Everywhere in the house
The camera sees clutter that your eye has stopped noticing. Clear it all, then clear a little more.
- Every light bulb working and matched in color temperature
- All personal photos, diplomas, religious and political items removed
- Cords hidden, remotes in a drawer, chargers unplugged
- Trash cans out of frame — kitchen, bathrooms, offices
- Ceiling fans off; they blur in a long exposure
Kitchen
Counters get one deliberate item, maybe two. Everything else — toaster, knife block, dish rack, soap bottles, magnets, kids' art — goes in a cabinet or the garage.
- Refrigerator front completely bare
- Sink empty and dry, no dish towel over the oven handle
- One bowl of fresh fruit or a small plant, nothing more
Bathrooms
Hotel rules. Nothing on the counter, nothing in the shower, fresh white or neutral towels folded and untouched, toilet lids down, bath mats fresh or removed entirely.
Bedrooms and living spaces
Beds made with clean, ironed bedding — wrinkles read badly in photos. Nightstands get a lamp and one small item. Under-bed storage bins are visible in wide-angle shots, so pull them out.
Outside
Cars off the driveway and the street directly in front. Hoses coiled, trash bins hidden, patio furniture staged and cushions on. Pool cleaned and equipment tucked away. Sweep the walkway and shake out the mat.
If the shoot includes twilight exteriors, walk the exterior lighting the night before to confirm every fixture works.
The morning of
Open every blind and curtain, turn on every light in the house, run the vacuum one last time, and take the pets with you. Then leave — the photographer works faster and better in an empty house.
Questions about your own sale?
Twenty years selling across the San Fernando Valley. Happy to walk through your situation, no pressure.