Welcome Homeowners

Prepping your home to MAXIMIZE photo potential

Why Prep For Photos?

- Make The First Impression Count -

OnlineIt's where buyers start

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 ceiling fans OFF
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

- Online “curb appeal” and a relaxing oasis -

Front Exterior

Online “curb appeal” - the front exterior is usually the first photo buyers see

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 visible water hoses
Remove toys, sports balls, basketball goals, soccer goals, etc.

Back Yard

The back yard should be an oasis to relax

Clean porch, tidy up outdoor tables/chairs/cushions
Pillows/cushions should be fresh, not faded
Clear out kid's toys, balls, frisbees, etc.
Clean pool
Remove pool vacuum/cleaner hose
Hide pool cleaning supplies
Turn on pool fountains/water features
Remove visible water hoses
Remove trash cans

Kitchen

- Sometimes the focal point, the kitchen deserves attention to detail -

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 pantry or closet
Remove dishes from sink, place in dishwasher

Dining Room / Table

- Allow buyers to imagine a nice family meal -

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 / Family Room

- The space to enjoy conversation and spend quality time with family -

Remove stacks of magazines, papers, mail, etc.
De-clutter fireplace mantel/hearth (no more than 5 items, including art)
Clean interior of fireplace and re-paint if needed
Fluff and arrange furniture pillows
Remove kid's toys

Bedrooms

- Rest for you and guests -

Master Bedroom

A good nights rest recharges the body and mind

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

Don’t forget about guest bedrooms

Remove personalized names from walls
Remove wall stickers/posters
Remove diaper genies
Clean under bed, removing items that may show in the photos

Bathrooms

- To be spa-like, the bathroom must be clear of all personal items -

Clear countertops completely. No soap, toothbrushes, medications, deodorant, etc.
Put toilet seats down
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

- Pets are loving, but their presence should be minimized -

Place food and water bowls in pantry or closet
Place pet beds/toys in pantry or closet
Use lint roller on furniture to remove pet hair
Contain pets in hidden crate or outside
Clear back yard of pet waste/toys

Need Help?

- Staging helps provide top dollar and a quick sale -

Selling your home is like selling a product - it must be marketed correctly to reach a specific buyer. Although your furnishings and decor are great for your lifestyle, it’s important to optimize your home for the future buyer.

All of the tips suggested in the previous sections were approved by professional home stagers from the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) - Dallas Chapter.

A professional home stager can provide you with a consultation to help you prepare your home for sale and make sure your home shows at its best online through the photographs.

To find a RESA professional stager in your area, visit their website:

http://www.RESADallas.org

What to Expect

- Expectation During the Photo Shoot -

The house should be shoot-ready when I arrive

Hi I’m Lance Selgo, owner and photographer of Unique Exposure Photography. 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 previous sections for tips on preparing your home for real estate photography, and note that I am not responsible and will not partake 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, cords, etc.
Touch personal bathroom supplies (shampoo, toothbrushes, deodorant, towels)

In addition to taking photos of properties, I teach a photography segment twice a year at Collin County Community College and I operate Tips for Real Estate Photography where I share the ins-and-outs of running a real estate photography business from client acquisition, to photo processing and photo delivery. You can connect with me via the social media networks below.

Google+ - Facebook - Twitter