What to Do the Day Before the Photographer Arrives

How should you get your home ready for listing photos?

Start by clearing counters and floors, putting away personal items, turning on the lights, and getting cars and trash cans out of sight.

Then take a look outside.

Clean up the yard, patio, pool, and front entry before photo day.

It sounds simple, but the camera notices things we usually don't.

Most sellers prepare for listing photos the same way they would prepare for company.

But listing photos are different.

A photographer uses a wide-angle lens that shows almost everything in the room at once. That dish towel you barely notice can suddenly become one of the first things buyers see in the kitchen photo.

And buyers are looking closely.

According to NAR's 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 52% of buyers found the home they purchased online, and 70% used a mobile device or tablet during their home search.

That means your photos are often your home's first showing.

Here is what I recommend doing during the final 24 hours before your listing photos.

Why Listing Photos Need a Little Extra Prep

In person, buyers can walk around a room and look past everyday items.

Photos don't work that way.

A coffee maker, pile of mail, pet bed, or basket of toys can make a room feel smaller or more cluttered than it really is.

So for photo day, I usually recommend removing more than you think you need to.

When in doubt, put it away.

The Day Before: Inside the House

Kitchen

Keep the counters simple.

One or two decorative items are fine, but you don't need the coffee maker, toaster, knife block, paper towel holder, and everything else sitting out.

Also:

• Clear everything off the refrigerator.

• Put away magnets, calendars, and school schedules.

• Hide dish soap, sponges, and drying racks.

• Move the trash can out of view.

• Clear dishes from the sink.

The goal is to make the kitchen look clean, open, and easy to use.

Bathrooms

Bathrooms usually look better with almost nothing on the counters.

Put away:

• Toothbrushes

• Razors

• Makeup

• Hair products

• Medicine

• Shower bottles

Close the toilet lid.

Remove the bath mat.

You can put out a clean set of matching towels, but you don't need a lot of extra decor.

And don't forget the mirrors. Streaks and fingerprints tend to show up more in photos than they do in person.

Bedrooms

Make the bed neatly and keep the nightstands simple.

A lamp is usually enough.

Put away chargers, water bottles, medications, books, and anything sitting on the floor.

And check under the bed.

If something is sticking out, the camera will probably find it.

Living Rooms and Home Offices

Put away remotes, extra blankets, toys, pet beds, and anything else that makes the room feel busy.

If you work from home, clean off the desk.

Remove sticky notes, paperwork, bills, and anything showing personal or financial information.

You don't need your home to look empty.

You just want buyers to notice the room instead of the stuff inside it.

Don't Forget About Privacy

Listing photos are public.

Once they are online, they may appear on several real estate websites.

Before photos, remove things like:

• Family photos

• Children's names or school information

• Mail

• Prescription bottles

• Calendars

• Diplomas

• Work documents

• Anything showing personal account information

A good rule is this:

If you wouldn't want it displayed online for strangers to see, take it out of the photo.

Check the Lights

Walk through the house and turn on every light.

Replace any burned-out bulbs.

Also look at the color of the bulbs.

If one room has bright white bulbs and the next has very yellow bulbs, the difference can show up in the photos.

Keeping the lighting consistent can make the home feel more polished without spending much money.

The Day Before: Outside the House

The outside of the home matters just as much as the inside.

Sometimes even more.

The front exterior photo is usually one of the first pictures buyers see.

Front of the House

Plan to have no cars in the driveway during photos.

If possible, also move cars away from the street directly in front of the house.

Bring trash cans in and remove anything sitting near the garage or front entry.

Sweep the walkway.

Straighten the doormat.

Put away hoses, tools, toys, and other items around the front yard.

Small things make a big difference in that first photo.

Lawns and Desert Landscaping

If you have grass, mow it the day before instead of right before the photographer arrives.

That gives you time to clean up the clippings.

For desert landscaping:

• Pull weeds.

• Rake loose gravel.

• Remove dead leaves.

