REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHY PRE-SHOOT CHECK-LIST!
Tips and tricks for the realtor and home owner
Professional photography may be the single best resource available to the realtor and by extension their client, the home-owner. But, there are some things that need to be addressed in order to get the most value from great photography! Below is a check list of exactly what to do to get the property photo-ready, and get the most out of your photography! Lets dig in!
GENERAL “RULES”
Most of this will not be new to the realtor and is very similar to what you already did to get the home ready to show. Remember, though, the camera is absolutely ruthless! A potential buyer may be swayed by the overall impression the home makes, or your engaging description of the home’s attributes. The camera shows it how it is, and gives the viewer the opportunity to examine every inch of the image, frozen in time. So think of this as the same preparations you already make, but this time they will be checked over by Cinderella’s evil step-mother! (if you can enlist woodland creatures and friendly mice to help you, great – if not… roll up your sleeves!)
1. LESS IS MORE! De-clutter! When in doubt – get it out! Empty houses don’t look good, but only a few pieces of furniture are enough to give the space a sense of scale yet make it look spacious. Electrical and phone/network cords that don’t absolutely have to be there, unplug and put away or at least try to hide behind furniture, etc.
2. BUYERS WANT TO SEE THEIR NEW HOME – not YOUR old one – so de-personalize: family photos, mementos, take them down, get them ready for their new home. Also, hunting trophies put off a large portion of the buying public, so take them down, put them away.
3. PETS. I love animals. I think a house isn’t a home without them. BUT… I am not buying your house. Find your four legged family members a place to stay, and remove any, dog or cat beds, dishes or litter boxes, etc.
4. CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN. This might be a time to hire a pro to give your home a top to bottom scrubbing. Weather you do or not, from a camera ready point of view concentrate on anything made out of glass or stainless steel. Mirrors, fridges, etc.
5. MAKE SURE ALL LIGHTS are in working order, preferably with the same type of light bulbs in all fixtures
6. EXTERIOR of your house needs to be tidy. Any vehicles should be in the garage, moved off the driveway or be ready to be moved. Lawns mowed, hedges trimmed, flower beds weeded.
7. REMOVE SEASONAL DECORATIONS. Seasonal decorations may “date” your listing and you want to minimize that possibility. Obviously, if its January and there is snow on the ground, there is not much you can do, but taking off Christmas or Easter decorations (or Halloween for that matter) will remove any possible signs of how long you’ve been trying to sell it.
SPECIFIC ROOMS AND AREAS
OK, so that’s some general rules that apply to every part of your property. But it may be easier to go step by step, room by room, area by area, so here we go:
THE OUTSIDE
· Remove vehicles from driveway, if neighbours tend to park in front of your house, strategically park YOUR car there so you can move it when the time comes
· Hide all garbage and recycling containers
· Put away gardening or other tools, implements of destruction, garden hoses, etc.
· Put away all toys, basketball hoops (if the portable variety), hockey nets, etc.
· Touch up any trim, doors, gutter, etc., with a fresh coat of paint (if necessary), fix any loose or damaged pieces.
· Cut the grass, trim the hedges, weed the flower beds, wash the driveway, rake the lawn.
THE KITCHEN
The kitchen is VERY IMPORTANT! It is often the centre piece of a home, and literally or figuratively, its heart and soul. Even though the living room tries to claim the title, kitchens are where a lot of the actual “living”, happens!
· CLEAR EVERYTHING OFF THE COUNTERS – unless you have a gorgeous espresso machine or something of that nature, put it away. That means all toasters, mixers, blenders, dish-racks, scrubbers, sponges, dish soap containers – put it away, out of sight.
· CLEAR THE FRIDGE COMPLETELY! – on the outside that is. All magnets, calendars, note pads, pictures, everything you may have on top of the fridge, sides, etc., all has to get taken down.
· If you have an external garbage can, remove it. Unless you have pristine, decorative pots and pans, put them out of sight.
· If in doubt remove it – make at least 85% of your counter space clear!
