It’s probably not surprising to find out that almost all home buyers start their home search online.  It’s easy to sit in the comfort of your living room, set some search parameters, and look at what’s out there.  As a seller, this adds more competition for your home because, aside from the homes in your neighborhood, you are competing against an endless list of homes on a website.  The best way to stop the online scroll is through great photographs.  As a seller, you can do some things to your home that will help the photographer capture your Locust Grove home at its best.

Exterior of Home

The exterior shot of the front of your home is the first photograph that people see when searching for a Locust Grove home.  A professional photographer can alter the brightness of a photograph, but if it is a rainy day, the photographer will most likely reschedule the outdoor shoot for a sunny day. Here are some things you can do ahead of time and the day of your photo shoot to help your exterior look its best.  

Before your scheduled photography day arrives:

  • Trim trees and bushes that impede on the view of the home
  • Pick up any debris from yard
  • Remove all toys and lawn care equipment from yard and porches
  • Move any outdoor trash cans away from front of home
  • Clean sidewalks and driveways
  • Wash garage door
  • Cut the grass
  • Weed garden beds/add fresh mulch
  • Clean outdoor lights and make sure they are working
  • Clean any patio furniture
  • Add some colorful potted plants near the front door

On photography day

  • Check to make sure the yard is clear of debris, toys, ect. Stand at different angles in your yard to see if anything is visible that you don’t want to be.
  • Remove any flags or wind chimes (They are blurry in photographs.)
  • Move car out of driveway

Interior of Home

Since getting photographs of a home happens not long before a home is listed, most sellers are already in the depths of decluttering and deep cleaning.  While a photographer can add light to a dark room on a rainy day, they cannot photoshop out all the papers piled on a desk or clutter on a kitchen counter.  Plan to have your deep cleaning and decluttering completed by picture day to ensure that your Locust Grove home is looking its best.

Before your scheduled photography day arrives:

Throughout your Locust Grove home

  • Minimize the amount of objects on bookshelf, tables, desks, and other countertops
  • Remove personalized items from walls like awards, children’s names in bedrooms, ect.
  • Clean light fixtures
  • Clean floors and windows

Kitchen

  • Remove magnets and papers from the refrigerator
  • Organize any open shelving

Living Room

  • Minimize the amount of furniture in the space
  • Remove items like toys that belong in other spaces

Bathroom

  • Check the condition of your shower curtain and bath mat and replace as necessary.
  • Redo the caulk around the shower/bath that are discolored
  • Dust the cover for the exhaust fan
  • Clean shower doors to remove water/mineral build up

Bedrooms

  • Remove excess furniture that makes it difficult to move around the room
  • Minimize the amount of things on dressers
  • Use baskets that fit under the bed to easily pick up and store children’s toys

The day of pictures:

Throughout your Locust Grove home

  • Temporarily hide trash cans in cabinets
  • Turn off fans and televisions
  • Dust reflective surfaces like mirrors or shiny metals
  • Store pet food, water dishes, and beds
  • Vacuum/mop floors

Kitchen

  • Place dish soap and rags under the sink
  • Check for fingerprints on appliances
  • Straighten kitchen tables and chairs

Living Room

  • Fluff couch pillows
  • Put remotes in a drawer

Bathroom

  • Closet toilet lids
  • Remove toiletries from countertops
  • Fold towel on towel rack
  • Close shower curtain
  • Hide the toilet bowl brush

Bedrooms

  • Make beds
  • Verify that nothing from under the bed is sticking out