How to Prepare a Home Before the Photographer Arrives: A Guide for Realtors & Sellers

In real estate, first impressions aren’t just important—they’re everything. And in today’s digital market, the first impression almost always happens online through your property photos.

As a real estate media company, one of the most important things we can do to ensure stunning results (and save valuable time on shoot day) is to coach realtors on how to guide their sellers in prepping the home before we arrive.

When a property is clean, decluttered, and photo-ready, it doesn’t just help us as photographers—it helps you as the realtor showcase the listing in the best light and create a more professional, polished experience for your clients.

Why Prepping the Home Matters

A photo-ready home:

• Saves the photographer time (less staging + reshooting)
• Speeds up the entire shoot process
• Delivers better results, faster
• Reflects well on the realtor and photographer as a team
• Helps listings stand out and attract more buyers online

Bottom line: The more prepared the property, the better the photos—and the smoother the experience for everyone.

What We Tell Our Realtors: “Stage it Like a Vacation Rental”

Ask the seller: What would you leave out, and what would you tuck away if this home was being rented out on Airbnb or VRBO?

This mindset helps sellers depersonalize and declutter without feeling overwhelmed.

Seller Prep Checklist to Share With Clients

To make it easy, we provide a preparation checklist to give to your sellers before their scheduled shoot. Here’s a quick version you can copy and share:

General Tips:

• Clean all surfaces (kitchen counters, bathroom sinks, etc.)
• Hide cords, remotes, tissue boxes, pet bowls, and trash cans
• Open blinds and curtains for natural light
• Turn on all lights, including lamps
• Replace burnt-out bulbs
• Remove personal items (photos, clothes, etc.)

Kitchen:

• Clear counters of everything except 1–2 decorative items
• Hide dish racks, soaps, and trash bins
• Remove magnets, notes, or calendars from the fridge

Bathrooms:

• Close toilet lids
• Remove toiletries, bath mats, and laundry hampers
• Use clean, neatly folded towels

Bedrooms:

• Make all beds neatly
• Clear nightstands of clutter
• Store away laundry and personal items

Exterior:

• Move cars out of driveway and away from front of the house
• Sweep porch or patio
• Tidy up yard, put away toys and hoses

Coaching Realtors = Time Saved, Quality Improved

When you, as the realtor, walk your sellers through this prep process before the shoot, you’re helping them present their home in the best way possible—while making the photographer’s job quicker and more efficient.

It’s a small step that delivers big results. And when a home is perfectly prepped, it doesn’t just make the listing shine—it reflects you as the trusted professional.

At PixNevel, We Make This Easy

I’m Lynnette, founder of PixNevel.com and owner of 360 Real Estate Image. We don’t just show up with a camera—we partner with realtors to create beautiful, scroll-stopping media that helps you sell faster and stand out.

As part of our service, we provide realtors with custom prep checklists and guidance so their sellers know exactly what to do before we arrive. It’s one more way we make your job easier—and your brand look polished and professional.

💡 Want a Copy of Our Free Seller Prep Guide?

🏡 Photo Day Prep Guide for Sellers

✅ GENERAL PREP

• Clean all surfaces (kitchen, bathrooms, counters)
• Hide all cords, remotes, tissue boxes, and clutter
• Open all blinds & curtains to let in natural light
• Turn on all lights, including lamps
• Replace any burnt-out bulbs
• Remove personal items (family photos, clothes, papers)
• Hide pet items (toys, beds, food/water bowls)

🍽 KITCHEN

• Clear all countertops (leave only 1–2 decorative items)
• Hide dish soap, sponges, towels, trash bins
• Remove magnets and notes from refrigerator
• Wipe down all appliances & stainless steel

🛁 BATHROOMS

• Close toilet lids
• Remove all toiletries from counters and showers
• Hang clean, neatly folded towels (neutral colors preferred)
• Remove rugs, bath mats, laundry hampers

🛏 BEDROOMS

• Make all beds neatly with smooth, wrinkle-free bedding
• Clear nightstands of clutter
• Hide laundry, cords, chargers, and personal items
• Remove items from under beds if visible

🌳 EXTERIOR

• Move vehicles out of driveway & away from front of home
• Sweep porch, patio, and walkways
• Tidy yard – put away toys, hoses, trash bins
• Turn on exterior lights (if possible)

✨BONUS TIP FROM LYNNETTE: