How to Prepare a Home for a Real Estate Photo Shoot

To prepare a home for a real estate photo shoot, finish the paperwork first. Then get the house clean, staged and empty of people before the crew arrives. With In D Sky Homes, a real estate marketing and media boutique based in San Jose, that means a paid invoice, a signed service agreement, a confirmed calendar event and a working lockbox code.

The house prep is where most shoots go wrong. If the crew arrives and cannot start, you lose the slot. This checklist is here so that does not happen to your listing. The same rules apply to every home, small or large.

The paperwork comes first

Agents think of prep as fluffing pillows. The part that stops a shoot is often admin.

• Invoice paid. Payment is due one day before the shoot.
• Service agreement signed.
• Calendar event confirmed. Accept the event on your end so the time and address are locked in.
• Lockbox code shared. If you will not be there, the crew needs the code and any gate or alarm instructions.

You do not need to be on site unless you booked an agent intro or walkthrough video.

Clean, staged and empty

Clean means the house is ready for buyers today: surfaces wiped, floors vacuumed, glass streak-free. Staged means furniture is in place, whether the seller's own or a stager's. Empty means no people in the house during the shoot, sellers and tenants included, and pets out of the way.

A half-packed house, with boxes in the garage and a seller doing laundry, is not ready. For safety reasons, our crew does not move furniture, open blinds or remove signs or objects, so the house has to be set up before we arrive.

Tenant-occupied homes need extra lead time. Tenants cannot be in the house during the shoot. Agree on the date with them early, explain what clean and empty means, and confirm the day before. We also need permission to enter.

If the crew arrives and cannot start because the property is not ready, a fee applies. Please cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours ahead. See our Terms of Service.

Room by room

Kitchen

Clear the counters almost completely. Leave one or two decorative items at most. Put away dish racks, sponges, paper towels, magnets and the trash can.

Living and dining areas

Straighten cushions, fold throws and center rugs. Set the dining table simply or leave it bare. Hide remotes, chargers and cables.

Bedrooms

Make the beds tightly. Clear nightstands. Close closet doors unless the closet is a feature.

Bathrooms

Remove toiletries, toothbrushes, bath mats and scales. Close toilet lids. Fold fresh towels or remove them.

Throughout

Turn on every light and replace dead bulbs. Open blinds evenly. Turn off ceiling fans and TVs.

The outside gets judged first

Buyers see the front before anything else. Move cars off the driveway and away from the curb in front if you can. Put trash and recycling bins out of sight. Sweep the walkway, coil the hose and close the garage door. In the backyard, tidy patio furniture, take covers off, and remove pool equipment and toys. If drone coverage is booked, the roof and yard show from above, so check gutters and side yards.

Extra prep for video, twilight and FPV

• Video: motion shows what a still would crop out. Clear the edges of rooms, not only the centers.
• Twilight: see Is Twilight Real Estate Photography Worth It? for the lighting checklist.
• FPV drone: see Who Does FPV Drone Real Estate Tours in the Bay Area? for what to clear before the flight.

What delays a shoot

Delays are rare, and when they happen it is usually about the property, not the crew. The most common reasons:

• The home is not staged
• The home is not clean
• Things left in the middle of rooms
• Tenants still in the house

Walk the house the night before and these are easy to fix.

If something comes up, tell us early

Plans change. If the seller will not be ready, contact us before the day and reschedule instead of hoping it works out. Cancel at least 24 hours before the shoot to avoid a fee. For delivery times after the shoot, see How Fast Can You Get Listing Photos in the Bay Area?

Frequently asked questions

How far ahead should sellers start prepping?

About a week ahead for decluttering and repairs, then a final pass the evening before. Packing, donating and touch-up paint take longer than sellers expect. Wiping counters and making beds can wait until the night before.

What should be hidden before photos are taken?

Anything personal or valuable: family photos, mail and papers with names, prescriptions, jewelry, keys and anything showing an alarm code. Listing galleries are public and stay online, so treat every frame as something a stranger will zoom in on.

Should I hire a cleaner before the shoot?

Usually yes, if the seller still lives in the house. A professional clean the day before covers glass, grout and baseboards that HDR photos will show.

The short answer

Pay the invoice, sign the agreement, confirm the appointment and share the lockbox code. Then make the property clean, staged and empty of people, with tenants out of the house. Walk the home the night before. A ready house gets you a smooth shoot.

Ready to book?

Book at indskyhomes.gofullframe.com or email [email protected].

Written by The In D Sky Homes Team.