Prepare Your Home for a Real Estate Photo Shoot
A room-by-room checklist from the Sky View Pros team — get the property camera-ready and get the most from every image.
Great listing photos start before the camera comes out. A prepared home photographs brighter, feels larger, and pulls more buyer clicks — which means more showings and a faster path to closing. Below is the room-by-room checklist we send Sky View Pros clients ahead of every shoot. Work through it the day before, and hand your sellers the print-ready PDF so nothing gets missed.
Living areas
- Clear the clutter — remotes, tissue boxes, chargers, and personal photos all come off-camera.
- Vacuum carpets and sweep hard floors; if a large rug is hiding beautiful flooring, roll it up.
- Tuck away kids’ toys, cribs, and pet gear.
Kitchen & dining room
- Counters wiped and cleared — small appliances, sponges, and soap dispensers put away.
- Refrigerator stripped of magnets and papers, with nothing stored on top.
- Throw rugs up, table set for dinner. A bottle of wine with glasses photographs beautifully.
Bedrooms
- Beds made, floors vacuumed, closet doors closed.
- Nightstands cleared of alarm clocks, tissues, chargers, and medications.
- Every lamp working and plugged in — warm light makes these rooms feel inviting.
Bathrooms
- Toiletries out of sight: toothbrushes, cosmetics, soap trays, and everything in the shower.
- Counters wiped down, throw rugs and scales put away.
- Clean, folded towels on the racks.
Outside & curb appeal
- Lawn at a presentable length (a fresh cut isn’t required), hoses rolled up, outdoor furniture set with umbrellas open.
- Trash and recycling bins in the garage or moved far from the front of the house.
- Cars out of the driveway and away from the curb — this matters double for aerial photography, where the drone sees the whole property at once.
- If the pool is part of the listing, uncover and skim it — from above, the water is the star.
Booking a 360 virtual tour?
A camera on the ground can be aimed; a 360 virtual tour sees everything from floor to ceiling, in every direction. Walk each room slowly before we arrive and ask: is there anything here I don’t want a buyer studying? If the answer is yes, it should leave the room — not just the corner.
The final walkthrough
- Every interior light on, including lamps and under-cabinet lighting.
- Blinds and curtains open; ceiling fans off in any room being photographed.
- Replace any burnt-out bulbs you can safely reach.
Camera-ready? Let’s book the shoot.
Send the checklist to your sellers, pick a date, and we’ll handle the rest — aerials, interiors, or the full 360 tour. Questions about a specific property? Call 917-574-7292 or reach out through the contact page.
