Staging house for estate agent photos

[LemonLemonLemon]

Hi all, after advice for getting the most out of estate agent photos being taken on Monday.

The house is fairly minimal and we will have all clutter etc moved out of the way. I plan on hiding away dog bed and food bowls, along with as much toddler paraphernalia as I can.

House will be cleaned etc again over the weekend.

Silly question, we have lovely new venetian blinds - up or down?

What’s the glaringly obvious things you notice when looking at photos online (I once saw a full laundry basket and it’s haunted me since!)

Turn on all lights for the photos! And for viewings! Makes a massive difference. Other than that I think you have it covered

Laundry off radiators
Lights on
Straighten rugs
Hide plugs and wires
Doors open to rooms
Curtains up

• I hate seeing personal photos- large wedding pics, pics of children. Just feels a bit odd.

• I like a large house plant in a corner or some greenery like a vase of fresh flowers

• No rotting or wilted fruit in bowls. Fresh fruit or none at all

• Move toilet brushes out of sight

• Don't have laundry sitting in the machine because its sometimes visible in pics

• Linens / beds made and crease free
• Curtains up / open and hanging neatly
• If you have a woodburning stove, the photographer will likely ask to you light it
• Bathrooms clutter free. Either no towels, or one or two clean matching towels (photographer will likely move them out of shot if they don't work aesthetically)
• Hide plugs and cables

bed linen, preferably ironed but otherwise not too wrinkly or brightly patterned

items on top of cupboards - as in big baskets of stuff that doesn't fit anywhere else and makes you think there is not enough storage

Good luck with the sale OP!

Take a few pictures of your own to see how they might look, it's amazing what jumps out that you don't see day to day.
Very minimal rooms might look better with some bright flowers or cushions/throws for a splash of colour. It's partly down to the photographer as to how well the pictures are framed and lit too.

Yes to take your own and look at them

No to turning in lights - I’ve never viewed a house with the lights on in day light - suggests a cold dark house.

Check tops of cupboards, radiators, pictures at odd levels, curtains are straight, lights are clean and dusted, any kitchen items, like microwave hide away if you can for bigger work surfaces.

Toilet seat down!
And don't do what I did, sofa all plumped and neat, then sat on it waiting for the photographer to arrive and made a big bum shaped squish in the middle which appeared in the photos

I probably went well over the top

I did two vases of big fresh white lillies

I dressed the outdoor table with place settings and with a bottle of wine in an ice bucket as we had a fairly new outdoor bbq area.

I borrowed white linen from MIL for all bedrooms as I think it makes them look fresher, properly dressed the beds too.

Hid anything personal, laundry, toys, toaster, shoe rack, Lit the fire (as pp said), stocked the wine shelves, Kitchen bi- folds open if you have them too.

I think it's about selling the best attributes of your home, focus on what will be most attractive to buyers.

I hate seeing untidy beds and slouchy couch cushions! But that's just me!

Blinds up or down depends on the view out of the window (and what angle the photograph will be taken from). Why don't you do some test shots on your phone and see what you think.

Definitely no personal photos- it's off putting as you want the potential buyers feel like it their home already not yours.

Also good points with the stuff on top of the cupboards and beds nicely made and no pet things lying around or pets in sight.

For viewings I always had essential oils burning- mix of cinnamon, bergamot and vanilla- it smells like an apple pie and it's very relaxing. Both of my houses sold within 24hrs of listing so must have done something right 😉

Bathroom - hide all toiletries except one or two expensive and stylish bottles ( if you have them ) and one set of coordinated towels.

Kitchen - everything spotless with clear worktops except a couple of stylish things eg lovely bowl with fruit . Hide all small appliances like kettle and toaster. Hide wall sockets with a wooden or marble chopping board or similar.

Everything off the top of kitchen units. Hide kitchen bin.

Remove all personal photos and replace with generic ones borrowed from friends / family. If you know anyone with lovely cushions, throws, plants and lamps then borrow them for the photos AND viewings.

Toddler room can have toys etc but put neatly in boxes.

All curtains and blinds pulled back off windows to let in as much light as possible ( unless you are right on a street with people passing by ).

If your rooms are dark then put in new brighter LED lightbulbs .

Large mirrors are also good to borrow from family / friends instead of personal pictures.

You want to create an impression of a light, stylish, aspirational and neutral space. Not cluttered and dark. Not bland and soulless.

Top tip: take a photo from the angle an EA would, and look at it on a smallish screen. What jumps out at you as a visual irritant, what features do you notice first? I can promise it will be different things to what you notice in person!

Better yet, post the pics here and we’ll tell you!

Open blinds

If you have a garden, cut the grass & tidy away toys etc!