• Clean up palm fronds.

• Straighten decorative rocks or borders if needed.

You don't need a perfect yard.

You just want it to look cared for.

High Desert Wind and Dust

If you're selling in Hesperia, Victorville, Apple Valley, or another windy High Desert area, check the yard again the morning of the shoot.

One windy night can move cushions, blow leaves across the patio, and cover your entry with dust.

I usually recommend keeping patio cushions inside overnight and putting them out shortly before the photographer arrives.

Pool and Spa

If you have a pool, skim it before photos.

Run the pump so the water looks clear.

Take the pool cleaner and hose out of the water if possible.

Remove pool toys, floats, towels, and cleaning supplies.

If you have a spa cover, decide with your agent whether it looks better on or off in the photos.

The goal is simple: make the pool look inviting.

RV Parking, Side Yards, and Garages

Features like RV parking and larger garages can matter a lot to Inland Empire and High Desert buyers.

If you have RV access, clear enough of the side yard so buyers can actually see the gate and parking area.

If your garage will be photographed, try to keep most of the floor visible.

But ask your agent first.

Not every garage needs to be included in the listing photos.

What About Solar Panels?

Solar panels aren't something you need to hide.

Many buyers want to know they are there.

They often show up well in drone or elevated exterior photos.

There is no reason to climb onto the roof and clean them yourself before the photographer comes.

The Morning of the Photo Shoot

Do one final walk-through about an hour before the photographer arrives.

Check these things:

• Open the blinds and shades.

• Turn on every light and lamp.

• Turn off ceiling fans.

• Turn off TVs and computer screens.

• Close toilet lids.

• Put away pet bowls, beds, toys, and litter boxes.

• Take pets out of the house if possible.

• Move cars out of the driveway.

• Move trash cans out of sight.

• Put patio cushions back outside.

• Sweep the front entry.

• Check for keys, coffee cups, phones, chargers, and toothbrushes that appeared overnight.

Then give the photographer room to work.

You don't necessarily have to leave the property, but photos usually go faster when the photographer can move freely through the house.

What You Don't Need to Do at the Last Minute

The night before photos is not the time to start painting a bedroom or buying new decor.

At that point, focus on cleaning and removing things.

Don't start adding projects.

You also don't need to deep-clean spaces that won't be photographed.

Put your time into the areas buyers will actually see online.

And be careful with photo editing.

Removing something temporary, like a trash can, is very different from editing out a permanent condition of the property.

Listing photos should still represent what buyers will see when they arrive.

What This Means for You

More people will probably see your home online than will ever walk through the front door.

That is why listing photos matter so much.

The good news is that getting ready doesn't have to mean spending a lot of money.

A few hours of cleaning, decluttering, and putting things away can completely change how your home looks online.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far ahead should I start preparing for listing photos?

If your home needs repairs, decluttering, furniture changes, or bigger cleaning projects, start at least a week ahead if you can.

This checklist is meant for the final 24 hours before the photographer arrives.

Should I be home during the listing photo shoot?

You can be, but you usually don't need to be.

It is often easier for the photographer to work when the house is empty.

Stay available by phone in case there is a question about a light switch, gate, alarm, or locked room.

Do I need to stage my home before listing photos?

Not always.

Some homes already show well with basic decluttering and furniture placement.

Vacant homes or rooms with unusual layouts may benefit more from staging.

I recommend walking through the home with your agent before photo day so you know where your time and money will actually make a difference.

Thinking About Selling in the Inland Empire or High Desert?

I walk through my listings before the photographer arrives so my sellers know what to move, what to leave alone, and what isn't worth worrying about.

If you're thinking about selling in Riverside County, San Bernardino County, or the High Desert, call or text me at 949-484-9486.

We can talk through your home and what you should do before it goes on the market.

Amanda Zito, REALTOR®
Real Brokerage
CA DRE #01740063 | TX TREC #840088

SoldByZito.com

Source: National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.