Hello! If you are reading this, you likely were sent here by your agent to read about getting your home ready to be photographed. Below is a comprehensive list of what I personally would focus on when cleaning your home to make sure that your house will show as beautifully as possible! Remember, while I like to think I can make anything look great, I cannot make a dirty house look clean. Only you can!

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Living Room

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Clear all clutter. This includes blankets, toys, chargers, wires, remotes etc. You can keep your furniture as it is, but it may not be a bad idea to discuss with your agent about possibly rearranging it to make the space look more  "open", even if it's not how you personally have your furniture arranged. If you have a smaller living room, and it's pretty packed with furniure, it may not be a bad idea to remove some of the smaller pieces of furniture to allow for 1. better angles of the room to be captured and 2. so the space looks more wide open. Remember, the living room is a major selling point, so it's a good idea to do what you can to make it look as open and comfortable as you can. In regards to decor, lamps, and other items commonly found items in living rooms, those are your choice. As long as the look nice, match the style of your home, and aren't taking up an inordinate amount of space, they're probably fine. If you have stains in your carpet, it would be a good idea to try to get your carpet cleaned (and dried) a few days prior to me coming to the home. If needed, cleaning your windows may be a good idea as well.

 

kitchen

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to go above and beyond in your kitchen with cleaning. The kitchen is quite possibly the BIGGEST selling point for a lot of people, so going a bit overboard with cleaning it is a great idea for both photos, and showings. Do a deep dive in cleaning the countertops, sink, behind the sink, and also the cabinets as well. Food splatters more than we think, and those marks show in photos. I would highly recommend tucking as much stuff away as you can that would normally be on the counter top. This includes, pots, knife sets, Keurig Machines, baskets with miscellaneous objects in them etc. I like to give the example of "if it's not staying with the house, it probably doesn't need to be out". I would make sure to sweep the floor, wipe down the microwave and oven/oven-top, and take all pictures/drawings off the fridge as well. Store all dishrags and towels as well.

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Basement

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Same concept as the living room. Make sure everything is put away, furniture is in the most space-allowing positions, and that all clutter is stored away. I am a bit more lenient with toys down here, as 1. I understand that there's only so much storage space in your house and 2. You still have to live there while selling it and kids need something to do. Just make sure they are all cleaned up and very neatly tucked away into the corner of the basement space. I can likely take a few pics angled so it's not an issue.

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Bathroom

 

Remember what I said about cleaning the kitchen? Take that x2 for the bathrooms. Bathrooms aren't exactly a huge selling point for most homes, but if they're gross they CERTAINLY can be a distraction for the rest of the home. Deep clean these areas please. Around the toilets, in the toilets, the counter tops, inside the sink..if its able to be seen, please clean it. Depending on what type of shower/bath you have, you may want to clean the bathtub and walls as well. If it's just a standard sized bathroom with a full tub/shower area, I likely will have the shower curtain closed, but it is a higher end bathroom with nice walls or a larger Jacuzzi style tub, I will likely take a photo of it, so it's best just to clean it to be safe. Store away all hand soaps, scrub brushes, tooth brushes, shaving utensils, lotion, and personal items as well.

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Bedrooms

 

For bedrooms, please make sure the beds are made, all clothes are put away, and all toys are cleaned up/stored away. Similar to the basement, I am fully understanding that you need to still live in your house while selling, so if a few things are out that is okay, as long as it doesn't obstruct my view while taking photos. Store away all hampers with dirty clothes, and trash cans. Clean up all chargers, or wires. Clean up shelving areas if needed, and if there's a bedside cabinet or table-stand, clear that off as well. If you have an edgy teenager who has walls full of posters...please ask them kindly to take them down.

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Laundry Room and Entry Way

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Nothing too crazy needed here. Just make sure all laundry baskets are put away, and that there's no coats or clutter in this area. Put shoes away, and make sure no pet food or bowls are out. Make sure you remember to sweep away and mop all dirt and crime that can accumulate here.

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A few more things

• Make sure all light bulbs are working throughout the house

• Make sure all lamps are working throughout the house and are a regular color bulb

• Clear ALL items that show you have a pet. Pet bowls, food, toys etc.

• Blow out all candles and put them away, if you're using them

• Clean up all dog poop in the back/front yard if needed

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Things to do right before I get to your home

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If you don't mind, I always appreciate when I get to a home and the lights are all on, the lamps are on, and everything is where it needs to be at for the home to be shot. Please make sure there are no vehicles in the driveway, and that all garbage bins are moved inside the garage. I'm certainly patient if a few things need to be moved around once I start working, but please have the house looking 99% ready to be photographed when I get there! During the busy months of the year, I am pretty jam packed throughout the day, so being able to get in and out in a timely manner is very appreciated on my end.

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Last but not least, just relax!

 

You are in good hands with Harberts Media, and I can assure you that as long as you follow these directions as best as you can, your home will look gorgeous when it is listed. Over the last 3 years, I've been blessed to photograph nearly 2,000 homes.

 

As I like to say;

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"This isn't my first rodeo."

 

Thanks so much for taking the time to read through this, and I look forward to photographing your home!

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