LIVING ROOM
These can be a challenge. There is a lot that just lays about in a living room that we don’t even think about – time to take it all out.
· REMOVE ALL REMOTES, cordless phones (actually, any phones would be best put away for the duration of the shoot, along with their power and phone cords), dvd/blurays, magazines, tissue boxes.
· Remove any furniture that isn’t essential, extra chairs, trays, basically other than the coffee table and the regular seating (couch/loveseat), it can and should go into storage, out of sight.
· If you can, remove any cable/satellite boxes, dvd players, game consoles and their cables – IDEALLY – take ALL CABLES and put them away for the duration of the shoot. Sure, the electronics won’t be functional, but they don’t need to be for photos. It takes minutes and makes a HUGE difference. At least zip tie them together and tuck them away as neatly as possible.
· Leave only a few accent pillows if any, remove all comforters, blankets, foot mats, coasters.
· Clean all things shiny – again, glass and stainless steel especially
· REMOVE MOST OF WHAT IS ON YOUR SHELVES. All pictures, knick knacks, anything but a few accent items, maybe an old school leather bound book or two. All else goes!
· RAKE YOUR CARPETS – especially if they are exceptionally thick with long fibres. Goes without saying, a good professional washing of carpets and upholstered surfaces is also recommended.
BEDROOMS
These can be a bear – lets face it, for many people the bedroom is the “inner sanctum”, things that they may not be comfortable having on display in more public areas tend to be overlooked. Well, that has to be addressed, even in a very neat and tidy bedroom.
· PLEASE SEE THE FIRST LINE OF THIS ARTICLE – depersonalize (kids bedrooms especially – their names, favourite team posters, remove everything that ties that room to an individual). DECLUTTER!!! There is so much to list its easier to say what stays: Bed (made so tidy that the drill sergeant from Full Metal Jacket couldn't find a fault with them - even if he became obsessed with interior design in his later years), dresser/vanity, bed side tables and a lamp on each.
THAT’S IT. Take everything else, and put it away. Digital alarm clocks especially - for some reason they just never look good.
· Obviously any clothes, laundry baskets, all need to be removed. Cosmetics, hair brushes, etc.
· For different reasons (you’re showing your home already so you certainly thought of this), any valuables, jewelry, watches or unusually valuable articles of clothing should be out of sight.
BATHROOMS
Ah yes… the bathroom. Such a small space in the greater scheme, but a)SO IMPORTANT and b) so wrought with pitfalls. So much glass (mirrors, shower doors), stainless steel or chrome, shiny tiles and porcelain… EXTRA CARE SHOLD BE TAKEN TO MAKE SURE THESE SURFACES ARE SPOTLESS. Aside from this, the mantra: DECLUTTER, DEPERSONALIZE – and I mean EVERYTHING: other than a couple extra fancy, neatly folded towels, EVERYTHING ELSE GOES. No toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, nothing.
· REMOVE ALL ITEMS on counters but DO NOT FORGET all the stuff IN the shower, or next to the bathtub.
· Remove any rugs or mats, remove any toilet seat fuzzy covers or the like, non slip mats from showers, of course any robes, laundry, etc.
· Close the toilet lid. Remove garbage can, scale
CONCLUSION
That just about wraps it up. In closing, just a reminder – the photographer is not going to move or rearrange things in your house, mainly for liability reasons. To get the most out of your shoot, give this list a read and try to do your best to adhere to it. It will minimize the disruption that a photo shoot will be in your day. Also, let the photographer know if there are things you specifically do, or DO NOT want to be shown in the photos. Special features of the home you want to high light? Valuable works of art, safes, etc, that you do not want shown (usually obvious and would be avoided by the photographer out of common sense, but just in case).
In the end, remember that the photos are supposed to entice the viewer to come see the property in person – they are not an insurance document. Water heaters, electrical panels, furnaces, unfinished basements, garages, etc., will not be photographed unless you specifically request it. But I would advise against it. A detailed description by the realtor will tell the potential buyer about all those things.
