How to Prepare Your Home for a Property Listing or Shoot
Preparing your home for professional property photography and film is one of the most important steps in the listing process. A well-presented home photographs better, feels more spacious, and allows potential buyers to focus on the property itself.
This simple, room-by-room guide outlines exactly how to prepare your home for a property listing or professional photoshoot.
Bedrooms
Bedrooms should feel calm, uncluttered and inviting.
Clear bedside tables of all personal items and store away phone or tablet chargers. Remove personal photographs and any visible items stored under the bed. Small floor rugs should be removed and all beds neatly made. Lamps, candles and books should be styled simply and work well together.
Living Areas
Living areas should feel open, light and easy to imagine living in.
Vacuum carpets, mop hard floors and clean benches. Replace any broken light bulbs and remove personal photographs. Declutter all surfaces, keeping in mind that less is more. Clear coffee tables, TV units and shelves. Remove blankets and covers from couches and remove tablecloths from dining tables.
Kitchen
A clean and minimal kitchen is essential for property photography.
Clear and clean benchtops, splashbacks and the tops of kitchen cupboards. Remove the bin and clear fridges of magnets, bills and photos. Fruit and subtle pops of colour such as flowers, plants, serving boards or cookbooks work well. Remove dishes, sponges and soaps from sinks and dish racks and ensure the oven is empty.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms should feel fresh, clean and hotel-like.
Clear benchtops and showers or baths of toiletries and ensure toilet seats are closed. Remove floor mats, bins and laundry baskets. Make sure shower screens are clean and free from grime. Remove toilet brushes, weight scales and toilet paper rolls and clean any visible tile grout.
Exteriors
The exterior of your home creates the first impression.
Maintain gardens and remove any pet household items. Remove pool cleaners and hoses, and wash windows where possible.
A Final Note
In most cases, the garage and laundry can be used as temporary storage to help keep living areas clean, calm, and uncluttered on shoot day.
Thoughtful preparation makes all the difference, elevating how your home is captured, enhancing its online presence, and drawing in the right buyers from the very first glance.
It also allows our photographers to work seamlessly on the day, focusing on the details that matter most.
To make the process even easier, we’ve created a Property Photography Preparation Checklist, guiding you step by step before your shoot. Once your shoot is locked in, we’ll send it straight through.