Make your property stand out and sell for top dollar.
That’s the goal right? So you need to think like a buyer. Buyers have dozens if not hundreds of comparable homes to view right at their fingertips. How is your property going to stand out and get shown? It’s a fair assumption the more foot traffic the quicker the sale and the higher the offer. Here are tips to get your home ready for professional photos that will present your property the best way possible with the goal of getting more buyers viewing and competing to buy your property.
General – Tips for the entire home
Clean the whole house. Vacuum, mop, dust, clean windows
Turn all lights and lamps on
Replace any burned out bulbs. Use the same light bulbs throughout the house if possible. If not possible, at the very least use the same color bulbs in any given room.
Turn all ceiling fans off
Turn all computers off
Turn all TVs off
Open blinds and window treatments. Make sure blinds are all the same height in any given room.
Remove personal photographs
Make all beds
Remove small floor rugs
Place all shoes and jackets in closest
Exterior
Close garage doors
Remove cars from driveway and front of home
Clean up landscaping, cut the grass, remove leaves
Remove dead plants
Remove empty planters
Clean spiderwebs from eaves, door and window frames
Remove or hide visible water hoses
Remove toys, balls, basketballs hoops if portable
Clean up pet waste
Pressure wash dirty surfaces
Back Yard
Clean up porch
Neatly arrange deck furniture
Remove toys, bikes, balls, etc
Clean pool
Remove pool vacuum and cleaner hose
Turn on pool fountains or water features
Remove water hoses
Remove trash cans
Kitchen
Clean counter tops completely. Remove knife blocks, baking supplies, mail, etc.
Remove small appliances. Leave one small appliance on the counter such as a coffee maker.
Clean the outside of the refrigerator. Remove magnets, kids art, photos, etc.
Hide garbage cans
Remove dishes from the sink.
Dining Room / Table
Clear table, dust and polish table top
Use decorative place setting if possible
Place a center piece of flowers if possible
Straighten all chairs
Remove child seats and booster chairs
Living Room & Family Room
Remove magazines, newspapers, mail
De-clutter fireplace mantle. Leave a select few items
Clean fireplace area and repaint if needed
Light fireplace if possible
Fluff and arrange pillows
Remove kids toys, dog toys and personal items
Arrange your furniture in a way that makes the rooms seem larger. If necessary remove a few pieces and put them in storage.
Bedrooms
Make bed, including decorative pillows / shams if available
Fluff pillows. Add additional pillows to bed if available
Clear nightstand and dressers of clutter and personal items
Hide phone, charging cables
Remove personal photos
Clean under bed, remove or relocate items that may show in photos
Remove diaper pails
Remove wall posters
Bathrooms
Clean counter tops and sinks completely. No soaps, no personal items.
Put toilet seats down
Roll toilet paper up
Clean mirrors
Close closet doors
Remove shampoos, soaps, sponges, loofahs, etc from shower and tub
Remove any dirty towels. Leave out new, unused towels.
Remove floor mats
Close shower curtain
Wipe water drops off all surfaces including shower doors and surrounds
Clean any stained grout
Pets
Place food and water bowls out of site
Place pet beds and toys out of site
Contain pets in hidden crate or closed room
Clear yard of waste and toys
Home Staging
See more home staging tips in this Home Staging Guide from Realtor Mag.
30 Can’t-Miss Home Staging Tips from HGTV
Essential home staging tips from NY Times
11 Frugal Ideas for Staging a Home for Sale from Parade