I believe most of these things would take longer to write down than to actually do, and will go a long way towards making sure you get the best value from your professional real estate photography.
GENERAL “RULES”
Most of this will not be new to the realtor and is very similar to what you already did to get the home ready to show. Remember, though, the camera is absolutely ruthless! A potential buyer may be swayed by the overall impression the home makes, or your engaging description of the home’s attributes. The camera shows it how it is, and gives the viewer the opportunity to examine every inch of the image, frozen in time. So think of this as the same preparations you already make, but this time they will be checked over by Cinderella’s evil step-mother! (if you can enlist woodland creatures and friendly mice to help you, great – if not… roll up your sleeves!)
1. LESS IS MORE! De-clutter! When in doubt – get it out! Empty houses don’t look good, but only a few pieces of furniture are enough to give the space a sense of scale yet make it look spacious. Electrical and phone/network cords that don’t absolutely have to be there, unplug and put away or at least try to hide behind furniture, etc.
2. BUYERS WANT TO SEE THEIR NEW HOME – not YOUR old one – so de-personalize: family photos, mementos, take them down, get them ready for their new home. Also, hunting trophies put off a large portion of the buying public, so take them down, put them away.
3. PETS. I love animals. I think a house isn’t a home without them. BUT… I am not buying your house. Find your four legged family members a place to stay, and remove any, dog or cat beds, dishes or litter boxes, etc.
4. CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN. This might be a time to hire a pro to give your home a top to bottom scrubbing. Weather you do or not, from a camera ready point of view concentrate on anything made out of glass or stainless steel. Mirrors, fridges, etc.
5. MAKE SURE ALL LIGHTS are in working order, preferably with the same type of light bulbs in all fixtures
6. EXTERIOR of your house needs to be tidy. Any vehicles should be in the garage, moved off the driveway or be ready to be moved. Lawns mowed, hedges trimmed, flower beds weeded.
7. REMOVE SEASONAL DECORATIONS. Seasonal decorations may “date” your listing and you want to minimize that possibility. Obviously, if its January and there is snow on the ground, there is not much you can do, but taking off Christmas or Easter decorations (or Halloween for that matter) will remove any possible signs of how long you’ve been trying to sell it.
SPECIFIC ROOMS AND AREAS
OK, so that’s some general rules that apply to every part of your property. But it may be easier to go step by step, room by room, area by area, so here we go:
THE OUTSIDE
· Remove vehicles from driveway, if neighbours tend to park in front of your house, strategically park YOUR car there so you can move it when the time comes
· Hide all garbage and recycling containers
· Put away gardening or other tools, implements of destruction, garden hoses, etc.
· Put away all toys, basketball hoops (if the portable variety), hockey nets, etc.
· Touch up any trim, doors, gutter, etc., with a fresh coat of paint (if necessary), fix any loose or damaged pieces.
· Cut the grass, trim the hedges, weed the flower beds, wash the driveway, rake the lawn.
THE KITCHEN
The kitchen is VERY IMPORTANT! It is often the centre piece of a home, and literally or figuratively, its heart and soul. Even though the living room tries to claim the title, kitchens are where a lot of the actual “living”, happens!
· CLEAR EVERYTHING OFF THE COUNTERS – unless you have a gorgeous espresso machine or something of that nature, put it away. That means all toasters, mixers, blenders, dish-racks, scrubbers, sponges, dish soap containers – put it away, out of sight.
· CLEAR THE FRIDGE COMPLETELY! – on the outside that is. All magnets, calendars, note pads, pictures, everything you may have on top of the fridge, sides, etc., all has to get taken down.
· If you have an external garbage can, remove it. Unless you have pristine, decorative pots and pans, put them out of sight.
· If in doubt remove it – make at least 85% of your counter space clear!
LIVING ROOM
These can be a challenge. There is a lot that just lays about in a living room that we don’t even think about – time to take it all out.
