Create Picture-Perfect Shots with These Must-Do Tips and Prep Your Property Like a Pro

• Floors: Ensure they are clean and clutter-free.
• Doors, Windows, and Mirrors: Clean and streak-free
• Lighting and Fans: Turn on all lights and lamps, replace faulty bulbs, and keep fans off.

Lounge and Living Area

• Declutter: Remove TV remotes, video game equipment, visible electrical cords, books, magazines, additional clutter, portable fans, heaters, and rubbish bins.
• Decor: Keep cushions to a minimum and neatly arranged. Display stylish homewares or a coffee table book tastefully.

Tip: Make sure the photographer experiments with different shot angles for the best results.

Bedrooms

• Bed: Make the bed neatly, removing any creases.
• Cleanliness: Clean under the bed and remove visible items. Ensure furniture layout is functional.
• Bathroom and Ensuite: shower screen streak-free toliet lid down, and remove washing baskets, rubbish bins, tissue boxes, soap dishes, and bathmats off the floor.

Kitchen and Dining

1. Countertops: Clear tableware, glassware, small appliances, clutter and tea towels.
2. Appliances: Clean all appliances, ensure they are streak-free, and turn on oven light for ambiance.
3. Dining Area: Set the table with your best cutlery and dinnerware, adding a centerpiece like a candle or flowers.

Entry and Exterior

• Declutter: Remove shoes, bags, floormats, umbrellas, and other clutter.
• Outdoor Maintenance: Sweep and remove stains from the driveway and paths, groom the lawns and garden, and arrange outdoor furniture.
• Vehicles and Tools: Hide real estate signs, noticeable large weeds fallen palm fronds, cars, caravans, trailers, garden hoses, tools, toys, bicycles, skateboards, pet accessories, rubbish bins, washing from the clothesline (do people still do that?) and garden pegs.

Tip: Aim for a display home aesthetic.

Additional Tips

• Wide shots: Capture extra-wide shots for exterior and interior images. Any vertical distortion should be fixed by the editing team (at least my team catches it).
• Item Removal: Your agent should use an Item Removal & Virtual Clean photo edit to make unwanted objects disappear, ensuring picture-perfect results.

By following these steps, you'll showcase your property's full potential and create stunning real estate photos that attract buyers.

Remember, good photos are just one piece of the marketing puzzle, but they are in my opinion one of the most important ones. We have all seen homes online where the agent took cell phone pictures. The give aways are pictures with poor lighting and shadows in almost every picture, no placement or staging of items in the room, the television is left on, and Fido the dog is laying near the backdoor near the waterdish. If I were the seller of the home this would be a red flag with the agent selling my house that they don't take their marketing seriously, or don't want the marketing expense to cut into their own profit. 

Additional marketing pieces that make a difference is: 

• Effective pricing strategies
• Compelling property descriptions ( the demographic you are trying to sell your home to)
• High quatliy virtual tours
• Targeted onlin advertising
• Open house events
• Strong sociall media presence
• Professional staging
• Timely follow-ups with potential buyers

Together, these elements create a comprehensive marketing plan that maximizes your property's appeal and reach, ensuring a successful sale.

   Click here for my "Free Ultimate Pre-Photography Checklist".