Wilmington NC Real Estate - Photography Tips

Improve how your home looks with these helpful real estate picture tips.

Before taking pictures of your home, be sure to be prepared by doing the following:

Cut the grass and clean up yard (optional-adding mulch/flowers)

Move BBQ grill, trash cans, and hoses into garage or shed

Move cars/trailers/boats from driveway and yard.  Make sure they cannot be seen through the first floor windows of the house.   

To make your room look larger, remove large ottomans and footstools

Clean and uncover any pools/spas

Straighten out deck/patio furniture, open patio umbrellas

Turn on all lamps, overhead lights, under cabinet lights, over sink lights, range hood lights - replace missing or burned out bulbs

Turn on outdoor porch lights - front and back

Lower all blinds and put the slats on the horizontal.    Make sure all blinds look consistent from the front of the house.     

Put all trash cans (including bathroom trash cans) in closets or the garage.   

Turn off TV and hide all remote controls

Turn off ceiling fans

Remove fans/dehumidifiers/air freshener (these could give viewer wrong impression)

Move cords out of sight (computer, extension, lamps, etc.)

Clear  home of clutter (put stuff in closets, since we normally don’t shoot closets)

Clean up/Remove any toys, puzzles, etc.

Remove small appliances and clutter from counter tops, remove dishes from sink

Remove magnets, stickers, and other items off top and sides of refrigerator

Remove personal items, toiletries, and soap, shampoo, etc. out of bath/shower/counter top

Close toilet lids.   Remove lid covers, bathroom magazines, toilet brushes, plungers, etc. 

Put a fresh roll of toilet paper on the holder

Remove floor mats/small area rugs (this will make sqft in home seem bigger)

Straighten bed coverings and clear bedside tables

Remove any holiday-related objects or decorations

Remove any outdoor flags (any movement in the wind makes them appear blurred)

Bend over and look under beds.  If you can see anything, the camera will likely see it.  

Put large ottomans, footstools, etc in garage (makes room look larger) 

Remove as many portraits as possible

Remove posters/stickers from kids bedrooms

Sweep off driveway, walk ways, decks and porches

Remove security signs from the yard

Put dogs and cats in the garage during the photo session

Put all pet items (cages, leashes, dishes, toys, pads) in the garage.  

For more information and help selling your home in Wilmington, Contact Coastwalk Real Estate at 910-458-9119.