The house should be shoot-ready when I arrive
Hi I’m Tamas Toth, London based professional photographer.
I look forward to taking photos of your home!
I want the photos of your home to be the best they can be. This requires teamwork and cooperation that will result in an outstanding online presence when your home goes LIVE on the market.
Although I would love to help you style/design your home, I unfortunately do not have the skill set required to do so. When I arrive to take photos of your property, I ask that all staging and cleaning be done prior to my arrival. To efficiently maintain my busy schedule and deliver the level of service my clients expect, I can not spend unnecessary time at the home waiting for it to be cleaned, dusted, de-cluttered, etc.
Please review the following sections for tips on preparing your home for real estate photography, and note that I am not responsible and will not take part in any of the following duties while photographing your home:
I Do Not:
I look forward to taking photos of your home!
I want the photos of your home to be the best they can be. This requires teamwork and cooperation that will result in an outstanding online presence when your home goes LIVE on the market.
Although I would love to help you style/design your home, I unfortunately do not have the skill set required to do so. When I arrive to take photos of your property, I ask that all staging and cleaning be done prior to my arrival. To efficiently maintain my busy schedule and deliver the level of service my clients expect, I can not spend unnecessary time at the home waiting for it to be cleaned, dusted, de-cluttered, etc.
Please review the following sections for tips on preparing your home for real estate photography, and note that I am not responsible and will not take part in any of the following duties while photographing your home:
I Do Not:
- Move or re-arrange furniture
- Make beds, clean, dust or de-clutter
- Pick up toys or yard items
- "Photoshop" vehicles, walls, damaged walls, power lines, wall pictures, etc.
- Touch personal bathroom supplies (shampoo, toothbrushes, deodorant, towels)
Online presence
The majority of home buyers start their search online, so it is important to make the first impression count! Follow these tips to prepare your home for the best real estate photos possible.
General
- Tips for all areas in the home -
- Thoroughly clean whole house (vacuum carpet, mop hard floors, clean countertops, clean windows)
- Turn all overhead lights and lamps ON
- Replace all burned out light bulbs
- Use bulbs of the same temperature (ALL incandescent or ALL compact fluorescent)
- Turn all TVs OFF
- Turn all computer screens OFF
- Open blinds/window treatments to let in outside light
- Remove personal photographs (or replace with general landscape/object photographs)
- Make all beds
- Remove small floor rugs to reveal actual flooring
- Place all shoes/jackets in closets
Exterior
- Close garage doors
- Remove cars from driveway and front of home
- Clean up landscaping (mow, trim shrubs, clear leaves)
- Remove empty planters
- Use broom to remove cobwebs from eaves and door frames
- Remove toys, sports balls, basketball goals, soccer goals, etc.
- Clean decking, balconies tidy up outdoor tables/chairs/cushions
- Pillows/cushions should be fresh, not faded
- Clear out kid's toys, balls, frisbees, etc.
- Remove visible water hoses
- Remove trash cans wheelie bins
Kitchen
- Clear countertops completely. No knife blocks, baking supplies, mail, etc.
- Leave out max of one small appliance (ex. coffee maker)
- Clear outside of refrigerator of magnets, papers, photos, etc.
- Hide garbage cans in closet
- Remove dishes from sink, place in dishwasher
Dining Room
- Clear table, dust and polish the table top
- Use decorative place setting if available
- Feature one center piece such as a bouquet of flowers
- Straighten all chairs and space them evenly
- Remove child seats/booster chairs
Living / Reception Room
- Remove stacks of magazines, papers, mail, etc.
- De-clutter fireplace mantel/hearth (no more than 5 items, including art)
- Clean interior of fireplace if needed
- Fluff and arrange furniture pillows
- Remove kid's toys
Bedrooms
Master Bedroom
- Make bed, including decorative pillows/shams if available
- Press bed linens and bed skirts
- Clear nightstands of all personal items
- Store away phone/tablet charging cables
- Remove all clutter from top of dressers
- Remove family photos from walls
- Clean under bed, removing items that may show in the photos
Kid / Guest Bedroom
- Remove personalized names from walls
- Remove wall stickers/posters
- Remove diaper genies
- Clean under bed, removing items that may show in the photos
Bathrooms
- Clear countertops completely. No soap, toothbrushes, medications, deodorant, etc.
- Put toilet seats down
- Remove toilet paper, toilet brush, plunger
- Close closet doors
- Remove shampoo, soap, loofahs, etc. from showers and tubs
- Remove dirty towels - leave out only new, unused towels
- Remove floor mats
Pets
- Place food and water bowls in closet
- Place pet beds/toys in closet
- Use lint roller on furniture to remove pet hair
- Contain pets in hidden crate/carrier or outside
- Clear back yard of pet waste/toys