Scope: UK-wide planning guide. Practical considerations to adapt to your own home and circumstances.
Prioritise the rooms that explain the home
Ask the photographer or agent which areas will be photographed and how long the appointment is likely to take. Prepare the main living spaces, kitchen, bedrooms, bathroom and exterior before concentrating on small decorative details. Make sure doors can open and the photographer can reach the intended positions.
Clear distractions, keep useful context
Remove temporary clutter from worktops, bedside tables and floors. Straighten furniture and fabrics without making rooms look unnaturally empty. Leave enough context for a viewer to understand the room’s purpose and size. A tidy, credible photograph is more helpful than an image that creates an expectation the viewing cannot meet.
Check privacy carefully
- Put away letters, bills, calendars and visible account details.
- Remove personal photographs if you do not want them published.
- Check screens, noticeboards and reflective surfaces.
- Store valuables securely rather than moving them into another visible room.
- Look for house numbers or vehicle details you want to discuss with the photographer.
Prepare light and access
Clean accessible glazing where practical and open suitable window coverings. Replace failed bulbs if this can be done safely. Let the photographer decide how to balance the lighting rather than assuming every light should be on. Clear pathways outside and make the entrance easy to show.
Review for accuracy
When images are supplied, look for a misleading impression as well as visual quality. Check that the chosen sequence makes the property understandable and that captions or room labels are correct. Ask how image adjustments are handled. The goal is an appealing representation of the home people will actually see, not an illustration of a different property.