· REMOVE ALL REMOTES, cordless phones (actually, any phones would be best put away for the duration of the shoot, along with their power and phone cords), dvd/blurays, magazines, tissue boxes.
· Remove any furniture that isn’t essential, extra chairs, trays, basically other than the coffee table and the regular seating (couch/loveseat), it can and should go into storage, out of sight.
· If you can, remove any cable/satellite boxes, dvd players, game consoles and their cables – IDEALLY – take ALL CABLES and put them away for the duration of the shoot. Sure, the electronics won’t be functional, but they don’t need to be for photos. It takes minutes and makes a HUGE difference. At least zip tie them together and tuck them away as neatly as possible.
· Leave only a few accent pillows if any, remove all comforters, blankets, foot mats, coasters.
· Clean all things shiny – again, glass and stainless steel especially
· REMOVE MOST OF WHAT IS ON YOUR SHELVES. All pictures, knick knacks, anything but a few accent items, maybe an old school leather bound book or two. All else goes!
· RAKE YOUR CARPETS – especially if they are exceptionally thick with long fibres. Goes without saying, a good professional washing of carpets and upholstered surfaces is also recommended.
BEDROOMS
These can be a bear – lets face it, for many people the bedroom is the “inner sanctum”, things that they may not be comfortable having on display in more public areas tend to be overlooked. Well, that has to be addressed, even in a very neat and tidy bedroom.
· PLEASE SEE THE FIRST LINE OF THIS ARTICLE – depersonalize (kids bedrooms especially – their names, favourite team posters, remove everything that ties that room to an individual). DECLUTTER!!! There is so much to list its easier to say what stays: Bed (made so tidy that the drill sergeant from Full Metal Jacket couldn't find a fault with them - even if he became obsessed with interior design in his later years), dresser/vanity, bed side tables and a lamp on each.
THAT’S IT. Take everything else, and put it away. Digital alarm clocks especially - for some reason they just never look good.
· Obviously any clothes, laundry baskets, all need to be removed. Cosmetics, hair brushes, etc.
· For different reasons (you’re showing your home already so you certainly thought of this), any valuables, jewelry, watches or unusually valuable articles of clothing should be out of sight.
BATHROOMS
Ah yes… the bathroom. Such a small space in the greater scheme, but a)SO IMPORTANT and b) so wrought with pitfalls. So much glass (mirrors, shower doors), stainless steel or chrome, shiny tiles and porcelain… EXTRA CARE SHOLD BE TAKEN TO MAKE SURE THESE SURFACES ARE SPOTLESS. Aside from this, the mantra: DECLUTTER, DEPERSONALIZE – and I mean EVERYTHING: other than a couple extra fancy, neatly folded towels, EVERYTHING ELSE GOES. No toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, nothing.
· REMOVE ALL ITEMS on counters but DO NOT FORGET all the stuff IN the shower, or next to the bathtub.
· Remove any rugs or mats, remove any toilet seat fuzzy covers or the like, non slip mats from showers, of course any robes, laundry, etc.
· Close the toilet lid. Remove garbage can, scale
CONCLUSION
That just about wraps it up. In closing, just a reminder – the photographer is not going to move or rearrange things in your house, mainly for liability reasons. To get the most out of your shoot, give this list a read and try to do your best to adhere to it. It will minimize the disruption that a photo shoot will be in your day. Also, let the photographer know if there are things you specifically do, or DO NOT want to be shown in the photos. Special features of the home you want to high light? Valuable works of art, safes, etc, that you do not want shown (usually obvious and would be avoided by the photographer out of common sense, but just in case).
In the end, remember that the photos are supposed to entice the viewer to come see the property in person – they are not an insurance document. Water heaters, electrical panels, furnaces, unfinished basements, garages, etc., will not be photographed unless you specifically request it. But I would advise against it. A detailed description by the realtor will tell the potential buyer about all those things.
I believe most of these things would take longer to write down than to actually do, and will go a long way towards making sure you get the best value from your professional real estate photography.