Opening up your home to photographers, stagers, agents, and potential buyers may feel daunting. It can be fast paced and overwhelming especially if you are still living in your home.
Our goal is to guide you and help prepare your home for this stage of the selling process.
High quality photos, drone footage, and 3D Matterport tours (when appropriate) are imperative for listing your home in today’s real estate market and have been shown to help your home sell more quickly and at a higher price. Many buyers start their search online and the first impression is critical. We use professional photographers and videographers who offer the best possible quality to grab and keep buyer’s attention.
Drone footage provides a great perspective on the property, especially when it is a large piece of land, features expansive views, or in close proximity with other landmarks like ponds, rivers, or open space.
3D Tours have become essential for out of area clients to explore/view the property. Matterport offers self-guided tours of the home for this very purpose, and buyers who have already visited the property often refer back to the tour as they are considering an offer.
The marketing of your home is based around these top-notch photos and dramatically impact buyers’ impression of the home. The photographers, videographers, and stagers we hire are professionals and artists who are here to help make your home look its best. Advance preparation of your home makes their process much smoother and provides better end results.
To create the best marketing assets, follow our real estate photo preparation guide to get your home ready.
Here’s a breakdown of things to do inside of the home to make it the most presentable.
THE KITCHEN
Clear & clean counters & sink (including dishes!)
Clear appliances of magnets & clutter
THE LIVING ROOM
Remove unnecessary furniture & decor
THE BEDROOM(S)
Make the beds
Put all shoes & clothes in closets
Clear off all night stands & dressers
THE BATHROOM(S)
Clean sinks, tubs, & showers
Clear off countertops & shower shelves
Close toilet seats
EVERY ROOM
Dust, sweep, mop, and vacuum
Turn on all of the lights / replace with matching bulbs
Open all window shades/blinds
Remove personal photos & items
Turn off ceiling fans, TVs, and computers
Remove pet items
Removing all of your personal items and photos may feel odd, but will allow buyers to see the home as “theirs”. It also keeps your personal information private. Keep valuables, prescriptions, and firearms in a secure location while the home is on the market. Brokers do their best to keep an eye on everything, but it’s safestOK, to take those risks out of the equation. Turn on all lights throughout the entire house including lamps and exterior lights. This helps create stunning pictures and makes the home appear brighter when buyers are visiting. If any light bulbs are burned out, please replace them with matching bulbs! Opening all of the window coverings will also open and brighten up the space. Turn off all fans, TVs, and computer screens so they don’t cause any light discrepancies in photos. Remove all pet items and deep clean to get rid of any odor. Not all people who may be interested in the home have or like pets and they may even be allergic. Making the space pet neutral is beneficial.
When countertops are cleared off the room appears more spacious. The clutter won’t distract buyers and allows them to see how they would place their own items in the space. It also provides the sense that everything has a place and can highlight storage. Placing soaps, small appliances, and other items under the sink or in other cabinets is an easy way to manage this task. Of course, deep cleaning these highly trafficked areas will make them shine! Neutral, simple, and fitting decorative items are okay to leave out such as a vase of flowers or neatly folded towels.
Removing and storing bulky and excess items from the living room will make a huge difference. This will open up the space and make the room more inviting. Keeping basic items like a couch, coffee table, and TV with simple decorative items can help the buyer see what’s possible in the space, but remember: “less is more”. We understand this can be challenging if you are still living in the house and we can work together on some strategies.
Simple chores like making beds and putting clothes and shoes away create a welcoming space. Using matching and fitting sheets, blankets, and pillows will produce a “put together” look. Decluttering the nightstand so that just a lamp and clock or book remain will keep it looking more open. Strive for a hotel room feel.
Professional staging is a great tool we use often, primarily for homes that are vacant. We can also provide these services to spruce up an occupied home for pictures and showings.
Creating an amazing first impression is so important when trying to sell your home. A completely empty home can be underwhelming to buyers. Staging helps emotionally connect them to the space by showcasing a move-in ready home. Placing furniture and decor helps the buyer visualize the space and increases perceived value. This is particularly important in the living room, kitchen, and primary bedroom & bath.
Staging companies create a stylized living space using their own furniture, decor, and knowledge about interior design, feng shui, and trends. If there is already furniture in the home, they can enhance the space by rearranging the furniture and adding art, decor, or additional furniture pieces. They can truly transform a space from dark and drab to light and livable! Their job is to know what’s trending and portray that in your space for potential buyers to fall in love with.
Statistics show that staging is worth the investment. About 75% of sellers saw a return on investment by staging their home. Surveys also show that staging can help sell a home significantly faster than non-staged competition, as well as help increase the sales price.
Outside is just as important as inside; it’s the first impression as buyer’s approach the house.
THE YARD
Tidy up the yard, landscaping, and walkways
Mow the lawn & pull weeds
Rake and pickup leaves
Trim trees & bushes, especially if they’re blocking the path up to the house
Clean up after pets
THE DRIVEWAY
Clear all cars from the road & driveway on picture day
Hide all garbage cans & lawn equipment
Pressure wash or sweep
During the winter months, keep sidewalks, walkways, and driveways clear of snow
THE PATIOS / PORCHES / DECKS
Pressure wash or sweep, clear cobwebs
Remove BBQ covers
Arrange patio furniture
During the winter months, keep patios and decks clear of snow
Curb appeal is crucial for potential home buyers when they arrive at the property for the first time. The picture of the front of the house is most often used as the primary photo in the MLS and many marketing pieces. Cleaning up the yard includes raking, pruning, weeding, mowing the lawn, cleaning up after pets, and other necessary landscaping items.
We want buyers to be able to envision living at the property. Moving cars from the driveway and street improves the image. However, in some cases it is advantageous to highlight boat or camper parking. Placing trash cans and recycling bins in the garage or on the side of the home also increases the curb appeal. Any other personal equipment such as lawn mowers, hoses, toys, sporting equipment, and pet items should also be placed in non-visible areas. Make sure your address numbers are visible.
Outdoor living is a huge selling point, especially in our beautiful area! Preparing and staging the area brightens the mood for exterior possibilities. Uncover grills, smokers, and hot tubs to show them off or remove them if they are rusty and otherwise unsightly. Clean any lawn furniture and open up patio umbrellas to complete the look.
While we look ahead at the weather before scheduling photos, sometimes the unpredictable happens and we have to reschedule. This can be due primarily to rain, snow, or wind which can negatively impact the photos. The professionals we work with watch the weather and plan as much as possible. If this occurs we will work together with the photographer to find another time.
During photoshoots, especially the 3D Matterport Tours, it’s best to plan on leaving the home when the photographer is there for these shoots. It’s easier for the professional and generally produces a better end result if no one is home to distract or appear in final images.