How to Prepare Your Home for Listing Photos
A professional photographer can make a clean, well-lit home look incredible. What a photographer cannot do is move your dishes, hide your dog bed or replace the bulb in the hallway.
Good prep takes a few hours. It can change how a listing performs for months. Here is the checklist Weston Media shares with agents across the Grand Strand, from Calabash to Georgetown.
Start outside
Buyers see the exterior first, both online and in person.
Mow, edge and blow off the driveway and walkways
Remove cars from the driveway and the street in front of the home
Put away hoses, toys, bikes, trash cans and recycling bins
Clean or replace the welcome mat
Sweep porches and decks, and wipe down outdoor furniture
Uncover the pool and clean it, then remove skimmers and floats
Open patio umbrellas if they are in good condition
Turn on exterior lights if the shoot is late in the day
If you live in a coastal neighborhood like Cherry Grove or Garden City, rinse salt spray off windows and railings. It shows up more than you think.
Kitchen
The kitchen sells the house. Keep it simple.
Clear everything off the counters except one or two decorative items
Hide dish soap, sponges, paper towels and drying racks
Remove magnets, photos and papers from the refrigerator
Put away small appliances like toasters and coffee makers
Empty the sink and run the dishwasher
Hide trash cans
Wipe stainless appliances with a microfiber cloth to remove fingerprints
Living and family rooms
Remove excess furniture so the room feels open
Fluff and arrange pillows, fold throws
Clear coffee tables and end tables down to a book or a plant
Hide remotes, cords, chargers and gaming controllers
Turn off the TV or make sure the screen is clean and black
Put away pet beds, toys and crates
Open blinds and curtains fully
Bedrooms
Make the bed with the bedspread pulled tight and pillows squared
Clear nightstands except a lamp and one item
Hide clothes, shoes, laundry baskets and personal items
Remove items from the tops of dressers
Open blinds and turn on lamps
A fresh white or neutral bedspread photographs far better than a busy pattern. If you have one, use it.
Bathrooms
Clear counters completely. No toothbrushes, soap or razors
Close the toilet lid
Hang fresh, matching towels and remove used ones
Remove bath mats and shower caddies
Pull shower curtains closed or leave glass doors spotless
Hide plungers, scales and trash cans
Lighting
This is the one most sellers miss.
Replace every burned-out bulb
Match bulb color temperature in each room so some are not yellow and others blue
Turn on every light in the house, including lamps, under-cabinet lights and closets
Turn off ceiling fans so the blades are not blurred
Open every blind and curtain
The photographer will blend natural and interior light, but every light needs to work.
Personal items and clutter
Buyers want to picture themselves in the home. Help them.
Take down family photos, diplomas and name signs
Remove religious and political items
Clear calendars, mail and paperwork
Hide pet food bowls and litter boxes
Store seasonal decorations
Garage and storage
Most listings do not need a garage photo unless it is a feature. If yours is finished or oversized, sweep it and park cars outside.
The day of the shoot
Finish prep the night before, not the morning of
Keep pets contained or out of the house
Turn on all lights and open all blinds 15 minutes before the appointment
Plan to be out of the house, or stay in one room and move as needed
Leave the thermostat comfortable so the photographer can work quickly
A typical Weston Media photo shoot takes 30 to 60 minutes. Larger homes and bundles with video or 3D tours take longer.
For agents: send this early
The best time to share this checklist is the day the listing agreement is signed. Sellers need time to declutter, and a home that is ready on shoot day means no reschedule, no retakes and next-day delivery as promised.
Weston Media's Getting Ready Guide is a shareable version of this list that you can text or email to sellers. If the forecast looks rough for an exterior-heavy listing, check the weather page for how we handle reschedules.
Ready to book?
Once the home is prepped, we handle the rest. Next-day delivery, pay at closing available.
Call 843-396-3609 or email hello@weston-media.com.
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