Home Preparation Checklist

Please make sure the property is ready for photos prior to the appointment.

Exterior

Photographer's

Note

Time and weather conditions

We don't recommend shooting too early in the morning or too late in the afternoon.

Shadows are good and provide contrast and depth to the facade of the home; however, we don't want too deep / long shadows, so we don't recommend to photograph homes before 9am or after 5 - 6pm (depending on time of the year).

As much as we love bright and sunny days, reality is (specially in Florida) overcast and partially cloudy days occur more often and even more during summer. The good news is that our editors are the best at sky-replacement and making sure that the photos turn out always bright and with good contrast and rich color.

Interior

IMPORTANT NOTE

As long as the items on the checklist are followed the photos will come out perfect. Anything else, such as staging and decorations are mostly a matter of preference.

The Photographer's role and expertise is to capture the best angles of a space and adjusting camera and lens settings for the best and sharpest images. The Photographer is happy to help move a few items if needed, adjust a pillow, open up a blind, straighten a chair and give some ideas and direction, but it's best if anything personal is handled by the homeowner or agent since they are more familiar with the home and know where everything goes or is stored. Plus we want to respect their privacy and prefer not to touch valued belongings, hygiene items or anything else that is personal.

The Photographer's role expertise is to capture the best angles of a space and adjusting camera and lens settings for the best and sharpest images. The Photographer is happy to help move a few items if needed, adjust a pillow, open up a blind, straighten a chair... but it's best if anything personal is handled by the homeowner or agent since they are more familiar with the home and know where everything goes or is stored. Plus we want to respect their privacy and prefer not to touch valued belongings, hygiene items or anything else that is personal.

No cars in the driveway.

Front yard and back yard clear of

trash, dead branches, etc.

Any signs put away (For Sale, home security)

Garden hoses rolled neatly.

Recycling / trash containers put away.

No holiday decorations (it dates the pictures).

Blow leaves and dirt off the driveway / walkway.

Pressure wash as needed.

Trees and bushes trimmed.

Clean any pet waste from the backyard

For Real-Time Twilight photo session: All lights must be on (inside the house and all landscape lights). If landscape lights are on solar sensors, they may need to be covered with tape so as to allow the lights to go on during twilight / dusk and before it's totally dark.

All lights on. Replace any burned out light bulbs before the photoshoot! Check table lamps, side lamps, desk lamps, shelf lights inside entertainment sets, etc. Lights under cabinets in the kitchen and over the sink and showers.

All fans dusted. They will be kept off during the photoshoot.

Area rugs removed.

Hygiene products removed from sink counters, bathtub and showers.

Magnets off the refrigerators.

Windows, mirrors and TVs cleaned.

Blinds dusted and even. Curtains open. We want the space to be as open and as bright as possible.

Kitchen counter clear of toasters, blenders, countertop ovens or microwaves and any other bulky appliances. Hide paper towels, chargers and anything with cables. Limit to decorations that fill in the counters gently, hide anything that has strong colors or is distracting. A nice bowl with fresh fruit or small plant can be a nice decoration, but nothing that takes up too much space. The less the better! (Same for any other counters and tables in the house).

Trash cans put away.

Toilet seats closed. Toilet paper rolled up nicely. No Cleanex boxes. No soap bars.

Store away pet bowls, cages, accessories and toys.

Keep personal items, photographs and / or anything of special value (such as jewelry, medicine, etc) stored away safely.

If you'd like a picture of any closets, laundry room or garage please be sure it's clean and neatly organized. Same like the bathrooms, no hygiene products or tools.

Home office space clear of clutter as much as possible (try to hide cables, paper, sticky notes, files, pens and any other office supplies).

Regulations for Real Estate Photo Edits

Can you just Photoshop this?

While we're happy and able to make changes you'd like us to do in any image, we encourage Realtors to keep the MLS regulations in mind. Agents are held liable and are fined for violations of such rules for image alterations.

Keep in mind also, there is an additional charge for extra Photoshop edits outside of the standard edits we already do. The cost will vary depending on: 1) Skill level and 2) Time spent

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Photos and Video on MLS