How to Prep Your Home to List It and Get It Photo Ready

One of the biggest mistakes I see sellers make is underestimating how much preparation impacts their final sales price. Before a buyer ever steps foot in your home, they see it online. That means photos matter more than almost anything else. Preparing your home properly before listing is not about perfection. It is about presentation, safety, and helping buyers emotionally connect with the space.

Here is how to prep your home to list, with a special focus on what needs to be done before professional photos.

Start With Decluttering and Depersonalizing

Buyers need to imagine themselves living in your home, not feel like they are visiting someone else’s. Remove excess furniture, stacks of papers, personal photos, collections, and anything that visually crowds the space. Closets, cupboards, and storage areas matter too. Buyers open them, and photos often capture them.

Go room by room and ask yourself what can be removed, not rearranged.

Remove Valuables and Medications

Before photos, showings, or open houses, remove valuables from the premises. This includes jewelry, important documents, small safes, collectibles, and anything you would be uncomfortable leaving unattended.

Medications should also be removed or securely locked away. This is often overlooked but very important for safety and liability reasons.

Clean From Top to Bottom

A deep clean is non negotiable if you want strong photos and strong offers.

Start high and work your way down. This includes ceiling fans, light fixtures, vents, and corners where dust collects. Clean windows inside and out so natural light shines through clearly. Wipe down baseboards, door frames, and light switches. Buyers notice these details even if they do not consciously realize it.

Inside cupboards and drawers should be cleaned and organized. The fridge should be cleaned out completely and wiped down. Trash cans should be empty and clean.

If cleaning feels overwhelming, hiring a professional deep cleaner before photos is often one of the best returns on investment you can make.

Focus on Kitchens and Bathrooms

These spaces sell homes.

Clear countertops so only one or two intentional items remain. Hide sponges, soap bottles, dish racks, and small appliances. In bathrooms, remove toothbrushes, razors, hair tools, and personal products. Fresh towels, clean mirrors, and a neutral, spa like feel photograph best.

Prepare the Exterior and Yard

Curb appeal sets the tone before anyone clicks on a photo or walks through the door.

Trim bushes and trees, mow the lawn, pull weeds, and refresh gravel or mulch if needed. Spray down dusty covered patio areas, especially in desert climates where dust builds up quickly. Clean outdoor furniture or remove it if it looks worn.

If you have a pool, have it professionally cleaned and make sure the water is crystal clear for photos. A sparkling pool can be a major selling point when marketed correctly.

Remove Vehicles and Clear the Driveway

Before photos, remove all vehicles from the driveway and street in front of the home if possible. This includes cars, trucks, trailers, and RVs. Clear driveways photograph larger and cleaner, and they help buyers focus on the home rather than distractions.

Light It Up

Replace burned out light bulbs and use matching color temperatures throughout the home. Open blinds and curtains to let in natural light. Turn on all lights for photos, even during the day. Bright homes feel larger, cleaner, and more inviting online.

Final Walk Through Before Photos

Before the photographer arrives, do one last slow walk through the home.

Check for clutter that snuck back in. Make beds. Straighten pillows. Put toilet lids down. Empty trash cans. Do a quick patio and yard scan. These last details make a big difference in how your home shows online.

Why This Matters

Homes that are properly prepped and photographed well attract more buyers, more showings, and stronger offers. Preparation sets the tone for how buyers perceive value. When a home looks clean, cared for, and move in ready, buyers feel more confident and emotionally connected.

If you are thinking about listing and are not sure where to start, this is exactly the kind of guidance I walk my sellers through step by step. Preparation is not about doing everything. It is about doing the right things.

When done right, it pays off.

Thinking of selling your home? Let’s schedule a walkthrough! Click here to schedule.