How to Prepare Your Home for Real Estate Photos and Virtual Tour

When the photographer arrives to your home, we have some suggestions to make your home look its best. Remember the camera and the 360 Virtual Tour camera will pick up everything so its best to hide the clutter which will make the home look more inviting.

Put any unnecessary items away. The more simple your house looks, the better. Before the photographer arrives make sure all window coverings are open, lights are on, cars are removed from the front of the house and the driveway. If you have a pool with a waterfall, make sure it is running. Fresh flowers inside the home and outside the front door is always a good idea. See below for more detailed suggestions.

Due to the nature of our cameras and 360 Virtual Tour cameras, it is a good idea for the occupants to vacate the house during the shoot so they will not be captured in the photos. The shoot will typically take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour.

There are many things you can do to prepare your home to look its best for a photography shoot BEFORE your scheduled appointment. Here are some general tips:

Clean the whole house (vacuum carpet, mop hard floors, clean countertops,
clean windows)
Replace all burned-out light bulbs
Remove personal photographs (or replace with general landscape/object
photographs)
Make all beds
Remove small floor rugs to reveal actual flooring and get a cleaner look
Put all clothes in closets
Consider removing some furniture to make the house appear more spacious

Tip: The photographer does not photograph the inside of the garage, so this is a good place to stash extra items if needed.

Tips for Making the Interior look its BEST:

Kitchen

Clear countertops – less is more
Leave a couple of stylish items on the counter (a coffee maker or a bowl of fruit)
Make sure all dishes are put away
Hide garbage cans and recycling bins
Make sure the front of your refrigerator is clear of all magnets, pictures, etc.
Clear dining table. Consider having a vase of fresh flowers on the table
Straighten all chairs and space them evenly
Remove children’s high chairs

Living Room/Family Room

Remove magazines, papers, mail, and random clutter
Make things as tidy as possible by arranging books, etc. in an orderly manner
Remove toys
Fluff and arrange furniture pillows
Hide and/or arrange cables from TV, stereo and other electrical devices

Bedrooms

Bedding should be in matching colors, have no wrinkles and no discoloring or fading
Make the beds and include decorative pillows/shams if available
Pillows should be wrinkle-free, fluffed, matching and arranged neatly
Remove personal belongings like pictures, clothing, slippers, electronics, and clutter
Remove trash cans
Clean under the bed to remove items that may show in the photos

Bathrooms

Clear countertops of all personal toiletry items. Consider leaving a decorative soap dispenser, etc.
Put toilet seats down
Remove shampoo, soap, etc. from showers and tubs
Remove dirty towels. Hang up clean towels in matching colors

Tips for Making the Exterior look its BEST:

Make sure garage doors are closed
Remove all cars in the driveway and in front of the house
Attend to landscaping (mow the lawn, trim bushes and remove leaves)
Remove dead foliage and empty planters
Remove trash cans so they are not visible
Remove visible water hoses, ladders, and any other objects that don't need to be seen
Remove any seasonal decor (for example, Christmas lights if it is not Christmas time)
Tidy up outdoor tables, chairs, and fluff cushions
Clean the pool
Consider adding flowers and a new doormat to the front of the house make it more inviting

0 Comments

Previous Post Next Post

How to Prepare Your Home for Real Estate Photos and Virtual Tour

Leave a comment

Archive