How to Prep a Home for a Real Estate Photoshoot: The Agent's Checklist

The fastest way to waste a photoshoot is to be unready for it. Great photography can only capture what is in front of the lens. It cannot hide a sink full of dishes or move a minivan out of the hero shot. After hundreds of shoots across Siouxland, we can tell you the listings that photograph best are almost always the ones that were prepped best. Here is the checklist we wish every seller had before we arrived. Send it to yours.

Before we arrive: the essentials

• Turn on every light in the house and replace any burned-out bulbs. Mismatched or dead bulbs show up instantly on camera.
• Open blinds and curtains to let in natural light.
• Clear all countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms. Appliances, toiletries, and clutter should be put away.
• Remove personal items that pull attention: family photos, fridge magnets, mail piles, and anything with a name on it.
• Hide the everyday: trash cans, cords, pet bowls, litter boxes, and laundry baskets.

Room by room Kitchen. Clear counters to a bare minimum, maybe a bowl of fruit or a single styled item. Hide dish soap, sponges, and towels. Clear the fridge front entirely.

Living areas. Fluff and straighten cushions, fold throws, square up the coffee table. Remove remote controls, chargers, and stacks of magazines. Less furniture reads as more space.

Bedrooms. Make every bed properly, with the bedding pulled tight and pillows arranged. Clear nightstands to a lamp and maybe one item. Floors clear of shoes and clothes.

Bathrooms. Counters clear, fresh or coordinated towels hung straight, toilet lids down, personal products stashed. This is the room where a single missed detail is most obvious.

The stuff everyone forgets

• Move vehicles out of the driveway and away from the front of the house.
• Roll trash and recycling bins out of frame, into the garage if possible.
• Put away seasonal clutter: garden hoses, kids' toys, and yard tools.
• Corral pets somewhere safe and out of the way for the duration of the shoot.
• Do a final walk-through at eye level. The camera sees what a quick glance misses.

Exterior and curb appeal Remember that photo number one, the exterior thumbnail, drives most of the clicks a listing gets. Mow and tidy the lawn, sweep the walk and driveway, and clear the porch of clutter. Coil the garden hose, straighten the mailbox, and pull the cars out. In winter, clear snow from the walk and drive and knock icicles off the eaves. First impression is a front-of-house shot, so give it the attention it earns.

One last thing You do not have to get every item on this list perfect. But the closer a home is to shoot-ready when we arrive, the better the final gallery and the faster the turnaround, which, since we deliver every shoot in 24 hours, means your listing goes live sooner.