Preparing for photography day
The photographs decide who views. The viewings decide who offers. The preparation for photography is therefore the highest-leverage work in the whole sale.
Most buyers decide whether to view from the listing photographs, and that decision is made in seconds from a thumbnail. A property that photographs poorly is skipped regardless of its actual quality, and no amount of subsequent effort recovers a buyer who never clicked.
Photography day is therefore the deadline for the preparation work, and the preparation should be complete before the photographer arrives rather than after.
The general preparation
These apply to every room and every property, and they matter more than any individual improvement.
- Declutter completely, including surfaces, and remove personal items and photographs
- Clean to a standard beyond normal domestic cleaning, including windows inside and out
- Eliminate odours at source, and ventilate thoroughly
- Open all curtains and blinds, and turn on every light
- Remove bins, cleaning products and anything that suggests a job to be done
- Move cars off the drive, and tidy the front of the property
Room by room
Each room has a specific thing that photographs badly, and knowing them makes the preparation quicker.
- Living room: clear surfaces completely, arrange cushions and throws, remove cables and clutter
- Kitchen: clear every worktop, hide the bin, remove the dish rack and the fridge magnets
- Bedroom: make the bed properly, remove laundry and anything stored under the bed
- Bathroom: hide toiletries, put the toilet lid down, and remove towels that look tired
- Hallway: it photographs narrow, so clear shoes and coats and keep the lighting on
- Garden: clear clutter, mow and edge, and hide bins and garden equipment
What to do about the things that cannot be hidden
Some features photograph badly and cannot be removed: a small room, a dark corner, a dated kitchen. The photographer can mitigate some of this with lighting and framing, and the listing should be honest about the rest.
The exception is a defect that implies a problem — damp, cracked plaster, a broken window. Those should be repaired rather than photographed around, because a buyer who sees them will discount and a buyer who views and sees them will discount more.
Common questions
- How should I prepare my house for estate agent photos?
- Declutter completely, clean to a standard beyond normal domestic cleaning, open all curtains and turn on all lights, and clear every worktop. Then prepare room by room: make beds properly, hide toiletries and bins, clear the hallway, and tidy the garden. The preparation should be complete before the photographer arrives.
- Does professional photography make a difference when selling?
- It is one of the most reliable returns in the whole sale process. It typically costs a few hundred pounds, and it determines how many buyers view the property, which determines whether there is competition and therefore what price is achieved. A listing with poor photographs is skipped in the results page.