Photography Checklist

Presenting your house is the most important thing you as a seller can do to achieve the best price and help to sell your home faster. This checklist can help you to get everything ready for photos and open house days.

View of a home interior with a doorway leading to a room with white furniture, a desk, a yellow patterned chair, and decorative items including a lamp, books, and vases. The foreground has symmetrical tables with green plants in silver vases on each side.

General Preparations

  • Thoroughly clean whole property

  • Turn all lights and lamps on, replace any burned out light bulbs

  • Close all windows and open blinds/window treatments to let in outside light

  • Create open spaces by removing not needed furniture and clear counter tops and shelves

  • Turn all TVs and computer screens off

  • Remove personal photographs

  • Remove small floor rugs to reveal actual flooring

  • Place all shoes/jackets in closets

A backyard patio with brick pavers, two outdoor chairs, and lush green bushes and trees surrounding the area.

Outside Areas

  • Move cars from driveways and front of the property

  • Close garage doors

  • Remove rubbish bins

  • Mow and edge grass front & back, trim overgrown trees and brushes

  • Remove any toys and sports equipment

  • Remove visible water hoses and empty planters and garden tools

  • Sweep up cuttings and leaves

  • Clean pool area

Modern kitchen with white cabinets, geometric white tile backsplash, wooden shelf with plants and decorative items, stainless steel canisters on the countertop, bowl of apples, and a gas stove.

Kitchen + Meal Areas

  • Straighten/push in chairs

  • Clear countertops of completely

  • Remove any small appliances (toaster, kettles, coffee maker, …)

  • Remove fridge magnets and photos

  • Store dishes and put away draining rack

  • Hide soaps and cleaning items

  • Remove visible rubbish bins

  • Add a center piece such as flowers or candles to the tables

  • Hide tea towels

Living room with a gray sofa, large window with blinds, fireplace with a TV above, wooden coffee table, area rug, beige walls, and wooden flooring.

Living + Family Room

  • Arrange the furniture to make room look large

  • Remove magazines and papers

  • Remove any gym equipment

  • Clear clutter from shelves and tables

  • Hide all remotes

  • Hide loose home theater cables

A bedroom with beige walls, a large bed with white bedding, decorative pillows, a colorful throw blanket, a nightstand with a lamp, a window with blinds, and double closet doors.

Bedrooms

  • Remove any visible clothes and clutter

  • Hide personal items and visible cables

  • Close all closets

  • Make beds and straighten pillows

  • Remove items from bed side table

  • Clean under bed, remove items which might show

  • If possible remove personal images and wall stickers

Bright, modern bathroom with a walk-in shower, a white vanity with a dark textured cabinet, two windows showing a view of trees and the sky, and a potted orchid on the counter.

Bathrooms

  • Clear countertops completely

  • Remove toothbrushes and shavers

  • Clean all mirrors and bench tops

  • Hang fresh towels

  • Remove all items from bathtubs and showers

  • Clean toilet and close lid

  • Remove floor mats