Photography & Marketing

Once we get your home all picture perfect, it's time to take photos! The photos of your home are often a potential buyer's first encounter with your home, so my professional photographer will take great care to capture your home in the best light possible. 

Photos usually take about 1.5 to 2 hours to shoot, and then I'll get the edits back within a couple of days. While waiting for those to come in, I go to work crafting appealing remarks that paint a verbal picture to draw someone into your home. 

With all our visual and verbal appeal, our goal will be to get someone to swipe right on your home (fall in love with) and schedule a showing. 

In many cases, you may still be living in your home when it's listed on the market so it would be unrealistic to keep it in the same photo ready state all the time. However, after the photos are done, on the days you have showings, do your best to tidy up as much as possible and store away anything that may read as clutter. Showings are like a job interview for your home. Don't let it go in sweatpants. 

Imagine walking into a home with a bad smell, pet hair everywhere, caked-on dusty ceiling fans, dusty cabinet faces, and paper and clutter everywhere. Now imagine walking into a home with an inviting scent, no clutter or papers anywhere, and all the surfaces are clean and shining. Which home would you rather buy?

How to Get the Most Out of Your Listing Photos

1. Replace any blown light bulbs - interior & exterior. 

2. Remove cobwebs and dust bunnies from all corners, crevices, ceiling fans, and light fixtures.

3. Remove dead bugs from light fixtures.

4. Replace any missing or damaged electrical outlets or light switch covers.

4. Vacuum up all the pet hair.

5. Organize / recycle / or store any papers & clutter out of sight

6. Remove all magnets and papers from the refrigerator, dishwasher, etc.

5. Wipe down all surfaces.

6. Try to limit number of items on surfaces to 3 or less.

7. Pack away as many knick knacks as possible.

8. Take down and go ahead and pack up any personal/family photos.

9. Clean carpets (try to remove any stains)

While these to do items may seem tedious and painful now, try to imagine yourself as the potential buyer of your home. The newer, fresher, cleaner, and shinier you can make it, the better the impression you can create for the buyer - and the more money you can get back.

Inside the Home 

1. De-clutter​ as much as possible. Put away toys, clothing, dishes, towels, shoes, papers, etc. 

2. Depersonalize​ to a certain degree. Family photos and any potentially offensive art should be put away. 

3. Remove any ​seasonal/holiday​ decorations that can quickly outdate your photos. 

4. Dust​ and ​vacuum​. 

5. Make all the ​beds​, fluff all the pillows, and check the bed skirts. 

6. Clean the ​kitchen sink​ and put away all the dishes. 

7. Clear all ​kitchen counter tops​ except for just a few (the most attractive looking) appliances/items. 

8. Clear all ​bathroom counter tops​ and put away all personal items. 

9. Remove all ​shampoos, conditioners, body-washes​, etc. from the shower. 

10. Put out the ​fresh towels​ and hide all the others. 

11. Hide all ​trash cans​, toilet bowl cleaners, and plungers. 

12. If there are ​pets​, hide all food/water bowls, pet beds, and pet toys. 

13. Consider decorating the tables with your prettiest ​place settings. 

14. Make sure basement is easily viewed and remove or reposition any furniture or storage items that may be cluttering the basement or making it difficult to move about 

Outside the Home 

1. Have the ​grass cut​, leaves raked, weeds pulled, and bushes and trees pruned. 

2. Sweep leaves or ​shovel snow​ from walkways, driveways, patios, decks when necessary. 

3. Clean up after any ​pets. 

4. Remove any ​seasonal/holiday​ decorations. 

5. Put away all garbage​ cans​, hoses, garden tools, toys, bikes etc. 

6. Open the ​umbrellas​ on any patio sets and ​uncover grills​. 

7. Consider adding splashes of ​bright colored flowers​ to the landscape and in pots. 

8. If there is a ​pool, hot tub, or spa,​ uncover and clean. 

9. Clean windows