Preparing your home for photography, showings, and open houses is a lot like preparing your home for the red carpet. Your home needs to look it’s best in order to get the most attention and hopefully the best price. There is a long list of things to do, and many of them are tasks that might not occur to you.
Lighting: Arguably the most important element of a quality photo.
- Turn on all lamps and overhead lights, and replace any missing or burnt out bulbs
- All bulbs in lamps must be the same type (either incandescent or fluorescent)!
- Open all blinds and curtains to let in outside light. Natural light is much better for photography.
Tidying: Clean like your in-laws are coming over
- Put away all clutter out of sight
- Clear off tables, countertops, nightstands, and mantel
- (aside from 1-2 tasteful accents, 1 small appliance on kitchen counter)
- Tidy shelves and cabinets – pack away excess in boxes in the garage
- Nothing should be on the floor – that means kids toys, dog toys, etc should be put in their place
- Take soaps/shampoo/loofahs/sponges etc out of all sinks and showers
- Clean and organize under the bed
- Place all jackets and shoes in closets
- Remove visible water hoses
- Remove cars from driveway and in front of home (that’s right, cars are clutter)
- Hide wires
Spick and Span
- Vacuum, sweep, and mop all rooms
- Dust and wipe down all surfaces
- Clean all windows, mirrors, and reflective surfaces
- Clean the inside of fireplaces, microwaves, fridges, and pantry
- Remove cobwebs from eaves, door frames, and ceilings (even outside)
Depersonalization: Potential buyers should be able to picture their own personal touches in the space
- Pack away all family photos, kids drawings, etc
- Remove magnets, calendars, papers, and photos from fridge
- Place all papers, calendars and magazines in drawers
- Put away child seats, booster chairs, and playpens
- Take down personalized name decorations
- Remove stickers, decals, and posters
- Take down flags and flagpoles (from outside as well)
Pets: We know you love them, but your buyers might not
- Pack away pet beds and toys in the garage
- Remove pet hair from furniture
- Place food and water bowls in the pantry or garage
- Clear the backyard of toys and pet waste
- Place any litter boxes in garage
- Crate your pet in the garage, put them outside, or take them out for the day while showings and photography are taking place
Trash cans: We can’t let people know we create waste!
- Hide all trash cans
- Place inside trash cans in cupboards (or the garage if they are too big)
- Hide outdoor trash cans in the garage
Comfy Items: They key to making your home look live a five-star hotel
- Make all beds
- Make sure sheets are pulled tight
- Press linens and bed skirts
- Fluff and place pillows on beds and couches
- Put excess blankets in closets
- No dirty towels – only leave out a couple clean ones as accents
Closets:
- Pack excess clothes in garage so closets look spacious
- Fold and hang everything neatly
- Organize clothes purposefully (by color, type, etc)
Making your home look like the cover of Country Living is a lot of work, but cleaning and organizing is worth it if it attracts the right buyers. At the end of the day you’ll have some beautiful pictures and hopefully a buyer under contract to show for it. Check out our recently sold listing to see a great example of proper cleaning and staging!