10 Tips to Prepare the Home for Listing Photoshoot

Ready to list your home? Let’s look at the small steps that make a big difference when it comes to preparing a home to sell.

There are specific things you can do to visually make your space really attractive in photos. By following these guidelines, you’re setting up both your photographer and listing to have the highest success rate. If you’re not properly preparing the home to list, you’ll face risks of delaying the listing, needing reshoots, and many other hurdles.

1. Clear the driveway

One of the first things you need to identify before beginning photography should be asking yourself, are the all cars removed from the driveway? Is the pod storage unit sitting in the yard blocking the front of the house? Have you completed all your contractor work? This all ensures we can present the newly updated home properly.

Photo by FLOCUS Studio

2. Use a garage for storage

Use your garage as a storage unit. We typically don’t photograph garages as they are not viewed as a desirable space by most buyers. As such, it’s the best place for storage. Use it to hide garbage cans, trash, or large items, and of course you can pull your car in it as well.

3. Clear outside clutter

Remove all outside clutter and put away simple things like rakes, and roll up your lawn hoses. If you have outdoor furniture, set it up nicely and prepare it to serve dinner. The curbside appeal really matters.

4. Refresh landscaping

Mow your lawn and refresh your landscaping. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and different buyers might have different preferences, but refreshed landscaping ahead of a photographer’s arrival will yield better photos and results.

5. Clear surfaces of personal items

Inside the home, clear all surfaces. If your countertops are where you charge your phones, store messages and notes, that should all be organized and out of the way before we arrive. The same is true with the refrigerator; make sure magnets with images of faces, friends and children are removed. This saves time and allows the photographer to focus on showcasing your house, rather than pulling down magnets, or photoshopping out faces.

Photos by FLOCUS Studio.

6. Tidy the bathroom

Make sure toilet seat covers in the bathroom are positioned down. This can be an unsightly area, and again, we want to be cautious of privacy issues and stowing personal items like medication, as well as toothbrushes and loofahs. Organizing these areas prevents the photographer from having to clear up people’s personal bathroom items, which is not a fun process.

7. Prepare windows and lights

Our window images are really beautiful when we have all the windows sparkling clean, and the window shades and blinds opened. The same goes for lighting. It’s easy to have bulbs looked at or replaced before we are there, as we take all our photos with the lights on, which makes for beautiful ambient lighting. We suggest to turn off all the ceiling fans.

8. Make a plan for pets

Make a plan for your pets on the day of photography. Don’t just lock them in a room and expect the photographer to work around a dog. We don’t want pet shadows in the photos.

9. Clean the whole house

Complete a normal home refresh before photography such as making your bed, clearing the countertop as discussed, and taking the time to make that final pass before the photographer arrives. This gives your home an opportunity to really be ready for photos.

10. Alert your neighbors

Make sure your neighbors are aware if you are listing your home and a photographer will be visiting, especially if drones will be utilized. Drones can cause tension and privacy issues, which we want to be cautious of. Communication and awareness are key to a smooth shoot.

Photos by FLOCUS Studio

Reference Source: Hochberg, Emily. “10 Ways Sellers Can Prepare Their Homes for Real Estate Photos”, Redfin, May 30, 2019 

Prepare Your Seller for a Photoshoot

First-time home sellers may be feeling a little overwhelmed by the process of selling their property. They may be worried that the photographer is coming to their home. To ease their stress and yours, you can save time by making sure everything goes well by using this helpful checklist.

Exterior Front and Back

• Remove cars from driveway

• Close all windows

• Sweep walkways

• Pick up leaves, sticks, branches

• Put toys, bicycles away

• Store seasonal décor

• Stow garden tools, supplies

• Remove all hoses

• Straighten and arrange deck furniture

• Clean pool area

Interior: Main Areas

• Remove personal items/photos

• Remove all visible clutter

• Open shades/blinds

• Replace burned out light bulbs

• Tidy up or put away all children’s toys

• Empty waste baskets

• Hide pet dishes/toys/beds

• Vacuum carpets

• Sweep hard floors

• Remove newspapers, mail

• Display attractive books or tropical decorations

• Turn off televisions and ceiling fans

• Turn on all lights

Interior: Kitchen

• Remove all items from refrigerator door

• Store food in cabinets

• De-clutter counters, stove

• Stow small appliances

• Hide soaps, cleaning items

• Hide dish towels, sponges

• Clear sink of dishes

• Put away draining rack

• Organize items on open shelves

• Place bowl of fruit on counter

 Interior: Dining Room

• Straighten/push in dining chairs

• Add centerpiece, candles

• Set the table for dinner

• Add a vase of tropical flowers

• Add a bottle of wine, glasses

 Interior: Bedrooms

• Make the beds

• Arrange decorative pillows

• Put away clothing, shoes

• Clean under the bed

• Clear surfaces of clutter

 Interior: Bathrooms

• Make the bathrooms sparkle

• Hang fresh towels or remove them if they don’t look nice

• Clear counters of toiletries

• Clean mirrors

• Clean toilet and close lid

• Remove all items from tub and shower

We provide professional photography service for Maui Real Estate Agents and Vacation rental company and owners. We are committed to provide you a smooth photoshoot experience and help you create images that promote your property and business. Contact us for more information.

All photos copyrighted by FLOCUS Studio.

Why Use a Professional Real Estate Photographer for Your Maui Hawaii Property

It might seem obvious that good photography and videography are critical for your success as a real estate professional. It is even so when you are trying to sell your Maui property to investors who are in the mainland and make their decisions based on your listing photos.

When you dig into the numbers, just how much of an impact good visuals make borders on shocking. Check out some of these stats:

• Homes with high quality photography sell 32 percent faster.

• Homes with more photos sell faster, too. A home with one photo spends an average 70 days on the market, but a home with 20 photos spends 32 days on the market.

• For homes in the $200,000 to $1 million range, those that include high-quality photography in their listings sell for $3,000-$11,000 more.

As time goes on, and equipment and tools become better and more sophisticated, online platforms become more robust, good property photos invite buyers.

In its resource reference document for members on the topic, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) points out that:

87% of homebuyers who searched for a home on the internet found photos to be among the most useful features of REALTOR® websites. Digital photography and virtual tours allow REALTORS® to serve their clients like never before. Digital images can quickly and professionally showcase a listing, and today’s technologically savvy clients appreciate the convenience of a virtual tour for both long distance and local moves.

Connect with consumers in a fast-paced digital world by setting yourself apart and grabbing their attention instantly.

Check out our Real Estate Photography Service .

Bonus:

Looking for Vacation Rentals in Hawaii for your next trip? Check out HawaiiGaga.com to learn about the tips to travel to the Hawaiian Islands and find out more where would be the best place to stay!

It is important to show off the ocean view.

The above information is referenced from RISMedia.com and images are by Flocus Studio.