Important points:
Staging your home for real estate photos can increase its visual appeal to potential buyers looking at your listing photos. Cleaning and tidying up is central to preparing your home for a property photo shoot, but you can definitely go beyond that to take your home to the next level. Real estate photography is not limited to interior or regular photography. Talk to your real estate agent about the different types of media options that can enhance your home’s listing appeal.
Preparing your home for photography is one of the most important steps in preparing your property for listing. In today’s competitive real estate market, whether you’re selling a home in Tacoma, Washington, or Buffalo, New York, stunning, high-quality images are essential, as they’re the first view for nearly every potential buyer.
Understanding how to stage your home for photos can dramatically improve the appeal of your listing, attract more interest, and potentially secure a faster, more profitable sale. This Redfin article provides 12 practical tips to ensure your home is picture-perfect and stands out online.
Why is it important to stage your home for real estate photos?
Staging your home before photography is an essential step in the selling process. Professional real estate photos are a buyer’s first impression of a property, and high-quality, well-staged images are essential to attract interest and drive a quick sale. By following a clear plan for how to stage your home for photos, you can show your home to prospective buyers at its best.
How to stage your home for photos
Sebastian Petrescu of real estate photography company Elevated Photos says to “aim high” when preparing to stage your home for real estate photos. He recommends, “Look at photos of other home interiors that are perfect for photo shoots and get inspired.”
Here are 12 tips to help you aim high and make your home look as appealing as it does in person.
1. Get organized and deep clean
An important cleaning tip is to prioritize decluttering and staging your home. Removing personal items, unnecessary furniture, and general clutter will instantly make your space look larger, cleaner, and more inviting.
After tidying up, give a thorough cleaning, focusing on all surfaces. This includes vacuuming, mopping, dusting, etc. Be sure to pay attention to all areas of your home, including baseboards and air conditioner vents.
2. Replace a burnt out light bulb
Before your photographer arrives, make sure all light fixtures and lamps are working and have bulbs with the same color temperature. If the bulbs are not working or the bulbs are mismatched, the final image may have unstable lighting or unwanted shadows.
3. Eliminate wrinkles in your bed
A well-made bed instantly enhances the atmosphere of your bedroom. Use fresh, crisp linens and place your pillows intentionally. A clean, good-looking bed creates a luxurious, well-maintained space.
4. Tidy up the front and back of your house
Sebastian will tell you that the cleanliness of the exterior of the house is absolutely as important as the interior. Subdued appeal has a big impact on first viewing. Therefore, Sebastian recommends “blowing away the dust and debris with a garden hose.”
Additionally, do some basic landscaping and store loose items such as toys and tools.
5. Paint the walls a neutral color
Neutral wall colors such as light gray or off-white provide a clean, modern backdrop that appeals to a wide range of buyers. This selection allows buyers to easily visualize their decor within the space and helps brighten up the room with photos.
6. Let in natural light
Light is very important in real estate photography. Open all curtains, blinds, and shutters to maximize natural light throughout your home. The goal is to make any room look bright, airy, and comfortable.
7. Remove unnecessary furniture
Less furniture creates a better sense of space. Remove oversized or bulky items that make the room feel cramped, allowing your photographer to capture the true size and flow of the room.
8. Pack personal photos and items
Please remove personal items such as family photos, unique artifacts, and diplomas. This impersonalizes the home and allows prospective buyers to think of it as their future home, rather than someone else’s home.
9. Cleaning and polishing home appliances
In the kitchen, clean and polish all appliances, paying close attention to stainless steel surfaces. Remove magnets, notes, and other objects from the refrigerator door. Spotless appliances indicate a well-maintained kitchen.
10. Dust outlet and easily overlooked gaps
Don’t overlook small details like dusty vents, ceiling fans, baseboards, and other easily overlooked gaps. In high-resolution photos, these small details can be surprisingly noticeable.
11. Wipe mirrors, windows, and other glass surfaces
Clear windows make a huge difference in real estate photos. Don’t forget to wipe down the inside of the window with window cleaner and a dry paper towel. Additionally, we clean and buff all mirrors and glass tabletops to remove dirt and ensure a clean reflective surface that enhances the light in your room.
12. Hire a professional real estate photographer
Once the staging is complete, the final step is to hire a professional photographer. Their expertise, specialized equipment, and knowledge of configuration and lighting will ensure that your home’s best features are captured, giving you an image that stands out on the housing market.
How much does a professional real estate photographer charge?
Although real estate photographers’ rates can vary widely, Sebastian Petrescu recommends choosing a photographer based on their portfolio and overall service. Real estate agents may recommend different media formats to promote your home, so when evaluating a photographer’s services, be sure to double-check the full range of services they offer.
Sebastian says, “Real estate agents often need more than photos. They may also need videos, social media reels, floor plans, aerial photos, iGUIDE (virtual tours), twilight and day-to-night video transitions, and agent narration on camera.”
For example, a seller who only orders photos and forgoes drone photography may pay less than a seller who buys both. Be sure to consult your real estate agent for recommendations and your photographer for specific pricing.
Your home is ready to put on the market
By following these 12 practical steps, you can effectively stage your home for photos and maximize its visual appeal to potential buyers. A well-staged and professionally photographed home will help you succeed in a competitive market.
