real estate preparation

To efficiently maintain and deliver the level of service my clients expect, I ask that all staging and cleaning be done prior to my arrival.

Please review the tips on preparing your home.

COMMUNICATION

Prior to the shoot, all contracts between you and I must be signed and all details worked out such as rates, licensing, third party agreements, delivery of product and payment methods.

Make sure the homeowner (property owner/operator) is aware of the shoot and what is expected. Let them know exactly what rooms and areas will be photographed and what they can do to prepare.

If the property is not vacant, the property owner or realtor must attend the session. An employee, family or friend of the owner will not suffice. This is to protect me from any liability if possessions go missing or end up broken for example. Also if a location release is required the homeowner will need to sign the paperwork.

Make sure that everyone is on the same page as far as scheduling. Sometimes things happen and shoots need to be rescheduled (whether for weather conditions or unforeseeable circumstances). Remember to contact everyone involved if the shoot date or time changes.

PREPPING THE HOME

The cleaner and more photo-ready the home the more efficiently I will be able to work and the photos will end up far more pleasing.

For homes that are occupied, staging couldn’t be more important. Potential homeowners want to see homes that they can relate to. They want to envision the home as they would live in it, not necessarily how the current occupant does.

Please note, for the sake of efficiency, I am not responsible and will not partake in any of the following duties while photographing the property:

I Do Not:

Move or re-arrange furniture
Make beds, clean, dust or de-clutter
Pick up toys or yard items
"Photoshop" vehicles, walls, damaged walls, power lines, wall pictures, cords, etc.
Touch personal bathroom supplies (shampoo, toothbrushes, deodorant, towels)

On the day of:

Turn on ALL interior lights – even lights in furniture cabinets.
Turn OFF all ceiling fans.
Light fireplaces and candles.
Open all blinds, shades, and curtains.
Clear all cars and vehicles from the driveway and the street in front of the home.
Please secure all animals in a safe location, away from all rooms being photographed.

There is one more thing I want to bring to your attention. Please have your homeowners place all valuables in a secure location. There will potentially be many people walking through their home, and valuables should be out of site and secure. Safe deposit boxes and wall safes are great for this.

CLEANING THE LOCATION

Whether the home/location is occupied or not it still needs a good cleaning before the photographer walks in with their equipment. Here’s a few things to look for as far as the cleanliness of the home.

If you can hire a cleaning service, have them come the day before (or a few days before) the shoot. This was save you from having to clean the home at the last minute before the photographer arrives.
Sweep, mop and vacuum all the floors in all of the rooms that the photographer will be shooting. This is especially important if the house is unoccupied, since the photos will show the entire floor area of the room(s).
Clean all of the windows (inside and out), mirrors and glass doors.
Dust and clean all the furniture, decorations and screens in the home. Remember not all TVs and computer monitors can have Windex on them, you can buy screen spray at your local electronics store.
All ceiling fans are dusted and turned off.
All dishes and kitchenware are washed and put away in their proper place. All of the countertops and cupboards are cleaned and cleared.
In the bathroom make sure the bath tub, toilet, shower curtain and sinks are cleaned. Again, clean any mirrors..
Clean away any cobwebs that may be hiding in the corners of the home.
For exterior shoots the lawn should be maintained. Grass should be freshly cut, raked and any weeds pulled.
Clean and sweep and driveways, patios decks and pool areas. Make sure the pools is clear of any debris.

staging the location

Staging the location prior to being shot is just as important as cleaning it. A professional stager can really make a huge difference in the outcome of the photographs. Stagers are typically highly-trained interior designers who can transform a home by looking at a space and decorating it to match the style of the home and its architecture.

For those homes that may not need staging, I recommend at least trying to clear clutter from all the rooms. Here are a few ways to minimize the distractions in the home.

GENERAL

Thoroughly clean whole house (vacuum carpet, mop hard floors, clean countertops, clean windows)
Turn all overhead lights and lamps ON
Replace all burned out light bulbs
Use bulbs of the same temperature (ALL incandescent or ALL compact fluorescent)
Turn all ceiling fans OFF
Turn all TVs OFF
Turn all computer screens OFF
Open blinds/window treatments to let in outside light
Remove personal photographs (or replace with general landscape/object photographs)
Make all beds
Remove small floor rugs to reveal actual flooring
Place all shoes/jackets in closets

FRONT EXTERIOR

Close garage doors
Remove cars from driveway and front of home
Clean up landscaping (mow, trim shrubs, clear leaves)
Remove empty planters
Use broom to remove cobwebs from eaves and door frames
Remove visible water hoses
Remove toys, sports balls, basketball goals, soccer goals, etc.

BACKYARD

Clean porch, tidy up outdoor tables/chairs/cushions

Pillows/cushions should be fresh, not faded
Clear out kid's toys, balls, frisbees, etc.
Clean pool
Remove pool vacuum/cleaner hose
Hide pool cleaning supplies
Turn on pool fountains/water features
Remove visible water hoses
Remove trash cans

KITCHEN

Clear countertops completely. No knife blocks, baking supplies, mail, etc.
Leave out max of one small appliance (ex. coffee maker)
Clear outside of refrigerator of magnets, papers, photos, etc.
Hide garbage cans in pantry or closet
Remove dishes from sink, place in dishwasher

DINING ROOM/TABLE

Clear table, dust and polish the table top
Use decorative place setting if available
Feature one center piece such as a bouquet of flowers
Straighten all chairs and space them evenly
Remove child seats/booster chairs

LIVING/FAMILY ROOM

Remove stacks of magazines, papers, mail, etc.
De-clutter fireplace mantel/hearth (no more than 5 items, including art)
Clean interior of fireplace and re-paint if needed
Fluff and arrange furniture pillows
Remove kid's toys

MASTER BEDROOM

Make bed, including decorative pillows/shams if available
Press bed linens and bed skirts
Clear nightstands of all personal items
Store away phone/tablet charging cables
Remove all clutter from top of dressers
Remove family photos from walls
Clean under bed, removing items that may show in the photos

KID/GUEST BEDROOM

Remove personalized names from walls
Remove wall stickers/posters
Remove diaper genies
Clean under bed, removing items that may show in the photos

BATHROOMS

Clear countertops completely. No soap, toothbrushes, medications, deodorant, etc.
Put toilet seats down
Close closet doors
Remove shampoo, soap, loofahs, etc. from showers and tubs
Remove dirty towels - leave out only new, unused towels
Remove floor mats

PETS

Place food and water bowls in pantry or closet
Place pet beds/toys in pantry or closet
Use lint roller on furniture to remove pet hair
Contain pets in hidden crate or outside
Clear back yard of pet waste/toys