How to Prepare Your Home for Real Estate Listing Photos
Walk through the house as if you are seeing it for the first time. Start at the curb, then go through the rooms in the order a buyer would see them. Prioritize anything that blocks the view, reveals personal information, or hides a feature you want the listing to show.
The day before
- Front and back yard. Clear the driveway and walking paths. Put away hoses, yard tools, and bins. Ask your agent which outdoor features should be photographed, such as the covered patio or side yard.
- Kitchen. Remove paperwork, magnets, cleaning supplies, and dish racks. Leave enough clear counter space for buyers to see how the work areas connect.
- Bathrooms. Clear the vanity and shower ledges, replace used towels, and wipe mirrors. Move medications and anything with names or personal information out of sight.
- Bedrooms and living areas. Make the beds, tuck away cords, and pull furniture back from busy walkways where practical. Set aside private family photos, calendars, and documents that could be visible in a wide shot.
Plan where things will go before you start. Ask the agent whether the garage or closets are on the shot list before using them for temporary storage.
The morning of the shoot
Open the blinds far enough to show the windows without exposing anything you want kept private. Turn off TVs and ceiling fans. Check that fixtures have working bulbs, then tell the photographer if particular lights or switches are hard to find. Move cars before the first exterior shot and make a plan for pets. Even an empty pet bed or crate can pull attention away from a room's layout.
Take a phone photo from the doorway of each main room. Look for objects right at the edge of the frame, where a laundry basket or stack of boxes might show up even if the room looks tidy when you walk through it.
Tell your agent and photographer what matters
Share a short list of features, such as a pantry behind a closed door, a converted office, or a patio that connects to the kitchen. Give the team clear access instructions and flag rooms that should stay private. If the house is occupied, agree on when everyone and their pets can be out of the way. Confirm your listing deadline before choosing a shoot time, especially if you want to discuss any additional coverage.
Agents can pair this checklist with our guide to planning real estate photography. See Dallas-Fort Worth real estate photography services for coverage options.
