Preparing your home for it’s photo shoot is just as important as preparing your family for your annual portrait. It requires just as much work! Here is a simple guideline to get you started.
In today’s real estate market the majority of home purchasers begin their search online, often beginning on their smart phones. The days of open houses and broker caravans are dwindling. Therefore it’s important the product looks as close to the photography they see online. Strangely, cameras have the ability to funnel the buyers focus. Often times a small discoloration in the carpet or the couch will appear much larger and deeper then in person. The key is to make your product, i.e. your home, spotless, from shampooing the carpets and furniture to having a professional window washer. Avoid as much clutter as possible, but stick with the general rule of varying heights of three. For example a coffee table may have a tall lamp, a medium potted plant and a book, but we wouldn’t recommend a tall lamp, a tall orchid and a stack of books.
Have fun while you’re preparing the product. Take some practice shots with your phone’s camera to understand the angles the buyers will be viewing the property. Do you have an empty guest closet or a storage unit? If so, move some of the extra furniture into the closet to open up a room. Energize each space with a deep clean and a live plant or vase of fresh flowers. Finally, maintain that look. Remember the buyer needs to feel as though they are walking into the home they fell in love with online. Begin by spending twenty minutes walking through your product with the eyes of a buyer, begin by taking the following steps:
Foyer:
Put away shoes, keys, mail, jackets, hats, umbrellas
Create an inviting entrance the home, make the buyers feel they could live in this home
Living Room / Family Room / Den or Study:
Remove piles of newspapers or mail
Put away stereo equipment / hide all remote controls
Conceal cords and tidy up the wires with ties.
Remove the “do not remove” labels from electric cords
Remove excess clutter, it may be the way the decorator designed the space, but if it was 15 years ago, the room may benefit from a face-lift
Consider updating lamp shades if needed
Dining Room:
Arrange chairs neatly around the table
Clean all mirrors / art glass / chandeliers
Add a centerpiece of flowers, fruit or an ‘object d’art’
If you’re not having a dinner party, don’t set the table
Kitchen:
Put everything away that you can put away, including small appliances and dish towels
Place dishes in the cabinets and soaps / sponges under the sink
Bring in fresh fruits and vegetables to warm up the room
Remove all magnets and notes from metal surfaces and hide the cork board in the pantry
Use the self cleaning option on your stove
Bedrooms:
Clear off hard surfaces, hide all make up or jewelry boxes,
Clear out clothes, shoes, hampers / laundry baskets
Be sure nothing under the bed may be seen
Fresh linens and freshly plumped pillows make an inviting first impression
Remove everything that is not necessary, including the unused treadmill or stationary bike
Place all children’s or grandchildren’s stuffed animals in the closet
Bathrooms:
Clear off the counters, including toothbrushes, soaps, razors, lotions, beauty products
Clear out the cabinets of old / expired / unused products
Remove garbage cans, bath mats, scales, toilet brushes and plungers
Be sure the toilet lid is down
Remove shampoo and other products from visible areas
A deep clean is always recommended
Replace all shower curtain linings when necessary
Put out fresh towels, neatly folded or hanging on towel bars
Closet / Storage:
Though it’s unlikely your linen closet, pantry, walk in closets etc will be photographed, they will be viewed. We recommend pairing down and freshly washing and folding as much as possible. If you can place things with coordinating color palettes, it will leave a great impression. Place seasonal clothes inside your luggage to create space, better yet, consider a donation to your re-sale shop and / or food pantry. Remember, the more available storage space the buyer sees, the larger the product will appear.
Exterior:
Keep the lawn watered and fertilized, mowed and trimmed and freshly raked when needed
Remove all garden tools and store them neatly away
Put away bikes and toys, garbage and recycling bins
Wipe down outdoor furniture, consider new cushions if needed
Refresh your annual flower beds, or update flower pots by with new, bright, lively colors
Power wash your lanai
Replace all worn out screens
Schedule the pool to be serviced a week prior to photography
Schedule the gardener two weeks prior to photography
General Maintenance:
It’s a good idea to have your home pre-inspected by a professional home inspection company. This will allow you to know that your are putting your best foot forward when listing your home for sale.
Repair all deficiencies that are found on the inspection
Schedule the air conditioner to be serviced
Schedule service for all electronic or manual shutters
Be sure to contact us here at HOUSEofNaples.com to receive an in depth analysis of your home and receive information on the current market. We look forward to working with you.