Preparing Your Listing for a Digital Showcase
Maximize Virtual Tour and Photo Potential
Preparing your listing for a virtual tour capture is crucial. A potential buyer's first impression of a listing is made by the quality of the photos and interactive virtual tour they see online. Follow these steps to ensure that your listing creates an eye-popping first look!
General Tips
- Thoroughly clean entire house (vacuum carpet, mop hard floors, clean countertops, clean windows)
- Turn all overhead lights and lamps ON
- Replace all burned out light bulbs
- Use bulbs of the same temperature (ALL incandescent or ALL compact fluorescent)
- Turn all ceiling fans OFF
- Turn all TVs OFF
- Turn all computer screens OFF
- Open blinds/window treatments to let in outside light
- Remove personal photographs (or replace with general landscape/object photographs)
- Make all beds
- Remove small floor rugs to reveal actual flooring
- Place all shoes/jackets in closets
Interior Tips
- Hide garbage cans in pantry or closet
- Remove dishes from sink, place in dishwasher
- Clear tables, dust and polish the table tops
- Use decorative place setting if available
- Straighten all chairs and space them evenly
- Remove stacks of magazines, papers, mail, etc.
- Remove kid’s and pets' toys
- Make beds, including decorative pillows/shams if available
- Store away phone/tablet charging cables
- Remove personalized names from walls
- Remove wall stickers/posters
- Clear bathroom countertops completely. No soap, toothbrushes, medications, deodorant, etc.
- Put toilet lids down
- Remove shampoo, soap, loofahs, etc. from showers and tubs
- Remove dirty towels – leave out only new, unused towels
- Place pet food and water bowls in pantry or closet
- Contain pets in hidden crate or outside
- Clear back yard of pet waste/toys
Front Exterior Tips
- Close garage doors
- Remove cars from driveway and front of home
- Clean up landscaping (mow, trim shrubs, clear leaves)
- Use broom to remove cobwebs from eaves and door frames
- Remove visible water hoses
- Remove toys, sports balls, basketball goals, soccer goals, etc.
Back Exterior Tips
- Clean porch, tidy up outdoor tables/chairs/cushions
- Pillows/cushions should be fresh, not faded
- Clear out kid’s toys, balls, frisbees, etc.
- Clean/skim pool, remove leaves, branches, etc.
- Remove pool vacuum/cleaner hose
- Hide pool cleaning supplies
- Turn on pool fountains/water features
- Remove visible water hoses
- Remove trash cans
Preparing your listing for a virtual tour capture is crucial. A potential buyer's first impression of a listing is made by the quality of the photos and interactive virtual tour they see online. Follow these steps to ensure that your listing creates an eye-popping first look!
General Tips
- Thoroughly clean entire house (vacuum carpet, mop hard floors, clean countertops, clean windows)
- Turn all overhead lights and lamps ON
- Replace all burned out light bulbs
- Use bulbs of the same temperature (ALL incandescent or ALL compact fluorescent)
- Turn all ceiling fans OFF
- Turn all TVs OFF
- Turn all computer screens OFF
- Open blinds/window treatments to let in outside light
- Remove personal photographs (or replace with general landscape/object photographs)
- Make all beds
- Remove small floor rugs to reveal actual flooring
- Place all shoes/jackets in closets
Interior Tips
- Hide garbage cans in pantry or closet
- Remove dishes from sink, place in dishwasher
- Clear tables, dust and polish the table tops
- Use decorative place setting if available
- Straighten all chairs and space them evenly
- Remove stacks of magazines, papers, mail, etc.
- Remove kid’s and pets' toys
- Make beds, including decorative pillows/shams if available
- Store away phone/tablet charging cables
- Remove personalized names from walls
- Remove wall stickers/posters
- Clear bathroom countertops completely. No soap, toothbrushes, medications, deodorant, etc.
- Put toilet lids down
- Remove shampoo, soap, loofahs, etc. from showers and tubs
- Remove dirty towels – leave out only new, unused towels
- Place pet food and water bowls in pantry or closet
- Contain pets in hidden crate or outside
- Clear back yard of pet waste/toys
Front Exterior Tips
- Close garage doors
- Remove cars from driveway and front of home
- Clean up landscaping (mow, trim shrubs, clear leaves)
- Use broom to remove cobwebs from eaves and door frames
- Remove visible water hoses
- Remove toys, sports balls, basketball goals, soccer goals, etc.
Back Exterior Tips
- Clean porch, tidy up outdoor tables/chairs/cushions
- Pillows/cushions should be fresh, not faded
- Clear out kid’s toys, balls, frisbees, etc.
- Clean/skim pool, remove leaves, branches, etc.
- Remove pool vacuum/cleaner hose
- Hide pool cleaning supplies
- Turn on pool fountains/water features
- Remove visible water hoses
- Remove trash cans