Urgent- What did you wish you’d done for your pre-sale photoshoot

[Goostacean]

Quite urgent as photographer is coming in 3.5hs! What did you wish you’d done to prepare? What obvious points might I have missed? I have limited/no time to pop to the shops, but all ideas welcome!

I was advised not to have too many pictures up, viewers need to see it less personal so they can see themselves there.
Fresh flowers, i had them in the kitchen window, on dining table and coffee table, just daffodils or a cheapish bunch.
Put things away as best you can, toys, toiletries etc.

Kitchen is the biggest! A clean and 'perfect' kitchen, that's what sold it for me in the house I'm living in - it was like love at first sight!

Nothing under the beds/on top of cupboards unless it's neat in boxes.

But also I got advised don't make it unrealistic for when people come round, like if you can't keep your house like it when people come round then don't get rid of all of your stuff! If that makes sense...

Toilet seat down
Get rid of bath mats on floor
Remove general clutter from kitchen worktops
Everywhere neat and tidy
Blinds open if you have them
No overflowing bins
Garden tidy
No cars on drive

Good luck with good photos and the right price you'll sell quickly.

It may be too late for the photos but two estate agent tips are: have the windows professionaly cleaned inside and out (you will be amazed at the difference) and use the highest watt bulbs possible in all light fittings.

Hide all personal photos, naff things like "Live, Love, Guffaw" etc., clear kitchen worktops, get rid of children's toys, put these things in the car if necessary and drive it down the road.

Make sure any stuff under the beds cannot be seen, stand a the door of every room and critically access it.

'assess not access'

I forgot to take the baby scan photo off the fridge! Fortunately they took the photo from an angle that makes it unclear.

What I mainly did was a final declutter (putting stuff in shopping bags that sat in the hall after he'd photographed that). The stuff I moved included: the cats' scratching post and food bowls, pin board, lots of bottles from the bathroom, all cleaning products, the chopping board that normally sits on the kitchen counter, laundry basket, water filter and various bits of paperwork scattered around the house. Oh and we have open shelving in the kitchen so I made sure that the offensive/funny mugs were hidden!!

I made the bed nicely, plumped up the pillows, put some fruit in the fruit bowl, had a bunch of flowers from my in laws on a side table.

I didn't take it to the extreme though, when I view houses online I find blank boxes uninspiring!

Hoping it worked... House went on RM yesterday afternoon and we had a viewing booked by the end of the day. Hoping for a few more today.

I ran around in front of the photographer, emptying rooms of EVERYTHING that could clutter the shot. Even if this meant chucking stuff into another room then taking it back out again for next shot.

Think show-home magazine set up. I bought loads of flowers. Put on all the lights - you need as much light as possible.

If you have open fires, light scrunched up newspaper just prior to the shot so it looked like a big roaring flame.

Make sure your windows are clean, and that the beds look like they would in a hotel.

Good luck!

I spent a whole week "staging" the house ready for the photographer. Our photos looked fantastic! (But I was knackered.)

Make sure the beds are immaculately made up, it's a pet peeve of mine and I assume someone who doesn't do that attention to detail will also not finish off other little details so I'd mentally be deducting money from any offer I would make.

Hide your toilet brush. Oh I forgot, this is Mumsnet no one has a toilet brush. 😂

Yes, definitely make sure bedding is straight and tidy. Take anything you’re storing on top of the fridge and kitchen cupboards off for the photos.

All sides clear. Toy boxes and all clutter away or in boot, including bottles from bathroom etc.
Make sure you see the pictures before they go. Much more of a pain to get them back again.
Some EA photographers love the wide lens too much and take pictures that look very distorted (think door frames that look 4' wide etc). They should not be afraid to alter their perspective to get the right view (e.g. kneeling to get the whole room in). You want the pictures to flow once on Rightmove, so outside front unless it's not a good view, the important rooms (living room, kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms), them any less important spaces (possibly office, playroom if those exist), rear garden and garage/parking if there is one.

Thanks!! This is gold. I’ve depersonalised, de cluttered as much as poss... planning to chuck a few bits into the hallway as you suggest. I’m lucky enough to have a cleaner and had the foresight to book her for this morning so have asked her to do the Windows especially in the one room with a really stunning view. Debating running out to buy some cheap bunches of flowers...

No bottles visible in showers and bathrooms.

Make the beds and run an iron over the bedding in situ.

Everything you can into a cupboard.

Clear and clean worktops. Dishes, tea towels etc away.

Set the table with mats and flowers.

If there’s any grot on tiles give them a scrub, and strategically place any ornaments/rugs to hide stains.

Lights on and blinds fully open.

Smooth your bedsheets and straighten the pillows.

No cuddly toys on beds, they don’t look cute and homely, they’re a reminder someone else lives there.

If kids’ rooms are obviously kids’ rooms then at least minimise floor clutter - your buyer may not have any so needs to envisage it as a useful, airy study/spare room.

Good luck!

@DeeplyMovingExperience

I spent a whole week "staging" the house ready for the photographer. Our photos looked fantastic! (But I was knackered.)

Don’t say that, I’ve only got 3hs now

Oh and sounds obvious but remember you can move clutter out of a room and back in again! Don’t just leave it in because you have nowhere to put it!

Take photos yourself from logical angles and look for things that show on those. Picked up some random last minute things that needed moving/tucking away.

Gosh the kitchen and the kids’ toys are the main issues now... argh!

@Wtfdoipick

Make sure the beds are immaculately made up, it's a pet peeve of mine and I assume someone who doesn't do that attention to detail will also not finish off other little details so I'd mentally be deducting money from any offer I would make.

You’d deduct money because some didn’t make the bed🤣 I love the levels of ridiculous on MN

If you are paying for a photographer (rather than just the EA taking photos) they will bring props with them and set it all up. We had one and he had plastic fruit and tablecloths etc- the photos made me wonder if we should stay 😂

Be careful with the lights on advice as I often see people post on here that they view this quite negatively as it implies the house is naturally very dark.

This is awesome. I have photos being taken tomorrow. But have had a viewing yesterday, and one today so the house is clean and tidy everything hidden but need to stage it well!

Flowers will be purchased, kids boxed up 🤣, stuff shuffled from room to room ahead of photographer. All advice taken!

Can you start packing?
Box some bits and put in garage or car?

I’ve quite literally boxed anything that doesn’t get used regularly and it’s in the garage. I’m a hoarder and the amount of stuff I have is ridiculous 🙈