Preparing your Home For Market

Preparing your home for real estate photography is one of the most important steps in getting your property ready for the market. Before buyers ever step through the door, they see your home online, and high-quality listing photos are what spark interest to stop them scrolling away. A well-prepared home not only photographs better, but often attracts more showings and stronger offers.

As a professional real estate photographer serving Twin Falls and the Magic Valley, I’ve seen firsthand how small preparation steps can make a big visual impact. This room-by-room guide will walk you through simple, proven tips to help your home look clean, bright, and inviting so your listing stands out from the very first photo.

Exterior

It goes without saying, curb appeal is the most crucial aspect to achieve when staging your home. To get picture perfect, make sure to mow the lawn, keep walkways and driveway swept. Any personal affects like toys, seasonal decor, and tools should be hidden away; along with trash cans and cars moved out of frame. If pets are in the home, be sure to clean up after them!

To ensure clean, polished curb appeal, remove or tuck away the following items:

Trash cans: hide in garage or move out by the road
Trash from the yard
Sweep porch
Wash front door
Shoes
Toys of any kind
No cars in the driveway

Remember this is the first picture home buyers will see while looking online and when they pull up for a showing.

Landscaped manicured yard-Skye Fassett Photography

Living Room-Staged by Set2Sell- Skye Fassett Photography

Living Room- Staged by Set2Sell-Skye Fassett Photography

Living Room

As much as we love to make our house into a home with sentimental items and decor, when preparing to sell everything should be stripped back. It may feel empty but you have to remember, your house has to be the best canvas possible for buyer's to project their own ideas on. While cleaning (vacuuming, sweeping, washing windows) it's generally recommended to hide away any personal affects. Hiring a professional stager to maximize appeal is always an option!

For a polished, photo-ready space, remove or neatly store the following

TV remotes
Cell Phone Cords
Clutter under side tables
Shoes
Kleenex boxes
Mail
Toys (Kids, Animal)
Dog beds
Water bottles

Kitchen

Like the common areas, there should be as little clutter as possible. A key thing to remember is to not hang towels from the oven handles; buyer's will want to see the oven they'll be cooking with, and you don't want to hide it. Naturally, extensive cleaning continues into here as well. Make those countertops sparkle!

Removing or storing these items helps keep photos clean and uncluttered

Pictures/magnets on refrigerator
Phone cords and chargers
Large appliances (crock pots, blenders, air fryers, etc)
Kitchen towels
Dishes in sink or on the counter
Dish scrubbers
Paper towels

Kitchens are the heart beat of a home. Showing it off to its full potential is essential.

Bedrooms

Preparing a bedroom for the market is about creating a space that feels restful, refined, and effortlessly inviting. Clear away clutter and personal items so the room feels open and spacious, allowing buyers to envision it as their own. Clean lines, layered neutral bedding, and a balanced color palette create a calm, high-end feel that immediately draws buyers in. Natural light is maximized, while warm accent lighting adds depth and softness, helping the room feel both luxurious and livable. With minimal décor and intentional styling, the focus stays on the room’s size, ceiling height, and modern finishes, allowing buyers to picture this space as their own private retreat.

A quick cleanup of these items will help your photos shine

Phone cords and chargers
Fans and or heaters
Clutter under the bed
Laundry Hampers
Clutter in or around night stands
Shoes
Water bottles

No matter which bedroom we are talking about, it's important that the primary bedroom is shown at its best. This is the one the adults will be buying the home for. These tips are great to be used in every bedroom.

Bathrooms

When preparing a bathroom for the market, a clean and uncluttered look is essential. Clear off all countertops by putting away everyday items like toothbrushes, water flossers, hair products, curling irons, and hair dryers; these personal details quickly distract buyers and make the space feel smaller. Fresh towels, a spotless mirror, and simple spa-like accents help elevate the room and photograph beautifully. The goal is to create a bathroom that feels bright, calm, and well cared for, allowing buyers to focus on the finish, layout, and overall sense of cleanliness over personal items.

Don't use the tub as the hiding spot for clutter. We want to open the shower curtain and show off the inside of the shower. Having the shower curtain open also makes the room feel larger.

Thing to hide for pictures

Shampoo/Conditioner bottles
Used towels and wash clothes
Potty Training seats
Potty stools
Toothbrushes, water flossers
Cups
Medicine
Robes and towels hanging on door

In so many homes, homeowners are surprised about the details we look for when photographing the bathroom; even the smaller ones.

Professional staged by Set2Sell-Skye Fassett Photography

Just some extra tips

Aside from the obvious everywhere tasks like vacuuming, cleaning windows, dusting, etc. there are a couple more items to consider throughout the home.

Toys, food & water bowls, and bedding for pets should be stowed away.

Kleenex boxes. Subconsciously, buyers will think the homeowners are sick.

Fans and space heaters should be hidden; they may lead buyers to think the home has insulation issues, too hot and cold respectively.

Charging cords in every room should be put away in a drawer, giving the space a polished look.

With over 7 years of experience providing real estate photography throughout the Magic Valley, I understand how overwhelming preparing a home for the market can feel. Every home is unique, every situation is different, and perfection is never the goal. My team and I are here to support both agents and homeowners, helping simplify the process and remove stress wherever we can.

If time is limited, focus on the spaces that matter most in photos: the living room, kitchen, dining area, primary bedroom, and bathrooms. Even small changes in these areas can make a powerful difference; and if everything isn’t perfect, that’s okay, doing just a little truly goes a long way.

At Skye Fassett Photography, our goal is simple: to help your home show beautifully, feel inviting, and stand out online. From guidance before your session to polished, professional imagery, we’re here to help solve problems before they arise, so you can feel confident and ready for market day.

Skye Fassett, M.Photog.;CPP

Skye Fassett Photography
Helping homes stand out through thoughtful, professional imagery
Serving the Magic Valley & Southern Idaho