Preparing a house for imagery

This is your first opportunity to capture the attention of potential buyers. Use this guide to ensure the property is ready for real estate video, photos and 3D walkthrough tours.

Prepare the property for the shoot as if you would for an open home. Anything which can be seen by the human eye, will be captured on camera. Use this guide as a checklist before our team arrive on site to capture the property

Modern house with minimalist design, gray garage door, tall cypress trees, and a sunset sky in the background.

General

  • Make sure all contractors have finished working on site E.g. builders, electricians, gardeners, house stylers, cleaners

  • If the real estate agent will be doing an introduction on video to the property, ask neighbours to not use any noisy garden equipment during the time they will be filmed

  • If you can lock pets away or take them off-site, please do so

  • Vacuum and mop all floors

  • Clean windows thoroughly

  • Clean walls for fingerprints and scuff marks

  • Remove spiderwebs, dust and fly dirt from ceilings and window frames

  • Declutter every room (more on this below)

  • Ensure all lights are working and turn them all on

  • Use the same tone light bulbs in one room e.g. all warm or all white

  • Turn all TV’s, computer screens off

  • Remove any personal items you do not want identified E.g. Mail, family photos, medications

  • Open all blinds & curtains

  • Tuck away any cords/cables which are showing E.g. TV, bedside lamps, phone chargers

  • Remove any free-standing heaters

Modern kitchen with large marble island, three wooden bar stools, black cabinetry, and a marble backsplash, with white walls and windows with shutters.

Kitchen

  • Declutter bench tops - have just a few minimal appliances out E.g. jug & a coffee machine

  • Including a plant, vase of flowers or a fruit bowl is a nice touch

  • Clean all surfaces of fingerprints and greasy marks - including taps and cupboard fronts

  • Remove any dirty dishes from sinks

  • Remove any visible rubbish bins

  • Remove any magnets from the fridge

Living room with modern fireplace, glass coffee table, patterned area rug, blue and white pillows, and large sliding glass door opening to a patio with outdoor seating, garden, and trees.

Living Areas

  • Remove TV and stereo remotes

  • Wipe down leather furniture

  • Keep furniture at a minimum to give a feeling of space

  • Turn on lamps

  • Dust electronics and glass surfaces

  • Put away magazines and newspapers

  • Remove any children’s or pets toys

  • Clean the interior of any fireplaces

Modern bedroom with large bed, beige quilt, white pillows, two hanging pendant lights, side table with flowers and decor, two vintage armchairs, and large windows showing a cloudy sky and trees.

Bedrooms

  • Make beds, neutral coloured bedding looks great

  • Including decorative cushions/blankets is a nice touch

  • Turn on lamps and room lights

  • Hide any visible cords and cables

  • Open blinds and curtains

  • Remove any personal items you do not wish to be seen E.g. medication, family photos

  • Remove clutter from shelves and the top of dressers

  • Have all clothes hidden in draws or cupboards

  • Clean windows and floors

  • Remove items from under the bed

  • Dust electronics and glass surfaces

Modern bathroom with white walls, beige tiled accent wall, white sink with brass faucet, large mirror, brown wooden vanity, wall decor, and towels hanging on a rack

Bathrooms

  • Clean all surfaces for streak marks and fingerprints including taps, shower glass and towel rails

  • Remove any personal items E.g. toothbrushes, razors, deodorant

  • Hang clean, matching towels

  • Remove everything from the shower and bath and have only new and few bottles of body wash, shampoo and conditioner

  • Including a plant is a nice touch

Laundry area with washer and dryer, shelving with decor and plants, adjacent bathroom with sink, toilet, and artwork on the wall.

Laundry

  • Remove or tuck away out of site any dirty washing

  • Do not have the washing machine or dryer running

  • Remove washing from the washing machine and dryer

  • Tidy away detergent and claning products into a cupboard

Aerial view of a backyard pool area with a hot tub, a wooden deck, lush greenery, and a small waterfall feature.

Swimming Pools and Spas

  • Remove the covers

  • Clean any dirt or leaves from pools

  • Turn on spa pool bubbles

  • Remove any cleaning equipment E.g. nets from around the pool

  • When moving covers, equipment and hoses, do it well before the photographer/videographer arrives so that any water drips have time to dry

Modern two-story house with a backyard patio, outdoor dining table, and open sliding glass doors revealing a cozy interior, during sunset.

Exterior

  • Close the garage door

  • Do not have any cars parked in the driveway

  • Remove trailers, caravans etc. from the property

  • For twilight photos, turn all inside and outside lights on

  • Remove any garden equipment lying around E.g. hoses

  • Tuck rubbish bins away in a tidy location, preferably not at the front of the house

  • Remove spider webs from the letterbox and fences

  • Remove fallen leaves from the lawn, paths and driveway

  • Mow the lawn and tidy lawn and garden edges

  • Put up umbrellas in outdoor living areas

  • Remove any broken outdoor furniture

  • Remove washing from the clothes line and tidy clothes pegs