How to Prepare Your Home for Sale: A Room-by-Room Checklist
Before a buyer ever walks through the door, they judge your home on their phone. Here's the room-by-room checklist I give every vendor before a shoot, plus a free printable version to download.
Before a buyer walks through your door, they have already judged your home on their phone, in the first couple of seconds of scrolling. That first photo is your first inspection. So getting the house ready for the camera is really getting it ready for the market.
I have photographed thousands of homes across Canberra and the region. The listings that sell fastest tend to have one thing in common: the owners spent a weekend getting the place ready before the shoot. It rarely costs much, and it changes how the home comes across from the first click.
Here is how to prepare your home for sale, room by room. It is the same checklist I give every vendor before I arrive. If you want the printable version, download the free home prep checklist and work through it the week before your photos.
Why presentation matters more than you think
Your online listing is the first inspection, and almost everyone sees it before they see the house. A home that looks bright, spacious and well cared for pulls more enquiry and more inspections, and that is what creates competition between buyers. Preparation is not about hiding anything. It is about letting buyers see the home at its best, without clutter getting in the way.
Two ideas sit behind everything below. Make the rooms feel more spacious, and let the light in. Most of the tips are one of those two in disguise.
Start outside: kerb appeal and exteriors
The exterior sets the expectation for everything inside, and it is usually the main photo on the listing. A few days before the shoot, mow the lawn, rake up leaves and clear any debris off the paths. Get rid of cobwebs, and move shoes, bikes, toys and wheelie bins out of sight, behind a gate or into the garage. Get cars and trailers off the driveway and out of the carport so the front of the house reads clean and open.
Declutter every room
A bookcase crammed with books, a study full of knick-knacks, a kid's room buried in toys: none of it photographs well, and all of it makes a room feel smaller. Pack away the excess before the shoot so each room feels open and calm. If you are moving anyway, treat it as a head start on the packing.
The kitchen
Kitchens sell homes, so this one is worth the effort. Clear the benchtops and strip the fridge doors of magnets, notes and photos. Clean the sink and benches until they shine. A couple of appliances on the bench is fine, but if the toaster or kettle look worn, put them away for the shoot.
The bathrooms
A spotless bathroom is one of the most inviting shots in any listing. Clear away the toiletries, take the bottles and razors out of the shower, and put the towels away or set out fresh ones, folded neatly. Clean the mirror and wipe down the counters and shower screens.
The bedrooms
Make the beds with block colours, since neutral tones photograph best, and fluff the pillows. Keep the bedside tables clear, and put away personal things like photo frames, certificates, shoes and clothes. A bedroom should feel restful and a little anonymous so buyers can picture themselves in it.
Lighting: let every room shine
Bright homes feel bigger and happier. Turn on all the lights, and replace any dead bulbs before the day. Try to match the bulbs so the colour of the light stays consistent from room to room. Open the blinds, curtains and sliding doors before your appointment to bring in as much natural light as you can.
The final walk-through: general tips
Just before the shoot, do one last lap of the house:
- Move mismatched or spare furniture out so rooms feel open.
- Clean the windows, curtains and blinds, since they frame every photo.
- Dust the ceiling fans, wipe down the TVs and computer screens, then switch them off.
- Put pet bowls, beds and toys out of frame.
- Open the blinds and sliding doors so the inside connects with the garden.
Your week-before checklist
Here is the short version to run through in the week before your photos:
- Exteriors: mow, rake, clear the paths, hide the bins, move cars off the drive.
- Declutter: pack away the excess from every surface and shelf.
- Kitchen: clear the benches and fridge, shine the sink.
- Bathrooms: hide the toiletries, set out fresh towels, clean the mirrors and screens.
- Bedrooms: neutral bedding, clear surfaces, personal items away.
- Lighting: all lights on, matching bulbs, blinds open.
- Final lap: clean the glass, screens off, pets and their gear out of sight.
Download the free printable checklist and stick it on the fridge while you work through the house.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to prepare a home for sale?
Most homes need a focused weekend: one day to declutter and pack away the excess, another to deep-clean and tidy the garden. Give yourself the full week before the shoot so nothing gets rushed on the day.
Should I declutter or fully stage my home before photos?
Decluttering and cleaning does most of the work, and it is essential. Professional styling can lift a home further, especially if it is empty or the furniture is dated, but a clean, decluttered, well-lit home photographs well on its own.
Do I need to be home for the photo shoot?
You are welcome to be there, but you do not have to be. What matters is that the home is fully prepared before we arrive, because shoot time is best spent capturing the property rather than tidying it.
What happens if my home isn't ready on the day?
If a property is not in a suitable state to photograph, there may be an additional reshoot fee. If you think you will need more time, let us know in advance and we will find a date that works.
Does professional photography really help sell a home faster?
The listing photos are the first thing almost every buyer sees, and they decide who books an inspection. A well-prepared home shot professionally looks brighter, larger and better cared for, which brings in more enquiry, and more enquiry is what creates competition.
Ready to launch your listing?
Once the house is prepped, the photos do the heavy lifting. If you want Canberra's property media team to make your listing look its best, see what we do for residential listings or get in touch and we will lock in a shoot date.