away. Make sure the specified spaces are ready to photograph.
Feel free to provide this information to your sellers before the scheduled shoot.
Below are some tips to make sure your house is looking its best:
Lighting
- Double check all light bulbs are working
- Ensure bulbs in light fixtures are all the same color
- Turn on as many lights beforehand as you can
- Fans need to be turned off – If there’s a secret to having lights on and fans off, please set that up beforehand
Kitchen/Dining Areas
- Clean off counters; remove any clutter
- Make sure dirty/clean dishes are out of the sink & put away
- Empty the garbage can, or if possible, hide from view
- Remove items posted on fridge
- Remove dish towels from oven, cabinets and sink
Bathrooms
- Put essential items used daily in a small box that can be stored away
- Close toilet lid and empty the garbage
- Clean mirrors & glass surfaces
- Hang your best towels neatly from a towel bar
- If inside of shower or bathtub is visible, limit the number of viewable products
Living/Common Areas
- Remove clutter and tidy up shelves
- Straighten couch pillows
- Turn off televisions and hide remotes
Outdoors
- Spruce up entryways, gardens and lawns; trim shrubbery if necessary
- Yard and patio should be neat; outdoor furniture should be in good shape
- Mow the lawn; make sure the driveway & entryway are free of clutter
- In the winter, keep the sidewalks cleared of snow
- Remove vehicles from driveway and don’t park directly in front of the house
Overall/General:
- Check the basics around the house (indoors & out). It takes just a minute to make sure the house is clutter-free and all is in order.
- Turn on as many lights as you can when the photographer arrives.
- Try not to be in the room the photographer is photographing as you may end up in the photo.
The photographer cannot:
- Move furniture
- Clean or dust
- Move garbage
- Pick up/move clutter (toys, dirty dishes, dog toys, etc.)
Most Importantly – Declutter
The biggest issue you can address ahead of time is clutter. Look at your rooms as if you were looking at them through a camera. What catches your eye, will catch the eye of your viewer. You want potential buyers looking at your home, not the stuff. Take a few moments to declutter each room and ensure things are in order.
The home MUST be ready for the photographer when he arrives. Upon arrival our photographers can wait no longer than 15 minutes for additional home preparations. If a wait longer than this must happen we will have to move on to our next scheduled appointment and the virtual tour will be rescheduled. If this happens a rescheduling fee of $50.00 will apply.
If you have any questions, please contact us.
