Here are some tips to make your home picture (and market) ready!

Exterior

The first photo that a prospective buyer will see of your home is the main exterior shot, so make it count with the following suggestions.

-Make sure all cars are removed from the driveway & from directly in front of the home.

-Sweep and remove debris, leaves, stray mulch from driveway & walkways outside of home. 

-Remove children’s toys & make sure all sprinklers, hoses & gardening equipment are put away or in order.

-Remove all trash & recycling cans from view.

-If you have pets, make sure that their pet waste is cleaned up in the yard & their toys are put away.

-Mow the lawn a day or two before the shoot.  Also make sure that all landscaping is looking it’s best- trim bushes & trees away from entrances and weed all landscaping beds. 

Interior

The number one task for homeowners to do to prepare their home for the market & professional photos is a thorough cleaning. This includes- carpet cleaning, cleaning of all windows- inside & out, making sure the kitchen & all bathrooms are sparkling and smelling fresh.

-Do not use any overpowering scents in the home, as that can turn a buyer off. If you choose to use a scent in your home, I suggest scent warmers or better quality plug ins. Keep the scents to comfort/food related fragrances to make your house smell like home- cinnamon, vanilla, apple, etc.. Always follow safety warnings!

-Open all window coverings to let in as much natural light as possible, we can always adjust them, if needed.

-Turn on all lights. Make sure all lights bulbs are working & matching in the same fixture.

-Turn off all ceiling fans, moving blades blur the photos & can be distracting.

-Clean out as much clutter as possible including children’s toys, clothing, paperwork, newspapers/magazines. Remove everything from the floor that does not belong there.

-Tidy all power cords & electronic equipment.

-Turn off TVs & put all remotes away.

-Make sure pet designated areas are clean & not emitting any unpleasant odors & keep pets out of view for the photo shoot.

-In kitchen, remove most, but not all, items from counters. Items that can be left out are a colorful bowl or platter, decorative containers, & no more than one countertop appliance. Remove all magnets & papers from the refrigerator. Remove the following items from view- pet bowls, trash cans and dish towels.

-In bathrooms, remove all items from counters, except for a soap dispenser or unlit candle. Close toilet lid & make sure all towels match, are clean and are neatly folded. In the bathtub/shower area, keep exposed toiletries to a minimum. Make sure all glass and mirrors are spotless and remove all toilet cleaning & maintenance utensils.

-In bedrooms, make sure all beds are made & free of lumps and wrinkles. All clothes should be folded & put away. Clear all dressers & bedside tables and only keep a table lamp, alarm clock & a book or two visible.