Tips on Preparing Your Home for Professional Property Photography

Selling your home can be an exciting but overwhelming process. As a homeowner, you want to make sure your property stands out and attracts potential buyers. One of the most effective ways to showcase your home's best features is through high-quality property photography. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of preparing your home for stunning estate agency photos that will captivate buyers and generate interest in your property.

 

The Importance of Professional Architectural Photography

 In today's digital age, the majority of homebuyers start their search online. This means that the first impression of your home is often through the photos they see on listing websites. Professional property photography plays a crucial role in attracting buyers and creating a positive perception of your property. High-quality photos can highlight your home's unique features, make it appear more spacious and inviting, and ultimately increase its perceived value.

 

Creating a Pre-Shoot Checklist

To ensure that your home is photo-ready before the photographer arrives, it's helpful to create a pre-shoot checklist. This checklist will serve as a guide to help you organize and prepare each area of your home. Let's dive into the essential steps you should take to prepare your home for stunning real estate photos.

 

Exterior Preparation

 The exterior of your home is the first thing potential buyers will see, so it's crucial to make a positive impression. Here are some key steps to take when preparing the exterior for real estate photos:

 

1. Park vehicles away from the house or in the garage: Clear the driveway and front of the house from any vehicles to create a clean and spacious appearance.

2. Freshen up landscaping: Trim bushes, mow the lawn, and remove any dead plants or debris. Adding fresh mulch can also enhance the overall look of your garden.

3. Clean windows and glass doors: Make sure all windows and glass doors are clean and free from streaks or smudges. This will allow natural light to shine through and create a bright, inviting atmosphere.

4. Store outdoor rubbish and recycling bins: Hide any visible bins by placing them in the garage or an outdoor shed. This will help maintain a neat and clutter-free exterior.

5. Clean outdoor furniture: Wipe down outdoor furniture and arrange it in an inviting way. Adding pillows and decorative items can create an appealing outdoor living space.

 

Interior Preparation

 Once you've taken care of the exterior, it's time to focus on the interior of your home. Here are the essential steps to prepare each area for real estate photos:

 

Kitchen

 The kitchen is often a focal point for potential buyers, so it's essential to showcase it in its best light. Follow these steps to prepare your kitchen for real estate photos:

 

1. Clear worktops and remove clutter: Remove all unnecessary items from countertops, including small appliances, utensil holders, chopping boards and dish towels. Clearing the surfaces will make the kitchen look more spacious and organised.

2. Clean surfaces and appliances: Wipe down all surfaces, including worktops, cabinets, and appliances. Pay special attention to stainless steel appliances to remove any fingerprints or smudges.

3. Hide soaps, towels, and cleaning items: Store away soaps, hand towels, oven gloves and cleaning supplies to create a clutter-free appearance. Leaving out a single decorative item, such as a small vase of flowers, can add a touch of elegance.

4. Organize open shelves: If you have open shelves in your kitchen, arrange them neatly and showcase a few attractive items, such as matching dishes or cookbooks. Avoid overcrowding the shelves to maintain a clean and organized look.

 

Living Areas

 Living areas, such as the living room and family room, should feel warm and inviting. Follow these steps to prepare your living areas for real estate photos:

 

1. Minimise photos and personal items: Remove personal photos, diplomas, and other personal belongings from walls and shelves. This allows potential buyers to envision themselves in the space.

2. Organise bookshelves: Neatly arrange books, magazines, and other items on bookshelves. Consider using decorative bookends or adding a few tasteful decorative items to create visual interest.

3. Minimise knick-knacks: Remove excessive knick-knacks and small decorative items from shelves and surfaces. A clutter-free space will make the room feel more spacious and allow buyers to focus on the features of the room.

4. Set tables with simple place settings: If you have a dining area, set the table with simple and elegant place settings. This will give potential buyers a sense of how the space can be used for entertaining.

5. Screens:  Turn TVs, PCs and Media viewers off and store all remotes away.  Try to tidy away trailing wiring wherever possible.

 

Bedrooms

 Bedrooms should feel cozy and inviting, providing a peaceful retreat for potential buyers. Follow these steps to prepare your bedrooms for real estate photos:

 

1. Make the beds correctly and remove wrinkles: Ensure that all beds are made neatly with clean and wrinkle-free bedding. Tuck in sheets and fluff pillows to create a polished and inviting look.

2. Arrange decorative pillows: Add a few decorative pillows to the bed to create visual interest. Choose pillows that complement the colour scheme of the room and avoid overcrowding the bed.

3. Store clothing and shoes: Remove any clutter, such as clothing or shoes, from the bedroom. Ideally, the room should appear spacious and well-organized.

4. Declutter and depersonalize bedside tables: Clear off any personal items from bedside tables, such as books, glasses, or medication. Instead, leave a simple and elegant bedside lamp or a small vase of flowers.

 

Bathrooms

 Clean and well-maintained bathrooms are essential for creating a positive impression on potential buyers. Follow these steps to prepare your bathrooms for sales photos:

 

1. Close toilet lids: Keep toilet lids closed to create a clean and polished look. This small step can make a big difference in the overall appearance of the bathroom.

2. Remove countertop items: Clear off all unnecessary items from bathroom countertops, such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, and skincare products. Store them in a drawer or cabinet to create a clutter-free space.

3. Store bath and shower items: Remove all personal bath and shower items, including shampoo bottles, soap dishes, and loofahs. Potential buyers should be able to envision themselves in the space without any distractions.

4. Store towels: Fold and store towels neatly to create a spa-like atmosphere. Consider using white or neutral-coloured towels for a clean and fresh look.  Do not have towels hanging on radiators.

 

Additional Considerations

 In addition to the specific preparation steps for each area of your home, there are a few general considerations to keep in mind:

 

1. Lights off, please: To ensure the best lighting for your real estate photos, turn off all artificial lights and rely on natural light as much as possible. Open curtains and blinds to let in natural light and create a bright and airy atmosphere.

2. Depersonalise and minimise: Remove personal items, such as family photos and personalized artwork, from walls and surfaces. Minimize the number of personal belongings in each room to create a neutral and inviting space.

3. Clean and declutter: Throughout the entire preparation process, it's essential to clean and declutter each area of your home. This includes removing excessive furniture, organizing wardrobes, and tidying up any storage spaces.  Do not leave any items out that would cause questions from potential buyers along the lines of - 'why is that out? Is there no storage space for it?' - this is especially true for drying racks, ironing boards and vacuum cleaners.

4. Be prepared to reschedule: Sometimes, weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances may require rescheduling the photo shoot. Be flexible and willing to work with your photographer to find the best time for capturing stunning photos of your home.

5. Avoid having anything hanging on the backs of doors - coats, dressing gowns, towels should be stored away wherever possible as many shots may be taken with the doors closed.

6. Rugs, door mats, bath mats and runners - these tend to break up the eye-line of spaces and should be lifted and the underneath cleaned wherever possible.  Even large and expensive ones in living areas should go if possible, especially highly patterned ones.

 

Conclusion

 Preparing your home for stunning real estate photos is a crucial step in attracting potential buyers and generating interest in your property. By following the steps outlined in this comprehensive guide, you can ensure that your home is photo-ready and showcases its best features. Remember to find a reputable real estate photographer, create a pre-shoot checklist, and focus on both the exterior and interior areas of your home. With professional real estate photography, you can make a positive first impression and increase the chances of selling your home quickly and at a desirable price.