Listing photos are the first chance many potential buyers get to be exposed to your home. This is why being prepared for listing photos and ensuring your home looks ready to sell is a key part in the home listing process. Here are some tips to prepare your home for listing photos! (These are great tips to keep "show-ready" also.) Becki's tip: Grab the biggest laundry basket you have and walk around the house and grab up everything that creates a cluttered look (see below). When pics or showings are over, just walk back around and put things back. :)
Clear Off Kitchen Counters & Sink
When the kitchen counters are completely cleared off, buyers can imagine how they might use the space for themselves. Kitchen items and décor only distract buyers can often make the kitchen feel cluttered. You will want to remove everything except a handful of decorative items from the countertops and thoroughly clean all surfaces.
Clear & Clean Bathroom Sinks, Tubs, and Showers
Take all of your bath/shower items and place them into a bin that can go underneath the sink. This can help your bathroom look bigger. Clear off the counters so that bathrooms look unused, but it is okay to leave clean hand towels and hand soap.
Replace Burned Out Light Bulbs
Make sure you check all of the ceiling lights, lamps, and exterior lights to make sure that they all work and can correctly illuminate your space. If there are dark areas in your home, feel free to add a few extra lamps to brighten them up. Additional light can make an area look more spacious so the more light, the better!
Turn On All Lights Throughout The Entire House
You want your home to be captured in the best light, and so it is essential to have as much light as possible. Before your photographer comes, turn on all of the lights in the house!
Open All Windows
Natural light from windows brings life to photos. Opening all of the window treatments in your home to let in as much light as possible. If it's too bright, your photographer can adjust as needed. Make sure you clean the windows if they will be photographed!
Remove Unnecessary Furniture & Decorations
This is probably the hardest part, but it's one of the most important. Removing and storing furniture that doesn’t bring value to your photos can be hard, but it opens up the floor space and helps to not distract potential buyers. Buyers want to be able to visualize their items in your home and that can be hard to do if the room is cluttered with furniture.
Turn All Ceiling Fans, TVs, and Computer Screens Off
Any moving items like ceiling fans or active TV/Computer screens can look very strange in photos. You should turn off anything that moves or can cause a motion blur.
Clear Off Appliance Surfaces
Be sure to remove photos, magnets, notes, reminders, and other personal information from the refrigerator or any other appliance you have decorated. It will not only make your home appear cleaner, but it also keeps your personal info safe.
Make All of the Beds
Be sure to make and decorate all the beds in your home with matching sheets, blankets, and pillows. Use bedding fits correctly and covers the mattress.
Contact Becki for great staging and pre-listing resources (she knows the top stagers in Indy!)