Preparing your home to maximise photo potential

Great photos are a vital element of a successful sales campaign. Most people's first impression of your property will not be up close and personal, it’ll be through the photographs presented in the online listing.

The camera’s eye is different from the human eye and it tends to magnify any issues or anything that doesn’t look perfect. So spending time preparing your property for the photo shoot is time well spent…plus it will help you prepare it for the all-important open homes.

To ensure your property is shoot ready when the photographer arrives, here’s our room by room photo styling checklist to help turn your property into a supermodel.

Throughout the property

• Thoroughly clean the whole house (vacuum the carpet, mop wooden floors, clean benchtops)
• Clean all your windows
• Clear clutter off any surface
• Turn all ceiling fans off
• Turn all TVs off
• Turn all computer screens off
• Remove all personal photographs
• Ensure all shoes and toys are put away
• Open all blinds, shutters, and curtains to bring in natural light
• Turn on all lights
• Create a feeling of space in each room – remove surplus furniture and make sure mirrors aren’t in places that will reflect in the photos

Curb Appeal

• Close the garage doors
• Remove your car/s from the driveway and from the front of the property
• Clean up landscaping (sweep paths, mow the lawn, trim shrubs, clear dropped leaves)
• Ensure all cobwebs from around the cornices and door frames are removed
• Remove visible water hoses
• Remove toys, sports equipment, soccer goals etc
• Potentially add pot plants outside the front door

Kitchen

• Clear the clutter from any benches
• Ensure there is no old fruit in a fruit bowl
• Leave one to two nice appliances on the bench
• Remove everything from the fridge doors including magnets, artwork, and flyers
• Hide garbage bins
• Ensure no dishes are in the sink
• Close the dishwasher door
• For a splash of colour a bowl of fresh citrus fruit can make a great centerpiece
• Dining table
• Remove all clutter from the table
• Place a centrepiece on the table such as a vase of flowers in a colour that compliments the rest of your décor or a decorative bowl or ornament
• Straighten up any chairs and ensure they are evenly spaced around the table
• Remove high chairs or booster seats

Living / Family room

• Remove stacks of magazines, newspapers, and mail
• De-clutter bookshelves, fireplace mantel, television cabinet
• Hide remote controls
• Plump up cushions
• Remove/hide any kids or animal toys
• If you have indoor plants – remove any dead leaves and dust large leaves
• If you don’t have indoor plants consider adding a couple – great for photos and for open homes

Bathroom

• Remove all toiletries from the vanity – no toothbrushes, deodorant or clutter
• Remove shampoos, soaps etc from showers and bathtubs
• Ensure toilet seat is down
• Add a new toilet roll
• Add some nice soap, a small flowering plant and perhaps a candle
• Add fresh plump towels
• Pull open the shower curtain

Bedroom

• Make all beds neatly…think hospital corners
• If need be iron bed linen and bed ruffle
• Remove all personal items from bedside tables. A small stack of books, a light, and a small pot plant is all you need here
• Remove all family photos from the walls
• Clean under the bed, removing items that may show up in the photos
• Remove any wall stickers in kid’s rooms
• Tidy bookshelves and remove some items if it looks very cluttered

Pets

• Hide food and water bowls and litter boxes
• Remove pet beds and toys
• Vacuum sofas to ensure there is no animal hair
• Keep pets out of the house
• Ensure front and backyard are clear of pet toys

Highlight special features

• If you have certain spaces that you want to highlight, make sure you tell the photographer. For instance, you may want a feature
• Your display shelves
• Fireplace or fire pit – but make sure it has a fire or the photographer photoshops in a fire
• Pool or spa – but make sure they are sparkling clean

Most importantly we are here to help you, so please ask us any questions you have about how to maximise your properties photo potential.