Preparation Guidelines

Following these guidelines ensures your home is presented in the best possible light, highlighting its features and creating an inviting atmosphere that can attract more buyers and lead to a quicker sale. Proper preparation, such as cleaning, decluttering, and staging, makes the space appear larger, more maintained, and visually appealing. Failing to follow these steps may result in poor lighting, distracting clutter, or personal items, which can detract from the home’s appeal and reduce buyer interest. This could lead to missed opportunities and require last-minute adjustments, delaying the process and affecting the quality of the final media.

Preparing the Home:

  • Thoroughly clean whole house (vacuum carpet, mop hard floors, clean countertops, clean windows)

  • Turn all overhead lights and lamps ON

  • Replace all burned out light bulbs

  • Use bulbs of the same temperature (ALL incandescent or ALL compact fluorescent)

  • Turn all ceiling fans OFF

  • Turn all TVs OFF

  • Turn all computer screens OFF

  • Open blinds/window treatments to let in outside light

  • Remove personal photographs (or replace with general landscape/object photographs

  • Remove small floor rugs to reveal actual flooring

Kitchen:

  • Remove everything from the top and doors of the fridge. This includes magnets, business cards, photos, etc.

  • Clear and wipe off the counters. Clean counters look great in photos

  • Hide dish soaps, sponges and paper towels.

  • Set up the kitchen or dining table with a nice set of dishes.

  • A bowl of fruit or bouquet of flowers presents nice on the photos

Master Bedroom:

  • Make bed, including decorative pillows/shams if available

  • Press bed linens and bed skirts

  • Clear nightstands of all personal items

  • Store away phone/tablet charging cables

  • Remove all clutter from top of dressers

  • Remove family photos from walls

  • Store away shoes, clothes, hats, etc

  • Clean under bed, removing items that may show in the photos

Kid/Guestroom:

  • Remove personalized names from walls

  • Remove wall stickers/posters

  • Remove diaper genies

  • Clean under bed, removing items that may show in the photos

  • Bathrooms:

  • Put down toilet lids

  • Hide any toiletries that are in the shower or bath, as well as on the counter

  • Clean mirrors and any glass surfaces

  • Remove old towels from doors, showers and bathtubs. Hang a new set of towels that coordinate with the paint or tiles

  • Depending on the space, a flower or plant can add a nice touch

Front Exterior:

  • Close garage doors

  • Remove cars from driveway and front of home

  • Clean up landscaping (mow, trim shrubs, clear leaves)

  • Remove empty planters

  • Use broom to remove cobwebs from eaves and door frames

  • Remove visible water hoses

  • Remove toys, sports balls, basketball goals, soccer goals, etc.

Back Yard:

  • Clean porch, tidy up outdoor tables/chairs/cushions

  • Pillows/cushions should be fresh, not faded

  • Clear out kid's toys, balls, frisbees, etc.

  • Clean pool

  • Remove pool vacuum/cleaner hose

  • Hide pool cleaning supplies

  • Turn on pool fountains/water features

  • Remove visible water hoses

  • Remove trash cans

Pets:

  • Place food and water bowls in pantry or closet

  • Place pet beds/toys in pantry or closet

  • Use lint roller on furniture to remove pet hair

  • Contain pets in hidden crate or outside

  • Clear back yard of pet waste/toys

We Do Not:

  • Move or rearrange furniture

  • Make beds, clean, dust or de-clutter

  • Pick up toys or yard items

  • "Photoshop" vehicles, walls, damaged walls, power lines, wall pictures, cords, etc.

  • Touch personal bathroom supplies (shampoo, toothbrushes, deodorant, towels)