You know how the saying goes – a picture is worth 1,000 words. What your home looks like in photos greatly affects how potential buyers feel about your space. Even if you’ve got pros coming to your home, there are steps to do to make sure your place looks its best. Check out our checklist below!
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Be Ready Before The Photographer Arrives
First and foremost, make sure that everything that should be done IS done before the photographer arrives. They don’t have time to tidy things or re-arrange your home, and you want all the time you have to go to them taking photos.
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Remove Extra Furniture & Décor
If you’ve got cramped furniture or walls that are covered in décor, it won’t let your floorplan shine and can be distracting. Create more space in your place by temporarily storing extra furniture and have décor at a minimum. This opens your space and makes your home look more presentable.
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De-clutter Your Kitchen
Sometimes you need all the counter space you can get, especially with all the cool gadgets that exist to help in the kitchen. However, having a cluttered kitchen can negatively affect how potential buyers see your space. Take down and put away bulky counter appliances and décor to let your kitchen shine on its own. Be sure to have all countertops, the sink, and surfaces clean as well.
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Clear The Bathroom
Nobody likes to see a lived-in bathroom. The less personal your bathroom looks, the better. Plus, without all your stuff in the way, your bathroom will look bigger in photos! Put your countertop items and bath products in a storage bin that is out of sight for photos. Any visible towels or washcloths should be decoratively folded. All you need to leave on the counter is a couple items for show – such as hand soap.
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Touch Every Bedroom
It’s crucial to make sure every bedroom or extra room in the house looks clean & neat for photos. This may be an obvious step but it can be overlooked. Make sure all bedding is made and is neat, with personal items put away.
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Keep It Impersonal
Potential buyers in general don’t like to view homes that have too much personal identity to them. It gets in the way of them being able to visualize themselves in your home. Just like with an open house, prepare your home for listing photography by removing family photos and items throughout the house, including the garage and backyard.
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Lights, Lights, Action!
Having good lighting is a key aspect of photography, and your home is no different. Ensure all lights are working properly before your photography booking – this includes exterior lighting! Have the lights all turned on before the photographer arrives as well.
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Make Evidence Of Pets Disappear
While most people who own homes have a pet of some kind, not every buyer wants one, and seeing a house that has evidence of pets throughout can be a turn-off. Plus, pet items can contribute to making a space look cluttered. Remove all bowls, beds, and toys from rooms & keep them in storage throughout the photography session. Make sure your yard is free of animal waste too!
Image used under license from Shutterstock.com
